1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations

On this show, we've talked a lot about the crazy state of college sports brought on by legalized name image likeness payments to athletes. We've interviewed athletes who are reaping the benefits, administrators who are pulling their hair out trying to stay on top of changes, lawyers specializing in related legislation, and entrepreneurs trying to get in on the gold rush. The one place we haven't really explored much is the concept of collectives. And that changes with this episode. Kurt Roth is a native New Yorker who fell in love with the UNM Lobos when he arrived on campus as a Freshmen in 1972. And it's a love that continues to this day. After a successful law career, Roth returned to the Land of Enchantment and launched the 505 Sports Venture Foundation. The 505 is a collective, a non profit organization that seeks donations from businesses and individuals, and then uses those proceeds to make payments to athletes for the NIL rights. Now for some people, collectives are a convenient boogeyman for college sports, a twisting of the intent of NIL rights. That's an opinion that Roth passionately refutes with what can only be called a New Yorker's elan. You'll hear words like “idiotic”, “hypocritical”, and “anti-American” used to describe collective opponents. It's a fast paced conversation that touches upon how he arrived in New Mexico, the impact that the 505 and other collectives are having, and where the concept is heading next. The Albuquerque resident will also tell you which Breaking Bad character he most identifies with, something that's clearly worth finding out. ABOUT THIS PODCAST The 1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations podcast is a production of ADC Partners, a sports marketing agency that specializes in creating, managing, and evaluating effective partnerships between brands and sports. Website: adcpartners.com/podcast Instagram: adc_partners_podcast Threads: adc_partners_podcast Youtube: @adcpartners YOUR HOST Dave Almy brings over 30 years of sports marketing and sports business experience to his role as host of the "1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations" podcast. Dave is the co-Founder of ADC Partners.

This is a difficult intro to do for this episode. I want to tell you all about my guest Jason Romero to draw you in. But I also don't want to provide any spoilers to our conversation. I just want you to learn about his unbelievable story on your own. Because his story is just that: unbelievable. I promise that when you listen you'll have a few “oh wow” moments, followed by “wait, what?” moments, followed by a “you have got to be kidding me” moments. I'm just glad I get to share his story with you. It's inspiring, it's crazy, it's motivational, it's… well, it' s a lot of things. But mostly it's a story of how a man just wouldn't let his light fade. ABOUT THIS PODCAST The 1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations podcast is a production of ADC Partners, a sports marketing agency that specializes in creating, managing, and evaluating effective partnerships between brands and sports. Website: adcpartners.com/podcast Instagram: adc_partners_podcast Threads: adc_partners_podcast Youtube: @adcpartners YOUR HOST Dave Almy brings over 30 years of sports marketing and sports business experience to his role as host of the "1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations" podcast. Dave is the co-Founder of ADC Partners.

There's been so much change so quickly in sports business that there's a bunch of stuff that seems normal now that I wouldn't have even believed possible just 10 years ago. Paying college athletes. Watching games on your phone. Pro teams in Vegas. And there's online gaming, a market that is currently estimated at about $10B a year, and is projected to grow by 12% annually through the end of this decade. That kind of growth is what puts a gleam in the eye of this episodes guest, Kyle Christensen, the Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer of Splash, Inc. With a rapidly growing user base that recently surpassed 2 million, Splash is turning heads in the online gaming industry with a social approach to their contests. It's a strategy that falls right in the wheelhouse for Christensen, a veteran of the entertainment and social media industries. In our conversation, we talk about how his experiences at companies like Warner Brothers, Meta and Netflix prepared him for taking the reins at Splash. We also go into how Splash is differentiating themselves from the industry's biggest players, what draws him to companies that like to throw bricks through the windows of the status quo, and why maybe breaking down that firewall between personal and business is a good idea. And if you've ever wondered what it's like to incur the wrath of hard core comic book fans, he'll let you know what that's like, too. Just a heads up, there's some explicit language in this episode. ABOUT THIS PODCAST The 1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations podcast is a production of ADC Partners, a sports marketing agency that specializes in creating, managing, and evaluating effective partnerships between brands and sports. Website: adcpartners.com/podcast Instagram: adc_partners_podcast Threads: adc_partners_podcast Youtube: @adcpartners YOUR HOST Dave Almy brings over 30 years of sports marketing and sports business experience to his role as host of the "1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations" podcast. Dave is the co-Founder of ADC Partners.

From the outside looking in, working in sports can seem a little glamourous, I suppose. You know what I mean. Multi-billion dollar media rights deals. Major events located in sparkling new stadiums in global capitals around the world. New companies focused on delivering sports in totally different ways mushrooming up all over the place. Yeah, seems pretty sexy. But the success of everything I just described rests on the back of the two things that are absolutely indispensable in sports business: the humble event ticket and the ability to sell that humble event ticket. And few people know more about the importance of those t wo things than my guest in this episode, Travis Apple, the Chief Revenue Officer of digital ticketing platform Logitix. Travis has spent his working life honing the craft of ticket sales for teams in the NBA, MLB, NHL and more. Now with Logitix, he's taking that knowledge and combining it with new tools that make sure teams are getting the absolute most revenue from their ticketing programs. In our conversation, Travis talks about his career arc, and drops some legendary industry names that have mentored him along the way. He touches on the transition from working FOR sports to working WITH sports at Logitix, and how that company is altering the ticketing market. He also takes time to drop more essential sales wisdom than any 35 minute podcast should have. ABOUT THIS PODCAST The 1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations podcast is a production of ADC Partners, a sports marketing agency that specializes in creating, managing, and evaluating effective partnerships between brands and sports. Website: adcpartners.com/podcast Instagram: adc_partners_podcast Threads: adc_partners_podcast Youtube: @adcpartners YOUR HOST Dave Almy brings over 30 years of sports marketing and sports business experience to his role as host of the "1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations" podcast. Dave is the co-Founder of ADC Partners.

