Sports - Charlotte Checkers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte Checkers owner and CEO, Michael Kahn announced Wednesday that team president Jeff Longo has accepted the position of vice president of marketing/community development with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League.

Checkers president for the past five seasons, Longo helped make the Checkers a significant force within the ECHL. Overseeing day-to-day operations including overall marketing, ticket sales, corporate sales, public relations and hockey operations, he was able to increase attendance, corporate revenue and charitable contributions each season.

Longo helped push the team to 10 sellouts in 2007-08 which includes the largest crowd in Checkers history on Feb. 23 when the team welcomed 12,256 fans to Time Warner Cable Arena. The Checkers have made the playoffs the past four seasons including a run to the Conference Finals in 2005 while donating over $1 million dollars in charitable contributions to the Charlotte community over the past three seasons. 

Longo came to Charlotte after spending six seasons with the San Diego Gulls of the now defunct West Coast Hockey League. He originally joined the Gulls as an account executive and worked in each department over a five and a half year period eventually being named president in 2003. During his tenure, the Gulls led the league in attendance each season and were named Organization of the Year in both 2000 and 2003.

Kahn said he is truly proud of the accomplishments Longo made with the Checkers and is ecstatic about his elevation to the NHL, “This is a great opportunity for Jeff and his family. He has compiled a great staff with the Checkers and his lists of accomplishments are lengthy. Moving to the NHL is a result of hard work and time spent in minor league hockey and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”

“I’d like to thank Michael Kahn, the Checkers staff, our partners and fans in Charlotte that have made my experience here a first class opportunity from the beginning,” said Longo. “I am proud to have helped build the Checkers organization over the past five years and I’m excited for the team’s continued growth opportunities in the future. I have a tremendous opportunity that awaits me in New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils are a phenomenal organization and a model franchise in the National Hockey League.”

“Jeff Longo has an extensive marketing background at both the ECHL and West Coast Hockey League levels the past 11 seasons,” said New Jersey Devils chief operating officer Chris Modrzynski. “His hard work has led to his success, and we look forward to him bringing that same work ethic to Newark.”