The Milwaukee Bucks today announced that Mike McCarthy has been named chief operating officer for the organization. McCarthy brings over 25 years of sports and entertainment experience to the Bucks staff, where he will be involved in all aspects of the team’s business operations including growing and strengthening the team’s day-to-day business operations and contributing to the strategic development of the new arena and surrounding development.

“Mike is one of the most successful and respected sports executives in the world, and he’s proven time and again that he has the vision, expertise and innovative spirit to build highly successful businesses across the sports and entertainment landscape,” Bucks President Peter Feigin said. “As part of Mike’s role at TLA he has been consulting with us for over a year now and his excitement to join us full time speaks volumes about the potential he sees in the Bucks organization and the city of Milwaukee. He will be an incredible asset for our entire staff as we continue to build a world-class organization on and off the court.”

McCarthy joins the Bucks after spending the previous three years as the Executive Vice President of Media, New Business & Events for The Legacy Agency (TLA), where he represented broadcast talent, helped corporate clients develop media strategies that would maximize media value, and advised the Bucks on all aspects of the team’s broadcast and digital content planning, including assembling a broadcast team of world-class talent led by Gus Johnson, Marques Johnson, Jim Paschke and Jon McGlocklin. McCarthy launched an events division for TLA that oversaw two sold-out events in Soldier Field in Chicago, and negotiated a multitude of venue deals and media partnerships while overseeing the advertising platforms, box office and game day operations for those and several other events.

“The strides the Bucks organization has made in recent years under the leadership of Peter and this committed ownership group has been remarkable, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute my expertise to the vision for what this team can become for the people of Wisconsin,” McCarthy said.

Prior to his time at TLA, McCarthy spent six years as the Vice Chairman/CEO of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues & Scottrade Center, where oversaw the strategic vision for all aspects of the Blues’ business including finance, marketing, ticket sales and service, sponsorship sales and service, hockey operations, and food and beverage operations. McCarthy also oversaw the $79 million renovation of St. Louis’ historic Peabody Opera House, which had been closed for 20 years, and delivered over 100 events in the space during its first year of operation following the re-opening.

From 1982 through 2005 McCarthy went from intern to the President of MSG Network, ultimately overseeing a staff of over 500 full-time and freelance employees while helping to build the regional network into the gold standard for a regional rights holder. During his tenure MSG Networks grew into a nearly $400 million business, and McCarthy’s strategic vision for game broadcasts, sports talk and interview shows, and original content led to numerous accolades, including 75 Emmy Awards.