About
Chris began his career in sports in 1996 after purchasing two half-season tickets to the inaugural season at D.C. United and asking for an internship from the ticket sales representative. This led to a remarkable journey across the soccer landscape. His last stint, with his consulting company, United Sports Properties (USP), was designed to build a meaningful "Home Field Advantage" for clients and assist them in all areas of business development, front office best practices, revenue generation, game day operations, establishing winning cultures and building authentic, passionate fan bases. Keeney has worked with every level of the professional, amateur and youth game including MLS, WUSA, NISA, NPSL, UWS, USYSA, US Club Soccer and USASA.
From 2015 to 2020, Keeney was employed with Next College Student Athlete (NCSA), the world's largest and most successful college athletic recruiting network and assisting more than 2,000 athletes into their proactive and progressive college campaigns generating academic and athletic scholarship of more than $3 million dollars. In addition, Keeney consulted start-up soccer organizations including the Albuquerque Sol (now, New Mexico United) and the MLS pre-season tournament, the Pacific Rim Cup, owned by Blue United, LLC.
From 2012 to 2015, Keeney was a key founder and Chief Business Officer of FC Tucson Events, LLC, which launched the United Soccer Leagues franchise, FC Tucson, and established Tucson, AZ as the Western destination for Major League Soccer Pre-Season through the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup. The event has hosted more than half of the league and iconic players like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Kasey Keller, Landon Donovan, and Clint Dempsey.
From 2008-2010, Keeney was General Manager of Lone Star Sports & Entertainment (LSSE), the special events arm of the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL) and was responsible for large college football events like the Texas Bowl, Rice v. Texas, and the "Battle of the Piney Woods" between Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin universities. LSSE also hosted world-class soccer including the Mexican National Team, the MLS All-Star Game featuring Manchester United and the 2022 USA World Cup Bid Committee. In addition, LSSE partnered with the Shell Houston Open (PGA), AVP Pro Beach Volleyball and, the one and only, Mr. George Strait.
Prior to joining LSSE, Keeney spent 13 years working for three different Major League Soccer organizations (D.C. United, Real Salt Lake and the Columbus Crew). During his time with D.C. United, Keeney was awarded the Inaugural Commissioner's Salesperson of the Year and the Commissioner's New Business Leadership Award honors. While with Real Salt Lake, the club was a Top 3 team for ticket sales in its inaugural season. As Vice-President of Ticket Sales and Services for the Columbus Crew, he reorganized the sales culture and led the team to exceed its goal by 25 percent and was awarded the 2007 Employee of the Year. Keeney also created several revenue drivers for the Crew such as post-game concerts and the Columbus Crew 5K.
Keeney graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Marketing ('92) and received an M.B.A. ('96) from George Mason University. He resides in Tucson, AZ with his spectacular wife, Berta. They have two amazing daughters, Alex, 24 and Andi, 21.