Senior Vice President, Special Projects

GLOBAL ATTRACTIONS

John Urban brings more than 30 years’ experience in marketing, promotion, venue operations and project development, working with some of the most iconic brands and properties in sports & entertainment. He currently serves as SVP, Special Projects for Legends, the joint partnership of the NY Yankees, Dallas Cowboys and Sixth Street Partners. Now in his second stint with the company, Urban will help drive the successful launch and management of new initiatives and relationships in the Legends Attractions division. 

Prior to rejoining Legends, he served as COO of Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire Football Club, where he helped oversee a transformation of the Club’s business operations, which included stadium negotiations that brought CFFC to Soldier Field; a new broadcast partnership with WGN TV; an expansion of front office talent and relocation to new downtown headquarters; and important new marketing, branding & sales initiatives. Before departing, Urban played an important role in the Club’s transition to new ownership, serving for a period as interim president. 

In his initial engagement with Legends — as VP, Legends Attractions – John Urban helped oversee the successful launch and managed all aspects of the day-to-day business operations of One World Observatory. The acclaimed project has welcomed more than 2 million visitors each year since opening atop New York City’s One World Trade Center in May 2015.

Immediately prior to One World, Urban served as EVP, Events & Booking at the Scottrade Center complex (home of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues), where he was responsible for a wide range of sports and music programming and helped oversee the $80 million restoration and re-launch of the city’s famed concert venue, the Kiel Opera House (now Stifel Theatre).

John Urban began his career at Madison Square Garden, where he held a variety of positions in the publicity, marketing and event booking areas over a 16-year span. In 1999, when Radio City Music Hall was added to the MSG family, Urban joined the project team for the venue’s historic $70 million restoration and then served as GM of the legendary 6,000-seat theater for the next seven years.

Urban holds a BA in Journalism and Master’s in Sports Administration/Facility Management, both from Ohio University. He and his wife Anne reside in downtown Chicago.