Exec Leader: Sports, Live Ent, Venues, Complex Ops
Send a job offer directly to this candidate
Caroline Wright brings 30 years of executive leadership in sports and entertainment, specializing in multi-venue operations, capital project delivery, and major event execution. Most recently as Senior Vice President & Chief Venues Officer for Tepper Sports & Entertainment (2023–2026), she led operations and capital strategy for Bank of America Stadium and Atrium Health Performance Park, home to the NFL's Carolina Panthers and MLS's Charlotte FC.
At Tepper Sports, Wright negotiated $650M in public investment, Charlotte's largest public-private partnership, for the $800M Bank of America Stadium renovation and Carolina Panthers Fieldhouse. She recruited project consultants, advanced the stadium design to 50% Design Development with Fieldhouse construction well underway, and secured major international events including the 2026 MLS All-Star Game, 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Copa América, Gold Cup, and Mextour. She orchestrated Concert for Carolina, raising $24.5M for hurricane relief, and generated $38.6M economic impact from the Savannah Bananas event series.
Wright spent 27 years at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), rising to Vice President of Operations & General Manager of Venues. She directed seven facilities supporting the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto FC (MLS), and Toronto Argonauts (CFL). Managing 433+ annual events, she led the 2020 NHL Return-to-Play Bubble, orchestrated the Raptors' full-season relocation to Tampa Bay during COVID, and transformed Air Canada Centre to Scotiabank Arena. Her leadership contributed to four championships: NBA Championship, MLS Cup, Calder Cup, and Grey Cup.
Wright founded the Dual Team Arena task force connecting operations leaders from North America's 10 dual-use (NBA/NHL) venues, including Madison Square Garden, TD Garden, and United Center. Her career spans venue operations, capital planning, event strategy, creative production, marketing, partnerships, retail and member services. She delivered major events reaching 39 million fans, including NHL All-Star Game, NHL World Cup of Hockey, NBA All-Star Weekend, CFL Grey Cup, and IIHF World Junior Championships.
Wright serves on the boards of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation and American Heart Association's Charlotte Heart Ball. She was featured as a speaker at Sports Business Journal Game Changers Conference (2025) and profiled in Venues Now Magazine (2024). Sports Business Journal recognized her among women leading NFL venues (2024) and women overseeing major American and Canadian stadiums and arenas (2021). She earned MLSE's Most Valuable Player award (2018) and multiple Clio Awards (Gold, Silver, Bronze) for creative excellence.
Wright earned a degree in Sport Management from Durham College, where she was honored as an Alumnus of Distinction and Ontario Premier Award Nominee. She holds a Registered Holistic Nutritionist designation. Wright resides in Charlotte with her family.
Transformational sports and entertainment executive with 30 years driving operational excellence, revenue growth, and marquee event delivery across complex multi-venue enterprises. Proven expertise in public-private partnerships, capital project leadership ($800M+), P&L management, and building high-performing teams that deliver measurable business results across NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, CFL, and international competitions.
Multi-Venue Operations • Capital Projects & Infrastructure • P&L Ownership • Strategic Planning • Major Event Execution • Public-Private Partnerships • Crisis Management • Organizational Transformation • Revenue Growth • Risk Management • Creative Production • Brand Strategy
TEPPER SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Senior Vice President & Chief Venues Officer | 2023–2026
Led venue operations, capital strategy, and major event programming for NFL (Carolina Panthers), MLS (Charlotte FC), Bank of America Stadium and Atrium Health Performance Park. Drove Charlotte's emergence as premier national sports and entertainment destination.
Vice President, Operations & General Manager, Venues | 2019–2023
Senior Director, Operations & General Manager, MLSE Facilities | 2016–2019
Senior Director, Event Operations & Venue Strategy | 2013–2016
Led North America's most complex multi-venue portfolio: 7 venues supporting NHL (Maple Leafs), NBA (Raptors), MLS (Toronto FC), CFL (Argonauts), and global entertainment programming. Managed operations, capital planning, and event strategy and execution
NHL All-Star Game • NHL Centennial Classic • NHL World Cup of Hockey • NBA All-Star Weekend • CFL Grey Cup • IIHF World Junior Championships (2015, 2017)
Progressive Leadership Roles (1996–2013):
Senior Director Media & Creative Production | Director Marketing & Fan Engagement | Director Retail & Merchandise Operations | Manager Corporate Partnerships ($43M+ revenue oversight) | Manager Ticket Services
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Board Member, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation | Board Member, American Heart Association, Charlotte Heart Ball | Faculty of Business Member, Durham College (2004–Present
Degree in Sport Management, Durham College, Ontario | Registered Holistic Nutritionist
