Photo: DAVID ALVAREZ / MIAMI HEAT
E
ven after two decades working for the Miami Heat, Kim Stone continues to make her mark by playing a key role in growing the team’s business.
Kim Stone
Miami Heat / AmericanAirlines Arena |
Executive Vice President / General Manager
Consider that bookings at AmericanAirlines Arena in the past year ranked among the top three years since the facility opened more than 15 years ago, even though the Heat missed the NBA playoffs and cost the arena some dates.
“The arena business has continued to grow,” Stone said. “People now want to come and play in our building. We are in a very competitive market with the Florida Panthers’ arena up the street, and we fight tooth and nail for every show. Business has ticked up every year.”
Stone also is involved in running the team’s basketball business, where the Heat has preserved its season-ticket base after LeBron James left South Florida to return to Cleveland before the 2014-15 NBA season. Despite James’ departure and the Heat’s failure to make the postseason, Miami’s season-ticket renewal rate has remained above 90 percent, both for last season and for the coming year.
“The last time we didn’t make the playoffs [2008], we had a retention rate in the 50s,” Stone said. “Coming off the blow of LeBron leaving, it has been an amazing transformation. Despite the year and the setback, we had a 92 percent retention rate. To be part of the team and the vision was my proudest accomplishment over the past year.”
— John Lombardo
- Notable professional achievement: My proudest moment actually happened over the course of four years, from 2011 through 2014. During that time, we hosted four consecutive NBA Finals and produced two successful NBA world championship parades, in 2012 and 2013. It was an intense time and very challenging, but I am so proud of what our team accomplished.
- Best advice received: Personally, it was my mom who always told me: “Where there is a will, there is a way.” Professionally, it comes from Bill Sutton, who would often remind me: “Actions speak louder than words.”
- Causes supported: Miami Police Athletic League; Aqua Foundation; Save Dade; Human Rights Campaign; Golden Retriever Rescue of South Florida; Orange Bowl Committee; Miami Downtown Development Authority; Florida Facility Managers Association.
- Most memorable sporting event attended: Game 6 of the 2006 Finals in Dallas, when we won the Miami Heat’s first world championship.
- If my colleagues were asked to describe me, they would say I: Am a collaborative, caring and competitive leader.
