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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: March, 2014
Mar 31, 2014

 

On this official Opening Day of Major League Baseball, two members of the Los Angeles Angels’ Front Office come on the podcast to talk indepth on the various components of both scouting and player operations. This is built from the idea of what actually goes into statistics, scouting and overall roster management. Director of Scouting Nathan Horowitz and Director of Player Operations Jonathan Strangio each bring different measurements on how they see the game, as well as how to ensure that each person is working in a cohesive group to bring the best team together on the field.

 

Mar 28, 2014

 

While a lot of folks talk about how to break into sports, few have the amount of experience that Steve Masterson has. Masterson has helped place 1,000s of young professionals in the business, through various ventures including GameFace Sports Jobs and Learfield Sports. Masterson’s podcast is unique as well, so you’ll have to consider it a “double-album” where one part was recorded in October 2013 and the other part was recorded in March 2014. It helps provide perspective on what Masterson has learned along the way in terms of what candidates, hiring supervisors and the overall industry is looking for. If you’re looking at breaking into the sports industry, Masterson touches on every facet of the job search. Twitter: @NotStephen0

 

Mar 26, 2014

 

Mike McAdams is back on the podcast, now saddled with the new task of helping the Chicago Cubs’ break in their new Cubs Park in Mesa, Arizona for Cactus League play. McAdams talks about how the new engagement mentality of selling in advance has changed the Cubs’ prospects for the 2014 Spring Training season, resulting in several sell-outs for the 15,000 capacity ballpark. McAdams also discusses some of the strategic changes of where Cubs Park was placed, the desire by other organizations in the area to also utilize that space, and what the vision is, long-term, for the Cubs organization when it comes to Spring Training operations. Twitter: @McAdams18

 

Mar 24, 2014

The University of Arizona VP & Athletic Director Greg Byrne talks about his use of social media in terms of helping promote UA athletics, as well as some of the things he's learned along the way. Byrne is one of the younger, more dynamic athletic directors in the NCAA, and discusses how one tweet of his new football coach hire gained interest throughout the world while possibly changing the acceptance of Twitter by athletic administrators overall. Byrne shares his thoughts on whether the industry's leadership has gotten too "title focused" and how to foster great career development for each young professional in college sports today. Twitter: @Greg_Byrne

Mar 21, 2014

Usually, guests come on the show to celebrate their marketing successes, but Tucson's Mike Feder is in a different situation. General manager of the team for three seasons, the Tucson Padres, have left town for El Paso, and after 30 years in the business, Feder is now turning his attention to working for the Arizona Diamondbacks as a liason to the southern part of the state. Feder discusses the reasons why the AAA Padres team moved three years prior from the city of Portland, Oregon and now have gone to El Paso for what may be a successful market transfer. Feder discusses the highs and lows of operating the franchise in the city of Tucson, an area with a new distinction as the largest population without a professional team. Feder also mentions a key caveat to the Padres' move to El Paso as the Chihuahuas, as their new stadium hasn't been finished, meaning that the Chihuahuas will play against the Reno Aces in Tucson to open the 2014 season. Both the Aces and Chihuahuas have the distinction of being franchises which formerly called Tucson home, if there wasn't enough added intrigue enough to the story. Twitter: @MikeFeder

Mar 19, 2014

Nic Barlage grabbed the attention of a lot of listeners as a guest on Ep. 32 while he was Vice President of the Cleveland Cavaliers and it became one of the highest rated episodes in the podcast's library. Barlage is back to discuss his new job as Chief Sales Officer with the Phoenix Suns, bringing that financial mindset toward revenue which presents him as one of the most dynamic salesmen in the NBA. Barlage talks about growing revenue through the world of analytics through different fan demographics and variables as well as understanding what drives consumer buying experiences. Barlage's expertise expands way beyond mere ticket sales and crunches some of deeply complex numbers on what builds an overall fanbase long-term for a franchise. Twitter: @NicMb_1

Mar 17, 2014

William Thornhill has been with the Lancaster Jethawks for most of his life: He started with the team back as a bat boy at age 13. Now, as general manager of the team, Thornhill helps generate some of the larger sales initiatives that keep the stands packed each night. Thornhill discusses his experiences with the Jethawks, including sharing some of the more dynamic promotion items and theme nights with great visuals. The Jethawks have embedded themselves in the flight community around Lancaster, and have some of their largest recorded attendances on nights honoring NASA or Air Force legends.

Mar 14, 2014

 

Matt Batchelder oversees one of the more complex ticket operations in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffiths. The team is the minor league affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, which carries with it various issues in order to ensure growth in branding the Griffiths beyond the Red Wings’ fanbase. Batchelder discusses some of the outreach sales programming that the Griffiths utilize in order to build their base as well as some of the various ways in which he also trains young executives to become better at sales. Twitter: @Batchelderm

 

Mar 12, 2014

 

From 2010 to 2012, the Philadelphia Phillies were unstoppable when it came to ticket sales generation, garner an National League record of 257 consecutive sellouts as well as leading the MLB in attendance for two straight seasons (2011-12). Derek Schuster discusses some of the “good problems to have” while overseeing that run of revenue success from the ticket sales department, telling fans that they would have to reduce their group orders because of limited inventory. Schuster talks about how the Phillies prepared for the days when the demand wouldn’t be as great, trying to create additional opportunities to build fan engagement for longer term buys later. Now, with less of a waiting list and that consecutive sellout streak over, Schuster points to the Phillies Care programming which has kept more of the fans longer than expected. Twitter: @DerekSchu13

 

Mar 10, 2014

 

Understanding a private university’s mission is crucial for anyone who chooses to work on campus. Mike Minyard discusses how Liberty University’s mission, since its foundation, has provided its guidance for the types of promotional activities that its athletic department implements throughout the season. Some of these may be difficult for an outside, non-Liberty University person to understand, but Minyard points out that it matters that each member of the institution point directly back to the mission statement and be able to adhere to its example as an ambassador of the university brand. Twitter: @MikeMinyard

 

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