Atlanta United, Darren Eales win big at 2018 MLS Club and Executive Awards

Atlanta United was honored with a league-high seven total awards Thursday night at the 2018 MLS Club and Executive Awards. The yearly event that takes place before the MLS SuperDraft saw Darren Eales win the Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year award for the second straight year.

It was a near-perfect season for the Five Stripes from top to bottom as they brought home their first major trophy in only their second year. They came within one disappointing result away from winning the double. Apart from on-field greatness, they broke nearly every attendance record possible.

In addition to Eales’ big win, the club also brought home the awards for Ticket Sales, Public Relations, Retail, Digital Media, Operations Staff and Supporter Management.

No award is complete without the customary raising of the trophy:

2018 MLS Club and Executive Award Winners:

Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year – Darren Eales

Ticket Sales Team of the Year – Atlanta United

Public Relations Team of the Year – Atlanta United

Club Retailer of the Year – Atlanta United

Digital Team of the Year – Atlanta United

Operations Staff of the Year – Atlanta United

Supporter Management Team of the Year – Atlanta United

Additional award winners

Sporting Executive of the Year – Peter Vermes, Sporting Kansas City

Corporate Partnerships Team of the Year – Los Angeles Football Club

Corporate Partnerships Executive of the Year – Justin Compton (Sporting Kansas City)

Ticket Sales Executive of the Year – Sean Sittnick (Minnesota United FC)

Marketing Executive of the Year – Rich Orosco (Los Angeles Football Club)

Expansion Club Recognition Award – Los Angeles Football Club

Ticketing Sales Impact Award presented by the National Sales Center powered by SeatGeek – Colorado Rapids (Sales Combine)

Marketing Team of the Year – New York City FC (24-hour game)

Marisa Colaiano Community Relations Department of the Year presented by MLS WORKS – Chicago Fire

Business Analytics Team of the Year – Los Angeles Football Club

Social Media Activation of the Year – LA Galaxy (#Galaxy Social / Malea Emma)

Digital Content Experience of the Year – Portland Timbers (The Rivalry)

Equipment Manager of the Year – Chris Maxwell (Houston Dynamo)

Security Staff of the Year – Seattle Sounders FC

eMLS Team of the Year – Philadelphia Union

Team Administrator of the Year – Spencer Childs (Portland Timbers)

Athletic Training Staff of the Year – Sporting Kansas City

Academy of the Year – Sporting Kansas City