New Jersey native arrives after four years in Rio Grande Valley
Colgate Athletics announced Thursday the selection of David Riggs to the position of Director of Ticket Operations and Marketing Assistant.
Riggs spent the last four years in South Texas, splitting time between the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and UT-Pan American. UTRGV was created in 2015 from the merger of UT-Pan American and UT-Brownsville.
Riggs served as UTRGV’s Assistant Athletic Director for Ticket Operations and Sales. He oversaw season, group and game ticket sales for the Western Athletic Conference member in six ticketed sports. Sales totaled more than $220,000 since the start of fiscal year 2016, and overall ticket sales increased by more than 110 percent since he began at UT-Pan American in September 2013.
“We are very excited to have David as a part of the Colgate Athletics family,” said Colgate Associate Director of Athletics Nathalie Cartier. “His experience with group ticket sales and corporate sponsorship are a great addition to the department.”
One of Riggs’ key accomplishments was the creation of a group sales initiative that brought in many groups for all ticketed sports and fostered increased brand awareness and affinity for UTRGV Athletics throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
“I am thrilled to be joining Colgate Athletics and excited to begin working with people on campus and throughout the community,” Riggs said. “After visiting campus last month and meeting several athletics staff members, I knew Colgate was the right fit for me.
“I am thankful to have the opportunity to join the team.”
Before entering the collegiate ranks, Riggs was the Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations and a sales representative for the San Angelo Colts Professional Baseball Club from January 2012 through August 2013. Despite joining the Colts’ front office with very little sales experience, Riggs quickly and effectively transitioned into the sales representative role.
There, he sold more than $90,000 in corporate sponsorships, groups, and season tickets in addition to serving as the team’s play-by-play announcer and media contact.
A Westfield, New Jersey, native, Riggs graduated Cum Laude from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism in 2008.