CARSON, Calif. - Club Deportivo Chivas USA of Major League Soccer today announced that Shawn Hunter, one of one of the most experienced and innovative sports marketing minds in the United States, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of Chivas USA Enterprises, LLC, Chivas USA's parent company. With an accomplished 20-year track record in ticket sales and corporate partnerships, and hands-on experience with start-up sports franchises, Hunter takes over the day-to-day operation of MLS's three-year-old Mexican-owned, Los Angeles-based club.
"We are excited today to present Shawn Hunter, one of the most recognized sports businessmen in this country, as our new President and CEO," said Chivas USA Co-Owner Antonio Cué. "I am confident that, with the addition of Shawn to both our front office team and our ownership group, Chivas USA will continue its ascent towards the upper echelons of the soccer landscape in the United States."
Added Cué: "Since Chivas USA was founded in 2004, we have managed, in just three short years, to turn Chivas USA from the league's last-place team to a team that, this Thursday night at The Home Depot Center, will looks to claim first place in the Western Conference with a win against the LA Galaxy. Now, the time is right for us to build upon our successes in corporate sponsorship, merchandising and commercial rights and continue to improve our front office."
Hunter joins Chivas USA from AEG, one of the world's leading sports and entertainment presenters, where for five years he held the dual titles of Chief Marketing Officer and President, AEG Sports. In the latter role, Hunter oversaw AEG's marquee sports events and eleven sports teams worldwide, as well as the company's marketing partnership with Chivas USA.
"Words can't describe how excited I am about this newest challenge in my career," said Hunter. "Since I first began working with Chivas USA on behalf of AEG three years ago, I have been captivated by the passion of this organization and the intense devotion of both its fans and players. I know that Chivas USA has only begun to realize its tremendous potential and - though I know it will be a process - I look forward to helping take this club to the next level. I can't wait to get to work."
Hunter, 44, brings to Chivas USA not only his vast experience in managing sports and entertainment properties, but also a proven track record in successfully launching fledgling sports organizations.
Prior to joining AEG, Hunter was for six years the President of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes. Under his leadership, in the Coyotes' first four seasons, the club played to a 94-percent capacity (including 69 sellouts) and transformed Phoenix into a hockey hotbed. Hunter developed and launched the popular Coyotes logo and uniform, secured strategic television and radio broadcast partnerships for the team and created cutting edge marketing and ticketing campaigns, laying the groundwork to position the Coyotes as a premier sports franchise in Arizona.
Hunter joined the Coyotes from the Colorado Avalanche in 1996. As the club's executive vice president, Hunter's first achievement was reaching a cap of 12,000 season ticket sales in just under six weeks - before the team even had a name. He was instrumental in creating and implementing the Avalanche team colors and logo as well as the logo for the Denver Nuggets. His creative initiatives and team merchandising efforts resulted in a Top 10 placement among NBA teams on an international level for licensed apparel sales.
Since joining AEG in 2002, Hunter has also been influential in a number of major business developments in Major League Soccer. As one of AEG's representatives on MLS's Board of Directors, Hunter played a role in the formulation of the Designated Player Rule, which opened the doors for the arrival of such international stars, during the 2007 MLS season, as the New York Red Bulls' Juan Pablo Ángel, the Chicago Fire's Cuauhtémoc Blanco and the LA Galaxy's David Beckham. On behalf of AEG, Hunter also secured the Galaxy's multimillion dollar jersey sponsorship following Beckham's signing.
In addition, for the past five years Hunter has chaired - and will continue to chair - the MLS Business Development Committee, which has recently approved such important initiatives as the sponsorship of MLS jersey fronts and the guaranteed distribution of every single MLS game via local television.
A native of Lawrence, Kansas, Hunter began his career in professional sports as a corporate account executive with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves during the team's inaugural season in 1988-89. During his tenure with the Timberwolves, the franchise set a new single-season attendance record for the NBA, as more than 1.1 million fans passed through the turnstiles. He received both his undergraduate degree in business administration (1986) and his master's degree in finance (1988) from the University of Kansas. Shawn and his wife, Deidre have two sons, Dillon and Daulton.
