Sarah Hanna, Director of the Kino Sports Complex and head of the Kino Stadium District, brings a uniquely diverse professional background to one of Pima County’s most dynamic public assets. A Tucson native and Sabino High School graduate, Hanna’s early life revolved around competitive swimming—an experience that led her into lifeguarding and eventually into the water‑park industry. Director Hanna was able to make her way through leadership roles at major facilities in Arizona, Louisiana, and Connecticut.

Her return to Tucson in 2011, prompted by family needs, shifted her career trajectory. With no large water parks to manage locally, she leaned into her passion for risk management and joined Pima County as a loss control officer. Over 12 years in the county’s Risk Management Department, she became deeply familiar with the stadium district through inspections, event oversight, and safety evaluations. That experience eventually led to her appointment as Deputy Director and, later, Director of the Kino Sports Complex.

Today, Hanna oversees a 300‑acre, multi‑complex operation that functions not as a park, but as a sports‑tourism engine for Southern Arizona. The North Complex houses FC Tucson, public parks, and the Kino Environmental Restoration Project (KERP) recreation path. The Main Complex includes the 11,000‑seat stadium, ten baseball fields, administrative offices, and vast parking areas that support major events such as the Tucson Gem Show. The South Complex—opened in 2020—features 12 soccer fields and 20 pickleball courts and sits adjacent to the emerging Mosaic Quarter development.

Kino hosts events 363 days a year, from local birthday parties to international tournaments like the World Baseball Classic Qualifier. The Kino Sports Stadium is supported by 56 full‑time staff and roughly 70 event workers.

Hanna emphasizes a philosophy of flexibility and partnership. Whether accommodating professional soccer, building a 30,000‑gallon dock‑diving pool for a world‑class dog‑agility championship, or helping families plan small gatherings, she strives to “say yes” whenever possible.

Above all, Hanna sees Kino as a community hub that has evolved far beyond its former identity as a spring‑training baseball site. With graduations, festivals, league play, international sports, and cultural events filling the calendar, she and her team continue to shape Kino into one of the region’s most vibrant public spaces.