As we get started on this episode, I want you to take a second and think about the qualities that define you. What are the different things that make you… you? Do you love those qualities? Or are they something you feel like you need to battle? For my guest Ryan Neiswender, it took time for him to learn to love the quality he hated most about himself. But when he did, he reached the loftiest heights an athlete can reach. Ryan was born with Arthrogryposis, a rare condition that impacted the development of his legs. By the age of 8, he would need to use a wheelchair to get around. But rather than feel constrained by his chair, Ryan felt he could move effortlessly. Then one day his parents took the sports obsessed Ryan to a nearby wheel chair basketball clinic, and the rest they say is history. Actual literal history, because Ryan went on to not only excel at the sport, he ended up winning a gold medal for Team USA at the 2020 Paralympic games in Tokyo. In our conversation we talk at length about Ryan's journey and what he's learned about himself along the way. We go into the highs of winning a gold medal, and more recent lows associated with the sport. But most importantly, we talk about the mindset and strategies he's developed that prepare him to deal with those emotional peaks and valleys. ABOUT THIS PODCAST The 1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations podcast is a production of ADC Partners, a sports marketing agency that specializes in creating, managing, and evaluating effective partnerships between brands and sports. Website: adcpartners.com/podcast Instagram: adc_partners_podcast Threads: adc_partners_podcast Youtube: @adcpartners YOUR HOST Dave Almy brings over 30 years of sports marketing and sports business experience to his role as host of the "1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations" podcast. Dave is the co-Founder of ADC Partners.

If you're in this industry, you know that Sports business is a really dynamic industry. Change is happening all the time. New trends emerge, different technologies are adopted, audience tastes change on what seems like a minute-by-minute basis… it can be a lot. And nowhere is this more true than in college sports, particularly in terms of name-image-likeness, or NIL. In the last couple of years, the ability of college athletes to make money promoting products and services has fundamentally and (to the consternation of some) irreversible reshaped college sports. Everyone seems to have an opinion about it. And, let's be clear: lots of those opinions are from people who aren't, or never were, college athletes. So let's change that up and hear from my guest, Sabrina Oostburg. Sabrina is currently enrolled at Belmont College in Nashville Tennessee, a small school you probably never heard of. She competes in track and field throwing events like the hammer toss, and event you've most likely never seen. Yet somehow Sabrina, competing in an esoteric sport for a little-known school, is an incredibly successful NIL athlete. She's currently managing a stable of over 20 NIL deals, many of which she pitched, negotiated and developed herself. In our chat, we talk about her NIL journey, and the advice she gives other athletes wanting to replicate her success. She reveals what brands should consider to make their NIL campaigns more successful, her perspective on what makes an athlete Creator different from an Influencer, and what concerns her about the future of NIL. She'll also reveal the name of the YouTube video that fundamentally and forever changed her life. ABOUT THIS PODCAST The 1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations podcast is a production of ADC Partners, a sports marketing agency that specializes in creating, managing, and evaluating effective partnerships between brands and sports. Website: adcpartners.com/podcast Instagram: adc_partners_podcast Threads: adc_partners_podcast Youtube: @adcpartners YOUR HOST Dave Almy brings over 30 years of sports marketing and sports business experience to his role as host of the "1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations" podcast. Dave is the co-Founder of ADC Partners.

This episode's guest is probably going to make you feel like a slacker. In fairness though? Bonnie-Jill Laflin can make just about everyone feel that way. Santa Claus on Christmas Eve looks like a lay-a-bout compared to Bonnie Jill. We'll get into her many MANY roles during our chat, but I will say that the first (and still only ) female NBA scout recently added another experience to her already poly-hyphenated career: author. Bonnie Jill's new book, “In a League of Her Own” is a testament to the many female “firsts” in sports and sports business. In it she features insights and interviews with iconic figures like Billie Jean King, Danica Patrick, and Jackie Joyner Kersee. In our conversation, we talk about Bonnie Jill's remarkable sports journey, the common threads she saw in the women she interviewed for the book, and even what she learned about herself while writing it. We'll also find out if she's a ninja. Her answer probably won't surprise you… ABOUT THIS PODCAST The 1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations podcast is a production of ADC Partners, a sports marketing agency that specializes in creating, managing, and evaluating effective partnerships between brands and sports. Website: adcpartners.com/podcast Instagram: adc_partners_podcast Threads: adc_partners_podcast Youtube: @adcpartners YOUR HOST Dave Almy brings over 30 years of sports marketing and sports business experience to his role as host of the "1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations" podcast. Dave is the co-Founder of ADC Partners.

