Eric D. Hart, CvE
ERIC D. HART, CVE
Eric is the President/CEO of the Tampa Sports Authority (TSA). He is a member of the Westshore Alliance, the Visit Tampa Bay Advisory Board and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission board.
The TSA manages Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls, the Hillsborough County Tournament Sportsplex and three City of Tampa municipal golf courses- Rocky Point, Babe Zaharias and Rogers Park. The TSA also serves as the landlord for Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Steinbrenner Field, spring home for the New York Yankees.
Eric previously served as the President and CEO of the Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority. Prior to Lansing, Eric served as the Director of Event Services for the Minneapolis Convention Center and as Associate Director for the UIC Pavilion in Chicago. He began his career at the Iowa State Center in Ames, Iowa where he served as the Guest Services Manager and was later promoted to Event Coordinator.
Eric is actively involved in IAVM (International Association of Venue Managers), having served as Chair of the Venue Management School (VMS) and Dean of the VMS Graduate Institute, held annually at Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa. Eric earned the prestigious Certified Venue Executive (CVE) designation from IAVM in 2013. He was elected as the Second (2nd) Vice Chair of IAVM’s Board of Directors in 2019, the First (1st) Vice Chair in 2020 and served as the IAVM Board Chair in 2022 and currently finishing his term on the Board as past Chair.
Eric received a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance and a Master of Science in Business Education and Administration from Illinois State University.
He is happily married and the proud parent of two daughters. Eric loves to hunt, golf, fish, wood work in his shop and spend time with his family.