Scorpions Name Howard Cornfield President & GM

Published on November 13, 2012 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


SAN ANTONIO (Nov. 13, 2012) - Howard Cornfield, who has earned a reputation as one of minor league sports' top leaders, has been named president and general manager of the San Antonio Scorpions.

Gordon Hartman, CEO of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation and head of Soccer for a Cause, introduced Cornfield today during a construction tour of Toyota Field, the new 8,000-seat home of the Scorpions that also will host concerts, community activities and other special events.

Cornfield succeeds Michael Hitchcock, who's had to reduce his involvement with the Scorpions because his principal business - Playbook Management International consultancy - has expanded rapidly, with clients and operations around the globe.

"We're delighted to welcome Howard and his proven record of success in managing sports franchises," Hartman said. "No doubt he will help the Scorpions and Soccer for a Cause achieve new and greater milestones. At the same time, we're grateful to Hitch for the important role he played in establishing the Scorpions franchise and helping the team become an instant success."

Cornfield expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity to lead the Scorpions, one of the newest franchises in all of sport, as the team gets set to occupy its new, multi-purpose home, Toyota Field.

"My goal is to make the Scorpions and Toyota Field synonymous with quality, fun and customer satisfaction," he said. "I've had a wide range of sports management experience ranging from senior leadership at NCAA Division I programs to owning and operating professional hockey and baseball teams to international experience in Australia and China. I believe my varied background and experiences will be a good fit for San Antonio, the Scorpions and Gordon Hartman's vision to support the special-needs community."

Hitchcock was unable to attend the Toyota Field tour because of a business commitment, however in a message to Hartman, he said he will miss his day-to-day involvement with the Scorpions yet continue to closely follow the team's progress.

"I'm proud of the fact that - as far as we know - the Scorpions franchise is the first in professional sports to have been established for the expressed purpose of benefitting a non-profit cause focusing on those with special needs," Hitchcock noted. "The Scorpions are already giving back to the special-needs community."

Cornfield comes to San Antonio from Bettendorf, Iowa, where since 2005 he was managing director of Beacon Sports Properties International, a finance and consulting company assisting pro sports organizations in China, Australia, Canada and the U.S.

Previously as owner and president of the Quad City Mallards of the United Hockey League (UHL), he guided the franchise through a nine-year period of success unprecedented in professional hockey. The Mallards compiled a 451-175 (.704) record, six consecutive appearances in the league championship series and three UHL championships under his leadership.

The Mallards also became the only team in pro hockey history to win 50 or more games in six consecutive seasons, earning a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Cornfield also oversaw the highly successful business operations of the franchise as more than 2.7 million fans attended Mallards games during his tenure. He earned a multitude of individual honors including Executive of the Year, Marketing Director of the Year and General Manager of the Year, in addition to being honored as Quad City Times Sports Man of the Year. Just Hockey Magazine also recognized Cornfield as one of the Top Power Brokers in Minor League Hockey.

Cornfield's sports administration experience includes 10 years in NCAA Division I athletics as associate athletics director at Jacksonville (Fla.) University and Brooklyn (N. Y.) College. He also has international experience with the Australian National Basketball League, Australian National Rugby League and Nepal's ANFA Cup.

Cornfield earned his B. A. degree from the University of South Carolina and an M. A. degree from Jacksonville University. He and his wife, Nancy, have one daughter.

He will work closely with recently named vice president and general manager of Toyota Field, Marc A. Solis, who previously served as general manager of the Alamodome in downtown San Antonio. Solis' career also includes management positions with American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, the Laredo Entertainment Center, Paramount Event Services, the San Antonio Dragons and San Antonio Iguanas pro hockey teams and the San Antonio Texans pro football team.

Located adjacent to Morgan's Wonderland at Wurzbach Parkway and Thousand Oaks Drive in the former Longhorn Quarry, Toyota Field is another outgrowth of Soccer for a Cause, the Hartman-led effort to bring pro soccer to San Antonio and generate revenue to help those with special needs via non-profit Morgan's Wonderland.

The 25-acre, ultra-accessible theme park is the world's only park designed with special-needs individuals in mind and built for the enjoyment of everyone.

On Aug. 28, 2012, Toyota announced its presenting sponsorship of Toyota Field, which is capable of expansion in stages to 18,000 seats. In addition to exciting Scorpions soccer, Toyota Field will host concerts, community activities and special events.

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