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Brett Yormark’s next move is taking him well outside the Big 12 footprint.
The outgoing Big 12 commissioner is heading to Milan, Italy, where he has been named chief executive of Milan Sports & Entertainment, a newly launched holding company backed by RedBird Capital Partners, the investment firm behind Italian soccer powerhouse AC Milan.
Yormark’s new job will be about much more than soccer.
MSE will bring together RedBird’s investments in sports, business and live entertainment in Milan, with Yormark overseeing the company’s business strategy and efforts to expand its presence internationally.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to take on this role in a city with Milan’s history and passion for sport,” Yormark said in the announcement. “I understand the responsibility that comes with leading an organization connected to institutions that mean so much to their supporters and communities. Throughout my career, I have helped sports organizations evolve, expand their reach and create new opportunities, and I look forward to drawing on that experience to execute RedBird’s vision for MSE.”
One of the biggest projects on his plate will be the development of a new 71,500-seat stadium for AC Milan and city rival Inter Milan. The two clubs are working together on the venue, which will replace the historic San Siro stadium.
But RedBird has bigger ambitions for the city.
The company also plans to explore building a venue-management business focused on food and beverage, merchandise and premium hospitality. It is also evaluating the possibility of acquiring a Milan franchise in the proposed NBA Europe league, developing another sports and entertainment venue in nearby San Donato Milanese and expanding the city’s presence in international tennis.
Yormark will report directly to RedBird founder and managing partner Gerry Cardinale. His new role is expected to begin after his departure from the Big 12.
That departure was announced at the end of October, bringing an end to a four-year run as commissioner of the conference. Yormark, who took over in 2022, oversaw the additions of eight schools, including BYU and Utah, while helping guide the league through major changes in college athletics.
BYU had been invited to join the league just before Yormark assumed his position.
Sources: Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is leaving the conference. Yormark made the decision to leave and is expected to accept a new role outside of college sports in the near future. He’ll be with the league at least through January of 2027. pic.twitter.com/M0XnkCIPfe
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 30, 2026
Under his leadership, the Big 12 secured its latest media rights agreement, which pays member schools more than $30 million annually. The conference also saw significant growth in sponsorship and partnership revenue.
Yormark is expected to remain with the Big 12 through the end of January, giving the conference time to find its next commissioner.
Now, after spending the last several years navigating the changing landscape of college athletics, Yormark is preparing for a new challenge: helping build Milan into an even bigger international sports and entertainment destination.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/brett-yormark-home-milan-172106043.html
