Jeff Cogen
Chief Executive Officer, Alternate Governor

Jeff Cogen brings more than 30 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry to the Nashville Predators as the team’s Chief Executive Officer, a role he was named to in August 2010. As the CEO of both the Predators and Bridgestone Arena, Cogen is responsible for running the business operations of both the club and the arena.

During his tenure as CEO, he has guided the organization to its most successful sales seasons to date, with the Nashville Predators increasing attendance from four regular season sellouts in 2009-10 to sixteen in 2010-11 and most recently to a franchise record 25 in 2011-12. He was also instrumental in leading the Predators to an all-time-high 96 percent ticket renewal rate as well as helping Bridgestone Arena achieve consecutive Top Ten year-end Pollstar rankings for the first time in organizational history.

Prior to joining the Predators, Cogen served as President of both the Dallas Stars (2007-10) and Texas Rangers (2004-07) after previously working under the Hicks Sports Group umbrella from 1993-2001. As President of the Rangers, and then the Stars, Cogen ran all business aspects of the franchises, and also served as Hicks Sports Group’s primary representative on American Airlines Center Board that provides oversight and leadership on all arena issues including overall financial performance, capital expenditures, third party events, and team operations.

With the Rangers, where he was also Chief Operating Officer for one year, Cogen increased revenues by 20 percent over a three-year span, and generated revenue streams through a landmark naming-rights deal (Ameriquest Field in Arlington), and through non-traditional outlets such has technological partnerships.

In his first stint with the Stars as Vice President from 1993-99, Cogen helped build the newly relocated franchise’s season ticket base to more than 15,000 fans and saw a sellout streak that lasted more than 150 games over a nearly four-season span. After being promoted to Executive V.P. of Marketing and Sales of Southwest Sports Group (entity that operated both the Stars and Rangers), Cogen created synergies between the teams that led to exponential rises in ticket and sponsorship revenue.

Cogen’s two stints in Dallas were bridged by a successful two-year stretch as Chief Operating Officer of the Florida Panthers and the then-Office Depot Center. From 2001-03, he executed a naming rights agreement for the venue, and boosted income on both the team and building sides via joint entertainment ventures.

The Newport News, Va., native’s first taste of professional sports came as Director, and later Vice President of Marketing for Olympia Arenas, the managing company of Detroit Red Wings, Joe Louis Arena and Fox Theater, from 1986-93. He started his career with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Shows in 1979, managing more than 100 engagements until August 1986.

The graduate of Old Dominion University resides in Franklin, Tenn. with his wife, Jill, and their three children.