NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Galaxy promote Tom Payne to Vice President of Programming and Business Development

November 24, 2004 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - LA Galaxy News Release


CaRSON, CA (Wednesday, November 24, 2004) - Los Angeles Galaxy President and General Manager Doug Hamilton announced today that Tom Payne has been promoted to Vice President of Programming and Business Development. Most recently, Payne served as the Director of Business Development before being elevated to his new role where he will oversee Youth Development Programs, Special Projects, and the Community Development and Operations departments at the Galaxy. In addition, he will direct all programming initiatives, from youth events to international and spring training matches.

“We are pleased to announce the promotion of Tom Payne to Vice President of Programming and Business Development,” said Hamilton. “He has worked extremely hard during his two years with the Galaxy to establish a variety of new ventures, revenue streams and grassroots partnerships for us throughout the Southland. We look forward to continuing those projects and adding to them under his guidance in the future.”

Payne has spearheaded the club’s business development efforts since joining the club in April 2003. He worked closely with Brazilian club Sao Paulo FC to ensure the proper execution of the International Protocols agreement between the clubs. Additionally, he led the club’s initiatives to create new revenue streams through non-traditional events and tournaments such as Copa LA and Futbolito, which both attracted record numbers of participants in 2004. He was also instrumental in the club’s successful bid to host MLS Cup for the second consecutive year.

A native of New York, Payne coordinated the club’s preseason and international schedules for 2004 and is already planning their 2005 schedules. In 2004, he organized preseason matches in prominent markets such as Raleigh, NC against Kansas City Wizards and Nashville, TN versus Mexican club Tecos de UAG. At The Home Depot Center, he pitted the Galaxy against the national team of China and Sao Paulo FC. For 2005, the Galaxy’s preseason plans have the club slated to head to Hawaii in February for a match against D.C. United and at least two outlying California markets.

Prior to joining the Galaxy front office in time for the 2003 MLS season, Payne spent nearly five years as a sports sales manager at Disney Sports Attractions in Orlando, Florida. Among his many accomplishments there was the creation of Disney’s Soccer Showcase, the premier tournament nationwide at which college coaches recruited players. In 2002, 156 of the top youth teams in the country participated in the event, showcasing their skills for more than 400 coaches.

Payne also established and fostered several long-term relationships between Disney Sports Attractions and several top soccer organizations including U.S. Soccer, Manchester United, Celtic FC, Major League Soccer and the United States Youth Soccer Association. His work was instrumental in Disney’s hosting of the MLS’ Spring Training Tournament at its Wide World of Sports complex in 1998.

He has also spent some time in a consulting role for MLS and Disney Sports Attractions and was responsible for the sales and marketing department, which presented the 1998 MLS All-Star Game in Orlando, FL, the second best attended All-Star Game in league history. His roots in soccer began in 1997 when he was an account executive for the Tampa Bay Mutiny.

Los Angeles Galaxy season tickets are already on sale for their tenth year celebration in 2005. For more information or to purchase tickets, which start as low as $300 for adults and $240 for children, call the Galaxy ticket office toll-free today at 1-877-3GALAXY.


• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from November 24, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central