12/10 News Cordaro Wins "40 Under 40" Honor
December 10, 2009 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA, NE - Omaha Royals Vice President/General Manager Martie Cordaro will be among the Midlands Business Journal's "40 Under 40" honored on Friday, December 11th. The 2009 class of 40 entrepreneurs and business executives under the age of 40 will be honored at a breakfast awards ceremony at the Omaha Marriott in Regency, beginning at 7:00 a.m.
In his second season as the Royals' general manager in 2009, Cordaro's leadership was instrumental in the team drawing 371,046 fans over 68 home dates. The Triple-A club's total attendance and per-game average of 5,457 fans in 2009 were both the largest figures since the 2000 season. Attendance at Royals games last season was up nearly six percent compared with 2008 and was 12 percent higher than the 2007 season.
This past year, Cordaro was intimately involved in every aspect of the initial research and ultimate negotiation process with the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners to build a new stadium for the team, keeping Major League-affiliated, Triple-A baseball in the Omaha metro area when Rosenblatt Stadium closes following the Royals' 2010 season.
Cordaro also played a large role in the development and execution of two cutting edge promotions during the 2008 and 2009 seasons that were honored by ESPN the Magazine. Ty Cobb Night in 2008 and Four Weddings and a Funeral last season both won Veeckie Awards, given to a select group of Minor League Baseball teams for the best promotions of the year.
"Martie Cordaro is a dynamo," said Alan Stein, Royals President. "His energy and enthusiasm for his job, family and the community are incredible. He is totally dedicated to being the best and, through his leadership, making sure that our entire team is at its best. In our business, the successful folks are those who understand that our entire raison d'etre is about the fan experience and community involvement. Martie Cordaro 'gets it'."
"Martie Cordaro has demonstrated outstanding leadership for both the Omaha Royals and the community," said Linda Lovgren, President and CEO of Lovgren Marketing Group. "As the Royals moved through the complicated process of developing a new baseball stadium he handled media interviews and negotiations like a seasoned professional and created enthusiasm in the community for this major effort."
An eleven-year veteran of Minor League Baseball, Cordaro joined the Royals in 2007 as the club's assistant general manager for business development. He came to Omaha from Battle Creek, Michigan, where he spent the 2005-2006 as the general manager for the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays (Tampa Bay's Class-A affiliate). Cordaro spent 2003-2004 as director of sales for the Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox' Double-A club). He got his start in professional baseball in 1999 with the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Chicago Cubs' Double-A team).
Cordaro graduated from Louisiana Tech University, earning a bachelor's degree in marketing. He is a state director for Community Health Charities of Nebraska and is on the Regional Advisory Council of the Keith Worthington Chapter of the ALS Association, helping raise $120,000 during the 2009 Walk to Defeat ALS.
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Pacific Coast League Stories from December 10, 2009
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- 12/10 News Cordaro Wins "40 Under 40" Honor - Omaha Storm Chasers
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