If you have kids who play sports, you know all too well the special kind of crazy that brings to the household. When my 3 kids were younger they tried just about everything: lacrosse, tennis, golf, baseball, ice hockey, basketball, irish dance, football, volleyball…. I think I got everything…. Anyway, suffice it to say it could get a little chaotic. And like a lot of sports parents, an app named TeamSnap was part of our every day lives. I suspect a lot of you listening have it on your phones, too, because it helps bring some order to that chaos. And that right there brings a smile to the face of this episodes guest, Peter Frintzilas, the CEO of TeamSnap. Frintzilas joined TeamSnap in 2020, when we were in the midst of a pandemic and youth sports effectively ground to a halt. For most people, that would have made joining the company a kind of a non-starter, right? Oh, our entire audience has more or less evaporated? Yeaaaaah, no. But not Frintzilas. He saw the opportunity to put TeamSnap at the center of a youth sports industry that by some measures might be worth $60 billion annually in the near future. In our conversation, Pete and I talk about the growth of youth sports, how he first encountered TeamSnap, how recent acquisitions are performing, how he sees the youth sports market evolving, and most importantly how he sees his company taking advantage of it. He also reveals how he got his start in movies (turns out being able to remember your lines is pretty key…) ABOUT THIS PODCAST The 1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations podcast is a production of ADC Partners, a sports marketing agency that specializes in creating, managing, and evaluating effective partnerships between brands and sports. Website: adcpartners.com/podcast Instagram: adc_partners_podcast Threads: adc_partners_podcast Youtube: @adcpartners YOUR HOST Dave Almy brings over 30 years of sports marketing and sports business experience to his role as host of the "1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations" podcast. Dave is the co-Founder of ADC Partners.

Imagine, for a moment, what goes into launching a new business. Think about it. All the excitement, stress, time, details, ideas, and millions of other unknown hurdles that can't be planned for or strategized about. And when you think about all that, who would you turn to for help? Does your sibling spring to mind? For Mather Wiswall and Ruby George, the sibling founders of the United Grid League, that's exactly what happened. I had chance speak with Mather and Ruby about the UGL and the rapidly growing sport of Grid. We go into the twists and turns involved with running your own sports league, what keeps them up at night, and what gets them most excited about where the sport is headed. And yes, we go into what it's like to run a business with a sibling, and what they've learned about each other (and themselves) along the way. ABOUT THIS PODCAST The 1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations podcast is a production of ADC Partners, a sports marketing agency that specializes in creating, managing, and evaluating effective partnerships between brands and sports. Website: adcpartners.com/podcast Instagram: adc_partners_podcast Threads: adc_partners_podcast Youtube: @adcpartners YOUR HOST Dave Almy brings over 30 years of sports marketing and sports business experience to his role as host of the "1-on-1: Sports Business Conversations" podcast. Dave is the co-Founder of ADC Partners.

Back in the day, if you wanted to call yourself a sports team owner, one of 2 things had to happen. You either had to be born into a crazy rich family that already owned a team, or you had to make a fortune somewhere else and buy the team from one of those previously mentioned crazy rich families. But my guest in this episode, Christopher Zook, wants you to know that's not necessarily the case anymore. Here's the deal. Christopher is the Founder and CIO of CAZ Investments, one of the largest private equity firms in the world. He's also just written a book with legendary leadership guru Tony Robbins called "The Holy Grail of Investing". The book feature interviews with some of the world's most prolific and successful investors, and reveals the secrets behind their successes, their challenges, and (perhaps most interestingly) where they're looking for their next wins. And, as it turns out, one of those places in professional sports ownership. In our conversation, Christopher and I talk about how professional sports first got on his radar as an investment opportunity. He also goes into what he's anticipating for the growth of sports businesses, and how smart investors can position themselves to take advantage of pro sports.

Let's get one thing out of the way, right off the bat: sports and “purpose” have always been intertwined. For all the moaning from the “shut up and dribble” crowd, athletes and sports have ALWAYS provided a platform to shine a light on the issues of the day. Think about it. Jesse Owens and the 1936 Olympics. Jackie Robinson joining the Dodgers. Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their fists in Mexico City. Billie Jean King's match with Bobby Riggs. Yes, of course, these were sporting events. But in the end, they were So. Much More. And the images and memories of those events are indelible because of it. That intersection of sports and purpose is where this episode's guest Brianna Salvatore Dueck lives. As Head of Strategy for 17 Sport, she's helping brands and sports properties realize the true potential of their partnerships by ensuring that “purpose” is front and center. In this episode, Brianna and I talk about her work at 17 Sport, and the path she took to get there. We touch on what goes into crafting effective, purpose driven campaigns, why they're no longer a luxury, and even how they can be measured. The former D1 hoops player even shares her go to shot for beating her 6' 8” husband in HORSE.

Do me a favor: close your eyes and picture the most famous sports and entertainment venues that have been built over, say, the last 40 years. I bet some of the places that come to mind are stadiums like Camden Yards in Baltimore, Oracle Park in SF, Tottenham Hot Spur Stadium in London or even the Sphere in Las Vegas. One thing they all have in common? They were all designed by Populous, the most legendary sports and entertainment architecture firm in the world. Populous is celebrating it's 40th anniversary, and my guest, Populous Sr Principal Brian Mirakian, is celebrating his 20th year with the iconic firm. In our wide ranging conversation, Brian and I talk about the evolution of stadium design, and how it changes to address the wants and needs of the modern fan. We also talk about the importance of physical spaces in an increasingly virtual world, balancing design for different types of fans, and the rise of eSports specific design. The Kansas City resident also has thoughts on how much credit Taylor Swift should get for the Chiefs' latest NFL playoff run. All this, and the legendry Reflux Gourmet Lightning Round at the end, too. Thanks for listening!

