Ken Weinaug, a Wisconsin native and U.S. Navy veteran, will serve as General Manager of the Fox Cities Champion Center, a new 164,000 square foot indoor sports facility that will open in Grand Chute, Wis., this fall.
Weinaug has served in a number of leadership positions with federal, tribal and local government recreation organizations in the past including the Jack Link’s Aquatic & Activity Center, the Salvation Army of Brown County and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sheboygan County, all in Wisconsin.
Sports Facilities Management, the sports tourism and recreation management firm headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., will manage the Champion Center. The new facility which will feature a year-round ice rink with seating up to 1,000, fieldhouse with four basketball courts or eight volleyball courts and a seasonal arena which can be used either as an ice rink or additional basketball or volleyball courts.
SFM is confident in Weinaug’s abilities to run the facility, which will service the growing Fox Cities area with a focus in youth and amateur travel sports in the Greater Appleton area.
“We interview professionals from around the world, and we knew immediately that Ken was a stand-out” said Jack Adams, vice president of SFM Venues. “With Ken’s background and his recent experience in opening successful recreation centers, we have no doubt the community in Fox Cities will be proud to have him lead their facility. We are confident in Ken’s ability to lead the team at the Champion Center to be one of the Midwest’s best venues for sports tourism.”
Weinaug is a hockey fan so the facility greatly appealed to him.
“It is a privilege to be named General Manager of the Fox Cities Champion Center,” Weinaug said. “The opportunity to join the SFM family and be a part of a great team in the Fox
Cities was a big part of why I chose to throw my hat in the ring.”
“My passion for hockey will be well-served at the Champion Center and I look forward to adding programming and aiding in the establishment of the Fox Cities as year-round sports tourism destination.”
The Champion Center will host numerous hard court and ice-based events each year as well as community-based leagues, open recreational times, rentals, clinics and camps.
