A leader in his industry for the last three decades, Michael Schetzel has been an innovator in sales and ticketing across all levels of sport in the U.S.
Making a name for himself at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Michael developed the Olympics first-ever ticketing program for yachting competitions generating seven-figures in revenue. From boats to the Big Apple, he continued his success professionally at Madison Square Garden as the Director of Sales & Marketing for the one of the country’s most iconic sports venues.
Michael added some jewelry to his attire as the Director of Sales for the Boston Red Sox for more than five years from 1999-2005. While establishing now iconic sales opportunities at Fenway Park like the Green Monster seats and the Legends Suites, he and his 20+ person team broke team ticket sales records annually while the Red Sox broke the curse, winning the 2004 World Series.
Recently, Michael has made his mark in professional soccer, first with Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer as Vice President of Ticket Sales & Services and then at his latest stop with Nashville Soccer Club as VP of Ticketing and Corporate Partnerships. With RSL, he consistently grew ticket sales totaling 33% growth over a five-year period and increased retention to nearly 100%, as RSL won the 2009 MLS Cup.
At Nashville SC, Michael continued to make history, setting numerous inaugural season ticket sale and corporate partnership records as he oversaw sales for the team’s rise from amateur to MLS. In the club’s 2018 season in the USL Championship, he and his ticketing team sold a USL inaugural season record number of season tickets as the club burst onto the soccer scene.
Michael continued making his mark in the USL as the Chief Business Officer for FC Tulsa, Tulsa’s highest-level professional sports franchise, and at Indy Eleven. While leading all business operations in Tulsa, the club saw one of the biggest turnarounds in the league. Michael was recognized as one of the top business leaders in the league, being one of five nominated for CBO of the year as well as winning the Club Services Award in 2021. While at Indy Eleven in 2023, the team increased sales and led the league in group tickets sold.
A proud alum of the Georgia Southern University Sports Management master’s program in 1994, Michael earned his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University. Michael and his wife Dionne have four children, Tomas, Tristan, Savannah, and Soren.