Mayor John Whitmire is ousted after his ouster, and other officials call for a change in leadership.
HOUSTON — The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority has fired longtime CEO Janice Burke as head of the organization, following calls from city and county leaders for a leadership change.
Burke has been CEO since 2006, overseeing major sporting events in Houston at the time.
Hours before the sports authority’s board was to consider her firing, Houston Mayor John Whitmire held a news conference at City Hall along with county leaders and the heads of the city’s professional sports venues.
“We came together today to say we can do better, we must do better,” Whitmire said.
The mayor said the sports agency’s original purpose was to fund, build and maintain the city’s professional sports venues. But Whitmire said industry officials came to him concerned about sports officials and gave him one message.
“We have to do something with the sports authorities,” Whitmire said of what he was told. “They have taken a step back from their original mission, and while the city’s stadiums are great facilities, they need significant improvements if they are to continue to attract major events.”
Whitmire said the change in leadership will allow the sports department to focus on maintaining the current stadium while also putting more emphasis on preparing for the 2026 World Cup, which will be played in Houston.
Hours later, the HCHSA board voted to remove Burke as CEO.
Board Chairman J. Kent Friedman said in a statement that the organization is grateful to Burke for his years of service.
“Thanks to her efforts, the status of our region’s sports industry has been elevated to unprecedented heights,” Friedman said. “The HCHSA Board of Directors wishes Janice all the best in her future endeavors.”
“I am incredibly proud of what our incredibly talented and passionate team has accomplished over the past nearly 20 years,” Burke said in a statement after the vote.
She went on to tout her accomplishments and the impact they had on Houston.
“The Sports Authority team is responsible for hosting or helping host events that have generated more than $2 billion in total economic impact for our city and county during my time at the Sports Authority. ” Burke wrote. “I am proud to be a part of this together with our board members, staff and community partners.”
An interim CEO will be appointed by the chairman of the board, but no timeline has been set for when that will be announced.
