MICHAEL HITCHCOCK, General Manager of FC Dallas and Pizza Hut Park

Michael Hitchcock enters his second season as General Manager of FC Dallas and Pizza Hut Park. Hired on October 25, 2005, the team and stadium saw tremendous growth in its first full-year of operation, increasing attendance by over 30 percent from the previous year, and drawing over 1.5 million spectators and participants to the complex in 2006 alone.

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Hitchcock's passion for soccer began as a youth, having captained the State of Georgia U-15 state champions. As a senior at Brookstone High School in Columbus, Georgia, he received All-State honors by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association. Hitchcock continued his playing career at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, where he played four years of Division I varsity soccer and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications - Advertising.

The 34-year-old began his well honored MLS career with the Anschutz Entertainment Group's D.C. United in 1998, where he started as an entry level Corporate Ticket Sales Representative. He had an immediate impact on their organization as it was recognized in both 1999 and 2000 with an MLS Sales Team of the Year award and he also personally earned the 2000 "MLS Commissioner's New Business Leadership Award".

In November 2000, Hitchcock became the Director of Sales for the Colorado Rapids. In his first season with the Rapids, Hitchcock's guidance and impact on the ticket sales of the club led him to be recognized as the MLS Sales Director of the Year. In 2002, the team achieved the largest ever average attendance in a single season - 20,687 fans per game, and Hitchcock was again recognized as the MLS Sales Director of the Year, with his sales staff earning the MLS Sales Team of the Year Award. He was promoted to Senior Director of Sales and Marketing in his final year in Colorado, and the team's season ticket holder base doubled that season.

After the Rapids were purchased by Kroenke Sports Enterprises in September 2003, Hitchcock elected to stay with the Anschutz Entertainment Group, assuming the position of Vice President of Sales with the Los Angeles Galaxy in October of 2003. In his first season with the Galaxy in 2004, the team averaged a League-high 23,809 fans per game, once again earning Hitchcock the MLS Sales Director of the Year award, and in the process, earning his sales staff the MLS Sales Team of the Year.

The Galaxy once again led MLS in attendance in 2005 with an average of 24,204 fans per game, including 8 sellouts at The Home Depot Center - all the while achieving the highest season ticket base in league history and once again earning him the Sales Director of the Year honors for a record fourth time

. Hitchcock lives in Frisco with his wife Jamie and daughter Eleni and son, William.