JUSTIN PAPADAKIS

DEPUTY CEO & CHIEF REAL ESTATE OFFICER, UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE, TAMPA

Papadakis, the son of a Greek immigrant, grew up with a passion for soccer. Before taking a leadership role at the United Soccer League, he helped build shopping centers for tenants like Target and Walmart. Today, he and his team are working in dozens of markets across the country to bring professional soccer to more fans and transform communities through stadium-anchored entertainment districts. “This type of stadium puts the fan journey at the forefront, providing options around the stadium for going out before and after a match — a big part of soccer culture,” Papadakis says. “It also makes games more accessible for all fans and drives economic impact to surrounding small businesses. We want our stadiums programmed year-round with events, so they become true community hubs and catalysts for economic growth and further development.” The USL is the largest soccer organization in the United States.