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Tampa Bay Lightning: Getting To Know New CEO Steve Griggs

By Kyle Barber |

With Tod Leiweke moving on to join the NFL as the leagues Chief Operating Officer, Steve Griggs has taken over Leiweke’s former position as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. Let’s get to know the new Lightning CEO.

New Tampa Bay Lightning CEO Steve Griggs has some big shoes to fill. Tod Leiweke, who resigned to become the next Chief Operating Officer of the National Football League helped owner Jeffery Vinik in his vision to make the Lightning a world class organization.

On the ice, the team blossomed into one of the top teams in the league while helping in the organizations efforts in giving back to the community in and around the Tampa area. However, Mr. Griggs has also played an important role in the organization before and during Leiweke’s tenure as CEO.

Griggs has spent 22 years in the sports industry holding many leadership roles with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota Wild, and Orlando Magic. He helped set records for an expansion team when the Minnesota Wild joined the league in 1999. He stayed with the Wild organization until he became Executive Vice President for the NBA’s Orlando Magic in 2007. While in Orlando, he helped the organization design, develop, and launch the team’s new basketball arena in 2010 which was later named Amway Center.

Griggs followed Leiweke to Tampa Bay in August of 2010 and was named the organizations Chief Operating Officer. He quickly left his mark on the organization as the team’s attendance increased each year under his supervision. His ability to upgrade customer service, brand management as well as better the overall fan experience made Griggs an important part of the Lightning organization.

Ever wonder where the team’s marketing campaign ideas came from? Griggs played a major role in the team’s “All IN‘ and “Be the Thunder” campaigns that has helped the Lightning gain more support both inside Amalie Arena and in the community. Thanks to his efforts, the Lightning come in at number six in ESPN’s “Ultimate Standings” which ranks 123 major sports teams in North America.

What should we expect from Griggs in his new role as CEO? Well, Lightning Chairman and Governor Jeff Vinik had nothing but praise for the former Lightning Chief Operating Officer.

“Steve has been a fantastic Chief Operating Officer over the last five years and I have no doubt that he will fill Tod’s shoes very well and we have nothing but great things ahead for the organization.”

Mr. Griggs does indeed have big shoes to fill, but based on his track record we should expect nothing but great things from the new Lightning CEO. Mr. Vinik has all the confidence in the world in Griggs, and he will continue to play an important role in making the Tampa Bay Lightning a world class organization.

Next: Tampa Bay Lightning Year In Review: Valtteri Filppula

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