Fiesta Bowl names Erik Moses as CEO, executive director

The Fiesta Bowl Organization announced Tuesday that Erik Moses will take over as CEO and executive director.

The long-time sports executive will help oversee the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, the parade preceding the New Year’s Six college football game, as well as the Valley’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

Moses replaces Mike Nealy, who stepped down in March after eight years on the job.

“The Fiesta Bowl has a rich history for innovation and a commitment to meaningful impact on and off the college football field,” Moses said in a release. “I’m excited to join this high achieving organization and to continue and enhance its inspiring work within Arizona’s communities.

“The joy of sports, entertainment and charitable giving is how we help to connect our communities make our state a better place to live, work and visit. I look forward to working with the talented staff, collaborating with our dedicated Board of Directors, Yellow Jacket Committee and our incredible volunteers to ensure our prominent standing in a vastly changing college football landscape.”

Moses previously was the Nashville Superspeedway president and general manager since 2020.

Before he helped relaunch that NASCAR event, he served as CEO of the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, which put on the Military Bowl and also the AT&T Nation’s Football Classic that features Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

While in the nation’s capital, Moses helped recruit MLB and was involved in the city building Nationals Park, the home of the Washington Nationals, who debuted in the majors in 2005 after a move from Montreal.

Moses also has business experience as the first Director of the District of Columbia’s Department of Small and Local Business Development, was senior legal counsel and director of business development at AOL and also worked as an attorney prior to getting into the sports and entertainment space.

“It was important to identify the right person who could guide the future of the Fiesta Bowl and help build innovative ways to engage our fans, community, stakeholders and partners at every touchpoint,” Fiesta Bowl board chair Randal Norton said in a release. “The landscape of college football and fan expectations continue to evolve. We selected a dynamic leader who we believe will deliver and meet those expectations and position us as the premier bowl game providing world-class hospitality. We are excited to welcome Erik to the Fiesta Bowl family.”

The Fiesta Bowl has brought approximately $175 million in annual economic impact into Arizona, according to the Fiesta Bowl Organization.

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