# George Chayka

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/George_Chayka
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/George_Chayka.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Chayka
> Source revision: 1304734458
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**George Chayka** is a Canadian football executive who serves as vice-president of football and business operations for the [BC Lions](/source/BC_Lions).

## Early life

Chayka was born in [Sardis, British Columbia](/source/Sardis,_Chilliwack). He played running back and defensive back at [Simon Fraser University](/source/Simon_Fraser_University) from 1977-1980 and was a graduate assistant in 1981, coaching running backs and special teams.[1]

## Agent

In 1982, [Rick Klassen](/source/Rick_Klassen), a former SFU teammate who Chayka had known since elementary school, hired Chayka as his agent. In 1985, he began representing Klassen's teammate [Gerald Roper](/source/Gerald_Roper). By 1988 his client list had grown to include John Ulmer, Joe Germain, [Robert Molle](/source/Robert_Molle), Tony Dennis, [Leon Hatziioannou](/source/Leon_Hatziioannou), [Jim Mills](/source/Jim_Mills_(gridiron_football)), and [Ian Sinclair](/source/Ian_Sinclair_(Canadian_football)).[2] Chayka earned a reputation as a tough negotiator. He negotiated a contract for Roper that made him the CFL's highest-paid offensive lineman and one for [Willie Pless](/source/Willie_Pless) that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.[3]

While working as a player agent, Chayka also co-owned and managed a [Vancouver](/source/Vancouver) nightclub and worked as a lumber broker.[2]

## BC Lions

In 1992, Chayka joined the sales and marketing staff of the BC Lions.[4] His client list was taken over by Klassen.[3] Chayka left the Lions in March 1993 and joined former team president Frank Gigliotti on the staff of Dr. Lee Pulos.[5] He returned to the team later that year as director of marketing.[6] In 1996 he was promoted to vice-president of football and business operations. Under the Lions front-office structure, head coach [Joe Paopao](/source/Joe_Paopao) handled personnel and Chayka negotiated contracts.[7] Chayka's role was essentially that of general manager while also maintaining his duties as director of marketing.[8] The Lions finished 5–13 under Chayka and Paopao and Chayka's duties were shifted away from football operations and towards business development.[9] His new role has him oversee game day operations, ticket and suite sales, sponsorship, and the selection of the team's training camp site.[1][10] He also assumed operational duties of the club following the death of president [Bob Ackles](/source/Bob_Ackles) in 2008.[11] In 2017, Chayka was inducted into the BC Football Hall of Fame and was recipient the Bob Ackles Award for outstanding contribution to Canadian Football.[1]

## References

1. ["George Chayka"](https://www.bclions.com/staff-george-chayka/). *BC Lions*. CFL Enterprises LP. Retrieved 29 April 2022.

1. McMartin, Pete (June 11, 1988). "Agent Chayka drives hard bargain". *The Vancouver Sun*

1. Kingston, Gary (January 28, 1992). "Klassen set to tackle life as agent". *The Vancouver Sun*

1. Spencer, Kent (January 15, 1992). "CFL woes simply red". *The Province*

1. Gilchrist, Kent (April 1, 1993). "Klassen set to tackle life as agent". *The Province*

1. Kingston, Gary (November 16, 1993). "Barrett shows frustration with Lion fans". *The Vancouver Sun*

1. MacIntyre, Iain (January 12, 1996). "Paopao takes over Lions". *The Vancouver Sun*

1. Little, Lydon (January 17, 1996). "Chayka gets the job he has always wanted". *The Vancouver Sun*

1. Spencer, Kent (January 15, 1997). "Lions leave finding players to Beaver". *The Province*

1. Chafe, Aidan (January 23, 2009). "Football always there for Chayka". *The Vancouver Sun*

1. Ullrich, Lowell (July 7, 2008). "'He brought professionalism back'; Club will try to get on with business without its renaissance man". *The Province*

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [George Chayka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Chayka) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Chayka?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.