AEG Sports Exec Dies

Doug Hamilton, COO of AEG Sports, died March 9th of an apparent heart attack during a flight to Los Angeles from Costa Rica.

The GM and president of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy was flying back from the team’s CONCACAF Champions Cup in Costa Rica. He had just turned 43 on March 6th.

Hamilton joined the Galaxy four seasons ago. He was previously the VP and GM of the Miami Fusion soccer team. Hamilton is also a two-time Major League Soccer Executive of the Year. His team was the first to show a profit in the 10-year history of the MLS, according to the Los Angeles Times.

He was considered to be moving fast through AEG‘s ranks, according to the Times.

“He had a profound impact not only on the Galaxy, but on getting the Home Depot Center built,” AEG CEO Tim Leiweke told the paper.