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The Tao of Sports Podcast – The Definitive Sports, Marketing, Business Industry News Podcast

Sports Revenue Analytics veteran and sport management professor Troy Kirby interviews the team behind the teams in Front Offices and Athletics Departments throughout the world, revealing an industry of specialists and minds unseen by the local or national media. Examined in this podcast are current or long-standing industry topics; tickets, business, analytics, moneyball, revenue, finance, economy, sales and jobs of the NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. Also included are topics surrounding third party vendors, sports business, revenue, marketing, mentoring interns, facilities, managing employees, as well as how to not only break into sports, but stay in the industry long-term. The often-invisible side of the industry is where the Tao of Sports Podcast attempts to pull back the elusive curtain, providing information both to industry insiders and those who want to work in sports. Troy Kirby is a sport management professor at Saint Martin's University in Lacey, Washington.
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The Tao of Sports Podcast – The Definitive Sports, Marketing, Business Industry News Podcast
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Now displaying: January, 2016
Jan 29, 2016

As Super Bowl 50 nears, so does the main event for SAP in terms of fan engagement. Ward Bullard is SAP's Vice President of Sports & Entertainment, overseeing from concept to rollout of the Fan Energy Zone, which is expected to be a highlight of the entire SB50 week. The Fan Dome, in the heart of San Francisco's Super Bowl City, will hold a 40-foot tall Fan Dome, allowing fans to become players as they step into an interactive gaming experience, along with a Fan Wall, a 50-by-15 foot video wall that will capture and display fan gaming highlights. Bullard discusses the implementation of the entire SAP Hana data backbone for the Fan Energy Zone, as well as how smart interactive concepts are revolutionizing the sports fan experience landscape. Twitter: @WardBullard

Jan 27, 2016

The Vermont Lake Monsters may be one of the few professional teams in The Green Mountain State, but they also play in one of the oldest ballparks in all of Minor League Baseball. General Manager Joe Doud discusses some of the challenges with keeping up on fan expectations of ballpark experience, along with how the Lake Monsters have been able to drive attendance the last few years. Doud talks about engaging the fans as well as the Lake Monsters' own staff, by shagging a few balls in the outfield during batting practice, and making sure that every attendee feels like they are one of the family. Doud shares his insight into making sure that promotions work, and even when they don't, learning lessons on improving the marketing plan each season. Twitter: @JoeDoud

Jan 25, 2016

Mark Fidelman is one of the key commentators on social media activation and "growth hacking." Fidelman talks about his interest in the social media and digital space, as well as some of the more under-utilized ways that teams could be creating activation points with their athletes and brands. Fidelman discusses some of his passions around the sports business segmentation, especially when it comes to generating a lot of interest through social media. Fidelman also shares insight into creating his company, Evolve!, as well as working for Taser as a Section 16 Officer. Twitter: @MarkFidelman

Jan 22, 2016

In the modern sports era, even college coaches need the benefits of representation. Garry Rosenfield of Coaches, Inc., shares his wisdom on how coaching has created its own subculture of career development and planning through contracts and agent agreements. Rosenfield discusses the Rooney Rule, as well as how diversity in coaching staffs can increase, as well as the gender bias issues in women's basketball. Rosenfield talks about communication with athletic directors, who may not be comfortable with agents when hiring coaches, as well as some of the methods that coaches can use in order to financially protect themselves long-term in any situation. Twitter: @GarryCl

Jan 20, 2016

She managed to cross the "chasm" between college athletics and professional sports, serving in a high level for both, and lived to tell about it. Heather Martin shares her insight into what became her passion, which is sports community relations, and how she helped define the Detroit Pistons brand with the locals over the past five years. Martin talks about why the NBA transitioned to a big community relations output, and how it is helped increase not only awareness, but engagement, between the Pistons and the greater Detroit Community. Martin points out the dynamic differences between economic realities of Auburn Hills and downtown Detroit proper, and how the Pistons successfully navigated opportunities to ensure that their outreach was not viewed as opportunistic of real world problems. She also casually mentions a former title that she held, as manager of fan lifestyles. Twitter: @HevCollart

Jan 18, 2016

There are few people who understand the complexities of college sports business as well as Kristi Dosh, who has written extensively about it in Saturday's Millionaires. Dosh comes on the podcast to talk about the various ways in which some of the Power 5 conferences will start to leave the rest in that category behind. Dosh also speaks on the topic of pay for student athletes as well as the differences between the tailgate cultures of the East and West Coasts. Dosh also discusses the ways that young professionals trying to break into the sports business field are either doing it right, or hurting themselves by not attending industry conferences, along with the expectations some sports management students have about getting a job out of school. Twitter: @SportsBizMiss

Jan 15, 2016

The National Rugby League (NRL) is the top league of professional rugby clubs in Australasia. General Manager Dave Harris manages 39 staff across both the Marketing, Content & Digital and Club & State Services divisions out of Sydney, Australia. Harris talks about the growth of club memberships across league from 252k in 2014 to 294k in 2015, and the deep impact that Origin has on the NRL brand, especially through its digital channels. Harris explains negotiating with Channel 9 and producers to create a Reality TV Series premiering in 2016, as well as driving grassroots participation and connection to NRL through new online program. Twitter: @daveharrisAUS

Jan 13, 2016

Minor League Baseball has had luxury suites in its stadiums for years, but few team personnel have been solely dedicated to creating the high-end premium experience for their fans. Evelyn White just finished her first season with the Arkansas Travelers, as the Director of Luxury Suites, and explains some of the ways that she enhances the overall experience for those fans committing to 3-to-5-to-10 year contractual agreements in the Travelers' premium areas. White discusses her understanding in what makes up the suite experience, as well as being as organized as possible to help in any way required. White also talks about her experience with USA Football, coordinating various aspects of a complicated, but fun job. Twitter: @EvelynRose04

Jan 11, 2016

Eric Mastalir has witnessed the digital buying convergence of the public through both the lens of sports and general commerce. Mastalir, who formerly was the Chief Commercial Officer of the Seattle Seahawks and Sounders FC, also served as Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at the San Jose Sharks and Vice President of Strategic Alliances at the Sacramento Kings. Mastalir shares some of his thoughts on corporate sponsorship activation, as well as understanding both engagement from the public and the business development end of the relationship. Mastalir also talks about how Amazon's digital systems may help transform the process of sports sales. Twitter: @emastalir

Jan 8, 2016

There are many cross-sections of the sports business environment, but none are probably as bizarre as the true urban legends of the past. Arnie "Tokyo" Rosenthal is a part of that rich history, with his ability to con himself through New York Yankees media relations from 1977 to 1984, as a member of the media. Rosenthal relates his story of getting the ultimate access pass, and seeing some of the legends of baseball up close and personal, while also honing his photography skills. Rosenthal talks about the time he met Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle in 1978, even getting his picture snapped with them, as well as seeing "The Boss" George Steinbrenner in an adjacent luxury suite. Rosenthal was never caught, quitting the con game on his own terms after the 1984 season, but ended up confessing over a decade later to some of the former Yankees brass for a few lasting laughs. Twitter: @TokyoRosenthal

Arnie's memoir, A Fauxtographer's Yankee Stadium Memoir, is available at Amazon.

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