Frankly Speaking Show 78 Guest Blake Cullen

September 10, 2007

Now Playing Welcome to Wednesday show, a visit from Blake Cullen. He will be in the Frankly Speaking studio to talk about - of course - the Admirals hockey team which he owned for several years.

He will also talk about his affiliation with the Chicago Cubs and, in general, a fascinating life, this is a 'don't miss' interview.

Background

Blake Cullen has been involved in Professional Sports management since the early 1960’s.

After a brief and successful career in Hotel Sales and Management, Mr. Cullen became an Executive with the Chicago Cubs. During eleven (11) seasons with the Cubs, his duties ranged from travel and business arrangement to stadium operations and eventually into player contracts and negotiations.

In the fall of 1975, Mr. Cullen accepted the position as Administrator of the National League of Baseball, with offices first in San Francisco and later in New York. As Administrator, his duties included a wide range of Public Relations, Financial Administration, Television Negotiations and various committee memberships. He supervised the League Schedule and Umpiring Staff. At the conclusion of the 1986 Baseball Season, Mr. Cullen formed his own Company, which today is known as Admiral Management company. Its primary function was the acquisition and operation of Sports Franchises. AMC has owned and operated Minor League baseball, Indoor Soccer and Professional Hockey Teams throughout the United States.

In 1989, Mr. Cullen acquired the first expansion franchise in the East Coast Hockey League. His Hampton Roads Admirals went on to set many attendance records while winning back-to-back championships in the 1990’s. The success of the Admirals and ECHL was, in large part, responsible for the current boom in Minor League Hockey valuations.

Currently, Mr. Cullen remains involved in Baseball as a Voting Member of The Baseball Hall of Fame. He has been selected as Sportsman of the Year by the Norfolk Sports Club and Major League Baseball Executive of the Year awarded by the Chicago Pitch and Hit Club, along with numerous other citations.

Mr. Cullen has given numerous speeches throughout his career and is the author of the book entitled, “The Complete Book of Sports Management”.

On a personal note, Mr. Cullen was born in Chicago, Illinois, received a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University and is a veteran of the U.S. Army.