Michael Lienert
Revenue & Partnerships Leader
Michigan | Detroit · Chicago · Los Angeles · New Orleans
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Revenue leader, partnership builder, and entrepreneur — from expansion clubs to major league stadiums and beyond.
The Foundation
Michael began his career in Los Angeles, where he had the opportunity to work with Legends Hospitality to help build Los Angeles Football Club from the ground up. He joined during the club's early formation stages as one of the first hires, before LAFC had ever played a match — which meant the work wasn't just selling a team, it was helping create an identity, a brand, and a fan base from scratch in one of the most competitive sports markets in the world.
The mandate was to sell premium seating, partnerships, and hospitality experiences years in advance of the stadium's opening — which called for a different approach entirely: leading with vision and storytelling, and building trust with corporate partners and high-net-worth clients around something that didn't yet exist. The result was a full sellout of premium inventory well ahead of opening, along with a roster of marquee founding partners, helping establish LAFC as one of the most successful expansion clubs in professional sports.
Los Angeles, Chapter Two
From there, Michael transitioned within Legends to the Los Angeles Chargers and the SoFi Stadium project, another critical build phase. With the Chargers having just relocated from San Diego, the team was once again starting from a relatively clean slate — building a premium client base in Los Angeles while introducing a venue designed to redefine the standard for sports and entertainment globally.
He led a team responsible for selling long-term suite leases, delivering one of the most successful early-phase premium sales launches for a new stadium project and building a robust multi-year pipeline through strategic relationship development and targeted outreach. The approach applied many of the same principles established at LAFC — relationships, strategic positioning, and long-term partnerships — while also building the operational and sales infrastructure to support the stadium at scale.
Detroit & Chicago
Those Los Angeles years proved pivotal, shaping Michael's approach to leadership, revenue strategy, and team building, and positioning him to take on larger roles in Detroit and Chicago. His professional background includes senior-level roles connected to major organizations such as the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Fire FC, where he was responsible for overseeing premium sales, partnerships, private events, and broader revenue strategy.
He also served as General Manager of Vue Orleans in New Orleans under Legends, putting him at the helm of one of the city's most distinctive hospitality and experience venues. Across each chapter, he's built a reputation for his ability to build and lead teams, structure complex deals, and drive consistent revenue performance across multiple markets — experience that spans both strategic leadership and hands-on execution across sales, marketing, and operational functions. Connect with him on Michael Lienert's LinkedIn profile to follow his professional journey.
Expanding the Platform
Alongside his background in sports and entertainment, Michael is expanding his professional focus into real estate and broader business development initiatives. He holds both a Michigan Real Estate License and a Michigan Life and Health Insurance License — credentials reflecting his ongoing interest in building a diversified, relationship-driven business platform.
The same skills that allowed him to structure multi-year partnership deals with Fortune 500 companies translate directly to navigating complex real estate transactions and building long-term financial relationships with clients. Michael approaches every new discipline the same way he approached day one at LAFC: with curiosity, discipline, and the mindset of someone who knows how to build from zero.
Outside the Office
Based in Michigan, with professional ties to Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Reno, and Lake Tahoe, Michael brings together executive leadership, revenue generation expertise, and relationship-driven business development built over the course of his career.
Outside of work, he values time with family, travel, and building meaningful connections both personally and professionally. He grew up in Nevada, where he earned a High School Baseball State Championship as a pitcher, and later graduated as Valedictorian from Barstow Community College — a foundation of discipline and competitive drive that continues to inform everything he does.