Foolish Club Studios – the newly launched studio inspired by the leadership of the Kansas City Chiefs – today unveiled the organizational structure and leadership team that will manage the day-to-day business for the studio, including development and production.
The newly announced leadership structure for Foolish Club Studios includes:
- Mark Donovan, Chief Executive Officer for Foolish Club Studios and President of the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Lara Krug, President and Chief Operating Officer of Foolish Club Studios, as well as Executive Vice President and Chief Media and Marketing Officer for the Chiefs.
- Dan Crumb, Chief Financial Officer for Foolish Club Studios and the Chiefs.
- Gelsomina Picariello, Head of Studio and Development for Foolish Club Studios, as well as Senior Director of Media Programming and Development for the Chiefs.
Foolish Club Studios is committed to creating original scripted and unscripted programs for short-form and long-form storytelling that goes beyond the field, celebrating stories of ambition, perseverance, and heart across sports and culture. The studio is engaged in multiple projects and expects to make development announcements in the coming months.
"The idea for Foolish Club Studios was sparked a few years ago, and to see it evolve into a fully operational studio is a testament to the entrepreneurial drive my father exemplified," Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. "Storytelling has always been integral to the Chiefs franchise, and by pushing boundaries and inspiring innovative thinking, we have developed yet another exciting way to make authentic connections with sports fans around the world. I look forward to the great stories that Foolish Club Studios will bring to life on the screen."
Building on recent successful forays into the world of entertainment, including last year's Hallmark Channel collaboration Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story and the viral online holiday Claymation short A Kingdom Christmas Story: Hail Merry, the Chiefs formalized their entertainment efforts by launching the dedicated studio in February 2025 to oversee development of stories that transcend sport – shining a light on "foolish dreamers" who push boundaries to pursue greatness, on the field, at home, or in the game of life.
The announcement also follows the recent first-look reveal of The Kingdom – the official title for the upcoming ESPN Original Series on the Kansas City Chiefs from ESPN, Disney+, and Skydance Sports set to premiere later this year. Produced by Words + Pictures, Foolish Club Studios joins Skydance Sports, NFL Films, and 2PM Productions as a producer on the six-part project that chronicles the club's rich 60-plus-year history and offers unprecedented access to Kansas City's 2024 season through the lens of Chiefs players, coaches, and executives.
The name of the studio is a tribute to Lamar Hunt and his entrepreneurial spirit in forming the American Football League, where the eight original team owners called themselves the "Foolish Club" because they were crazy enough to take on the firmly entrenched National Football League. This spirit of risk-taking and innovation has been a stalwart of the franchise since day one, and as Lamar himself said, "Dream big and set audacious goals. It's only by aiming high that we can reach our full potential." The logo includes a special nod to Lamar, as the word "studio" was inspired by Lamar's handwritten letters.
Foolish Club Studios is part of the Kansas City Chiefs broader strategy to invest in media, storytelling, and global brand expansion. It operates alongside the club's existing 65 Toss Power Trap (65TPT) Production group, the award-winning in-house production arm of the team, which will continue to generate both short-form and long-form football and club content for the core football fan.
The studio's new website has launched at FoolishClubStudios.com where you can register now to receive more information.
