Neil Leibman Steps Down From Rangers Role After 16 Years

Neil Leibman has stepped down as chairman of Rangers Sports Media and Entertainment effective immediately, ending a 16-year run with the Texas Rangers that placed him at the center of the franchise’s ownership and business operations.

The departure caps a rapid series of role changes for Leibman. He left the team president and COO post in January 2025 to lead the newly created Rangers Sports Media and Entertainment entity, which oversaw the in-house Rangers Sports Network and REV Entertainment.

Less than two years later, he is exiting that role to focus on other business opportunities.

Leibman was an original member of the ownership group that purchased the Rangers in August 2010 and was appointed chairman of the Rangers Ownership Committee in the spring of 2013.

He worked closely with majority owner Ray Davis on the agreement to build Globe Life Field and the development of the Arlington Entertainment District, including Texas Live!

In his final role, Leibman led the buildout of Rangers Sports Network, a media venture created to produce and distribute the team’s games and other content. The team’s direct-to-consumer product initially launched on the virtual platform Victory+ before a midseason announcement this year that BZZR would stream their games.

Leibman is returning his stake in the team, though he will not serve on the board, and the sides are said to have parted on good terms.

Leibman’s Impact and Legacy

“Neil has been a constant with the Rangers since our group purchased the club in 2010. He was part of some of the most significant moments in franchise history and played a large role in our business operations. His contributions to the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation will be part of his legacy, as will the building of Globe Life Field and development efforts in the Arlington Entertainment District. Neil has been a friend and business partner for many years, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

— Ray Davis, Rangers Majority Owner

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve for many years with this ownership group and front office. I am grateful for the opportunity and will cherish everything we have accomplished together. The Rangers have made tremendous progress on numerous fronts during this ownership tenure, and I am proud to have been a part of the most successful period in franchise history. With several other business opportunities on the horizon, I look forward to devoting more time to those efforts.”

— Neil Leibman, Outgoing Chairman of Rangers Sports Media and Entertainment

Leibman’s responsibilities will be absorbed by current staff. Day-to-day duties on the RSN side have been handled by SVP/Broadcasting Angie Swint, while REV Entertainment is guided by president Sean Decker.

The team said any additional changes in management structure will be addressed at a later date, and the family of Davis, 84, could also get more involved.

The exit leaves the future leadership of the Rangers’ media and entertainment ventures an open question at a pivotal stretch for the franchise.

The Rangers Sports Network launched as a direct-to-consumer product only in the past year, and the relationship with BZZR — including Leibman’s personal investment in the streaming service — adds a layer of complexity to any transition.

Leibman’s legacy, as Davis framed it, is anchored in the construction of Globe Life Field, the development of the Arlington Entertainment District and his work with the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. What comes next for the media ventures he built will unfold in the coming months.

Sources

• Sportsbusinessjournal