FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Elliott Scott
Kansas City Sports Commission | KC2026
escott@sportkc.org
KC2026 Names Pam Kramer Chief Executive Officer
KANSAS CITY, MO (July 17, 2024) – KC2026, the nonprofit entity established to lead the planning and activation of the FIFA World Cup 26™ in Kansas City, announced today the appointment of Pam Kramer as its Chief Executive Officer. Kramer will continue to report to the KC2026 Board of Directors as she has done since March in her previous role as Fractional Chief Operating Officer for KC2026.
A proven leader in sports business, Kramer’s career includes 16 years at Sprint, where she played an instrumental role in developing and executing many of Sprint’s most successful and pioneering sponsorships, notably the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA, the last time the global event was held in the United States. Among her accomplishments is securing the placement of Sprint’s brand on the NFL coaches’ headsets, the first sponsorship of its kind by a consumer brand.
“Pam’s range of experience and leadership in sports business provide invaluable perspective, spanning involvement in the 1994 FIFA World Cup to her extensive experience with local professional teams,” said Karen Daniel, President of the KC2026 Board of Directors. “Pam’s ability to collaborate, strategize and align stakeholders has earned her credibility and widespread respect across the region, and I’m delighted she has accepted this role.”
Following her tenure at Sprint, which culminated in leading the company’s $100-million annual advertising efforts and earning the highly esteemed Sprint Chairman’s Award, Kramer joined the Kansas City Chiefs to lead business communications and advise team leadership on communications strategy. In 2021, the Kansas City Current retained her as transitional CEO during its critical start-up phase where she helped steer the organization in its development of the Kansas City Current brand and assisted launching the team onto the national stage. Most recently, she provided strategic oversight and guidance to the Kansas City Sports Commission as Fractional Chief Operating Officer (COO) before transitioning to the KC2026 team.
“The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a generational opportunity to not only bring the Kansas City influence to the biggest sporting event in the world, but also to seize our moment to show the world what we already know and love about this region: when Kansas City comes together, we accomplish incredible things,” said Kramer. “Hosting this event is bigger than anything that’s ever been done before and regional collaboration is the key to our shared success. I’m looking forward to working with the many teams and stakeholders who will help make it happen.”
A hi-res head shot is available here.
For more information about KC2026 and FIFA World Cup 26™, please click here. General media inquiries can be submitted directly to FIFA at media@fifa.org.
About KC2026
A nonprofit organization overseeing strategy and delivering host city duties for FIFA World Cup 26™, KC2026 will plan, construct and implement all aspects of Kansas City’s largest sports and fan engagement event in the region’s history. Learn more at www.KansasCityFWC26.com
About Greater Kansas City
Home to 2.5 million people, Kansas City is a vibrant metro in the heart of the U.S., known as the “KC Heartland.” An all-new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport welcomes guests by air, while 85% of the U.S. is less than a two-day drive away. The region’s red-hot sports culture is embraced every season, headlined by the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City, and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Kansas City Current.
Home to renowned arts and culture, experience live entertainment in Downtown Kansas City’s Power & Light District, as well as 40 jazz clubs throughout the area. Find food from James Beard award-winning chefs and sample true KC tradition at more than 100 barbecue restaurants across the metro. Dive into some of the country’s most significant historical moments at KC’s treasured institutions, from the National WWI Museum and Memorial and the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum. Learn more at www.KC.org.
About FIFA World Cup 26™
FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the biggest sporting event ever, with three Host Countries, 16 Host Cities, 48 teams and 104 matches uniting an entire continent to showcase a momentous new tournament format. With more countries, cities, teams, and games, FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the most inclusive tournament ever, engaging millions of fans across 16 unique stadiums and billions worldwide. The tournament will take place in June and July 2026. For the latest FIFA World Cup 26™ information please visit the FIFA World Cup 26™ website. For media representatives wishing to stay up-to-date on all things 2026, please register via the FIFA Media Hub.
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