Chris Sandre

Chris Sandre

Sr. Director, Flo Sports

Sr. Director, Flo Sports

THE SIT DOWN

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"When you can put brands and sports together, great things can happen."
"When you can put brands and sports together, great things can happen."
"When you can put brands and sports together, great things can happen."

Chris Sandre

Chris Sandre

Chris Sandre operates at the intersection of high-stakes sports, media, and luxury culture.

While most executives choose a lane, either the intensity of the arena, the influence of media, or the refinement of the boardroom, Chris has built a career by moving fluidly across all three. From the charged collegiate sports culture of the University of Florida to major partnership roles across venue naming rights, premium beverage brands, and now the future of sports streaming, he has spent two decades building partnerships that do more than drive revenue. They reshape how fans engage, how brands show up, and how culture moves.

He is best known for his ability to execute unlikely pivots. Whether it was convincing baseball fans to drink wine at the Rogers Centre, launching a luxury wine division during a global pandemic, or stepping into the fast-evolving world of streaming at FloSports, Chris thrives in the spaces others misread as uncertain. He understands that fandom is not static, media is not fixed, and the most valuable partnerships are the ones that meet people where passion already lives.

Now, as Senior Director, Integrated Partnerships at FloSports, Chris is helping shape the next generation of sports media partnerships, with a particular focus on unlocking growth in Canada. He is an architect of momentum, transforming brands from sponsors into participants and turning audience attention into lasting cultural relevance.

DEFINING MOMENTS

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2005

The Foundation

University of Florida. Immersed in the intensity of SEC sports culture. The Lesson: "I learned early on that passion isn't just energy; it's a currency. If you can understand what makes a fan scream for their team, you can understand how to build a brand that people actually care about."

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2013

The Rebrand

Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa. Renaming the Senators' arena without alienating the fanbase. The Lesson: "A logo is corporate, but a building is communal. You don't just rename a landmark; you have to earn the right to be part of the fan's ritual. If you don't respect the history, you'll never own the future."

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2015

The Shot

E&J Gallo x Toronto Blue Jays. The "Bat Flip" game. Putting wine into a beer stadium. The Lesson:"Luck is just preparation waiting for a camera. We fought to put our brand in that stadium so that when history happened, we were already in the frame. You can't buy the moment, but you can buy the proximity."

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2020

The Expansion

The Bacchus Group. Launching a luxury wine division during a global lockdown. The Lesson:"When the market freezes, most people retreat. We decided to build. We grew the team from 17 to 44 when everyone else was cutting, proving that a crisis is actually the perfect time to steal market share."

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2026

The Integration

FloSports. Joining at a moment when sports media is being redefined by streaming, community, and fan depth. The Lesson: “Fans do not want distance anymore. They want access, insight, and belonging. The future of sports partnerships is not about reaching the biggest audience, it is about earning credibility inside the most passionate ones.”

Image
2005

The Foundation

University of Florida. Immersed in the intensity of SEC sports culture. The Lesson: "I learned early on that passion isn't just energy; it's a currency. If you can understand what makes a fan scream for their team, you can understand how to build a brand that people actually care about."

Image
2013

The Rebrand

Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa. Renaming the Senators' arena without alienating the fanbase. The Lesson: "A logo is corporate, but a building is communal. You don't just rename a landmark; you have to earn the right to be part of the fan's ritual. If you don't respect the history, you'll never own the future."

Image
2015

The Shot

E&J Gallo x Toronto Blue Jays. The "Bat Flip" game. Putting wine into a beer stadium. The Lesson:"Luck is just preparation waiting for a camera. We fought to put our brand in that stadium so that when history happened, we were already in the frame. You can't buy the moment, but you can buy the proximity."

Image
2020

The Expansion

The Bacchus Group. Launching a luxury wine division during a global lockdown. The Lesson:"When the market freezes, most people retreat. We decided to build. We grew the team from 17 to 44 when everyone else was cutting, proving that a crisis is actually the perfect time to steal market share."

Image
2026

The Integration

FloSports. Joining at a moment when sports media is being redefined by streaming, community, and fan depth. The Lesson: “Fans do not want distance anymore. They want access, insight, and belonging. The future of sports partnerships is not about reaching the biggest audience, it is about earning credibility inside the most passionate ones.”

Image
2005

The Foundation

University of Florida. Immersed in the intensity of SEC sports culture. The Lesson: "I learned early on that passion isn't just energy; it's a currency. If you can understand what makes a fan scream for their team, you can understand how to build a brand that people actually care about."

Image
2013

The Rebrand

Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa. Renaming the Senators' arena without alienating the fanbase. The Lesson: "A logo is corporate, but a building is communal. You don't just rename a landmark; you have to earn the right to be part of the fan's ritual. If you don't respect the history, you'll never own the future."

Image
2015

The Shot

E&J Gallo x Toronto Blue Jays. The "Bat Flip" game. Putting wine into a beer stadium. The Lesson:"Luck is just preparation waiting for a camera. We fought to put our brand in that stadium so that when history happened, we were already in the frame. You can't buy the moment, but you can buy the proximity."

Image
2020

The Expansion

The Bacchus Group. Launching a luxury wine division during a global lockdown. The Lesson:"When the market freezes, most people retreat. We decided to build. We grew the team from 17 to 44 when everyone else was cutting, proving that a crisis is actually the perfect time to steal market share."

Image
2026

The Integration

FloSports. Joining at a moment when sports media is being redefined by streaming, community, and fan depth. The Lesson: “Fans do not want distance anymore. They want access, insight, and belonging. The future of sports partnerships is not about reaching the biggest audience, it is about earning credibility inside the most passionate ones.”

Working at

Working at

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Connect with Chris!

Connect with Chris!

Connect with Chris!

Chris Sandre

Chris Sandre

NEXT Leaders