2007 MEDIA GUIDE - Seahawks Online Media Packet

FRONT OFFICE 20TOD LEIWEKECEO VULCAN SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENTTod Leiweke enters his fifth season with theSeattle Seahawks after joining the club inJune 2003. The 2007 season is Leiweke’s 25thseason in professional sports. Leiwekeserves as Chief Executive Officer for theSeattle Seahawks and oversees all aspects ofthe club. In addition, he is president of Firstand Goal Inc., the organization that managesQwest Field and Event Center for the state ofWashington. On March 1, 2007, Paul Allennamed him CEO of Vulcan Sports andEntertainment, a new entity in which Leiwekeassumes responsibility for all aspects of theSeahawks, First and Goal Inc, the AllenownedPortland Trail Blazers and RoseGarden. Last season under Leiweke’s direction,the Seahawks sold out of season ticketsfor the first time since the early 1990’s anddeveloped Blue Pride, the team’s season ticketwaiting list. Seattle also extended theirsellout streak at Qwest Field to 35 consecutivegames. In 2005, Qwest Field was namedby The Sporting News as the finest venue inthe National Football League. UnderLeiweke’s leadership, 2005 was a historicyear both on and off the field. In addition towinning the NFC Championship and advancingto the team's first Super Bowl, theSeahawks won the 2005 NFL Sports Fan'sQuality Award as the league's "Fan Friendliest"team. During the annual NFL meetings,NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue commentedon the extraordinary support and involvementof the Seahawks fans. Leiweke’s visionis a Seahawks organization that is committedon behalf of its fans to winning in the stadiumand in the community. Leiweke was instrumentalin forming the “Spirit of 12”Partnerships. Teaming with Qwest Communications,the partnership benefits theAmerican Heart Association, Boys & GirlsClubs Washington State Association, CampFire USA, Treehouse, and YMCA of GreaterSeattle. Leiweke serves as a board memberon a number of Washington-based organizationsincluding Washington CEO Roundtable,YMCA of Greater Seattle, and The SpaceNeedle. He was instrumental in launching theannual Boeing Classic golf tournament in2005 and serves as co-chair of the ExecutiveCommittee. The tournament has raised nearly$2 million its first two years with the primarybeneficiary being The Heart Institute atVirginia Mason Medical Center. Before joiningthe Seahawks, Leiweke served as presidentof the Minnesota Wild and chief operatingofficer of Minnesota Sports & Entertainment(MSE). Under Leiweke's leadershipthe Sports Fans of America Association, Inc.awarded its 2003 NHL Sports Fan's QualityAward to the Wild as the league's "FanFriendliest" team. In an ESPN survey conductedin 2003, the team was ranked numberone for stadium experience and number twofor fan relationships among 123 sports franchises.The Wild played to sellouts for everygame in each of its first four seasons. Prior tojoining the Wild, he served as the inauguralexecutive director of The First Tee organizationwhich welcomed underprivileged youthinto the world of golf through the developmentof golf facilities throughout NorthAmerica. Leiweke has also held executivepositions with the PGA TOUR, the NHL’sVancouver Canucks and the NBA’s GoldenState Warriors. Leiweke, 47 (1/12/60), is anative of St. Louis, Mo. and is married, Tara,with two children, Tyler and Tori.