In Racing, Giles Dowden finds his lane.
By C. Brandon Chapman
Giles Dowden’s job keeps him fairly busy. He’s busy making sure the sponsors are happy, the champagne is cold, and the VIP suite has a great view.
It’sfun for him because that aforementioned view is the finish line and revolves around fast cars, high-profile sponsors, and making race weekends unforgettable for corporate clients.
Giles is the Director of Sales and Client Services for Green Savoree Racing Promotions, the company behind some of the biggest IndyCar events in North America. Four races out of the entire 17-race IndyCar circuit — including the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which happens to be Giles’ “home race” — are under the Green Savoree banner.
And Giles is in the middle of it all.
“We sell the sponsorships, suites, and VIP club access,” he said. “But it’s not just about selling. It’s about making sure our clients get taken care of. That’s a big part of the job.”
In short: He brings in the money and keeps the big wigs happy.
But it wasn’t always champagne podiums and custom pit passes. Before racing, there was Pullman. Before IndyCars, there were internships and marketing gigs and one very impactful experience in the WSU Sport Management program, which this fall celebrates its 40th anniversary.
“I had a deep passion for sports — college and pro — and wanted to make it my career,” he said. “Sport Management helped me understand how the industry actually works. It was practical, and it was realistic.”
Realistic enough that when he graduated, he didn’t just step into sports, he sprinted. First with the Seattle SuperSonics. Then the Mariners. Then the Seahawks. He sold corporate partnerships for all three and, not to brag (okay, perhaps a little), was the only person to work on the opening and founding sponsorships for KeyArena, Safeco Field, and Seahawks Stadium.
Let that sink in.
That was phase one of his career: the Pacific Northwest hustle.
Phase two came in 2005, when he packed up and moved to Florida. “I just wanted to try a different part of the country,” he said. That “try” turned into a long stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning, part-time work with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (he is a guest relations lead for the exclusive Hall of Fame Club on game days), and eventually, his current gig with Green Savoree starting in 2011.
Still, through all the moves and major league logos, his foundation with the Sport Management program stuck with him. That included WSU Athletics, and VP of the Students Promoting Athletics. And even an internship with Oregon in marketing and broadcasting.
“The practicums and internships gave me the confidence,” Giles said. “Those experiences helped me walk into pro sports and feel ready.”
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This feature is one in a series of features the College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences is sharing, leading up to the Sport Management program’s 40th Anniversary celebration on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.