It came as a shock to many in the National Football League (NFL), an organization of the top American football teams in the United States, when Ty Stewart gave up his marketing career with the NFL and decided to take a position offered to him by the World Series of Poker. Many had questioned the logic of such a move, but Stewart was reported to say that he believed despite his vast success and rapid rise within the NFL, there was a great deal to be done in the pro poker world where he would have an even brighter future. With more than 7 major promotions while with the NFL at the league’s headquarters in New York City, Stewart had been dealing with all sorts of marketing opportunities that tied in with major NFL events such as the Draft and Opening Kick Off. In 2005, he joined the team of the World Series of Poker, owned by Harrah’s Entertainment, during a time when many felt that pro poker might be facing an imminent down turn – but that never did happen.
Stewart had become a huge fan of poker by watching it on TV and saw that he had a chance of a lifetime to be able to contribute to the industry’s growth. He disbelieved the nay sayers, he told reporters, and decided that he would take on the role as top executive for the 41st tournament after the departure of Jeffrey Pollack, the Commissioner up until that time. The brand has grown, this much is proven, but Stewart shies away from taking credit, claiming his 2,000 person team is just as responsible for that success as he is.
