John Franzone

Induction Year: 2026

Category: Sports Business

Location: West Islip

John graduated with honors from West Islip High School and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He built a distinguished 40-year career in sports production, directing and in-game entertainment.

He’s been the Senior Vice President of Game Presentation and Production for the Tampa Bay Lightning since 2008.

He transformed the Lightning’s in-arena experience into one of the premier game presentation productions in professional sports.

Led the Lightning to the NHL’s “ Stanley” Award for Best Game Presentation in 2025, with finalist honors in 2022 and 2024.

Under his leadership, Lightning season ticket members ranked the team’s in-game entertainment experience No. 1 for three years in a row.

He’s also the executive producer behind the Emmy-winning “Recharge” and “Bolts Beginnings” series, helping the organization earn 14 Emmy Awards since 2021.

Prior to Tampa Bay, spent 21 seasons in Major League Baseball, including 10 years with the New York Yankees and 10 with the Tampa Bay Rays organization.

Earned a World Series championship ring with the 1996 Yankees and two Stanley Cup championship rings with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021.

He also directed the venue presentation at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

He’s also praised for his efforts to support the military and veterans at  MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa and throughout the region.