Nic Barlage
CEO, Rock Entertainment Group
Nic Barlage is CEO of Rock Entertainment Group, the umbrella entity of the teams and venues that are part of Cleveland Cavaliers Chairman Dan Gilbert’s Rock Family of Companies. It includes the NBA Cavaliers, the AHL Cleveland Monsters, the NBA G League Cleveland Charge and Cavs Legion of the NBA 2K League; and the operation of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Legion Lair Lit by TCP home of Cavs Legion in Cleveland and Cleveland Clinic Courts – the Cavaliers’ training and development center in Independence, Ohio.
Barlage joined the Cavaliers in 2017 as President. In this role, he oversaw the business operation of the Cavaliers, who have one of the largest workforces in the NBA. He also played a core leadership role in the day-to day planning, design and construction of the transformed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, which opened before the start of the Cavaliers 2019-20 season.
Prior to joining the Cavaliers, Barlage was the Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer for the Phoenix Suns, where he oversaw the team’s premium and ticket sales, and marketing efforts. He began serving his stint with the Suns during the 2013-14 season.
Barlage was part of the Cavaliers organization for five seasons where he was most recently Vice President of Sales and Service before departing for Phoenix in 2014. Prior to his tenure in Cleveland, Barlage spent one season with the Suns and two seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats specializing in suite and premium seating. Barlage’s influence extends across the entire Cleveland community, holding positions on the advisory boards of the Cleveland Sports Commission, American Red Cross, Cleveland Clinic Pediatrics Leadership Council and the local Boys & Girls Club.
Barlage graduated from Saint John’s University (Minn.) in May of 2006, where he majored in Psychology. He and his wife, Traci, have two daughters, Brooklyn and Kennedy.