Dan Migala has worked for or advised virtually every level of sports franchises, including organizations in MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA, NCAA, MLS, the LPGA, Cricket Australia and numerous minor league teams on issues related to non-traditional revenue generation, sponsorship, technology and sports marketing. Migala talks about not just breaking into sports, but staying in the industry. Twitter: @DanMigala
Nona Richardson has to multitask at her job daily; a mediator of sorts for staff, coaches and student-athletes, Richardson explains some of the intangibles of her job, as well as NCAA compliance issues. Richardson talks about “The Davis Way” moving forward into Division-I athletics, as well as some of the principles that guide the department as a whole.
The world of sports agents gets demystified by attorney Travis Leach, who talks about not only the representation end but also the financial side of the business. Leach discusses how financial planning, especially with NFL retirees, is crucial, and why agents need to put a lot of good people around their client. Leach also talks about CTE & concussions, a subject he is very passionate about. Twitter: @Travis_Leach
The ticket reselling game tends to get a lot of flack, but J Cobb decided to come on the podcast to dispel a lot of rumors. Cobb talks about the fact that selling to brokers is one of the dirty little secrets of sports sales, as well as ways that brokers tend to not make as much money as laymen might think on the secondary market. Could the secondary market be cornered by Ticketmaster or is there still hope for the small independent brokers? Twitter: @TeamOneJ
Gary Gelinas operates several junior hockey league teams and a minor league baseball franchise from his Phoenix desert office - Everett Silvertips, Texas Tornado, Amarillo Bulls, North Iowa Bulls, Peoria Pines. Gelinas has also owned and operated his own franchises in the past: Nanaimo Clippers Jr A hockey franchise, Venom Spring Teams, Vancouver Island Hockey School, and the expansion Nanaimo Timberman Sr A Lacrosse franchise, as well as served as general manager and president of the New Mexico Scorpions of the Central Hockey League. Gelinas knows the sports business intimately, speaking in terms of ticket sales, branding, the infusion of insuring that price points are kept, the viability of ROI with traditional media, branding, and several other key components to building a franchise’s base and successful future.
The Arizona Rattlers have one of the most dedicated fan bases in the Phoenix area. Team President Joe Windham talks about fan loyalty to the brand, the ability to push corporate sales activation further than even some of the larger major leagues in the area, and how to hire the best staff. Windham discusses how he mentors young interns and develops a full-fan experience that pushes fans to come back each game despite a lack of local media exposure. Twitter: @AZRattlersPrez
Flash Seats is one of the more revolutionary products in ticketing. Sam Gearce has overseen its implementation with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and expanded Flash Seat’s reach into professional and college teams. Gearce talks about dynamic ticket pricing, ticketless entry and some of the other technologies, which Flash Seats will be innovating for the next few years. Twitter @FlashSeats
Michael Larsen heads the ticket operations for one of the most successful independent baseball teams in the country, the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks. Larsen talks about the challenges with attendance, promotions, and how to garner crowds that come back several times over the year. Larsen also talks about what it takes to get into sports, some of the ways in which interns are used by a team in their first job in sports. Twitter: @FMRedhawks
Nicole Pincus must sell all of her major corporate sponsorship for the Atlanta Motor Speedway on one weekend a year, Labor Day Weekend. Pincus talks about some of the sponsorship opportunities of that NASCAR offers for its fans. Pincus talks about the fan-NASCAR relationship and how that works to ensure corporate sponsorship activation.
Madison Mallards President Vern Stenman has his work cut out for him. The Mallards are one of the most successful collegiate summer wood baseball leagues in the nation, utilizing several professional team practices in terms of sales and marketing. Stenman talks about the challenges moving forward, as well as the development of two other teams within the collegiate summer wood baseball league, as well as the Madison market. Twitter: @MadisonMallards