The evolution of college athletics into the world of building proper sports revenue has been a quick one in the last few years. David Frost talks about how Total Sports Entertainment has helped university athletic departments build out their revenue streams, as well as enhance the fan experience beyond the game play. Frost also talks about how crucial that internships and connects are to getting a job in sports for young professionals.
The complex world of league stadium security is discussed with Evan Dabby, who oversees the operations of the MLS through its league office. Dabby examines some of the best practices that are used to ensure safety and maintain order, as well as how the MLS has succeeded in facilitating its team’s local supporter clubs in order to ensure that its messaging about fan safety are received. Dabby talks about some of the de-escalation practices that the MLS has built into each team’s staff security in order to ensure a pleasant fan experience for each patron. Twitter: @EvanDabbyMLS
Building a crowd isn’t easy, but the Orlando City Lions are doing that in the USL with an MLS launch date in 2015. Kelly Worthen runs a skeleton crew of four full-time employees, trying to develop a crowd in the only outdoor team in Orlando, despite the turbulent weather changes, tourist environment, and a 70,000-seat Citrus Bowl. Worthen talks about how the team achieves a solid price point with its customer base, including using the weather to sell a higher price point in specific areas of the stadium, and developing a great B2B atmosphere for corporate sponsors.
Fan experience is quickly becoming one of the hottest topics in sports business, as teams look to enhance how each customer feels upon a trip to the venue. Ruby Newell-Legner works with several teams and leisure facilities in order to improve every touch point of the customer experience through guest relations, discussing how her 7 Star Service System has increased retention for various teams. Newell-Legner talks about founding her online webinars, The Fan Experience Institute (www.7starservice.com), in order to help mentor those in the sports world at improve the product in the stands and concourses. Twitter: @7StarService
The owner’s box for two minor league clubs is where you’ll find Alan Stein, who has several partners for the Omaha Storm Chasers and Lexington Legends minor league baseball teams. Stein talks about some of the ways that owners involve themselves both on the partnership and team level, as well as how owners can improve their acumen through Minor League Baseball’s instruction.
The discussion of corporation sponsorship activation goes deep with Chris Codington, who examines exactly how to reach the right metrics for business development. Activation from the corporate side doesn’t get talked about as much as it should, but Codington breaks down why businesses spend what they spend on signage, B2B cultivation areas, and other sponsorship activities.
The complex world of the CRM is discussed with Jawed Yusufi, who has reorganized two CRM systems at Nebraska-Omaha and Georgetown. While that may appear mundane to the layman, CRM maintenance is going to be one of the largest determinations of revenue driving in the coming years. Yusufi understands this and discusses what to look for in creating the right questions for a CRM, especially in Archtics Paciolan System. Yusufi also offers up a few Farsi translations to the podcast. Twitter: @JYusufi
B2B sales by using a sports organization’s game is one of the hallmarks of developing long-term success between a franchise and business brands. CEO Jason Kohll talks about his company, Professional Sports Partners, which helps push business affiliations toward the right sports brands, using his experience with the Houston Rockets and St. Louis Cardinals. Kohll discusses how a suite can develop a 10 to 1 return for clients. Twitter: @JasonKohll
Going from a sales staff position to minor league owner in twenty years isn’t easy, but Jeff Eiseman has done that by forming Agon Sports, which oversees operations for the Augusta GreenJackets minor league baseball club. Eiseman talks about his experiences with Mandalay and Ripken Baseball, of why the sports industry is really a sales industry above all else, and what those who want to break in need to do in order to survive long term. Twitter: @Jeff_Eiseman
Luke Burket provides a fascinating case study of what the customer wants compared to what sales staffs focus on, in terms of selling sports. Burket discusses his role within the Evansville Iceman, how his title hasn’t changed his motivations or drive, and how keeping an office close to his staff is one of the key’s to his success. Twitter: @LukeBurket