Blues Name CEO For Newly-Created Business Ops Division

McLoughlin Group: Blues Tap Anheuser- Busch Exec To Lead Business Arm

The Blues named Anheuser-Busch VP/Corporate Media Peter McLoughlin CEO of St. Louis Blues Enterprises, a new division of the Blues and Savvis Center operation. McLoughlin will report directly to Sports Capital Partners (SCP) Chair & CEO Dave Checketts (Blues). In St. Louis, Christopher Boyce reports Blues Enterprises will be run as a “separate division devoted solely to business operations,” and will concentrate on “boosting revenue from ticket sales and sponsorships.” SCP Principal Mike McCarthy said that the creation of Blues Enterprises “was a way to separate the Blues business operations from the hockey portion.” McCarthy: “We felt right at the outset that [Blues President John Davidson] should be focused on winning hockey games and there were so many diverse business challenges facing the Blues in 2006 that somebody else ought to be brought in to manage those.” McLoughlin said that his job will be to “improve the team’s visibility among fans through sponsors willing to make long-term commitments.” McLoughlin will also be involved in the sale of the Savvis Center naming rights. Savvis paid $5.5M last year to end a 20-year, $72M deal signed in ’00 (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 7/7).