Bill Wiswesser, Senior Vice President of Facilities and Stadium General Manager at FC Cincinnati, will be presented with the Champion of Change Award during the 2024 National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition on July 9-11 in Phoenix, AZ.
The event is presented annually by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at The University of Southern Mississippi.
The Champion of Change Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated their ability and commitment to bring about positive change in the sports safety and security industry. Through progressive leadership, this individual’s achievements have made a difference in organizational effectiveness and led the organization forward into the future.
“We are thrilled to honor Bill with this award; it is a testament to his forward-thinking work in the safety and security space, and he is a highly respected professional in the field,” said Dr. Stacey Hall, NCS4 Executive Director and Professor of Sports Management. Wiswesser began his career in venue operations in 2006 as an intern with the New York Red Bulls when the team was a tenant in Giant Stadium. Wiswesser was hired full-time after his internship and was part of the organization when they opened Red Bull Arena in 2010, where he participated in the development of the building’s policies and procedures. Throughout his time at Red Bull Arena, Wiswesser worked his way up to Senior Director of Operations and Broadcast, serving as the lead for all stadium events, including credentialing and oversight of cleaning and concessions.
In March of 2022, Wiswesser accepted the Vice President of Facilities and Stadium General Manager role for FC Cincinnati, where he oversaw several aspects of their three campuses (TQL Stadium, MHTC Performance Center, and the downtown office). At the start of 2024, Wiswesser was promoted to Senior Vice President of Facilities with three new areas under his supervision.
Since joining the organization, Wiswesser and his team have hosted the venue’s first two concerts, its first international soccer doubleheader (2023 Gold Cup Quarterfinals), the US Open Cup Semifinals against Inter Miami (one of Lionel Messi’s first matches outside of Miami) as well as several US Soccer matches.
“I was drawn to this industry for the challenges that it offers me. No day is ever the same, and there is constant change that we need to work to stay ahead of,” said Wiswesser. “I am honored to be receiving this award, as this great accomplishment recognizes all of the work and effort that I have put into my career. So often, those in this line of work are behind the scenes, and we only become known when something does not go as planned. I am also extremely thankful for all the people I have learned from along the way who helped get me to a level worthy of this award, as I could not have done it without any of them.”
Wiswesser has served as a Lecturer and Course Associate at Columbia University for the Sports Management Master’s Program and is a member of several groups within the Stadium Managers Association (SMA). Wiswesser also served as Competitions Manager for the Copa America tournament at MetLife Stadium, Venue Manager for several CONCACAF Gold Cups in the US and Canada, a visiting supervisor for S.A.F.E. Management for Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium, among other roles for major sporting events throughout the US and Canada.
The award will be presented at the annual Awards Luncheon that takes place on the second day of the conference. The luncheon is sponsored by Evolv Technology, which provides weapons detection systems for security screening.
About the 15th Annual Conference
The National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition will be held July 9-11 at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, AZ. The conference will attract over 450 attendees and 70 exhibitors representing professional sports, intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, marathon and endurance events, sports and entertainment facilities, and those who provide safety and security products and services to the industry. You can visit the conference website for more information.
About NCS4
Established in 2006, the NCS4 is the nation’s only academic center devoted to the study and practice of sports safety and security. The NCS4 is partially underwritten by grants from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The NCS4mission focuses on three key pillars – Training and Education, Research, and Outreach. For more information about NCS4, call 601.266.6183.