Toronto FC is proud to announce that they have received the top two executive awards from Major League Soccer. Each year the league announces the winners of the year-end awards, which recognizes individuals and teams for outstanding contributions off the pitch.
Toronto FC's Director of Business Operations Paul Beirne received the prestigious "Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year" award, while Toronto FC's Marketing Manager Cesar Velasco was honoured as the "MLS Marketing Executive of the Year."
"Paul has done a terrific job launching Toronto FC from the ground up, building a business team around him and building a relationship with our fans and the community", said Tom Anselmi, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, and Alternate Governor, Major League Soccer. "Having worked with MLSE for 15 years in a variety of challenging management positions, Paul embraced his new role with Toronto FC and he and Cesar's passion, and business savvy have been instrumental in the record breaking launch of the franchise," added Anselmi.
"Our franchise being recognized by the league in this way, and to get this award really caps an unbelievable season," said Beirne. "I am very lucky to be surrounded by a staff of people who also put their heart and souls into this past year, helping us all achieve what turned out to be a year to remember. Our supporters have been the difference makers in Toronto and I'd also like to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts of all our supporters groups for the devotion and atmosphere they bring to our games."
Velasco joined Toronto FC from his native Mexico in 2006 and oversees the team's marketing, communications, community relations and game operations departments. As a marketing executive in Mexico, and a former player, Velasco managed the innovative grassroots marketing campaign, advertising launch and P.R campaign that was the start of the record breaking season.
These initiatives all helped establish the environment at BMO Field, one in which the fans helped to define Toronto FC's reputation as the best soccer environment in North America.
Toronto FC also received the award for Ticket Sales Team of the Year. Season tickets were capped at 14,000 and sold out by March 30th. As a result of the demand, the team has built a waiting list that has grown to 5000. TFC Account Executives Asif Hossain, Matt O'Brien, and Lynn Lang were all recognized by MLS as leaders in their categories. The team has already sold 16,000 season seats for the upcoming 2008 MLS campaign.
With sell-outs in every single one of their 15 regular season home games, Toronto FC finished with a record of 6-17-7, after enduring numerous injuries, a long stretch away from BMO Field with the arrival of the FIFA U-20 tournament, and National team call-ups.
