Matt Kenny was promoted to Kansas City's Executive Vice President of Arrowhead Operations and Events on March 23, 2021, after originally joining the team as the Vice President of Stadium Services and Events in September 2017. He is entering his fifth season with the club in 2021.
Kenny oversees the fan experience at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, including parking and logistics, event operations, guest services, and the club's relationships with concessions and merchandise partners. He also oversees Arrowhead Events, the non-football revenue-generating arm of the Chiefs, the team's training camp and is the club's main point of contact with the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority. In his expanded role, the stadium operations and facilities functions for both GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and The University of Kansas Health System Training Complex will report to him. Among the special assignments he has taken on, Kenny led the club's planning efforts for the Super Bowl championship parade and rally following the team's victory in Super Bowl LIV.
In 2020, Kenny led the organization's planning and approval efforts to operate the stadium with fans in a COVID environment. Kenny and his teams worked closely with the City of Kansas City Health Department and complied with all NFL and local health guidelines to modify all operating plans. The team and venue successfully hosted the first NFL game of the season with fans during the NFL Kickoff Game in Week 1 and closed the season by hosting the AFC Championship Game with fans, the last non-Super Bowl site to host fans.
Kenny is also leading the evolution of the club's retail and hospitality experience. With the guiding principles of speed of service, quality product and customer value, the advancements include the transition to cashless payments, introduction and expansion of mobile ordering, kiosk order and payment and grab and go concessions stands. Additionally, Kenny has spearheaded the introduction of three new all-inclusive club spaces inside the stadium, the development of the Ford Tailgate District, the repositioning of the Arrowhead Tailgate Suites presented by Tickets for Less and the redesign and renovation of the retail experience at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Despite industry setbacks caused by the pandemic, Arrowhead Events continues to schedule and host regional and world-class events, including the biggest touring artists, Monster Jam, NCAA Div. I football and the development of owned assets, including the Kansas City BBQ Festival.
Kenny was part of a group of team and civic leaders, which included the Kansas City Sports Commission, who successfully secured the bid for Kansas City to host the 2023 NFL Draft, and he is currently a member of the executive committee working to bring the 2026 FIFA World Cup to Kansas City and GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Kenny joined the Chiefs after five years as Senior Director of Event Operations for the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field in Chicago. While in Chicago, he was responsible for leading event operations and transforming the guest experience. In addition, he led the development and operations of the enterprise-wide events business and served as a project manager and contributor to the Wrigley Field restoration and related real estate developments.
Prior to his time at Wrigley Field, Kenny served as Senior Director of Security and Event Services for the Milwaukee Brewers and Miller Park in Milwaukee. In his role, he oversaw all events and the guest experience at Miller Park, including food and beverage and parking partners, and supported the procurement of non-baseball event opportunities. In addition, he maintained relationships with the City of Milwaukee and the Stadium District.
Before joining the Major League Baseball ranks, Kenny worked for the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority in Omaha, Neb., serving as House Manager for Omaha Civic Auditorium. While there, he coordinated and managed all aspects of facilities and events at the venues, including the group's arena, convention center and theater.
He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Kansas City Sports Commission, the Stadium Managers Association and serves on the Kansas City 2026 World Cup Bid Executive Committee.
Kenny studied finance at Miami University's Richard T. Farmer School of Business in Oxford, Ohio, and spent three years in the Executive Education Program at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
Links
Sign up to view 3 direct reports
Get started