I've had a lot of discussions lately about the meaning of the term “grit”. Like what it means, what its qualities are, and its relative level of importance. You know, things like that. Generally, most people seem to agree that grit is the thing that gives you the ability to respond when life throws you a curveball. The grittier you are, the quicker you bounce back. And let me tell you: this episode's guest, Brittany Gilman of BG Sports Enterprises and BPOP List, has grit to spare. When her pro snowboarding career was derailed due to injury, she quickly pivoted to become a strength and conditioning coach for major college athletics programs. When she found that work unfulfilling after a couple of years, she joined a sports marketing agency as an intern. After 3 underwhelming months of that, she decided to open up her own agency. Like I said: gritty. In our discussion, we talk about how her competitive background prepared her for those numerous career pivots. We also go into how she continues to grow her business, the advice she has for athletes seeking to build their brands, her recommendations for other would be entrepreneurs , and much more. And, because this was recorded right before NYE, she even provides a NY resolution that EVERYONE should consider.

Chip Kelly, the Head Coach of the UCLA Bruins football team, once remarked that he wouldn't be surprised if this episode's guest Chase Griffin wound up as President of the United States one day. And after getting to spend some time with Chase, I think Coach Kelly's expectations might actually be a little on the low side. Chase is currently a UCLA QB, and that on its own would be a pretty remarkable accomplishment. But it really just scratches the surface. You see, Chase is among the most successful college athletes in terms of name-image-likeness, the new ability of college athletes to make money marketing products and services. And with over 30 brand and charitable partnerships, Chase is VERY successful. So successful in fact, that he's TWICE been named NIL Male Athlete of the Year. In our conversation, we talk in depth about both his football and NIL experiences, and what he believes contributes to his remarkable accomplishments in each. We also discuss the advice he shares with other athletes seeking to emulate his success, what he believes the role of universities should be in supporting athletes in NIL, his feelings on sharing media revenue directly with athletes, and much, more more. And in a bit of breaking news, we even talk about possible running mates choices should he ever decide to make that run for President.

When Alisha Pope was playing AAU basketball, her teammates would often share dreams about playing in the NBA and WNBA. But not Alisha. She dreamed about being commissioner. And let me tell you, after my conversation with her, I'm thinking NBA Commissioner Adam Silver better watch himself. Alisha kind of represents a perfect storm of how to succeed in sports business. She combined her innate competitiveness, familial support, and insatiable curiosity to examine every nuance and corner of the industry. And after stops at NASCAR, the NBA, WBNA and NCAA, Alisha is now Head of Sports & Sponsorship Strategy at MGM Resorts. In our conversation, we talk about her rise through the sports business ranks and the skills she believes that have been instrumental to her. We also go into her role at MGM, how changes in sports marketing have impacted her priorities, and what she's most looking forward to when it comes to the future of her industry.

I know, I know, I know. This is supposed to be a sports business podcast. The focus has always been on talking to people in the industry who are doing cool and interesting things. My challenge, though, is that I meet a lot of people from outside the sports business world who are ALSO up to cool and interesting things. And then my curiosity gets the better of me. Doctor Peter Belafsky is a perfect example of this. The renowned surgeon, inventor and physician is widely recognized as a leader in his specialty of …. Making sure I'm getting this right… Oto-laryngology. I'm told that's science speak for the ear, nose, and throat. He's treated kings, famous hip hop artists, athletes, and currently heads up the Voice and Swallowing Center at UC Davis. In our conversation, we'll get into his origin story to discuss how he became a doctor, how he pursues ideas and innovations that lead to new devices and treatments, the launch of his new product Reflux Gourmet, and advice he has for people suffering from his area of focus, acid reflux. I'll give you a hint: there's GREAT news for coffee drinkers. So you're welcome.

At any given time, there are something like 120 categories of business engaged in sports partnerships. And of all those categories of business, I don't think there's any as competitive as sports apparel and footwear. It is NOT for the faint of heart. Books have been written and movies have been made about how intense it is. That's why Tamzin Barriolhet, Under Armor's Senior Lead for Global Sports Marketing, is so perfect for that industry. Tamzin is a fearsome competitor, a skill she honed on the basketball courts of her native France. After competing at the D1 level in the US and a brief pro career in France, Tamzin turned her eyes to the business side of sports. If you're guessing that her competitive nature has served her well, you'd be correct. In our conversation, Tamzin and I talk about her early days as a basketball prodigy in France, the transition from playing sports to working in it, her current role at Under Armor, the evolution of the brand's partnership with global superstar Steph Curry, and how she stays on top of an industry that changes by the minute. Our conversation takes off quicker than a Steph Curry crossover, so brace yourself. And enjoy.

A couple of years ago, the NCAA did something CRAZY. After some legal defeats and legislative challenges, the NCAA finally threw up their hands and started allowing college athletes to make some money by using their name, image, or likeness in different marketing activity. What happened next was a veritable explosion of new companies, brands, brokers, collectives and athletes all trying to gain a toehold and this new and potentially lucrative marketplace. It was, many said, the new Wild West of college sports. Well, if there's a sheriff in town trying to bring some order to the chaos of NIL, it might just be Learfield's Executive Vice President Solly Fulp. It's safe to say college sports is woven deeply into Solly's DNA. Before landing at Learfield, he was a D1 wrestler at Oregon and later a Deputy Athletic Director at Cal. And it's those experiences that position him so well to work on both the opportunities and challenges associated with NIL. In this episode, we talk all about those opportunities and challenges, how Learfield is approaching the quickly evolving NIL market, how Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders fits in, and much much more. And, if you stick around long enough, you'll even learn how depriving yourself of water affects your teeth. You wouldn't want to miss that, right? Right…?

