Victor Cui, co-founder of MMA’s One Championship, named Elks president and CEO

EDMONTON - When Victor Cui was 12 years outdated, his household returned to their hometown of Edmonton after spending six years in Africa. One of many first issues they did once they received again was go to a CFL recreation at Commonwealth Stadium.

For Cui, it was an unforgettable expertise.

“One of many first issues my household did was go to a soccer recreation,” stated Cui, who was unveiled as the brand new president and chief government officer of the Elks on Tuesday in a ceremony at Edmonton Metropolis Corridor.

“I bear in mind the magical feeling of placing on the jersey. You set it on, you stroll into the stadium and, instantly, your loved ones expands to 30,000 folks, and you might be cheering, you might be screaming and doing the wave, and all of these magical issues that occur with stay sports activities.

“That reminiscence is ingrained and that’s why I've ardour for stay sports activities.”

Now 50, Cui is as soon as once more returning to Edmonton with soccer enjoying a big position.

For greater than a decade, Cui has been CEO of Singapore’s One Championship, which calls itself “Asia’s largest world sports activities media platform.” The mixed-martial bouts promoted by One are broadcast in additional than 150 international locations.

He has additionally been a communications director for the Canadian Open cease on the PGA Tour, and managed the communications division when Edmonton hosted the World Championships in athletics again in 2001.

The Elks fired then-president Chris Presson in November, a part of a housecleaning that included former common supervisor Brock Sunderland and ex-head coach Jaime Elizondo.

Not solely did the Elks end 3-11 and miss the playoffs by a rustic mile, however, for the primary time in franchise historical past, the staff didn't win a house recreation. The staff’s common attendance was simply 26,210, the bottom determine because the staff moved into Commonwealth Stadium in 1978.

The Edmonton Elks unveil their new identify and emblem at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.

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Cui is aware of he has an enormous job forward of him. He spoke about how fan bases are constructed otherwise than they've been up to now, how highlights from sporting occasions go viral on social media simply seconds after they occur. And, he talked about how most of the English Premier League’s tremendous groups — suppose Liverpool or Manchester United — have thousands and thousands upon thousands and thousands of devoted followers all around the world, despite the fact that a lot of them have by no means set foot on English soil.

That’s what the Web and digital broadcasting has completed; they've accelerated the concept that fan bases are world, not native. And he thinks the Elks, half of what's a uniquely Canadian recreation, have to take higher benefit of this.

“How will we construct a group that extends past simply our stadium, and past the town of Edmonton?” Cui requested. “As a result of there are Edmontonian followers all all over the world. If we give them an opportunity to see the highlights, to interact and simply fall in love with the arduous work persons are doing, that’s the place we have to go.”

When the Elks cleaned home, a headhunting agency was introduced in a professional bono foundation to determine candidates all over the world. Cui was a part of the preliminary group of 75.

“I’m joyful, Victor is the suitable particular person for this job,” stated Ian Murray, the chair of the Elks’ board of administrators. “You'll be able to see his ardour. He is aware of his stuff, he’s very certified within the sports activities enterprise. The reference to group is a large bonus for us.”

“The Elks are so integral to our metropolis, and we've got to point out that this place (metropolis corridor) is displaying the required assist for this group to develop,” added Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

For Cui, Tuesday marked Day 1 of constructing the Edmonton Elks, and the CFL, a world property. He stated he desires of a time when guests will come to Edmonton to cross going to an Elks recreation off their bucket lists.

“I would like it to be as iconic as when folks go to New York and see a Yankees recreation,” he stated.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 25, 2022.