MLS expansion club Los Angeles FC has tabbed Jamie Guin from Sporting Kansas City as its first senior vice president of partnerships.
Guin’s hiring is the latest move for the club in building out its staff ahead of its scheduled 2018 debut. Former Live Nation executive Carl Schloessman was hired as COO this spring.
Guin spent the last three years in Kansas City as vice president of corporate partnerships for that MLS club. During that time, Sporting KC saw its revenue from the corporate partnerships department increase from $4.2 million in 2012 to $8.3 million last year. The team was named the 2014 MLS Corporate Partnerships Team of the Year during MLS’s annual club and executive awards ceremony.
Before working with Sporting KC, Guin worked in the corporate partnerships department of the New Orleans Hornets.
Guin said he expects to be in his new position with LAFC by the end of the month.
LAFC has retained Legends to provide a variety of services in regard to developing its planned stadium complex, a project pegged as likely the most expensive such effort in MLS history at more than $250 million. The privately funded complex will include an expected 22,000-seat stadium along with additional space for restaurants, offices and an international soccer museum. Legends will serve as owner’s representative managing the project and selling premium seating for the Gensler-designed stadium.
Guin will work with Schloessman on obtaining naming-rights deals and sponsorship opportunities across multiple categories and locations at the complex ahead of the team’s 2018 start.
LAFC’s front office also includes team President Tom Penn, who also is a co-owner. Other co-owners in what is a star-studded consortium for the club include Golden State Warriors co-owner Peter Guber, Henry Nguyen, Magic Johnson, Nomar Garciaparra and Mia Hamm.