Let's take a second and define the meaning of the word “bananas”. Yes, it's a yellow fruit you need to take care not to slip on. But that's not the definition I'm thinking of right now. I'm thinking of the bananas that means “crazy”. “wacky”. “Bonkers”. And so, with that definition in mind, you know what's truly bananas? Pitching an extensive partnership with the Savanah Bananas, a sports property that didn't even do sponsorship, to a brand you don't even work for. But that's exactly what Megan Sheffield, now Director of Brand Partnerships for Zappos, did. And the result is Zappos incredible partnership with the social media darling Savannah Bananas and their World Tour. If you're not familiar with either Zappos or the Bananas, my conversation with Megan will get you up to speed. It's hard to imagine a better fit between two organizations, and Megan was the first to see it. We talk about that moment of “aha!” when she first encountered the world's most irreverent sports team, what the Bananas understand about the future of sports and entertainment, and what lessons teams and leagues can learn from their partnership. So settle in, listen up, and let's go bananas. And Zappos.

You may think you'll do anything to close a sports marketing partnership, but how about eating bullfrog soup? That's what this episode's guest Yao Williams did once. (Yes, just the once). Currently the VP of Global Partnerships for eSports juggernaut ESL FACEIT Group, Yao's path through the sports business world has been a remarkable one. He started out like so many of us do in this industry: in ticket sales. But his unique blend of grit, competitiveness, and thoughtfulness is what has put him at the center of one of the most dynamic parts of this industry today. In this episode, Yao and I talk about his origin story in sports business, and the skill sets he employed to aid his rise. We discuss how those same skill sets helped him succeed in China, a country he'd never visited or had any language skills. We also review the state of the ever shifting eSports business, and where he sees that industry headed. Oh, and he provides some tips on what to do if ever served that steaming helping of bullfrog soup. So bon appetit.

Let's get one thing out of the way. Joe De Sena thinks you're soft. And he wants you to suffer. In fairness, the founder and CEO of the obstacle competition empire Spartan Race thinks just about everyone is soft and can benefit from some suffering. Because he believes it's in those moments, when you're exhausted and at what you think are your limits? That's where real personal transformation occurs, and the tightest possible bonds are formed. It's for those reasons, that Joe and Spartan Race are on a mission to change 100 million lives. In our conversation, we talk about his own personal transformation, the twists and turns of making Spartan Race the global brand it is today, the challenges of running and events based business coming out of a pandemic, and where things head from here. And why that may or may not include bears.

Lets start with a tortured analogy: using data and analytics is a little like going to the gym. You know it's important and good for you, but MAN can it be hard to get started. No one knows this better than Dr Darin White, the Executive Director of the Center for Sports Analytics at Samford University in Birmingham AL. In his role, Dr White has created THE leading sports analytics program in the nation. But it's not your typical ivory tower stuff. Far from it. Dr White and his students are working with sports teams and big sports marketing brands to make the best use of the oceans of data that surround them. The result has produced measurable results for everyone involved in these partnerships. In our conversation, we talk about the evolution of sports marketing from being a CEO's plaything to an integral part of the marketing mix, how that evolution has placed new demands on teams and brands, and why the effective use of data and analytics is now critical to sports marketing partnerships. You can also calm down because he explains why Artificial Intelligence isn't coming for your job. Yet.

“I'm a capitalist, but I also have a conscience.” That was written by this episode's guest, Adam Lippard, after he returned from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and they really cut to the heart of the internal conflict he experienced during that event. Adam is the Chief Partnership Officer for GMR Marketing, one of the biggest and most consequential experiential marketing companies in the world. And in that role, he manages sponsorships for companies at the biggest global events imaginable, including FIFA World Cups and Olympic Games. Those high-profile events also dredged up a number of challenging issues like host nation human rights abuses and persecution of different communities. Issues that run head on into Adam's values and identity. In our thoughtful and insightful conversation, Adam shares what it it's like walking that capitalist – conscience tight rope, and how he advises both clients and employees to do the same. We also go into his extensive agency experience, how sports business has changed during his tenure, and more. The former budding sports broadcaster also shares the sport he'd LEAST like to announce.

Note: This episode contains some salty language. This is a sports business podcast. Says so right there in the logo. So you're probably expecting something related to sports business. Well, sorry to disappoint. My guest in this episode has never worked in sports. Frankly he's not really even that much of a fan. So why on earth should you continue to listen? Because this episode might LITERALLY one day save your life. I met my guest Dan Schilling on a chairlift at Alta ski resort in Utah. Dan, it turns out, is one of our nation's most accomplished warriors. In his 30 year military career, Dan was part of one of the least know but most demanding special forces communities. He's been around the world to fight in our nation's fiercest of battles, including the infamous Battle of Mogadishu, a conflict made famous by the book and movie Black Hawk Down. Now an accomplished author, Dan's most recent book is the Power of Awareness. In it, Dan distills essential parts of his and other's training to help you gain insight into and better control of your surroundings. In this wide ranging conversation, we talk about Dan's military career, including the Battle of Mogadishu, how personality and intelligence are keys to success in the Special Forces communities, his transition to writing, and the one extreme sport that even HE won't try. You can learn more about Dan and his writing at DanSchillingBooks.com.

