Foster School of Business CEO Lunch Series
Tod Leiweke
Vulcan Sports & Entertainment, Seattle Seahawks, First & Goal, Inc.
Speaking at the March 4, 2008 CEO Lunch at the Columbia Tower Club
"Business and Opportunities of Professional Sports"
Tod Leiweke enters his fifth season with the Seattle Seahawks after joining the club in June 2003. The 2007 season marks Leiweke's 25th season in professional sports. Leiweke serves as Chief Executive Officer for the Seattle Seahawks and oversees all aspects of the club. In addition, he is president of First and Goal Inc., the organization that manages Qwest Field and Event Center for the state of Washington. On March 1, 2007, Paul Allen named Leiweke CEO of Vulcan Sports and Entertainment, a new entity in which Leiweke assumes responsibility for all aspects of the Seahawks, First and Goal Inc, the Allen-owned Portland Trail Blazers and Rose Garden.
Last season under Leiweke's direction, the Seahawks sold out of season tickets for the first time since the early 1990’s and developed Blue Pride, the team’s season ticket waiting list. Seattle also extended their sellout streak at Qwest Field to 35 consecutive games.
In 2005, Qwest Field was named by The Sporting News as the finest venue in the National Football League. Under Leiweke's leadership, 2005 was a historic year both on and off the field. In addition to winning the NFC Championship and advancing to the team's first Super Bowl, the Seahawks won the 2005 NFL Sports Fan's Quality Award as the league's "Fan Friendliest" team. During the annual NFL meetings, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue commented on the extraordinary support and involvement of the Seahawks fans.
Leiweke's vision is a Seahawks organization that is committed on behalf of its fans to winning in the stadium and in the community. Leiweke was instrumental in forming the "Spirit of 12" Partnerships. Teaming with Qwest Communications, the partnership benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of King & Pierce Counties, Camp Fire USA, Treehouse, and YMCA of Greater Seattle.
Leiweke serves as a board member on a number of Washington-based organizations including Washington CEO Roundtable, YMCA of Greater Seattle, and the Space Needle. He was instrumental in launching the annual Boeing Classic golf tournament in 2005 and serves as co-chair of the Executive Committee. The tournament has raised nearly $2 million its first two years with the primary beneficiary being The Heart Institute at Virginia Mason Medical Center.
Before joining the Seahawks, Leiweke served as president of the Minnesota Wild and chief operating officer of Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE). Under Leiweke's leadership the Sports Fans of America Association, Inc. awarded its 2003 NHL Sports Fan's Quality Award to the Wild as the league's "Fan Friendliest" team. In an ESPN survey conducted in 2003, the team was ranked number one for stadium experience and number two for fan relationships among 123 sports franchises. The Wild played to sellouts for every game in each of its first four seasons.
Prior to joining the Wild, he served as the inaugural executive director of The First Tee organization which welcomed underprivileged youth into the world of golf through the development of golf facilities throughout North America. Leiweke has also held executive positions with the PGA TOUR, the NHL's Vancouver Canucks and the NBA's Golden State Warriors. Leiweke is a native of St. Louis, Mo. and is married, Tara, with two children, Tyler and Tori.
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