Name: Stew MacDonald
Position: Oilers Entertainment Group Chief Commercial Officer
Where I’m from: Ottawa
Where I call home: Edmonton
Focusing on right now: I am happy to say, after a bit of a drought, the NHL playoffs. There is no better way to cap off an amazing first year in Rogers Place and reward Oilers fans who have kept our home arena completely sold out for the last 12 seasons. Our fans have earned a reputation for being some of the most passionate in the world of sports and they are at their best at playoff time. Although our staff is deep into planning and executing a variety of playoff initiatives, we are really about getting out of the way of our fans and allowing them to create our home-ice advantage.
Best advice: My parents believed in the golden rule: treat others as you’d like to be treated. I try to live up to that.
Exec I admire: I’m fortunate to have been led and mentored by some incredible individuals in this industry, (OEG CEO & Vice Chair) BOB NICHOLSON and (former OEG President & CEO) PATRICK LAFORGE being the two most recent. One gentleman I have long admired is American Hockey League President & CEO DAVE ANDREWS. I have known Dave as a friend and colleague going on 30 years. I was fortunate enough to see his leadership first-hand during the time I spent running the Saint John Flames. Dave’s ability to navigate the world of professional sports through his leadership style, vision, critical thinking and passion has kept the AHL at the forefront. He has inspired great loyalty from both his staff and league stakeholders, and while he’s serious about what he does, he’s also quick to share his great sense of humour.
A must for a new hire: Be passionate, be loyal, be humble, be inquisitive, work harder, don’t worry about your title or your next role, and for the most part, if you possess a reasonable amount of brain power, you can enjoy a long and rewarding career in this great industry.
First thing you do in the morning: Like probably everyone, before heading to work I check emails, texts and news and sports headlines.
Talking tech: The ongoing ability for virtual reality to enhance the fan experience. Two recent examples being Sportsnet and Molson partnering to deliver hockey fans a front-row 360 VR experience during live NHL broadcasts, and Ticketmaster adding VR to their 360 seat view to allow fans an even better sense of sightlines from their various seating options.
Must-have music: From the used record bin, VAN MORRISON’s '74 live album “IT'S TOO LATE TO STOP NOW.” And for something more recent, Vancouver’s JAPANDROIDS' new release “NEAR TO THE WILD HEART OF LIFE.”
Book shelf: I seem to be collecting more books than reading them, but I recently re-read JAMES COLLINS’ “GOOD TO GREAT.” His broad message is so relevant to a fast-paced industry like professional sports, given both the opportunities and distractions presented to us daily. The ability to focus on being great and not settling for simply being good is critical to OEG’s long-term success.
Food for thought: I must plug Edmonton’s food scene, which has undergone incredible growth over the last decade, especially downtown where Rogers Place is located. When traveling, I look for unique local spots. My most memorable dining experience in the last couple months was in downtown L.A., but it wasn’t dinner. On a Sunday morning, a few friends joined me for a first visit to Eggslut. After standing in line for 30 minutes, we were rewarded with a delicious, dripping mess of a breakfast sandwich. Simple pleasure and expectations exceeded.
How I unwind: My wife SHEILA surprised me at Christmas with a turntable, so I now really look forward to spending a couple hours each week hunting for used records. As part of a generation that grew up with vinyl, I had really forgotten how much enjoyment can come from browsing through record bins, reading liner notes and flipping sides of an LP.
Day in the life: With three hockey clubs, a PBR event, the incredible Rogers Place and the under-construction ICE District, definitely no two days are alike. With OEG’s commitment to growth, I try to balance my time between our priorities of growing and optimizing revenue with all our brands, and deepening our relationships with our many fan bases. And I guess I can add, attending a fair amount of live events. It’s definitely an exciting time to be part of this organization.
