Hunt Sports Group announced Friday the promotion of Mark McCullers to the expanded role of President/General Manager and that he has agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension. Per club policy, no further terms of the deal were disclosed.
McCullers, 45, is in his fourth full season as General Manager, having been named to the position on an interim basis on July 9, 2004 and earning the removal of that designation in Jan. 19, 2005. Since then, he has steered the organization to impressive growth and progress. Over nine years of dedicated service to the organization began in December 1998 when he came to Columbus to oversee the development of Crew Stadium, the first major-league stadium built specifically for soccer in the U.S., and he was promoted to Executive Vice President of the club in Jan. 2001, before becoming the Crew's third General Manager.
"Mark has done a very good job of improving the Crew organization and related properties. We are pleased to recognize his accomplishments with a promotion and contract extension," said Hunt Sports Group President John Wagner. "He has spearheaded an exciting period in club history and his new title more accurately represents his role. He has ambitious plans for these next three years and we look forward to implementing them."
McCullers has made it the Crew's mandate to establish and sustain a league leadership role in every aspect of club operations. His leadership and vision has transformed the Crew into a sports and entertainment property with greater depth and capacity, with compelling new ideas and projects still on the horizon.
"I want to thank the Hunt family for allowing me the opportunity to continue to serve as the steward of the Columbus Crew organization, which I will always strive to lead in the spirit and vision of (late Founder) Lamar Hunt," McCullers said. "I continue to enjoy the organization, the people I work with and being part of the Columbus community. I look forward to working with our very capable staff and our valued partners over the next three years to achieve our key goals and objectives, which certainly includes -- at the top of the list -- an MLS championship."
The Crew are currently 4-1-0 and in first place in the Eastern Conference this season and off to its best start since 1998. Despite falling agonizingly short of the playoffs in 2007, the Crew made great strides, improving its cohesion, point total and goals scored -- along with virtually every other offensive statistical category -- over 2006 (in two fewer games). A promising nucleus of young talent was augmented by arguably the most significant signing in club history on April 19, 2007, when Argentine superstar Guillermo Barros Schelotto was inked to a two-year contract -- without having to utilize the club's Designated Player slot. One of the most beloved players in the history of storied Buenos Aires club Boca Juniors, Schelotto was named MLS Best XI and club MVP at season's end.
Other competition highlights have included the hiring of Head Coach Sigi Schmid in 2005 and Technical Director Brian Bliss earlier this year, along with the league-record 19-game unbeaten streak (9-0-10) that began at the time of his appointment in July 2004 and was punctuated by the Crew winning the Supporters' Shield (best regular-season record) for the first time.
The biggest news off the field during his tenure came on Oct. 4, 2007, when the Crew and ICI Paints announced a landmark, four-year partnership that positions the Glidden brand as the club's Presenting Partner, the most visible evidence of which is the prominent placement of the Glidden logo on the front of all Crew jerseys starting this year.
Known for crafting strong strategic partnerships, one of McCullers' first such initiatives involved a comprehensive and innovative promotional, marketing and player development agreement with the Ohio South Youth Soccer Association that has provided the Crew with a new, multifaceted platform to consistently communicate with the region's considerable youth soccer programs.
McCullers initiated the launch of the organization's own youth club and player development program, which includes the Crew Soccer Academy and Crew Juniors. In fulfilling Major League Soccer's youth development mandate, the Crew has established a youth player experience unparalleled in its region. The elite Crew Soccer Academy, the professional club's no-fee player development arm, implements a curriculum developed by the Crew technical staff
On the youth development front, McCullers also spearheaded an innovative partnership with Premier Soccer Academies, founded by former Crew and U.S. National Team goalkeeper Brad Friedel in Lorain, Ohio. At the centerpiece of the relationship is PSA's youth club, which will become an official affiliate of the Crew's youth system, be designated the PSA Crew Juniors and form the basis of a collaborative relationship with the Crew Soccer Academy teams, which compete in the new U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
McCullers' commitment to soccer's tremendous grassroots strength is paying dividends across the club's various business interests. Columbus Sports Network retains local TV rights and will broadcast 20 Crew regular-season matches in 2008, ensuring that all 30 games are again available when augmented by national TV broadcasts. Resulting from the club's partnership with dominant radio property Clear Channel Entertainment, the Crew embraces a new radio flagship -- News/Talk 610 WTVN, one of the area's top-rated stations, where Crew fans can enjoy all 30 matches.
In 2007, attendance increased by 15 percent and the club was able to attain a club-record mark in gross sponsorship revenue and corporate partner involvement for the second straight year. Another revenue record fell in 2007, as Crew Stadium enjoyed its highest ever concert revenue year and highest grossing individual concert in the history of the nine-year-old venue, with the inaugural Rock on the Range festival. McCullers has driven numerous stadium development projects during his tenure and the permanent amphitheatre-style stage project will ensure that Crew Stadium becomes the region's top summer outdoor concert venue.
Throughout his 17-year career, McCullers has maintained a taste for high-impact projects and two key priorities are on the drawing board for the Crew. Foremost on the agenda is working with state and city legislators to revitalize the Crew Stadium site to positively reflect on the multitude of visitors to the OEC campus and functionally service the entire complex of facilities. Secondly, is the quest for a Crew training center and multi-field youth soccer complex that will complete the integration of the professional team with the youth soccer community. The Crew training complex will deliver a playing experience of the highest quality for central Ohio soccer enthusiasts and serve as a premier venue for top soccer competitions throughout the region and nationally.
As General Manager of Crew Stadium, McCullers was a key contributor in the historic venue's development and construction. It opened on May 15, 1999 and McCullers was instrumental in luring a succession of marquee events to the new facility, including four U.S. National Team World Cup qualifiers, the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, the 2000 MLS All-Star Game, MLS Cup 2001 and the 2001 and 2003 NCAA Men's College Cups. The Crew would later host the 2005 MLS All-Star Game, as well. Prior to joining the Crew, McCullers served nine years at the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, first as Event Manager for RFK Stadium and the D.C. Armory and then as Assistant Stadium Manager at RFK. During his career at RFK, he helped produce some of the most significant soccer events held in the U.S., including the 1994 World Cup, 1996 Olympic Soccer and MLS Cup 1997.
McCullers also oversees the efforts of the club's charitable arm, the Crew Soccer Foundation, as President of its Board of Directors, and serves on the Buckeye Ranch Foundation Board of Directors, Greater Columbus Sports Commission Advisory Board, Experience Columbus Board of Directors, Experience Columbus Events and Sponsorship Committee, and Anti-Defamation League Diversity in Sports Award Committee.
Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members and U.S. Open Cup champion in 2002, it is currently in its 13th season overall and 10th in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium.
