🏆 From the Bay to the Bulls: A Journey Through Basketball and Growth

Thomas Sweeney is the Manager of Season Ticket Service for the Chicago Bulls, where he helps lead service and retention strategy for the team’s most loyal fans at the United Center. A Milwaukee native and Marquette graduate, his career has spanned over a decade in the NBA, including nine seasons with the Golden State Warriors where he helped drive record-breaking revenue, oversaw player engagement programs, and earned four championship rings. Before that, he earned his master’s in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco, gaining early experience with the San Jose Earthquakes and USF Athletics.

From Milwaukee to the Bay: Finding His Path in Sports

Sports were always part of Thomas’s DNA. His father has worked at Marquette Athletics for more than 30 years, and both his brothers also built careers in sports. “It was kind of a rite of passage in my family,” he says. A former soccer player at Marquette, he knew he wanted a career that kept him close to the games he loved.

That drive led him west. With family in San Francisco and an uncle who worked for the Golden State Warriors, Thomas enrolled in USF’s Sport Management program, juggling classes with grad assistant roles and part-time work for the San Jose Earthquakes.

When a job finally opened with the Warriors, fate stepped in. “The woman interviewing me asked if I was related to Jim Sweeney; turns out, her aunt and my uncle were great friends at the Warriors. That woman ended up being one of my best friends in life and even spoke at my wedding.” He landed the role, kicking off a nine-year run that would coincide with one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history.

The Warriors Years: Service, Grit, and Growth

At Golden State, Thomas started in ticket service but quickly expanded his role beyond the desk. “Don’t put yourself in a box,” he says. “You have to be willing to do a lot of stuff.” He worked across departments, from PR to marketing to game operations, eventually becoming the team’s main player liaison for postgame meet-and-greets and fan experiences.

“They called it #TomTime,” he laughs. “If I was on the court, it meant the Warriors won.” Those experiences shaped his philosophy on growth: be curious, stay adaptable, and take initiative. “So many leaders there, they all collaborated within the organization. They learned every side of the business. That’s how you grow.”

He also learned humility through success. “I stayed with a team that was winning for a long time,” he reflects. “There was little movement at the top. Looking back, I might have moved earlier, but I don’t regret it. The rings, the people, the lessons, it was worth it. You just can’t judge your title against someone else’s story.”

The Bulls Opportunity: Homecoming and Leadership

When the chance came to join the Chicago Bulls, Thomas was ready. “I’m originally from Milwaukee, and was about to have a kid at the time,” he says. “It was a chance to come back to the Midwest, closer to family, and take the next step.”

Now entering his third season, he is part of the Bulls’ leadership team overseeing service strategy, fan retention, and premium client engagement at one of the NBA’s most iconic arenas.

The USF Experience: Opportunity and Access

Thomas credits the University of San Francisco for giving him both direction and opportunity at a critical point in his career. “The Sport Management program is all about opportunity and access,” he says. “You have access to two major sports markets, the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, surrounded by professional teams, and the alumni network really looks out for one another.” While earning his master’s in Sport Management, he balanced classwork with hands-on roles across campus and local organizations, gaining real experience that would later shape his career approach.

What stood out most to him was how applied the learning was. “It wasn’t just theory in a classroom,” he says. “It was getting out in the field, building relationships, and understanding how the business actually works.” He still credits USF for the early connections that opened doors to the NBA and continues to give back through the alumni board. “Those relationships were everything,” he says. “They set the tone for how I approach my work today.”

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Career Defining Projects

• Season Ticket Holder Community Club: While with the Warriors, Thomas built a program that connected fans with players through their charitable work. “When players engage through causes they care about, the interaction is way more meaningful,” he says. It became a simple but powerful way to bring fans closer to the people behind the jerseys.

• Chase Center Membership Program: During the Warriors’ move to San Francisco, he helped launch the team’s innovative membership platform, a 30-year agreement structure that helped privately finance the new arena. “It was like becoming a de facto lawyer overnight,” he jokes. “A crash course in contracts, revenue models, and fan psychology.”

• NBA Ticket Revenue Record: Thomas’s team broke the league record by surpassing $200 million in ticket revenue, outpacing the next closest team by more than tens of millions. “They only gave us cupcakes and balloons to celebrate,” he laughs, “but it was still surreal.”

Building a Career Around People

For Thomas, sports is about relationships and perspective. “My 600th NBA game might just feel like another Tuesday,” he says, “but for one fan, it’s their first game ever. Maybe they’re going through something. Maybe it’s their favorite player. You have a chance to change someone’s day, maybe even their life.”