黑料社

On Top of His Game

Josh Blackford 鈥�09 admits he鈥檚 not the world鈥檚 biggest soccer fan, but the former Storm basketball player sure gets a kick out of it. As vice president of operations and stadium general manager for Major League Soccer (MLS) team Sporting Kansas City, he has the whole field covered.

It鈥檚 just the latest stop in a sport administration career filled with championship glory. He鈥檚 worked the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, MLB playoffs, NCAA Championships and many more pinnacle sporting events.

鈥淚鈥檝e been incredibly fortunate to be part of some of the biggest events in sports,鈥� said Blackford. 鈥淭hese were the kinds of opportunities I dreamt about as a kid.鈥�

Blackford broke into his career while earning his master鈥檚 degree in counseling from Kansas State University, where he served as a graduate assistant in athletics operations. From there, he played similar roles at the University of California, Berkeley, and San Jose State University.

During his time in the San Francisco Bay area, Blackford enjoyed the thrill of working with the Golden State Warriors, the former Oakland Athletics and the former Oakland Raiders. He vividly recalls the days he would work an A鈥檚 day game, then have to hustle through the tunnel to work a Warriors game the same night.

鈥淚 would literally change my uniform while walking from the stadium to the arena. It was nonstop, 24/7, and I loved it. I just wanted to be around the energy, to learn, to contribute, to be a part of something special. That tunnel became more than a shortcut between venues 鈥� it was the symbol of the hustle, the commitment, and the dream I was chasing.鈥�

His latest dream come true is playing a prominent role in helping Kansas City prepare to host the FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament in 2026.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a global moment watched by more than 5 billion people that will leave a lasting impact on Kansas City and the growth of soccer in America for generations to come. To play a role in that effort鈥� is something I鈥檒l carry forever.鈥