McDonough To Be Inducted Into Chicagoland Sports Hall Of Fame

From chicagoblackhawks.com: (link)

Chicago Blackhawks President John F. McDonough will be among 22 people inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame. McDonough, a Chicago native who joined the Blackhawks organization last November, will be among honorees such as Dick Butkus, Andre Dawson, Marv Levy and Gayle Sayers, in the “Celebration of Champions” induction ceremonies this fall.

“Few can challenge John’s numerous accomplishments with the Cubs and now the Blackhawks,” said Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame President Charles P. Carey. “Over the last 28 years he has served the sports world of Chicago with an inordinate degree of success and business acumen.”

Since his arrival, McDonough has spearheaded several organizational initiatives, which includes the landmark partnership with Comcast SportsNet and WGN Television to televise all 82 regular-season games for the first time in franchise history. Under his guidance, the organization also inked a three-year partnership that made News/Talk 720 WGN the flagship station for Blackhawks Hockey and announced the inaugural Blackhawks Convention, the first of its kind in the National Hockey League.

“I am truly humbled to be inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame alongside some great legends from our city’s rich history,” said McDonough. “This is really about the recognition of two great organizations in the Blackhawks and Cubs that helped me be able to accept such a wonderful honor.”

McDonough has also welcomed back Blackhawks legends and Hall of Famers Tony Esposito, Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita as official team ambassadors, helped triple the team’s season ticketholder base, and helped organize the inaugural Blackhawks Training Camp Festival, which takes place on Sept. 20, 2008.

From chicagoblackhawks.com; (link)

Prior to joining the Blackhawks, McDonough served as president of the Chicago Cubs. During his tenure, the Cubs won the 2007 National League Central Division while setting an all-time franchise attendance record. As the Cubs chief, and in his previous role as senior vice president of marketing and broadcasting, he was widely viewed as a sports marketing and management innovator who played a major role in growing the Cubs' fan base and attracting sponsorships for one of the most successful pro sports franchises in America.

McDonough has also been recognized with the St. Mary’s University Alumni Appreciation Award; the Bill Veeck Lifetime Achievement Award; Notre Dame High School’s Hall of Fame; the 2008 Executive of the Year Award by the Chicago chapter of the Public Relations Society of America; and as the 2008 Executive of the Year by the Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities

The Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame is an Illinois non-for profit organization with proceeds benefiting Father John Smyth Standing Tall Foundation and other charities. For more information, call 708-780-3679.