Steve Koonin

Steve Koonin is best known as the CEO of the Atlanta Hawks NBA franchise and State Farm Arena, a role he has held since 2014. In this capacity, he has overseen a dramatic transformation of the franchise's brand, fan experience, and media partnerships, making the Hawks one of the more innovative teams in professional sports when it comes to sponsorship monetization, arena technology, and digital fan engagement. His leadership has been credited with revitalizing the team's market presence in Atlanta and driving significant growth in sponsorship and media revenue. Before joining the Hawks, Koonin spent over two decades at Turner Broadcasting, rising to President of Turner Entertainment Networks. In that role, he oversaw major cable networks including TNT, TBS, and truTV, and was instrumental in shaping sports media rights deals, advertising sales strategies, and branded content initiatives. His work at Turner gave him deep expertise in television advertising, sports media monetization, and audience engagement at scale — experience he has applied directly to the Hawks' commercial operations. Koonin is widely regarded as a bridge between traditional media advertising and modern sports entertainment marketing. Under his leadership, State Farm Arena became one of the first NBA arenas to undergo a major technology-driven renovation focused on fan experience and data-driven sponsorship activation. He has been a vocal advocate for Atlanta as a major sports and entertainment market, and his influence extends into broader conversations about how sports franchises can serve as media and advertising platforms in their own right.

Last updated Jun 24, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment