Nashville Sounds name Garry Arthur Chief Operating Officer

Decorated Baseball Executive Tapped To Lead Sounds’ Front Office Staff

Nashville, TN – The Nashville Sounds have named Garry Arthur as the club’s Chief Operating Officer, an announcement made by owner Frank Ward on Monday morning.

Arthur had previously served as a senior advisor to Sounds ownership dating back to MFP Baseball LLC’s acquisition of the club in 2009.

“I am very pleased to have Garry step into this role during a very exciting time for the Sounds franchise,” said Ward. “His vast knowledge of the industry and previous experience in opening a new minor league ballpark are very important as we celebrate the opening of First Tennessee Park and a new era of baseball in Nashville.”

Nashville is Arthur’s fourth stop in the Pacific Coast League. He previously served a combined 14 seasons as General Manager in Sacramento (1999-2004), Vancouver (1998-99), and Calgary (1989-95). During those tenures, Arthur’s teams recorded more than 1,000 wins and his teams carry a 30-18 record in eight postseason appearances.

Among the most decorated executives in Minor League Baseball, Arthur was the 2002 winner of The Sporting News’ Minor League Executive of the Year award, a prestigious award that is selected from all executives among the 176 minor league teams. He was also named as the 1999 recipient of the PCL Executive of the Year award.

“Many of us longstanding members of the Pacific Coast League have held the belief that with the right ownership and a new stadium Nashville could return to being one of the premiere franchises in all of Triple-A Baseball,” said Arthur. “A committed-to-excellence ownership and the magnificent First Tennessee Park is now here, and I feel my involvement is both an honor and privilege. I look forward to guiding this young talented staff to ensure that everyone’s experience at First Tennessee Park is a memorable one.”

Arthur served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the River Cats during the team’s first six seasons in Sacramento from 1999-2004 and oversaw the successful opening of Raley Field. During his tenure, the River Cats won two Pacific Coast League Championships (2003-04) and four PCL South Division titles (2000-01, 2003-04).

During his six years as Sacramento GM, Arthur was affiliated with the Oakland Athletics organization, the new parent club of the Sounds.

After departing Sacramento at the conclusion of the 2004 campaign, Arthur served as a consultant to the River Cats as well as to the Pacific Coast League, chairing its Scheduling Committee. He has been associated with the PCL since October 1988 when he was named General Manager of the Triple-A Calgary Cannons, a position he held for seven seasons from until 1995.

After his Cannons stint, he was named Vice President of Japan Sports Systems, a Japan-based company which owned the Triple-A Vancouver Canadians, in November 1996. He became General Manager of the Canadians in 1998, and he held that position until the franchise was relocated to Sacramento following the 1999 Triple-A World Championship season.

Prior to his career in baseball, Arthur spent five years working for the XV Olympic Winter Games, which were held in 1988 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He began his tenure with the XV Olympic Winter Games as the Manager of Information Systems (1984-85) and was promoted to Press Secretary (1985-87) in 1985. In 1987, he was appointed Director of the Chairman’s Office for the XV Olympic Winter Games. For his efforts (the Games made a $146 million profit), Arthur received the Alberta Achievement Award in 1988.

His professional career began in sports broadcasting. Arthur was a broadcaster with CBC (Canada) radio and television for 12 years and spent one year as Vice President of All-Pro Sports Consultants, Inc. (1984).

The native of Vancouver, British Columbia has two grown children: a daughter, Stacey, and a son, Jamie.

Arthur will lead the entire Sounds front office staff and be joined on the club’s senior management team by Brandon Yerger, Senior Vice President of Fan Experience; Doug Scopel, Senior Vice President of Operations; Jason Franke, Senior Vice President of Corporate & Premium Partnerships; and James Rozzoni, Vice President of Stadium Operations.

Season membership packages for First Tennessee Park are currently on sale. Opening Day is Friday, April 17th. Stop by the Sounds’ administrative offices at Greer Stadium or visit the team’s website at www.nashvillesounds.com to order or for further details.

To view a virtual tour or a live construction camera of First Tennessee Park or to gain further information on the Sounds’ new home ballpark, please visit www.firsttennesseepark.com