Lightning name Griggs as Chief Operating Officer

Steve Griggs was named Tuesday as chief operating officer of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the club's home, the St. Pete Times Forum.

Griggs joins the Lightning from the NBA's Orlando Magic, where he had served as executive vice president of sales and marketing since October 2007. When he starts with the Lightning in November, he will become the club's day-to-day operations leader, with an emphasis on revenue generation and brand management.
 
"Steve is one of the rising stars in the sports industry," Lightning CEO Tod Leiweke said in a statement. "His experience in the NHL, and most recently with the NBA's Orlando Magic and the new Amway Center, will serve us well as we work to transform the Lightning and the Times Forum under the leadership of owner Jeff Vinik."

"I welcome Steve to the Lightning and am proud that we have recruited another great leader in the sports industry," Vinik said. "I know he will serve our fans and partners at a very high level."

Prior to working in Orlando, Griggs spent eight seasons as vice president of sales and marketing for the Minnesota Wild and its parent company, Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE). While with the Wild he was responsible for ticket sales and service, corporate sales and service, suite sales and service as well as retail operations. Under his leadership, the club posted 284 consecutive sellouts, totaling more than 5 million fans in the Wild's first six seasons.
 
Griggs and Leiweke worked together for three years in Minnesota, helping to establish the Wild as the NHL's "Fan Friendliest" team in 2003, according to the Sports Fans of America Association, Inc.
 
"Steve has a keen understanding of building relationships with fans and corporate partners," Leiweke said. "He knows how to drive sellouts, which is the ultimate goal from our side of the business."