Las Vegas, a hub for major sports events and entertainment.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has appointed Brian Yost as the new chief sports officer following the dismissal of Lisa Motley amid conflict-of-interest issues. Motley’s termination arose from concerns surrounding her recommendation to hire a sports marketing firm connected to her ex-husband. Moving forward, Yost will lead efforts to secure major sporting events for Las Vegas, including the Super Bowl. The LVCVA is also enhancing ethical guidelines to prevent similar issues in the future.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) has appointed Brian Yost as the new chief sports officer, following the dismissal of Lisa Motley from her role as vice president of sports and special events due to conflict-of-interest concerns. Motley’s termination occurred on June 5 after revelations surrounding her ex-husband’s employment with a sports marketing firm associated with the LVCVA.
Motley’s contract termination was initiated after a public commenter alerted LVCVA officials regarding potential conflicts tied to her recommendation to hire Position Sports for the College Football Playoff national championship game in 2027. An investigation led by LVCVA President and CEO Steve Hill included thorough interviews and document reviews, ultimately confirming the existence of conflicts within the procurement process.
The conflict-of-interest situation arose when Lisa Motley suggested hiring Position Sports without adopting a competitive bidding process, asserting they were the preferred contractor. The complications were exacerbated by her ex-husband, Jeff Motley, holding a leadership position as chief media officer at Position Sports. Although Lisa Motley recused herself from the request-for-proposal process, she attended a pre-proposal meeting, which raised additional ethical concerns, particularly as her direct reports participated in the evaluation.
On February 11, it was reported that Lisa Motley had shared confidential information regarding College Football Playoff production requirements with Jeff Motley, undermining her claimed recusal from the process. Following the LVCVA’s awarding of the College Football Playoff contract to Position Sports in March, it was later revealed that Jeff Motley secured a role with the firm despite prior discussions indicating that the agency would not pursue hiring him.
In light of these events, Brian Yost, who previously served as chief operating officer at LVCVA, has been appointed to lead the agency’s sports and events division. In this capacity, he will be tasked with securing high-profile events for Las Vegas, including the Super Bowl and the Men’s NCAA Final Four. Yost’s new position comes with an annual salary range between $215,000 and $301,000 and the potential for bonuses of up to 20%.
To mitigate future conflict-of-interest issues, the LVCVA has initiated a reissuing of requests for proposals regarding the College Football Playoff title game. Chief Strategy Officer Ed Finger will oversee the new evaluation process. The agency is also working to enhance ethical standards via training sessions with the Ethics Commission, aiming to foster transparency and integrity in procurement practices.
In conjunction with these measures, CEO Steve Hill’s salary was adjusted by $44,550, now totaling $539,550, reflecting the added responsibilities tied to overseeing procurement and event planning for the organization.
Amid these recent changes, the LVCVA has committed to investing $26.5 million to help Las Vegas host the 2028 NCAA Men’s Final Four and to support the inaugural boxing event at Allegiant Stadium, reinforcing the city’s position as a premier destination for major sporting events.
As the LVCVA moves forward under the leadership of Brian Yost, the agency remains focused on upholding its core values, emphasizing transparent operations and ethical procurement processes to foster trust among partners and stakeholders in Las Vegas.
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