SEPT. 27, 2009 • Blizzard Ent. chief operating officer Paul Sams is announced as part of the new ownership group of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. The franchise reorganization followed the sale of team stock by members of the Rooney and McGinley families to Steelers president, Art Rooney II.

Impact: Comparing total revenue earned to other major entertainment media has become standard procedure as a measuring tool for the games industry. Perhaps an equally handy barometer might be what the game company success stories are doing with their their share of  that revenue. Buying into one of the premier professional sports teams by one member of the Blizzard executive team is a huge step up from the mansions and Ferraris flaunted by executives in past years.