Kerry Bubolz

On October 3, 2016, Vegas Golden Knights Chairman and owner Bill Foley announced Kerry Bubolz as the first President and Chief Operating Officer of the Golden Knights. In his role, Bubolz oversees all business aspects of the franchise. Bubolz is in his sixth season with the Golden Knights after leading the organization to tremendously successful first five campaigns.

Since the Golden Knights began play during the 2017-18 NHL season, Bubolz has also worked with Foley in the expansion of his portfolio and the formation of the Foley Entertainment Group LLC. Among the additions to Foley’s properties are: the Premier League’s AFC Bournemouth, the American Hockey League’s Henderson Silver Knights, the Indoor Football League’s Vegas Knight Hawks, the National Basketball Association’s G League Ignite, City National Arena, Lifeguard Arena, The Dollar Loan Center, and the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation.

Bubolz was instrumental in negotiating the Golden Knights’ first television deal with AT&T SportsNet, broadcasting VGK games not only locally in Las Vegas but extending throughout the Western Rockies region through Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and parts of California and Arizona. In only their second year, the Golden Knights ranked 3rd in the NHL’s U.S. markets with a 4.2 average household rating for the 2018-19 regular season.

The organization has also captured national attention with their best-in-class game presentation putting on a show for both Golden Knights fans, and NHL fans. Players across the league have taken notice of the incredible atmosphere at Golden Knights games, as T-Mobile Arena was voted “Best Atmosphere in the NHL” by the players in recent polls from the NHL Players’ Association. Bubolz’s steady leadership ultimately led to the organization winning the Sports Business Journal’s prestigious Sports Team of the Year Award for the 2017-2018 season, as well as the National Hockey League’s “Commissioner Award for Business Excellence” for the inaugural season. Under Bubolz, the Golden Knights have continued to earn recognition by winning the NHL Business Awards Stanley two times (2020, 2022) for the league’s best Game Presentation and once as the Social Media Club of the Year (2019).

Bubolz has also instilled a commitment to community outreach and service in the franchise through the organization’s various charitable initiatives. The Golden Knights Foundation serves as the primary charitable link between the team and the Las Vegas community, focusing on five pillars including: fighting hunger and homelessness in Las Vegas, securing the future of Las Vegas military, first responders and their families, and fostering physical, social and emotional growth of Las Vegas youth. The Golden Knights Foundation has been supported by the 51/49 raffle, auctions and events held throughout the year, and charitable donations. Bubolz’s commitment to community and growing the sport of hockey in Southern Nevada is evidenced by the team’s hockey development programs, including the “Golden Knights Hockey Academy” which reaches over 200,000 children in Clark County middle and elementary schools.

Prior to joining the Golden Knights, Bubolz spent 13 years with the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2013, he was named President, Business Operations where he oversaw ticketing and suite sales, corporate sponsorship revenue, broadcast, marketing, communications and community engagement for the franchise. In Bubolz’s time with the Cavaliers, the team won the Eastern Conference Championship three times and won the NBA championship in 2016. The Cavaliers were consistently recognized by the NBA during their annual Sales & Marketing awards ceremonies as a top performing team in all key business metrics.

In addition to overseeing Cavaliers business operations, Bubolz also served as President and Alternate Governor for all franchise property teams owned by the Cavaliers Operating Company, including the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League. In 2016, the Monsters won the Calder Cup and finished third in league average attendance with 8,596 fans per-game. He was also President and Chief Operating Officer of the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League from 1994 to 2000. 

The Tulsa, Oklahoma native also brings an abundance of National Hockey League experience to Las Vegas. He served as vice president of sales for the Carolina Hurricanes and the Dallas Stars prior to joining the Cavaliers.

Bubolz graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelors’ Degree in marketing in 1989. He and his wife, Melissa, live in Summerlin and have two daughters, Madison and Emma.