CAA and ESPN alumna Courtney Carter has been selected as Chief Revenue Officer for Seattle's two professional soccer teams, Sounders FC and Reign FC.
Carter’s appointment comes on the heels of a deal completed last month with funding from private equity giant Carlyle that brought women’s soccer team Seattle Reign FC under the same umbrella as men’s soccer team Seattle Sounders FC. The deal reflects two big trends in American sports: the growing demand for professional soccer and women’s sports in particular. Sounders FC is part of Major League Soccer while Reign FC is part of the National Women’s Soccer League.
Carter’s background in sports marketing and branding is a natural fit for the Sounders and Reign ownership group’s goal of significantly expanding corporate partnerships and ticket sales as well as enhancing employment opportunities at the club’s Providence Swedish Performance Center & Clubhouse in Renton, Wash. She grew up in the Portland, Oregon, area, so she’s no stranger to the Pacific Northwest, and what’s more, Carter was a standout soccer player during her time at Oregon State University.
“Courtney’s appointment to the Pacific Northwest region once again reflects the exceptional opportunity we have as an organization at this moment,” said Hugh Weber, Chief Commercial Officer, Sounders and Reign. “As Chief Revenue Officer for Sounders FC and Reign FC, along with our broader commercial organization, Courtney possesses a set of attributes that make her uniquely qualified to lead our efforts. Her extensive experience building high-growth organizations, her passion for positive outcomes for our fans, partners and community, coupled with her roots in our region and our sport, make me extremely excited about her commitment to our mission.”
Carter most recently led Carter Media Group, focusing on media and brand management for a range of clients. Previously, Carter was an agent in CAA’s TV, Digital and Brand Partnerships group, where she worked on packaging and selling programming and branded content campaigns across multiple platforms. Earlier in her career, Carter served as Director of Sports Management and Branded Content at ESPN. She has also worked at Madison Square Garden and Major League Soccer/Soccer United Marketing.
“Coming back to the Pacific Northwest is a coming-of-age moment, as I fell in love with the game and learned so many life lessons along the way,” Carter said. “This is a special moment in time when sports, and especially the global game of soccer, are at the center of culture. There is nothing more powerful than the power of sports to unite and drive movements toward a brighter and more inspiring future. I can’t wait to be a part of these two historic clubs and their dedicated communities.”
