Rocco Commisso

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Lore & Background

Born in Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, Calabria, Italy, Commisso migrated to the United States at age 12. He attended Mount Saint Michael Academy high school in the Bronx and Columbia University, earning a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in 1971 and an MBA in 1975. He was co-captain of Columbia's varsity soccer team. Commisso began his career at Pfizer, then spent ten years in finance at Chase Manhattan Bank and Royal Bank of Canada. From 1986 to 1995, he was executive vice president, chief financial officer, and director of Cablevision Industries Corporation. He founded Mediacom in 1995, took it public in 2000, and took it private again in 2011. Commisso purchased a majority stake in the New York Cosmos in January 2017 and became chairman. He bought Fiorentina in June 2019. In July 2025, he sold the rights to the Cosmos name to a USL League One expansion team and became a minority owner of that club. Commisso died on January 16, 2026, at age 76.

In Their Own Story

The purchase of Fiorentina by Commisso was formalized on June 6, 2019, giving him recognition for field development. The deal closed on June 24, 2019, with an estimated price tag between $150–200 million. Commisso immediately looked to expand the club's American footprint, entering the International Champions Cup 2019 preseason tournament. When the coronavirus pandemic struck in spring 2020, Commisso personally led the Forza e Cuore GoFundMe campaign, raising over $1 million (€872,000) for Florence hospitals. His most lasting physical contribution came in fall 2023 with the opening of Viola Park, a 31-hectare training complex designed by Marco Casamonti in Bagno a Ripoli. The facility houses the men's, women's, and youth teams. Commisso's ownership ended with his death on January 16, 2026, at age 76. His funeral was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on January 21, and a memorial mass was celebrated at Florence's Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore on January 26.

Reader's Guide

Commisso's ownership of Fiorentina began in June 2019. He led a GoFundMe campaign, Forza e Cuore, raising over $1 million for Florence hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic. In fall 2023, he commissioned Viola Park, a state-of-the-art training center in Bagno a Ripoli, designed by architect Marco Casamonti, spanning over 31 hectares. The club's first US venture was the International Champions Cup 2019. Commisso also owned the New York Cosmos from 2017 until selling the name rights in 2025. He was involved in the NASL antitrust lawsuit against USSF and MLS, which ended with a jury ruling against the NASL in February 2025.

Did You Know?

• Commisso was a three-time All-Ivy League honoree in soccer at Columbia University.
• He was inducted into the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.
• Commisso received the Vanguard Award for Distinguished Leadership, the cable industry's highest honor, in 2009.
• He was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honour in 2015.