Joey Colby-Begovich
Vice President, Matchday Operations and Guest Experience
Joey Colby-Begovich was hired as Chicago Fire FC's Vice President of Matchday Operations and Guest Experience in November 2023.
Colby-Begovich, an accomplished veteran of the sports and hospitality industries, is responsible for leading all matchday operations for the Chicago Fire. In this role, Colby-Begovich oversees match operations for the Club’s home matches at Soldier Field and SeatGeek Stadium, along with leading all elements of the guest experience, including match presentation, in-stadium activations, and merchandise. Colby-Begovich also oversees third-party events and the Chicago Fire Season Membership experience and will create newly tailored experiences for suite holders and corporate sponsors. Additionally, he serves as an integral liaison between Fire partners at ASM Global and the Chicago Park District.
Prior to joining the Fire, Colby-Begovich spent over two decades across the sports, entertainment, and hospitality industries. Most recently, Colby-Begovich was the Vice President of Guest Experience with the Washington Commanders of the National Football League, where he served as a member of the executive leadership team, helping to develop a long-term strategic vision for the organization. Colby-Begovich led the redevelopment of the Commanders guest service and entertainment, overseeing everything from music and in-game entertainment to parking and stadium layout, as part of the team’s rebranding efforts.
Prior to his time with the Commanders, Colby-Begovich served as Senior Vice President, Member Experience for Inspirato, a luxury travel and experience subscription brand. During his three years with the company, Colby-Begovich managed five teams, overseeing the design and execution of member experiential group travel, including charter cruises, yachts, land programs, boutique experiences, and sporting events. Before joining Inspirato, Colby-Begovich spent 14 years with Carnival Cruise Lines in positions of increasing responsibility. Beginning as an Entertainment Operations Fleet Supervisor, Colby-Begovich worked his way up to Director, Guest Experience where he was responsible for the overall guest experience and flow, managing activities and events, holiday programs, production shows, live music production, comedy programs, partnership activations, guest flow optimization, in-cabin television content, and overall guest programming.
Colby-Begovich received his Master of Hospitality Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and his Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications from Simpson College.