When I ask you what the most dominant sports league in the US is, I suspect you'd probably say the NFL. And if I asked what sports agency more or less created sports marketing, you'd probably say IMG. How about the world's biggest sportswear brand? Nike, right? And what do all these blue chip sports businesses have in common? They all hired this episode's guest, Marc Reeves at one point or another. Throughout his career, Marc has been almost unerringly “in the room where it happened'. Whether it's at the start of the NFL's International strategy to place a team in London by the middle of this decade, or Nike's decision to make Colin Kaepernick the iconic face of the 30th anniversary “Just do it” campaign, Marc has both been there and done that. In this episode, we talk about these and other standout moments of Marc's fascinating sports business experiences. We'll also dive into his latest ventures, including his new role as Head of Global Partnerships for live event discovery platform. Fever. And if you hear Marc's family in the background of this episode, it's only because it was 6a in Australia, and everyone was getting ready for school. What can I say: The man is busy!

The Drone Racing League's current season wraps up on NBC with the Algorand World Championships Semi Finals on March 26th and the finals on April 8th, so it's kind of a miracle I managed to get the League's SVP of Partnerships Ari Mark to sit still long enough for an interview. These are heady days for the DRL, so Ari, who oversees the League's partnership portfolio, is zinging around faster than one of his competitors 90 mph drones. And for good reason. The self styled “Sport from the Future” is holding live events again, so the energy around the League is absolutely crackling. Sponsors like the Algorand, Air Force, T-Mobile and any others have taken notice. In our conversation, Ari and I talk about his introduction to the DRL after working for blue chip sports properties like the NBA and NFL's Miami Dolphins and what it's like to create partnerships for a property where the sky is quite literally the limit. He'll also reveal the origin story behind his preferred drone racing handle, "DaddyIceFire", so you sure aren't going to want to miss that.

Trying to stay on top of the Name-Image-Likeness market for college athletes is just brutal. That marketplace is more complex than reading Shakespeare in ancient Greek while juggling on 1 foot. I suppose it takes someone like Lyle Adams, the CEO of Spry, to not only make sense of it all, but to build a product that can help others make sense of it all, too. A former D1 college soccer player, Adams knows first hand the hurdles that NIL and it's ever changing rules and regulations present to athletes and administrators. As a problem solver who was an early Uber employee, he also saw how technology can help remove these same obstacles. In our conversation, Lyle and I talk about the creation of his company Spry, his soccer career, his transition from being an athlete to working for technology start ups, and where he sees both the opportunities and challenges for name image likeness. He'll also reveal why your most interesting Uber ride will probably never match his.

Here's a little secret: high school football is a really big deal in Texas. OK, maybe that's not that much of a secret, what with the whole Friday Night Lights thing. But still: it's a really REALLY big deal. And no one knows that more that Rudy Klancnick, the VP of Sales for Sports in Action. In his role, Rudy creates partnerships for Dave Campbell's Texas Football, a brand that may be more Texas than the Dallas Cowboys, Dr Pepper and What A Burger all rolled up into one. We talk about the unique opportunities and challenges associated with developing partnerships at the HS level, the essential role that authenticity plays in that, and the amazing legacy of Dave Campbell, a true Texas legend.

How do athletes feel when their time as a competitor seems over? When the last fan leaves the stadium and the lights go out for the what might be the final time? For British Olympian Margie Pedder, the period that followed competing in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney Australia was a bit uncertain. After training so hard for that singular goal, she found that what came next presented it's own, somewhat unexpected challenges. Fortunately, the resiliency she'd honed in years of intense competition paid off in other ways. She moved the US, swam competitively for USC, got her degree, and ultimately landed in the role she occupies today: leading Visa's partnership efforts with the NFL. In this episode, Margie and I talk about her path the to the Olympics, the challenges associated with making the transition from the sports world to the Business world, and what makes Visa so effective with their sports marketing efforts.

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. " That little pearl of Aristotelian wisdom is probably one of the most frequently used (or overused) phrases in the business world. But the meaning can be a little opaque at times. Well, unless you're Jason Oberlander, the Chief Commercial Officer for ASM Global. He knows exactly what it means. You see, Jason is charged with generating commercial activity for ASM's network of over 350 stadiums, arenas, convention centers and other facilities located around the world. Driving revenue is increasingly tied to constructing a single platform for his partners from all those different parts. In our conversation, Jason and I talk about how ASM plans to accomplish that lofty goal, lessons learned from the COVID era, what goes into developing a great partnership, and much more. You'll even get a little French lesson.

For 16 years, Dave Raymond was the Phillie Phanatic, one of the most famous mascots in all of sports. In his time inside the costume, he more or less invented the concept of the modern mascot and made characters an indispensable part of a sports team's operation. In our conversation, we review the Phanatic's origins, how Raymond developed the mascot's personality, and discuss some memorable run ins with players and managers. It's a hilarious conversation at times, but it's also an incredibly poignant one, as Dave also recalls how the Phanatic helped rescue him from some of the lowest points of his life. The lessons he learned in those moments continue to shape his approach to spreading the value of happiness today.

