Stevens Brings More Than 20 Years of
Leadership Experience across Athletics and Corporate
Partnerships
MESA,
Ariz., July 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arizona
Athletic Grounds (AAG), America's premier youth sports and
entertainment facility, announces transformational sports executive
Meg Stevens as President. Ms.
Stevens arrives at AAG after eleven years at Averett University
(AU) where, as Vice President, she was Director of Athletics and
Campus Operations. Ms. Stevens led AU to unprecedented athletic and
academic success, enhanced the student-athlete experience,
spearheaded significant capital improvements, and bolstered the
university's regional and national profiles. Currently serving as
Board President for Women Leaders in Sports, Stevens' hiring
signifies AAG's continued commitment to "Girls First," its
trailblazing initiative prioritizing girl's and women's
athletics.
"Meg's national reputation as a visionary, proven operator, and
impactful leader makes her a natural fit to drive AAG's next phase
of growth," said Chad Brownstein,
Chairman of AAG.
"AAG is positioned to maximize its potential," said Mike Burke, newly appointed Vice Chairman of
AAG. "After an exhaustive talent search that spanned professional
teams, university and media network executives, it became
abundantly clear Meg is the best person to execute our vision."
Stevens led Averett through an historic period of growth,
expanding AU's athletic offerings to 24 teams that produced 16
conference titles, more than 300 all-conference selections and 31
All-Americans. In addition to overseeing sports marketing and
communications, and managing the construction and renovation of
several of AU's indoor and outdoor facilities, Stevens bolstered
Averett's brand visibility through local and regional sponsorships
and national leadership roles with the NCAA and Women Leaders.
Stevens also juggled an array of broader responsibilities at
Averett, supervising dining services, campus events and facilities,
and the university bookstore. In 2020, Women Leaders named Stevens
its Division III Administrator of the Year; the following year, the
National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)
recognized Stevens as one of the nation's top athletics
directors.
"This new life chapter is so exciting because, at my core, I'm a
builder," Stevens said. "Everything I've done in my career has
primed me to ensure AAG is a world-class facility and leader in the
youth sports marketplace, and as a former college athlete and
coach, part of my purpose will be ensuring a welcoming, inclusive
experience for everyone, especially, the girls visiting our
campus."
Prior to her time at Averett, Stevens served as Assistant
Athletics Director at Buffalo State University (2009-13) and spent
11 seasons as the Bengals' women's lacrosse coach, twice receiving
Conference Coach of the Year honors. As a player at Cortland State,
Stevens helped the Red Dragons to three consecutive NCAA Lacrosse
Tournaments.
Below is a Q&A with AAG's new President, Meg Stevens:
Q: AFTER TWO DECADES IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS, WHAT ABOUT AAG
INSPIRED YOUR CAREER MOVE?
A: I see tremendous potential in both the present and future of
AAG. It's an incredible venue, already recognized as one of the
country's premier youth athletic grounds. Its location is ideal for
hosting a wide range of tournaments, camps, teams, concerts, and
other special events. The opportunity to leverage my unique skill
set to lead a dedicated team, in this outstanding environment, is
one I couldn't pass up.
Q: HOW DOES YOUR PRIOR EXPERIENCE LEND ITSELF TO YOUR NEW
ROLE?
A: The roadmap for AAG's continued development is a near replica
of what I created for Averett Athletics, where I led large staffs
and multiple business units with a "One Team" philosophy. Together,
we expanded our sports offerings, upgraded our facilities, deepened
our reach through marketing and communications, and enhanced our
food and beverage services. We grew Averett's brand, sourced new
sponsors, and ensured a superb experience across the board, from
our student-athletes to fans to partners. This collective
experience enables me to set a foundation for excellence at AAG.
Our goal is to become synonymous with "best in class" among
America's sports and entertainment venues.
Q: WHAT ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT, "DAY ONE"?
A: What's NOT to be excited about? Anyone who comes through AAG
is mesmerized by the sheer magnitude of this place. With more than
200 acres to work across, we are a fully integrated sports and
entertainment facility. While sports competitions and events are
core to our business, we're in the market to host concerts and
conventions, as well. We boast first class medical facilities. We
have a robust food and beverage offering. Not only is this, in
aggregate, incredible for competitors and guests who visit AAG, it
creates myriad opportunities for deep, meaningful sponsorships and
partnerships. Managing every single one of these areas at Averett
will facilitate my transition here in Mesa, and I can't wait to dig in.
Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AAG'S UNIQUE VALUE PROP FOR
SPONSORS?
A: I say this without the intent of being pretentious: If you
want to reach a multigenerational sports audience at scale, AAG is
the crown jewel of youth sports venues. We have millions of unique,
physical visits by athletes and their families, and a host of
diverse assets under one roof that can empower brands to reach
their target demographic. This isn't a
slap-your-billboard-on-an-outfield-wall kind of place. At Arizona
Athletic Grounds, we're creating customized, impactful integrated
marketing solutions.
Q: WHAT IS "GIRLS FIRST"?
A: "Girls First" is an initiative already in place at AAG that
aligns perfectly with my lifelong mission to promote inclusion and
empowerment through sports, and lift others as I rise. Later this
year, we'll introduce our inaugural Girls First NIL grantees, three
phenomenal college student-athletes who'll engage our girls sports
community (in-person and on our social channels) with their
insight, experiences and advice. I'm, personally, excited to
harness my platform as president of Women Leaders in Sports to
boost AAG's visibility in the space. We are committed, as one of
the largest youth athletics facilities in North America, to help lead the charge to get
girls and women involved in sports.
About Arizona Athletic Grounds
AAG is one of the largest youth-oriented sports and entertainment
facilities in North America. The
Mesa, Arizona, facility serves
millions of visitors per year, providing athletic and special
events programming. The website, www.azgrounds.com/@azgrounds
are the new landing pages for information. For additional
information on rentals, sponsorship, or event programming at AAG,
please reach out to the AAG team at info@azgrounds.com.
Media Contact:
Marvin
Roca
marvin@therosegrp.com
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SOURCE Arizona Athletic Grounds