David S. Blitzer

David S. Blitzer (born 1969) is a co-managing partner and minority owner of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League, Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, Crystal Palace FC of the English Premier League, the Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders of the Triple-A International League, esport company Dignitas, and a senior executive at the private equity firm Blackstone Group.

Blitzer grew up in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. In 1987, he graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. He is married to fellow Penn alumnus Allison Ross. In 1991, he accepted a position with the Blackstone Group where he serves as Senior Managing Director & Head of Tactical Opportunities in New York City.

Blitzer is a member of the investment group that won a $280 million bid for the purchase of the Philadelphia 76ers. The other members of the investment group are: Joshua Harris of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management, portfolio manager Art Wrubel, and former NBA agent and Sacramento Kings executive Jason Levien, all fellow Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania graduates,as well as former Vail Resorts CEO Adam Aron, Martin J. Geller, David B. Heller, Travis Hennings, James Lassiter, Marc Leder, Michael Rubin, Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith, and Indonesian businessmen Handy Soetedjo & Erick Thohir. Comcast-Spectacor and Harris began talks in the summer of 2011.The deal was announced on July 13, 2011.The NBA formally approved the deal on October 13. As of August 2019, the value of the Sixers has increased to $1.7 billion.

On August 15, 2013, it was announced that a group led by Joshua Harris and partner David Blitzer have purchased a majority stake in the New Jersey Devils of the NHL, which includes the rights to operate Prudential Center arena in Newark, New Jersey. The transaction was reportedly for over $320 million. In 2017, Blitzer and Harris formed Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) which will hold all their sports investments; Harris will serve as Owner/Chairman and Blitzer as Owner/Vice-Chairman. As of August 2019, the value of the Devils has increased to $455 million.

In September 2014, he partnered with David Abrams and lead a local investment group that purchased a 50% interest the New York Yankees Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders; Blitzer and Abrams will serve as co-managing owners. In December 2015, Blizer and Harris joined with Steve Parish to a take a controlling stake in Crystal Palace F.C.

In September 2016, Blizer and Harris purchased Dignitas, a professional esports organization based in the United Kingdom formed when Battlefield 1942 clans Legion Condor and Sweden Kompanix merged. It best known for its former League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive squads.

Blitzer and his wife founded the Blitzer Family Foundation which promotes youth development through education, athletics, and health. Blitzer serves on the Boards of Dream, a youth development organizing servicing more than 2,200 inner city children, the Riverdale Country School, the Advisory Board of the Mount Sinai Hospital Surgical Department, the Board of Overseers at the Wharton School, and the Board of Trustees at the University of Pennsylvania. Blitzer is a supporter of Hillel, which focuses on encouraging Jewish undergraduate and graduate students to embrace their Jewish heritage.

Blitzer is married to Allison (née Ross) Blitzer, who is also Jewish; they have five children between the ages of 10–17.

In 2010, his father-in-law, Stuart Ross, who once owned the North American rights to the Smurfs franchise, was convicted of trying to extort $5.5 million from Blitzer in return for having no more contact with Blitzer's family and another $5.5 million from Blitzer for having no more contact with Blitzer and Blackstone. He was convicted of extortion and sentenced to five years of probation under the condition that he get psychiatric and alcohol treatment and has no contact with his daughter Allison, Blitzer, their children, and the Blackstone Group.