The theme of this episode is all about taking chances, something Jennifer Todd, the co-founder of The Basketball Tournament, knows all about. Consider some of her rolls of the dice: As a freshman in college, she joined in a lawsuit that would become a landmark case involving Title 9. After she landed a dream job in sports, she left it to travel the world for a year-and-a half. Looking to re-start her career, she took another gamble and helped launch The Basketball Tournament, the first of its kind million dollar, winner take all tournament. In our conversation, we'll touch on each of these chapters of Jenn's wild ride, and dive into some of the things she sees as absolutely essential to her success, including finding her voice, trusting her instincts, and belief in the projects she works on.

Suffice it to way that, at least from a marketing perspective, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is off to an interesting start. In this special World Cup edition Danish sports business professional and soccer expert Kenneth Corsten breaks down the MANY stories that have already emerged, including the Budweiser fiasco, Danish equipment maker Hummels strategy for the tournament, and the potential long term damage to the FIFA brand and their many partnerships. Kenneth also reveals which Danish specialties he avoids at all costs and how many mermaids he's seen, so there's a little something for everyone.

Is there a more iconic brand than Levi's? Think about it: you only have to hear the numbers “501” and you know exactly what they mean. That's both the opportunity and the challenge for Mark Foxton, Levi's point person for Global Partnerships and Collaboration. Mark is charged with figuring out how sports can help Levi's maintain its status as a uniquely American (and now global) brand. And that involves being on the constant search for athletes, teams and leagues that can elevate Levi's into, as he puts it, the “Center of Cultural Moments” In our discussion, we talk about Mark's remarkably extensive sports marketing background, the importance and difficulty of measuring good partnerships, and the best piece of fashion advice he ever received while working at Levi's. Video clip: https://youtu.be/bwxbiXOP8nU

“Control what you can control.” That's the mantra that Phoenix Suns SVP of Marketing Partnerships Tom Fletcher spoke to himself as his playing days in the NFL came to an end. It was his vow to never let his future be left to the capricious whims of some unknown team executive. With that, Tom began his sports business career by focusing on what he could control: building solid relationships, saying yes to opportunities, working with great teams of people, and so much more. That focus has seen him through some ups and downs throughout his career. In our conversation, we touch upon some of his unique challenge, what the transition away from being a professional athlete was like, and lessons he picked up hanging around Coach Nick Saban an the U Alabama football team. Video clip: https://youtu.be/y2L3pC6hQHY

I guess you could call this episode's guest Alan Ledford “a baseball guy.” He's been working in the game for over 30 years, beginning as an intern for the Oakland A's in 1983 and rising top the the club's VP of Operations. Since then, Ledford has helped launch multiple minor league baseball teams, most notably the Sacramento River Cats and the El Paso Chihuahuas. So, a baseball guy, right? Not exactly. You see, Ledford is currently president of Mountain star Sports Group, the owner of the Chihuahuas, but also the USL's El Paso Locomotives and FC Juarez of Liga MX. So the baseball guy is also a soccer guy? What Ledford really is one of the sharpest minds in sports business. Success follows the former minor League baseball executive of the year, and in our discussion he details some of the things that have helped him and the teams he works for find that success. We also talk about the challenges in launching a new franchise, why he believes baseball will endure, and what it's like to lose a seemingly impossible number of foosball games to yours truly.

Have your ever had an idea for a business that just took up residency inside your head? Something that you'd think about and go ‘that might just work'? Jason Smith, the Founder and CEO of SponsorCX sure did. For years Jason thought about using technology to bring order to the chaos that can sometimes be sponsor and property relationships. And for years he thought “there's just no way I can do this.” Until one day he did. SponsorCX is now quickly becoming the gold standard for sports marketing and sponsorship CRM solutions. In this episode, Jason talks about his history in sports marketing, his journey as an entrepreneur, and offers some advice to anyone who ever thought about starting their own business. And, if you listen to the whole episode, he'll also dispense some essential tech support advice. In Spanish. Sort of.

When Andy Dolich shoots you a note and says, “Hey, lets do a podcast episode together.” the only possible response is “When do we record, and how long do you have?” It's fair to say that Dolich is a legend in the sports business world. He's sat in the big chair for teams in 3 of the 4 major pro sports leagues. He's overseen both championship seasons and epic losing ones. He's worked for some of the greatest owners in sports, and, well, other owners, too... In short, he's one of the guys who helped transform sports business from an almost quaint operation and into the multi-billion dollar economic behemoth that dominates the cultural landscape. Best of all? Andy has opinions, and he's not afraid to share them. In this episode, he lays into Oakland A's ownership, laments the impending demise of the Pac 12, gets fired up about the Fan Controlled Football League, and much MUCH more. So buckle up, Buttercup. Here comes Andy Dolich.

It's safe to say that we've arrived at something of an inflection point for women's sports. NWSL games are selling out. The WNBA just turned 25. US women's soccer recently secured pay equity with the men. The KC Current are building the first women's soccer-specific venue. And on and on. Women's sports are generating more attention (and more revenue) than ever before. And no brand is perhaps better positioned to take advantage of this momentum that women's sportswear brand Athleta. In this episode, we connect with Jen Rottenberg, Athleta's Head of Partnerships, to discuss the brand's approach to sports marketing. We dive into their partnerships with Simone Biles and Alison Felix and what makes them so impactful, why partnership depth is better than breadth, and what she's looking for in new opportunities.

