The better part of twelve days changed everything.

In June 2025, I had the privilege of serving as Venue Press Officer for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup group stage at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — a FIFA World Cup 2026 host venue and one of the largest stadiums in the world. It was my first time as VPO, and the biggest assignment of my sports PR career to date.

I had prepared for this moment for months. Credential lists reviewed and cross-checked. Volunteer briefing documents built from scratch. Run-of-show mapped to the minute. Bilingual communication protocols established. Every scenario I could anticipate, I had a plan for.

And still — nothing fully prepares you for the weight of being the person in charge. The one every volunteer, every credentialed journalist, every stadium contact turns to when something unexpected happens. The one who has to make the call, communicate it clearly, and keep the operation moving — in two languages, in real time, with 179 media members in the building.

That’s not a gap in preparation. That’s just what leadership feels like from the inside.

What we ran

Across two matchdays, we hosted four group-stage international matches:

— Costa Rica vs. Dominican Republic — Suriname vs. Mexico — United States vs. Haiti — Dominican Republic vs. Suriname

Managing 179 credentialed media members on June 18 and 173 on June 22, I directed all venue media operations — credentialing, press conference setup, mixed zone coordination, press box assignments, and photographer field access — executed in alignment with Concacaf protocols and under compressed live-event timelines. My bilingual team included two assistant press officers, Nancy Rodriguez and Patricia Moreno, and 25 match-day volunteers who showed up ready for anything.

From stadium logistics to press conferences, training sessions, and field-level coordination — it was a full-scale effort. And I’m proud to say we delivered.

What I learned

I had to pivot more times than I can count. Unexpected situations came fast, and the only option was to adapt, communicate, and keep moving. That’s the nature of live event operations — no matter how well you plan, the match doesn’t pause for your checklist.

What carried me through was the people around me. My AVPOs Nancy Rodriguez and Patricia Moreno brought sharp judgment and calm energy at every turn. The volunteers trusted me. The AT&T Stadium operations team — Andy, Meagan, Gaston, Mike, Fernando, Dane, Sergio, Hannah, Ian, and so many others — brought the kind of expertise and attention to detail that makes you better just by being around it.

Working alongside fellow CMOs Emely Alvarado and Alex Argueta, and the other eight VPOs selected for the tournament — Bryan Chenault, Erika Mach, Carlos D. Mojica, Juan Felipe Mejía Bahamón, Alonzo Corona, Ryan Tewes, Laura Sorto, and Katelyn White — reminded me that this field is full of absolute rock stars. I was honored to be counted among them.

To Concacaf, Alvaro Urrutia, Zac Emmons, and Kristina Rojas — thank you for the opportunity, the trust, and the support. And to Gabriel Gabor and Irene Gutiérrez, who have guided and believed in me through more moments than I can count — I was striving to make you proud.

The moment I’ll never forget

After my first match as VPO, I was gifted a game ball.

I’ve been in this world for fifteen years. I’ve worked tournaments, venues, concerts, and national team tours across the country. I’ve credentialed international press, run mixed zones, briefed photographers in two languages, and coordinated with governing bodies, clubs, and broadcast partners. But that game ball — that gesture from the people I respect most in this industry — stopped me completely.

It’s sitting somewhere I’ll always see it. A reminder of what it felt like to step into the biggest role of my sports career, to prepare for it with everything I had, and to deliver.

What comes next

Back at my desk at The Center for American and International Law, I’m still processing everything that happened that week. The names, the moments, the pivots, the wins. These assignments don’t come often — and when they do, they ask everything of you.

I’m exhausted. I’m all smiles. And I’m genuinely excited for whatever comes next.