Real Salt Lake General Manager Steve Pastorino today appointed Trey Fitz-Gerald as the team's Senior Director of Marketing & Communications. The Salt Lake City-based team kicks off its inaugural Major League Soccer season in Spring, 2005.
"We are thrilled to have an individual with Trey's experience in the industry and passion for this League and this sport as one of the architects for the Real Salt Lake organization," said Pastorino. "His understanding of the sport's development in this country and his first-hand knowledge of the vision for soccer crafted by MLS Commissioner Don Garber and the Board of Governors make him an invaluable resource as we integrate MLS into the Utah sporting community as well as that of the national and international soccer marketplace."
Fitz-Gerald returns to Major League Soccer's team level with 13 years of experience in the professional sports industry. The public relations veteran has spent six of the last eight years at the MLS League Office, including the last three as MLS' Senior Director of Communications. Fitz-Gerald returns to his native Rocky Mountains for a third team-related stint, after serving as the Director of Communications for the XFL Las Vegas Outlaws in 2000-01 and in various capacities, including PR, operations and ticket sales, for the MLS Colorado Rapids during the League's inaugural 1996 campaign.
"Major League Soccer is proud that senior executives within our organization seize the opportunity to further their professional careers and advance into more prominent and challenging roles on both the League and team level," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "The experience, knowledge and expertise gained through the years by our League personnel will ensure our new expansion clubs make a seamless transition into the League in their first season. We congratulate Trey on this exciting move to Real Salt Lake and the Dave Checketts-run organization."
As the team's Senior Director of Marketing & Communications, Fitz-Gerald will oversee Real Salt Lake's public relations, marketing and advertising programs, broadcasting initiatives, community relations and sponsor servicing divisions.
Born in Albuquerque, N.M., Fitz-Gerald attended both the University of Texas at Austin and Regis (Colo.) University before beginning his career with two seasons as an assistant in the Denver Nuggets' public relations department. In 1994, he entered the soccer world as the Director of Media and Public Relations for the A-League's flagship franchise, the Colorado Foxes, before joining Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids for its inaugural season (1996). After leading the Rapids' staff in season and group ticket sales while also working in the team's Communications and Operations departments, Fitz-Gerald moved to New York City in March 1997 to join MLS' League headquarters.
Fitz-Gerald arrives in Salt Lake City on October 25, and can be reached at that time by calling (801) 983-1400, or via e-mail at trey.fitz-gerald@RealSaltLake.com. Season tickets are going fast for Real Salt Lake's inaugural campaign. Fans can reserve their seats at Rice-Eccles Stadium for the team's 20-game 2005 MLS schedule by calling 877-MLS-UTAH or logging on to www.RealSaltLake.com.
