LOVB Miami has named former Dolphins CMO PRI SHUMATE President of Business Operations and former FIFA exec MEG PATTEN VP/Fan Experience & Marketing, with sports management company Jett Sports serving as its commercial arm ahead of the expansion franchise’s inaugural 2026-27 season.
Shumate will oversee ticketing, partnerships, branding, marketing, community relations, venue and game-day operations and the build-out of the front office. She most recently served as CMO across the Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium and its event portfolio, including the Miami Open and the F1 Miami Grand Prix. She previously spent 17 years at Nike, rising to VP/Global Brand Marketing for Nike Running, and held senior marketing leadership roles at the World Surf League and Columbia Sportswear.
For Shumate, the opportunity combines a personal connection to Miami with the chance to build a franchise representing the city from the ground up. The market also serves as the home base for women’s professional basketball league Unrivaled, which plays at Sephora Arena. She described the opportunity as a “privilege of a lifetime.”
“I’m Brazilian, I’m Latina, and Miami is my home,” Shumate said.
She sees a strong existing audience in South Florida’s volleyball community and international population, citing the sport’s cultural importance among Brazilian, Cuban, Argentine and Venezuelan communities.
“The idea is that we’re not creating demand here. I really felt like this was an opportunity to give that demand a home,” Shumate said. She added that her work with the Miami Open and F1 Miami reinforced the city’s “hunger for experiences that are different.”
Her immediate priorities include building awareness through grassroots events and community appearances, hiring locally and reaching existing volleyball and women’s sports audiences. She also aims to create a game-day experience that feels distinctly Miami and keeps fans coming back, with athlete access and premium offerings to appeal to the city’s casual “hot ticket” seekers.
Patten will oversee game presentation, venue operations, brand campaigns and the fan journey. She joins from FIFA, where she served as head of event marketing for the 2026 World Cup, following a tenure as senior director of marketing at the NWSL’s Washington Spirit.
The franchise did not use an outside search firm for the hires.
Jett Sports, a member of the team’s ownership group, will work alongside the front office on sponsorships, partnerships and revenue strategy.
LOVB Pro will grow to 10 teams for its third season, with Miami joining Atlanta, Madison, Minnesota and Nebraska in a new Eastern Conference. The league launched in January 2025 with six teams, with expansion franchises in L.A., Minnesota, S.F. and Miami set to debut in season three.
Venue and schedule announcements are expected in the coming days.