Personal Info

Bio

Chris McGowan, in his 15th year with the Kings and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility dating back to 1996 when he began his career as an Account Executive in the Kings’ ticket sales department. One of the many highlights of his work with AEG was his role in opening Staples Center in October 1999. Through the years, he has progressed from a number of staff positions to his current executive position with the Kings.


McGowan has developed an extensive sports and entertainment sales and marketing background by working on a variety of large-scale sports and entertainment events. He managed the Premium Seating (Luxury Suite and Club Seat) sales efforts for all of AEG’s venues in Southern California including STAPLES Center, Home Depot Center and NOKIA Theater. Under McGowan’s leadership each of these venues set industry records for premium seating revenue. As SVP, Sales and Marketing for AEG from 2003-2007, McGowan was responsible for sales and marketing efforts for AEG’s Southern Californian properties which included the Kings, Los Angeles Riptide (Major League Lacrosse), AVP Southern California, WTA Tour Championships (Tennis), East West Bank Classic (Tennis), UCI Track Cycling at the ADT Event Center, Amgen Tour of California (Cycling), world championship Boxing matches at STAPLES Center and Home Depot Center, US Track & Field Championships, Adidas Track Classic and various international soccer matches. Additionally, McGowan worked on several special events including the Grammy’s, Latin Grammy’s, Rose Bowl, concerts, awards shows, family shows and the King Tut exhibit tour.


McGowan, now in the fourth season as SVP, Business Operations/CMO, manages the various business departments of the Kings organization and is responsible for club revenues. His responsibilities include developing strategies to grow the Kings’ fan base and enhance the fan experience. Other areas of responsibility include ticket sales and service, ticket operations, marketing and advertising, branding initiatives, promotions, new media, game presentation, communications, broadcasting, fan development, community relations and human resources. McGowan is also actively involved in sponsorship sales and service efforts for the team. Additionally, he oversees all out-of-market preseason games including international games in Salzburg, Austria and London, England, and nationally in Kansas City, Salt Lake City, Ontario and the popular Frozen Fury game that was played for the 13th season in Las Vegas. McGowan is a contact and liaison with the NHL for business related matters. His efforts played an important role in the Kings being awarded the 2010 NHL Entry Draft that was hosted at STAPLES Center June 24-26, 2010. McGowan also assists in the management and operations of the Toyota Sports Center.


Under McGowan’s leadership he has implemented the organizations vision of being the model of excellence in sports by providing the fans, corporate partners and community members the best experience – both on and off the ice. McGowan has overseen significant initiatives over the past four seasons including the creation of a new stand alone Kings customer service department responsible for providing Royal Service to all Kings fans, the successful launch of the Kings Ice Crew and club’s popular mascot, Bailey, which now makes more than 600 local appearances every year, the development of the Kings new brand identity -- Pride=Passion=Power -- the introduction of the popular alternate logo and jersey and the implementation of the LA Kings I.C.E (Impacting the Community and the Environment) program where Kings employees and players volunteer on a monthly basis for important Southern Californian causes. Over the course of McGowan’s tenure, the organization has seen record growth in broadcast ratings, website traffic and sponsorship and ticket sales revenues. In 2009, the Kings experienced the largest growth in paid attendance in the NHL and sold out STAPLES Center 27 times.


McGowan is active in the Southern California community where he currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Jr. Kings Amateur Hockey Program, the Kings Care Foundation and the Kings Alumni Association. He is an Advisory Board Member of the Baylor University Sports, Sponsorship, and Sales Program and serves on the Advisory Board of Team Primetime, a local non-profit program providing intervention programs that combine academics, athletics, leadership training and arts for at-risk children in the Los Angeles area.

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1 year 26 weeks

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