In this episode we're talking cryptocurrencies. But I guess who isn't talking about crypto these days, right? Crypto is the future! Crypto is over! What the heck even is crypto...?!? While we might debate what's in store for crypto currencies, one thing that's undeniable is the impact that they've had on sports marketing. Crypto firms have been everywhere in sports, running super bowl ads, renaming arenas, partnering with athletes… seems like every time you went to watch a game, there was another crypto company. And then the bottom appeared to fall out of the market. So what's next for crypto companies and sports? How are their sports marketing strategies changing? Are they even looking for new opportunities? To help us answer these questions and more, we're talking with Sina Nader, Head of Partnerships for FTX US. FTX has been one of the most active and visible crypto businesses in sports, partnering with leagues, athletes, facilities, and colleges. We'll dive into his history with crypto and where he sees things headed, both in terms of the industry, and their partnerships in sports. Sina also shares one of the greatest walk on stories since Rudy Ruettiger donned a golden helmet for Notre Dame.

This episode is momentous for a couple of reasons. First, it features an in depth conversation with Jason Pearl, the Chief Business Development Officer of the San Francisco Giants. Jason has been involved with developing partnerships for the team for 30 years. Suffice it say he's forgotten more about creating successful partnerships than most people will learn in their lifetimes. We discuss the evolution of corporate partnerships, why they are more important than ever, the importance of curiosity in his job, and so so much more. This episode Is also momentous because it's the first one I've recorded live since the beginning of the pandemic. Can't even begin to tell you how nice it was to head into SF on a gorgeous summer day, walk through the doors of one of baseball's most beautiful ballparks, and talk with my friend Jason.

It's been just a little over a week since Rich Strike shocked the world by winning the Kentucky Derby as an 80 to 1 long shot. In this episode, we talk with Churchill Downs General Manager Mike Ziegler about that stunning upset and what it means to both the track and horse racing in general. We'll also talk about the impact of legalized sports betting on horse racing, and what you just cannot miss when you go the Derby, But this episode is really all about taking advantage of opportunities when they arise. Whether you're a 80-to-1 long shot in the biggest race of them all, or an unemployed CA native with absolutely zero background with horses who managed to climbed to one of the sports most high profile roles.

Ashley Chalk has been developing corporate partnerships for all kinds of organizations over her 20 year career. You name it, she's sold it: Minor League Baseball, Legoland, Disney on Ice, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, and now 14 time champion Chip Ganassi Racing. We talk about Ashley's development as a sales professional, what she sees as her essential skills, and why a quick no is better than a 1000 maybes. We also cover the impact of the Netflix series Drive to Survive not just on F1, but on all of motorsports, and why she's bullish about the growing opportunities for women in racing.

Megan Eisenhard began her sports business career working at the bottom of football stadium stairwell. From those humble beginnings, Megan's rise through the college sports ranks has been remarkable. Now a Senior Vice President at LEAFIELD, the largest media and technology company serving college sports, Megan now oversees an ever expanding portfolio of products, services, and partnerships. In our conversation, we talk about her career journey, her outlook on college sports, women in sports she admires, and what continues to energize her about the industry she's been working in for over 20 years .

Phil Grieco, Senior Director of Brand Strategy for Monster Beverage, has a uniquely valuable perspective in sports marketing, because he's seen the industry play out from all possible angles. He's worked for properties like the NBA, agencies like Wasserman, and for brands like M/M Mars, GoPro, and (now) Monster Beverage. As you can imagine, with a background like that, our conversation covers a lot of ground. We discuss Monster's incredible growth and the role sports played in it, the advantage challenger brands have over their legacy counterparts, the role that data plays in a company that's accustomed to making gut decisions, and so much more.

If you're not familiar with GameDay Vodka, that might be because you haven't attended a football game this year. GameDay has been EVERYWHERE this football season, building their fast growing brand by connecting with fans at the grass roots level through partnerships and smart use of intellectual property. We'll talk about what goes into launching a challenger brand into such a competitive category. But that's not all. Charles is also one of the rarest of breeds in sports marketing: he's someone who successfully made the transition from selling sports partnerships to now sitting on the brand side and making decisions about where to invest in sports. That change in perspective has produced some useful observations about the sales process, many of which he shares here. And as if that wasn't enough, he's even got some tips on how to fully enjoy GameDay Vodka, so you'll want to be sure to listen all the way until the end.

Jeff Yocom has been involved in executive recruiting for sports businesses for over 20 years, so if you've ever thought about getting a job in sports, or needed to hire someone for an industry job, you really need to listen. We also discuss how he started Marquee Search, what led to its acquisition by SRI, and whether or not meteorologists are purposefully trying to terrify us.

It's been a crazy few months for college sports: Name-Image-Likeness, more conference re-alignment, football stadiums are full again. From his perch as the SVP of Integrated Partnerships at the Pac-12 Network, David Perry has a unique look into what's going on and how corporate partners are responding.

What do actress Natalie Portman, soccer legend Abby Wambach, and this episode's guest Jessica Smith all have in common? They're all playing key roles in the launch of Angel City FC, the newest franchise in the National Women's Soccer League. As Head of Revenue, Jess is responsible for all forms of Club income. In this podcast, we hone in the role of sponsorship, and how ACFC's powerful story is drawing big name brands like doordash, Heineken, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Jane Walker to the team.

Dr. Dan Rascher has been involved in legal cases involving the NCAA and athletes rights rights since the mid-90s. In this podcast episode, Dr Rascher reviews the recent Supreme Court decision involving the NCAA, which struck down the NCAA's description of amateurism and throws open the doors to compensating athletes more broadly. We discuss the immediate implications, who stands to benefit, and whether or not this means the end of the NCAA.