Fox Cities Champion Center Announces General Manager Hiring
Grand Chute, WI – Fox Cities Champion Center, one of the newest, premium sports tourism venues in the nation, has hired a General Manager, Ken Weinaug (pronounced Wy-nog). After retiring with 21 years of active duty with the United States Navy in 2003, Weinaug, a Wisconsin native, has served in numerous leadership capacities with federal, tribal, and local government recreation organizations. Weinaug has had the privilege of working with prestigious community organizations including the Jack Link’s Aquatic & Activity Center in Minong, WI, The Salvation Army of Brown County in Green Bay during the construction of the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center and was also involved in two major building renovations as Director of Operations with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sheboygan County.
Weinaug will work for Sports Facilities Management, the sports tourism and recreation management firm headquartered in Clearwater, FL, that will manage the Champion Center. The team at SFM is confident in Weinaug’s abilities to run the facility that will service the growing Fox Cities area with a focus in youth and amateur travel sports in the Greater Appleton, Wisconsin Area.
“We interview professionals from around the world, and we knew immediately that Ken was a stand-out,” says Jack Adams, VP of SFM Venues. “With Ken’s background and his recent experience in opening successful recreation centers, we have no doubt the community in Fox Cities will be proud to have him lead their facility. We are confident in Ken’s ability to lead the team at the Champion Center to be one of the Midwest’s best venues for sports tourism.”
Weinaug shares his thoughts on his new role, “It is a privilege to be named General Manager of the Fox Cities Champion Center. The opportunity to join the SFM family and be a part of a great team in the Fox Cities was a big part of why I chose to throw my hat in the ring. My passion for hockey will be well-served at the Champion Center and I look forward to adding programming and aiding in the establishment of the Fox Cities as a year-round sports tourism destination.”
The Weinaugs are a hockey family; Ken has officiated for 20 years and has coached for many years in several different locations, his sons Jack and Drew are both showing great interest as well. Jack is currently a second-year PeeWee player, and Drew is currently working on passing his Learn-to-Skate levels. Ken, his wife Christel and their boys are all fans of the Chicago Blackhawks.
About Fox Cities Champion Center: Opening in the Fall of 2019 and located in Grand Chute, WI, Fox Cities Champion Center is a 164,000 square foot indoor sports facility with a year-round ice rink with seating for up to 1,000, fieldhouse with four basketball courts or eight volleyball courts and a seasonal arena that can be an ice rink or four basketball or six volleyball courts. The facility will host numerous hard-court and ice-based events each year as well as community-based leagues, open recreational time, rentals, camps, and clinics.