Richard Evans, No. 2 at Gaylord Entertainment, to Join Huizenga’s Team

Gaylord Entertainment Co.’s No. 2 executive, Richard Evans, has resigned to run billionaire H. Wayne Huizenga’s three professional sports teams.

Effective next month, Evans will take the reins at the Miami Dolphins football team, the Florida Marlins pro baseball franchise and the Florida Panthers hockey team.

For Gaylord, Evans’ departure leaves a void in the country music entertainment company’s executive suite.

Evans, Gaylord’s chief operating officer, was considered a possible successor to President and Chief Executive E.W. “Bud” Wendell, 69. Wendell will assume Evans’ duties until a replacement is hired, the company said.

Evans, who joined Gaylord after heading Madison Square Garden in New York and the New York Knicks and Rangers pro sports teams, has spearheaded Gaylord’s efforts to lure a professional sports franchise to its hometown of Nashville.

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