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October 10-12, 2017
Atlanta, GA

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MIKE BUCEK

Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Michael Bucek is in his eighth season as the Royals Vice President-Marketing & Business Development. He oversees the Royals marketing and branding, ticket sales and service, corporate partnerships, digital platforms, radio broadcast sales and game entertainment. During his tenure, the Royals established a franchise attendance record and unprecedented growth for corporate sales revenue. The number of followers and engagement across all Royals social platforms consistently outperforms the size of the home market. The Royals have instituted digital tickets, variable and full dynamic pricing, backed by a growing analytics group. Royals marketing efforts have been recognized with numerous national and local awards including a Gold Clio.

Prior to joining the Royals in 2009, Bucek spent five years with the NHL Arizona Coyotes where he was the club’s Executive Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer. During Bucek’s tenure, the Coyotes’ marketing department created numerous initiatives designed to grow the sport of hockey in a non-traditional market and received several prestigious awards, including the NHL’s Best Member Club Marketing Campaign. 

Bucek spent two years with the Indy Racing League where he served as Vice President of Sales and Business Development. In this capacity, Bucek was responsible for managing corporate sales, fulfillment, and business development for the IndyCar Series.

Bucek also previously was with the Milwaukee Brewers as Vice President of Ballpark Development for six seasons. He played an integral role in the development of Milwaukee’s ballpark and negotiated the naming rights and concessions agreements for Miller Park as well as primary sponsorship and broadcast rights agreements. He supervised the suites sales campaign and participated in the ballpark design process.

He served as the Director of Marketing and Broadcasting for the Chicago White Sox for seven years. He was responsible for corporate sales and fulfillment, marketing, promotions, broadcasting and game entertainment. He negotiated sponsorship and broadcast agreements for the White Sox and created new branding for the franchise, producing unprecedented licensed product sales in the early 1990’s.

Bucek’s career in sports started with a three-year stint in the Pacific Coast League with the San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate Phoenix Firebirds from 1985 to 1988.