Director of Season Seat Membership and Group Sales Chris Atack discusses how the conversion from season ticket holders to members began, and how it is has helped continued foster a solid renewal base for the team. Atack mentions that while hockey in Canada is always close to being considered a sports religion, second most may be a Montreal Canadiens' fan. However, selling the Ottawa Senators only two hours away does have its advantages, especially when it comes to targeting those nearby Canadiens fans into the Senators' home ice and converting them into members as well as group leaders. Twitter: @atackc
With over 20 years of sports selling experience in the industry, John Davis has seen various trends come and go. Davis talks about his time in the NFL, MLB, MiLB and NHL at selling the ticket product and driving revenue for teams. Davis discusses how the secondary market has a foothold on specific areas of ticket sales, but also how the fan experience reigns supreme.
The New York Lizards have established themselves as a professional lacrosse dynasty over the past 15 years, winning the Major League Lacrosse championship three times. Jason Velez has been part of that wave over the past 2 years, and shares his vision of where the Lizards have created a foothold with their brand. While the game of lacrosse may be somewhat niche, Velez talks about the opportunities that exist in selling the game to its most rabid fans, the young club lacrosse players in the New York/Long Island area. Velez discusses how he pushes younger account reps toward more efficient sales calls, as well as the dynamics of group sales overall. Twitter: @JasonVelezNYL
Consumer behavior in sports drives revenue, whether it be in ticket sales, marketing or corporate sponsorship. Temple's Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Lee has taken a deep dive into the examination of what pushes consumers to purchase or stay away from products, as well as the relationships that people have with brands entirely. Lee discusses his research, along with deciphering the attention span of consumers, including Super Bowl commercial value. Lee talks about how the idea of consumer behavior shifting can have a drastic reaction on the bottom line of every sports franchise. Twitter: @ChrisLeePHD
For a couple of years, Lance Tyson and PRSPX has started to shake up the sports sales training model with dynamic B2B and B2C concepts. This has enabled PRSPX to become a major player for franchise sales floors nationally. Tyson discusses the concepts which have separated him from the pack, including his view of tickets, marketing and revenue generation. A former owner of Dale Carnegie Training in Ohio & Indiana, Tyson oversees a team of sports sales trainers with a mission toward pushing the envelope of establishing new B2B concepts in each sports franchise. Twitter: @LanceTyson
Independent league baseball in New Jersey means thinking outside the boxes when it comes to promotions, but not so much when it comes to a sales mentality. Dave Marek has risen through the ranks of the Somerset Patriots for the past 17 seasons, becoming senior vice president of marketing. Marek discusses the ways in which the Patriots focus on a customer-first mindset, especially when it comes to establishing larger, more impactful group experiences. Marek talks about his experiences with promotions, including having Donald Trump delivering the first pitch via landing his helicopter on center field, and the ways in which to get a community excited for the product every summer. Twitter: @DMarek94
The Citadel is one of the most storied institutions in the United States, but growing its revenue for its athletic programs takes time and care. Assistant Athletic Director of Ticket Sales & Revenue Chris Baretta has helped transform the paradigm by building a sales training academy with interns and student workers. Leveraging his experience with the Seattle Seahawks & Sounders FC, Baretta discusses what he looks for in an academy candidate, as well as how he looks to strategically sell-out the house, including premium inventory. Baretta discusses the issue of discounting and complimentary tickets, as well as how to create a buying public in the rich-tradition of The Citadel athletic department. Twitter: @Chris_Baretta
NASCAR has few tracks that stand up to the legendary status of Talladega, which in racing lore may also be cursed in the minds of some drivers and racing fans. Josh Harris discusses how to sell a massive track in the Deep South, especially when all eyes go on one of the centerpieces in the state of Alabama annually. Not just for racing, but for tailgating culture, which can extend two entire weeks of "The Big One" in multiple speedway formats. At one time, Talladega boasted a seating capacity of 175,000. Harris talks about the current seating capacity of 80,000 and the strategy of filling it for each of the many races throughout the year.
When it comes to corporate sponsorship activation, having a shorthand with sports franchises can be a key asset. Ben Shapiro relates back to his experience at selling The Golden State Warriors, first in the ticket sales office, before rising in the ranks to the executive vice president level overseeing corporate partnership revenue streams. Shapiro discusses where his company, PIVOT, can help organizations transition both the their corporate partnership activation as well as analytical measurements to increase overall ROI for the client. Shapiro talks about some of the projects that PIVOT has been involved in, primarily in the Bay Area. Twitter: @bmshapiro
For 12 of the last 15 years, Jim McNamara has been part of the Lakewood BlueClaw's success in leading in the South Atlantic League in attendance amid all fellow Single A clubs. McNamara discusses his start, as a Group Sales Assistant with the BlueClaws, and rising through the ranks, until serving at his current position as the Vice President of Ticket Sales for the past 2 seasons. McNamara talks about the New Jersey marketplace, and how affiliation doesn't matter as much as the promotion put in front of the customer, especially when it comes to packing the house.