Michael Cantor is the Managing Director of SPD’s Sports & Entertainment Division, overseeing the firm’s partnership in Titletown, a $350 + million mixed-use development over 45 acres adjacent to the Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. Titletown, a live, work, play, stay neighborhood is often pointed to as a leading example of how to leverage professional sports venues to create real economic change and community development for teams and regions.
Mr. Cantor has been leading the planning efforts for the Ottawa Senators to secure a new Downtown Arena in Ottawa. This included being named successful proponent with Capital Sports Development Inc. at LeBreton Flats in conjunction with Canada’s National Capital Commission. He has continued his role with Senators through their ownership and leadership transition in 2023.
Mr. Cantor advises both private and public sector clients within the practice. He was appointed in 2024 by Governor Tony Evers to serve on the Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District Board, a special district charged with the oversight and monitoring of planning, financing, designing, constructing, commission, operating and maintaining American Family Field, home of the Milwaukee Brewers.
He also acted as Owner’s Representative for the Detroit Pistons in their $55 million build-out for team specific spaces, and ensuring adherence to NBA facility standards at Little Caesars Arena which was originally contemplated as the home for only the Detroit Red Wings.
Mr. Cantor has played an important role on the planning and entitlement of New York City’s Willets Point on behalf of Sterling Equities for Queens Development Group., a joint venture of Sterling and Related Companies. This project includes a new soccer specific stadium for New York City Football Club (NYCFC), 2,500 new affordable homes, a standalone public school, a 250-room hotel, over 100,000 square feet of public space and a neighborhood serving ground floor retail space.
Comfortable in the biggest and smallest markets in sports, Mr. Cantor has been active in the MiLB for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Appleton, WI) and the Carolina Mudcats (Wilson, NC). He led the completion of a $15 million renovation to Neuroscience Group Field “NGF” to improve fan facing amenities, and PDL compliance. NGF was named by Ballpark Digest as it’s Ballpark of the Year in 2023, the first Midwest League stadium to win the award. He has also advised the Mudcats on their partnership with the City of Wilson, NC, and New South Ventures on a new stadium set to open in 2026 in the historic downtown.
Mr. Cantor’s other relevant work has included: UBS Arena for the New York Islanders and Oak View Group, New York Mets’ spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, FL, Indian River State College-USA Diving collaboration in Port St. Lucie, and Major League Soccer Advisory efforts.
Mr. Cantor holds a Ph.D., Masters, and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan concentrating on Economic Development, Sport Management, and Urban Planning. He sits on the Sport Management Advisory Board at the University of Michigan, the Weiser Center for Real Estate Advisory Board at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, and is on the Chancellor’s Council of Trustees for the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.
