Ben Hales was named Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans in August, 2017 and oversees business operations, marketing and community initiatives for both teams, as well as other business ventures for Gayle Benson. Hales, who enters his 22nd season with the Saints and tenth with the Pelicans, previously spent seven seasons as the Saints' Vice President of Marketing and Business Development.
On a daily basis, Hales directs the Saints' and Pelicans' marketing and creative efforts, as well as community initiatives and game and event presentation. He is also intricately involved in both clubs' critical planning of short-term and long-range marketing and operations efforts. Hales' duties also entail the playing facility operations at the Caesars Superdome and Smoothie King Center, broadcasting partnerships, promotions, advertising, special events and youth programs.
During the 2012-13 NBA season, the Hornets franchise announced that they would re-brand following the season and become the New Orleans Pelicans. Hales was instrumental in the re-branding efforts from start to finish, helping to first conceptualize the look to represent the Pelicans namesake and leading the planning for the official announcement in January, 2013.
Hales has played a significant role in the negotiations and finalization for two ground-breaking naming rights deals for the Saints' iconic stadium, most recently a 20-year deal with Caesars Entertainment in 2021. Throughout his tenure, he has helped create and implement a variety of innovative opportunities for both local and national partners to build relationships with the club, including groundbreaking naming rights agreements and the development of Patron Saints Partners, a premium sponsorship program. Under his direction the club added a sponsorship and fulfillment department, to ensure corporate partners receive the highest level of service.
The Saints have increased the number and variety of television and radio programs after Hales assumed the role of the club's primary programming negotiator. In addition to three weekly in-season television programs, the Saints now produce numerous specials that have aired on different local television stations and on the team's digital media platforms throughout each season.
Hales joined the Saints in 2000 as a corporate sales account executive. In 2001, he was promoted to corporate sales and broadcasting manager before becoming a director the following year and assuming the responsibilities of business and marketing operations.
Prior to joining the Saints, Hales worked in television advertising in New Orleans. In addition to his community efforts on behalf of the team, Hales is a member of the New Orleans City Park Board of Commissioners and the People's Health Champions Selection Committee while also serving on the Super Bowl Bid Executive Committee and the NCAA Final Four Committee. Hales has also recently served on the Super Bowl XLVII Host Committee Executive Committee and NBA All-Star Host Committee.
In 2013, Hales was honored as a Young Leadership Council (YLC) Role Model and was named as one of The Gambit's 40 under 40 in 2012.
A New Orleans native and longtime Saints terrace and plaza level season ticket holder before joining the club, Hales earned a degree in English from the University of Mississippi in 1996.
