Kirby Schlegel
Founder/ChairmanKirby Schlegel is Founder and Chairman of Schlegel Sports, a company specializing in sports team ownership and management.
Schlegel’s entrance into sports ownership came in 2003 with his acquisition of the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League. Schlegel was able to relocate the team to Frisco, Texas where he signed a lease and marketing partnership with the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League. Under his leadership the Tornado have had immediate success as the leagues pinnacle franchise. Schlegel was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Tornado organization, including the majority of business, financial and hockey decisions. In March of 2005, Schlegel founded and hosted a Pros vs. Prospects charity game - an annual fundraising event in which NHL stars play in a game for charity against the Tornado. In 2006, the Texas Tornado not only won their 3rd straight National Championship, but also led the league in attendance for the 3rd straight year.
Schlegel made his entry into the world of baseball ownership with his acquisition of the Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League in November of 2006. The Rainiers are based in Tacoma, Washington at the 10,000 seat Cheney stadium and are the AAA affiliate of Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners. On September 7, 2009 the Tacoma Rainiers won the Pacific Coast League North Division Championship.
Strategic Sports was formed in June of 2006, to provide management and oversight of the Strategic Sports holdings.
Born in Ontario, Canada, Schlegel’s passion for hockey developed at a young age. At just three years, he started to play hockey in a small town outside of Toronto, Ontario Canada. Schlegel moved to Dallas in 1985, where he attended Trinity Christian Academy. He later earned his Communications Degree at Southern Methodist University. Schlegel spent several years working with the sales and marketing team at the Pavestone Company before attending Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, where he earned his Masters in Business Administration.
Schlegel currently resides at the W Residences in Dallas, Texas. He is a former member of the Young Entrepreneurs Organization, and a member of the North Texas Chapter of Young President’s Organization. Kirby serves on the Membership Committee as well as being active in a YPO Forum. He was recently nominated to serve on the board of the SMU Athletic Forum, the Board of Directors of Pavestone, and the Laurier’s Entrepreneurship Alumni Council. He serves on several charitable boards, including the Sports Club/LA, and the Schlegel Sports Foundation. In his spare time Schlegel enjoys golfing, water sports, snowboarding, traveling and playing hockey.
