Sports Executive Shares Motivational Lessons At Seattle U. Graduation
In the second half of his commencement speech to Seattle University graduates Sunday, Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke pivoted to his professional journey as a sports executive. "From my adversity came great training for life. It taught me how to take challenges and turn them into hope."
Leiweke described a Seahawks team which wasn't realizing its potential when he arrived in town in 2003. "What was missing was not fans, not a beautiful stadium, not a beautiful city; but a passion and a commitment by the organization to fight through adversity."
By 2006, the Seahawks were making their first appearance in the Super Bowl. "I'm so proud of the culture we built. Players who were immensely proud to pull on our jersey."
Eventually, Leiweke ascended to NFL HQ as the league's COO - what most in the sports world would consider a dream job and a crowning achievement.
Seattle Calling
Seattle, meanwhile, was without pro winter sports. The former Key Arena didn't provide what the NBA and NHL considered a suitable venue.
Leiweke took a phone call one day from his brother, Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group. "We might be able to figure out that arena situation," Tim said to Tod.
"There was something I missed; direct community connection, being around fans. I had a pretty good job, but I thought, 'What if you could finally fix a 30-year problem?' I told (NFL Commissioner) Roger (Goodell) I was leaving, and coming back to Seattle."
Turning Arena Nays Into Yays
Leiweke remembered the downpour of new arena naysayers.
"This can't be privately funded, it's never been done before in our town. Engineers said we couldn't lift up the roof. Hockey won't work here. The acoustics aren't very good.
"We built an arena that's the most beautiful in the world. We solved a 30-year problem." With a sustainability, he notes, worthy of its name, Climate Pledge Arena. "On any given Kraken game, 25% of the people take public transportation. We embed an ORCA pass in every ticket we sell.
"The Kraken I couldn't be more proud of. How loud this building is. How we've made Seattle a hockey town. Our training center just five miles from here (Kraken Community Iceplex) drew a million people since it opened."
His advice for graduates: "Not letting people tell you that things can't be. People all along the way are going to tell you why it won't work. Don't listen to them.
"In this building, I get to see teamwork all the time. The ability to think in a positive way is how it all works. No team ever followed a coach that was a pessimist.
"Our best days are in front of us. It's up to us to make it happen."