Standing at the podium as a moderator of a sports law presentation at the Stadium Managers Association (SMA) conference in Huntington Beach, California last month, Rick Nafe was calm and relaxed.
Never mind that there were close to 100 people sitting before him and that he was supposed to introduce a speaker, who was nowhere to be found.
Seconds later, the speaker appeared and Nafe took his seat, without so much of a hint of perspiration.
Experience does that. And Nafe has experience in spades. Currently the Vice President of Operations/Facilities for the Tampa Bay Rays, Nafe has been a prominent member of the Tampa Bay sports scene for the past three decades.
Prior to joining the Rays in October 1996, Nafe was executive director for the Tampa Sports Authority (TSA). During his tenure as executive director, he coordinated efforts with Tampa and Hillsborough County to build Legends Field for the New York Yankees spring training, and the St. Pete Times Forum as a home to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The TSA, under Nafe’s leadership, also secured and designed the new Raymond James Stadium for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and USF Bulls.
Nafe has been active in the industry as well, serving as president of the SMA for more than a decade. As someone who has witnessed the boom of the sports business and sports law fields, Sports Litigation Alert reached out to Nafe to with its question and answer feature.
How did you get your start in sports law/business?
I learned that the original Director of Ops at Tampa Stadium (Tampa Sports Authority) was retiring and a position would open up about 2 months later. I applied, along with 248 other people (many of whom were already Ops guys at cold weather sites). I went through 6 weeks of interviews and cuts…somehow survived all the cuts and was offered the job in January of 1980. In February, I became the youngest NFL Stadium Manager by 17 years. Since my background did nothing to prepare or get me this job…I believe it was solely based on enthusiasm, attitude and a real love of stadia (I’m not familiar with this word (stadia). Will others be?).
How did your time at the Tampa Sports Authority prepare you for the Rays?
I spent 12 years as the Director of Operations for the Sports Authority and Tampa Stadium learning every aspect of facility management…on the job training those first couple of years. I was then named Executive Director of the Authority in 1992 and served 5 years at the helm. That position was more political than anything else.
What would you say is your greatest career accomplishment?
I am one of 2 Stadium Managers in history to have run a Super Bowl (2), Final Four (1999) and a World Series. I received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Stadium Managers Association in 2010. Although most would agree those are great accomplishments…the fact that I have been doing this work that I truly love for over 30 years without anyone catching on is a great feeling..
What are the biggest challenges you face in your day to day work?
Keeping all aspects of operations for the Tampa Bay Rays humming. Event Management, Event Booking, Field/Event Conversion, Building Maintenance, Landscaping, Grounds Crew, Audio/Visual…all fall under the Vice-President of Operations.
What are some of the major legal issues you face as a stadium manager?
We are so departmentalized that other than depositions on slip and falls … or other fan related problems … our legal department handles everything else.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Coming to work every day. The people I work for are great and encourage you to do your job. They are true professionals and it seems that no two meetings are the same.
And of course, then there’s baseball.
What is your interaction with team general counsel?
We interact almost on a daily basis, but not always about legal issues. It could be business, industry related, social or legal.
