Noblesville Boom name veteran sports & media executive Chris Defendis president of business operations

The REPORTER

The Noblesville Boom today announced the selection of Chris Defendis as president of business operations, bringing more than two decades of senior leadership experience across sports, media and live entertainment to the organization.

Defendis

Defendis most recently served as president of Xtreme One Entertainment/XFC Global, where he led all aspects of the organization’s business operations, including ticketing, sponsorships, marketing, media distribution, partnerships, live events and community engagement.

In his new role, Defendis will oversee all business operations for the Boom, including ticketing, marketing, corporate partnerships, community outreach and fan experience.

“Chris brings the kind of well-rounded experience that is critical as we continue to build the Boom’s business and presence in Noblesville,” said Chief Operating Officer of the Noblesville Boom Barry Gibson. “He has led revenue strategy, built high-performing teams and delivered strong fan engagement across a variety of platforms. Just as important, he understands how to connect a team to its community.”

Prior to his current role, Defendis held senior leadership positions with WWE, Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO, where he led large-scale revenue portfolios, managed key partnerships and drove audience growth initiatives across global platforms.

Defendis’ background spans traditional sports, media and emerging entertainment properties, with deep experience in revenue strategy, sponsorships, media rights and live event execution. He has also served as a primary representative with league offices, media partners, sponsors and civic leaders throughout his career.

“I’m excited to join the Boom and be part of building something meaningful in Noblesville and Hamilton County,” Defendis said. “There is an exciting opportunity to create a strong connection with fans and the community while delivering a great experience on and off the court. I look forward to supporting the vision Mayor Chris Jensen has helped shape for Noblesville as a vibrant, growing community, and for the Boom to contribute in a meaningful way.”

A Hamilton County resident, Defendis is actively involved in the Hamilton County community. He previously served on the board of Westfield Youth Sports and has coached youth baseball for several years. He and his wife have two children.

The Boom recently wrapped their first regular season at the newly renamed Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile. Fans can visit NoblesvilleBoom.com for more information and sign up for updates for the upcoming season.