Alex Wicks, Real Madrid’s director of sponsorship, retail and licensing, has taken on a new role as chief executive of the LaLiga club’s stadium, the Santiago Bernabéu.
Wicks will replace Santiago Lopez-Vilas, who will take on a new role at the club, according to The Athletic. Wicks has been at Real Madrid since 2019, having previously headed up the partnership department at Premier League club Arsenal.
Lopez-Vilas held the role of Bernabéu chief executive while the stadium underwent major renovation work. The chief executive role was formed following the creation of a new entity aimed at enhancing the non-football activities of the stadium.
Infrastructure consulting firm AECOM has appointed Andrea Patry as principal senior design lead for AECOM Sports, Buildings + Places in the US.
Patry (pictured) has worked on a variety of sports and entertainment projects and recently developed a study for ‘The Arena of the Future’, documenting current trends in arena and event centre design.
She is also helping Prudential Center, home of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, enhance its fan experience with new premium spaces and reimagined VIP amenities. Previously, Patry has worked on a modernisation of the Seattle Seahawks’ Lumen Field, a revamp of Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, and Everton’s new stadium project.
Madison Square Garden Sports Corp (MSG Sports) has appointed Jamaal Lesane as its new chief operating officer.
Lesane previously served as vice-president and general counsel of MSG Sports from March 2022. The company owns and operates the NBA’s New York Knicks and NHL’s New York Rangers.
His new role will include oversight of business operations for the two teams, including strategic planning, marketing, ticketing and the in-game experience. Lesane joined the MSG family of companies in 2008 having previously worked as an associate counsel at HBO.
Newcastle United has confirmed that co-owner Amanda Staveley will step down from all her positions as part of a restructuring of the Premier League club’s ownership group.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and RB Sports & Media, which is owned by British businessmen the Reuben brothers, will together acquire the shares held by Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners.
PIF will now control around 85% of the club, with RB Sports & Media owning the remaining 15% stake. The structural changes are expected to be completed this month.
The Baltimore Orioles Major League Baseball team has appointed Catie Griggs as its first female president of business operations.
Griggs previously served as president of business operations at the Seattle Mariners, overseeing investments to improve technology, operations and fan experience at T-Mobile Park. Prior to that, she spent four years as chief business officer at Major League Soccer team Atlanta United.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment has announced that Bill Manning, who served as president of MLS team Toronto FC, has mutually agreed to part ways with the company.
Manning also served as president of Canadian Football League team the Toronto Argonauts. He was named Toronto FC president in October 2015 before adding the Argonauts role when the franchise was acquired by MLSE in January 2018.
His departure follows the appointment earlier this year of Keith Pelley as MLSE’s president and chief executive. As part of the transition, Toronto FC general manager Jason Hernandez and Argonauts general manager Michael Clemons will report directly to Pelley.
Do you have news of an appointment that we should know about? Get in touch by emailing news.editor@thestadiumbusiness.com and we’ll include it in our next round-up.
