BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Former Notre Dame College (Ohio) men’s and women’s water polo coach and Ohio University men’s collegiate club athlete Matt Kittle was named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aramco Stadium Company in October 2025.
A soccer stadium located in Saudi Arabia, the appoint is part of a plan to deliver one of the Kingdom’s most important sports and entertainment development projects, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and contributing to its hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Kitlte joins an administrative staff that includes Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aramco Stadium Company Fahad Al Dhubaib and Vice Chairman Mohammed Al Thomairi. Abdulrahman Alqudaib, Bader Alreziza, Nader Ashoor, Jefferson Slack, and James Bisgrove have also been appointed as Board members.
The board members and executive leadership possess extensive experience and skills in global sports and entertainment development, the management of major facilities and events, and commercial development and financial sustainability.
Located in Al-Khobar, Aramco Stadium is set to open this year with a capacity of 47,000 seats, and it will serve as the home ground for Al-Qadsiah Football Club. The stadium is part of an integrated complex spanning 800,000 square meters designed to welcome local residents and visitors from around the world throughout the year. The stadium is also intended to host international competitions, including the AFC Asian Cup 2027 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, as well as other entertainment events, further strengthening its role in the evolving sports and entertainment landscape of the Kingdom.
Kittle heads to Saudia Arabia after serving as Managing Director of FIFTY EIGHT MINUTES, an organization that helped fuel bold brands and breakthrough properties to create lifelong memories—through the power of sports, music, live events, and the real estate that surrounds them.
He previously served as Senior Vice President of Business Operations (2019-2024) and Business/Organizational Advisor (2018-19) for SoFI Stadium in Los Angeles.
Promoted to Senior Vice President of Business Operations at SoFI Stadium and Hollywood Park in 2021, Kittle oversaw all day-to-day business functions of SoFi Stadium, Hollywood Park, and YouTube Theater. Hollywood Park’s Human Resources, Marketing, Communications, and Community Affairs functions reported to him.
Hollywood Park is a near 300-acre sports and entertainment destination built by Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke. SoFi Stadium, the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, is the centerpiece of the development, and YouTube Theater, located under the same roof canopy as the National Football League (NFL) stadium, is a newly opened 6,000-seat venue for concerts, entertainment and more.
During his tenure, the venue earned numerous industry honors, including being named the world’s number one venue by Pollstar, Billboard, and Sports Business Journal, and hosted many of the world’s largest sporting and entertainment events, including the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff National Championship, WrestleMania, and performances by the world’s leading touring artists.
Recognized for scaling organizations, unlocking new revenue streams, and delivering premium, fan-centric experiences, Kittle has led large, multidisciplinary teams across complex stakeholder environments spanning sports, entertainment, media and real estate. As Chief Executive Officer of Aramco Stadium, he is focused on establishing a new global benchmark for stadium innovation aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, with an emphasis on sustainability, commercial excellence, and positioning the venue as a premier destination for international sport and live events.
A former member of the Ohio University men’s collegiate club water polo team and a three-time graduate of the institution with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (2004), a Master of Business Administration (2008) and a Masters of Sports Administration (2009), Kittle also served as an adjunct professor of Professional Studies in the Masters in Sports Industry Management program at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Prior to his tenure at SoFi Stadium, Kittle worked for TeamWork Online, a sports job website, as Director of New Business and Marketing Partnerships (2009-2012) and Chief Growth Officer (2012-2015).
Kittle served as head coach at the former Notre Dame University in Ohio from 2011 until resigning in 2013 due to work commitments.
About Aramco Stadium
Aramco Stadium is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, set within an 800,000+ square meter campus designed as a year-round destination. Built to international tournament standards, the fully air-conditioned stadium is intended to host matches during the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, underscoring its leadership within the Kingdom’s expanding global sports portfolio and its alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.
Home to Al-Qadsiah FC, Aramco Stadium integrates advanced venue technology and premium hospitality to deliver world-class experiences while anchoring a fence-free campus featuring restaurants, nearly 130,000 square meters of public park space, sports courts, playgrounds, and community programming, establishing a vibrant 365-day destination for residents and international visitors alike.
Saudi Aramco, officially the Saudi Arabian Oil Group or simply Aramco, is a State-owned petroleum and natural gas company that is the national oil company of Saudi Arabia. As of 2022, it is the second-largest company in the world by revenue and is headquartered in Dhahran.
Learn more about Aramco Stadium at: https://www.aramcostadium.com/en
