Jeff Overton Joins Camelback Ranch – Glendale

Glendale, Arizona — Veteran baseball executive and sports marketer Jeff Overton has been named president and general manager of Camelback Ranch-Glendale (CBR-G), the second-year spring-training home of the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Overton will oversee all aspects of CBR-G, including business development, operations, marketing, public relations, sales and special events.

“Jeff is a very well-rounded sports management professional,” offers Dodgers President Dennis Mannion. “His impressive career has been both effective and diverse. He will be a great leader for Camelback Ranch as it continues to grow after a very successful first season.”

White Sox Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer Brooks Boyer adds, “With vast experience in sports marketing, operations and business development, particularly in baseball, Jeff Overton is the perfect fit to serve as the first president and new general manager of Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Jeff is responsible for driving business growth and maintaining an effective system of operations at our spring training facility, Camelback Ranch – Glendale. We (the White Sox and Dodgers) are supremely confident he will help us set the standard for spring training excellence.”

Overton spent the past seven years as executive vice president-business operations with the San Diego Padres. During his tenure, he assumed primary responsibility for the opening of PETCO Park in 2004 and also managed the 2006 and ’09 World Baseball Classic games at the new stadium and Tony Gwynn’s Hall of Fame induction.

The Illinois native previously served in marketing capacities for the Texas Rangers and with the Cleveland Indians and White Sox.

As executive vice president-marketing for Southwest Sports Group in Dallas from 2001–02, Overton was responsible for marketing the Rangers, Dallas Stars (NHL), and the Mesquite Championship Rodeo. His tenure included a rebranding of the Rangers’ Ballpark in Arlington. He also served as the team business representative with respective league offices and broadcast partners.

Previously, Overton was senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer for the Cleveland Indians from 1989–2001, and assistant vice president-marketing, sales and promotions for the White Sox from 1982–87.

In Cleveland, he was strategically involved in the opening of another new ball park, Jacobs Field, in 1994, and helped develop the Indians’ “Blueprint For Success,” a plan that eventually led to 455 consecutive sellouts, a major-league record. He also orchestrated the single biggest one-day ticket sale of any Ticketmaster user in history, selling in excess of 360,000 tickets in 1996.

Additionally, Overton spent two years as national director of the Miller Sports Group for Rogers Merchandising, Inc. in Chicago from 1987–89 where he interfaced with Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and five disciplines of motorsports.

Overton began his baseball career as general manager of the Midwest League Class-A Appleton Foxes in 1981.

A graduate of Eastern Illinois University, Overton also holds a master’s degree from Western Illinois University.