Sporting Kansas City has named Jake Reid as the club’s new president, the organization announced.
Reid, 33, has worked for Sporting Kansas City since 2010 and previously served as vice president of ticket sales and service before his promotion to chief revenue officer in 2012. He will oversee all business operations in his new role as Sporting KC president.
“I have been very fortunate to be part of this organization for over five years and I am honored to move into this new role,” Reid said. “The staff that we have at Sporting Kansas City is amazing and they should be recognized for everything they do day in and day out. I am thankful we have an ownership group who constantly pushes all of us at here to deliver the best fan experience in sports. This is an extremely exciting time and we are all looking forward to a great 2016 season.”
“We are excited to see Jake’s role increase at the club,” said Cliff Illig, principal owner of Sporting Kansas City. “Fan experience is a key priority for us at Sporting, and Jake has had a tremendous impact in this area. We are looking forward to continuing progress in all areas of the organization.”
During the last six seasons, Reid has played a pivotal role in guiding an MLS organization that ranked last in nearly every financial measure upon his 2010 arrival to one that is now among league leaders for season ticket sales, corporate sponsorships and merchandise-concession revenue.
Since Reid was appointed chief revenue officer in 2012, Sporting Kansas City has sold out 70 straight MLS matches and has sold all season tickets – including premium inventory – for three consecutive seasons, annually earning the highest recognition in Major League Soccer for season ticket renewals at a rate above 90 percent. Reid was named the 2012 MLS Ticketing Executive of the Year and in 2013 led a staff that won MLS Ticket Sales Team of the Year.
On the sponsorship side, Reid helped secure Ivy Funds as the club’s first-ever jersey sponsor in January 2013 and within two years extended the multi-faceted partnership through 2022. In November 2015, he sealed a 10-year corporate partnership with Children’s Mercy Kansas City for the naming rights to Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan., as part of a youth health and pediatric sports medicine initiative. Sporting KC was recognized as Major League Soccer’s Corporate Sponsorship Team of the Year in 2014 and 2015.
During Reid’s tenure, Sporting Kansas City has climbed into the top five in MLS for revenue from merchandise despite being the league’s second smallest market. More specifically, his oversight of the club’s e-commerce website propelled Sporting KC to No. 1 among MLS teams in online retail business in 2014. At the start of 2015, Reid guided the transition to Legends Hospitality for food and beverage concessions and premium catering at Children’s Mercy Park. He has also collaborated with Sporting Kansas City supporters groups to enhance the game day experience at the stadium.
“Jake’s attention to the growth and vision of the business in all areas has been exceptional,” Sporting Club CEO Robb Heineman said. “He will make an outstanding president and further the great work done by our associates in all of our endeavors.”
Moving forward, Reid will be a driving force behind Sporting Kansas City’s chief endeavors, including the development of No Other Pub, the National Training Center and Swope Soccer Village.
Reid started his career in the National Basketball Association, serving as an account executive with the New Orleans Pelicans and a sales manager with the Charlotte Hornets. He then moved to England to work for Derby County Football Club as a ticket sales manager, helping the club achieve the highest average attendance in the 2008-2009 English Football Championship while also outdrawing nine Premier League teams at the gate.
Outside of the Sporting Kansas City organization, Reid is a committee member for The Victory Project, the Kansas City Sports Commission and Boys Hope Girls Hope of Kansas City. He also helps run the Sporting Club Events business at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan., and Three Points, a 1,400-square-foot event space in downtown Kansas City, Mo.
– Story from Sporting KC
