Shawn McGee Named New GM of WPS Atlanta Franchise

The Atlanta Women’s Professional Soccer franchise has named seasoned soccer and sports executive Shawn McGee as General Manager. McGee will report to owner and CEO Fitz Johnson and be responsible for assembling the team’s roster in preparation for its inaugural 2010 season.

“Shawn has considerable front office experience in sports and knows both the player and business side of soccer extremely well,” said Johnson.  “He has a strong track record for success at both the collegiate and professional levels and we welcome his added expertise to our club.”

McGee leaves the athletic department of Southern Methodist University where he was the associate athletic director of sales, sponsorships and broadcasting for the past two years. He was responsible for all SMU ticket sales and additional revenue strategies for the entire athletic department.  While at SMU, season ticket sales doubled and group ticket sales increased by more than 2,000 percent.

Prior to SMU, McGee spent 10 years in professional soccer with the MLS FC Dallas franchise. There, he served as senior director of business development and the director of Pizza Hut Park. During his time with FC Dallas, he oversaw all ticket revenue programs and strategic partnerships for Pizza Hut Park. 

Under his leadership, FC Dallas increased season tickets sales by 62 percent, group tickets sales by 208 percent and average attendance by 75 percent. He also was a finalist for MLS Director of Sales of the Year for five consecutive years.

Prior to his time with FC Dallas, McGee spent time as the president and general manager of the Mesquite Kickers of the USISL and as general manager of the Mesquite Indoor Soccer Center. McGee earned a B.B.A in marketing from the University of Texas.

WPS is the highest-level women’s professional soccer league in North America.  As a result of the efforts of the Women’s Soccer Initiative Inc., WPS kicked off on Mar. 29, 2009, and consists of seven teams across the country. The teams for the 2009 season are the Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride (Bay Area), Los Angeles Sol, Sky Blue FC (NJ / NY), Saint Louis Athletica and Washington Freedom. 

In April of 2009, Women’s Professional Soccer welcomed the Philadelphia Independence as the eighth team and Atlanta will be the ninth.  The Atlanta Women’s Professional Soccer franchise will make a major announcement June 18, 2009 at 11 am at the Metro Atlanta Chamber.