SDSU Sports MBA Podcast

This week, the SMBA ‘20 students recap the last week in the life of SMBA 20. Points of discussion include recent guest speakers, our latest social outing, and topics of interest in the world of sports business. This week’s podcast contributors: Aaron Dryden Graham Lyman Tak Matsumoto Jenn Gerdes This week’s podcast producers: Kyle Robb

This week, the SMBA ‘20 students recap a busy two weeks in the SMBA program including volunteering at the World Congress of Sports and the many guest speakers from this week. As always, they also run through this week’s sports biz news. This week’s podcast contributors: Aaron Dryden Graham Lyman Morgan Pefanis Kyle Robb This week’s podcast producers: Scott Patterson Jenn Gerdes

This week's podcast recaps our week in the program and takes a look into bad beats of sports betting, Petco Park, the release of the upcoming ICC schedule and the possibility of MLS implementing a promotion, regulation system for soccer. This week’s podcast contributors: Kyle Robb Jenn Gerdes Tak Matsumoto

This week’s podcast takes a look at Body Armor’s recent business successes, the streams of revenue and gambling surrounding the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, esports growth at the collegiate level, and our thoughts and picks for March Madness.   This week’s podcast contributors: Aaron Dryden Kyle Robb Scott Patterson Tyler Drew   This week’s podcast producers: Graham Lyman Jenn Gerdes Scott Patterson

This week, the students of the Class of 2020 recapped the guest speakers and WISE Power Play Event before jumping into discussions of the NBA jersey patch deals, MLB collective bargaining agreement, and MLB international series. This week’s podcast contributors: Aaron Dryden Graham Lyman  Kyle Robb Tyler Drew This week’s podcast producers: Jenn Gerdes Scott Patterson

After today's first Statistics midterm of the year, current Sports MBA students Aaron Dryden (SMBA '20), Jenn Gerdes (SMBA '20), Tak Matsumoto (SMBA '20), Scott Patterson (SMBA '20), and Kyle Robb (SMBA '20) got together to discuss the year they've experienced in SDSU Sports MBA thus far.  This episode is a brief one, but it will set the table for much more to come on the SDSU Sports MBA Podcast with SMBA '20. 

We're well into the NBA season, so current Sports MBA students Barde Eseyin (SMBA '19), Ryan Maguire (SMBA '19) and Isaiah Ramsey (SMBA '19) are here to discuss the business of the NBA.  The trio debates the new team format of the All-Star Game, looks ahead at this offseason's free agency, and spends time dissecting sponsorship and jersey patch deals. They're also joined by Sports MBA alumnus Nate Kassalow (SMBA '12), Associate Manager, Intelligence Analytics and Reporting with the NBA league office for a discussion of his career in sports business.  

The new Sports MBA cohort has been here less than a month, but it's been a hectic few weeks.  Current students Chelsea Devine, Ryan Huckabey, Ryan Lieu, Jessica Luttrell, and Ahkeel Whitehead (all SMBA ’19) discuss orientation, volunteer opportunities, guest speakers, and much more in the group's first podcast of the year.

Julia Hernandez (SMBA '18) spent the summer reading all 373 pages of MLB's new collective bargaining agreement. She shares some of her newly-found knowledge with fellow classmates (and fellow baseball geeks) Drew Pomeroy and Forrest Lockwood, who add a few thoughts of their own.

Where are they now? Members of the SMBA Class of 2014 Walter Franco, Dom Lucq, Steve Fuller, Carlos Maldonado, and Adam John reunite and catch up on where their careers are at, three years after graduation. The crew also offers up some tips for the current SMBA class to get through the remainder of their program, and general advice for aspiring sports business professionals.

SMBA '18's Drew Pomeroy, Tom Ruyle, Forrest Lockwood, and actual tax master Kanta Ito discuss the impact of state income taxes on free agency decisions, exactly how much Uncle Sam can take out of an athlete's pocketbook, and why players and their agents need to take all of this into consideration when negotiating with teams.

SMBA Alumnus Dominic Lucq ('14), Partnership Sales Manager for the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors - and former host of the Sports MBA Podcast - calls in to discuss the Warriors' philosophy on building partnerships and maintaining relationships with their sponsors, exciting developments for the team in connection with their under-construction arena in San Francisco, and shares some advice for young professionals looking to break into the sports business.

The second part of SMBA '18's Dominican Republic reflection, live from the (San Diego) classroom! The cohort look back on their time after being immersed in Dominican culture for eight days, and discuss their eye-opening lessons and favorite moments.

SMBA '18 live from the Dominican Republic! The cohort share their experiences and impressions from their first 24 hours overseas and discuss their work with MLB, the San Diego Padres, and the Baseball Cares non-profit organization at a local secondary school.

Three of the SMBA '18 cohort - Tom, Drew, and Forrest - dive deep into E-Sports, talking about the major players involved and whether we're seeing a bubble in the industry. Drew and Forrest also issue a challenge to each other.

Manny Anekal of E-Sports publication The Next Level stops by to answer some of SMBA '18's questions about E-Sports, and a few of the cohort get a crash course in the booming industry.

This season marks the 50th anniversary of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Sports MBA alumnus Jack Tipton (SMBA '06), Director of Partnership Marketing, had an idea to commemorate the occasion.   Taking a page from Willy Wonka, Jack conceptualized a Penguins Golden Ticket promotion that involved all departments of the organization and its partners.   The Penguins created 50 gold-plated "golden tickets" and fans who got one were eligible for a grand prize drawing of two season tickets for the next 20 seasons.  Jack discusses how he conceived of this idea, sold it internally, got it through the legal team, and pitched the idea to corporate partners. 

When the Aztec Rugby team heard from head coach Alex Lichtig (SMBA '16) that they would head to Georgia for spring break, most players assumed they'd be on a quick flight to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech. Thanks to a satellite SDSU campus in Tbilisi, Georgia (the Caucasus Eurasian country, not the U.S. state), the Aztecs were presented with an opportunity to represent the United States on a goodwill rugby tour halfway across the globe. In this episode, Sports MBA program director Scott Minto (SMBA '06) talks with Aztec Rugby Head Coach Alex Lichtig (SMBA '16) about the team's journey and what his athletes learned from the experience.  

Las Vegas native Zac Ipson (SMBA '18) and Oakland Raiders fan Forrest Lockwood (SMBA '18) each have strong feelings about the Raiders' upcoming move to the desert. They discuss the Raiders' move, the viability of Las Vegas as a major sports market, and the stadium financing boondoggle.

Nick Loewen (SMBA '18) played college basketball in Canada, professional basketball in Spain, and he's been to the Final Four as a spectator. Nick stops by to share his unique perspective on sponsorship activations at the Final Four and advertising trends in the European leagues that we may see stateside sooner rather than later.

The SMBA '18 baseball panel comes back to organize the "Ultimate Fantasy Baseball League", taking into account not only MLB player statistics, but the players' overall value to their new franchises. Sponsorships, marketability, and community involvement are all considered, and the panel each pick their top four for the upcoming season.

The SMBA '18 baseball panel of Julia, Drew, Greg, and Forrest discuss a New York Times article from early March in which readers and reporters alike shared opinions on how to speed up and "fix" the sport of baseball. The panel argues for and against some of the Times' suggestions, and offers up a few of their own. Recorded March 15, 2017

Scott Minto, program director, sat down with current student, Forrest Lockwood to discuss a variety of topics. Date recorded: March 1st, 2017

Alex West interviews Steve Fuller (SMBA '14) about his current position as the Trademarks and Licensing Manager at the University of Southern California.

Alex West and SMBA Program Director Scott Minto interview Walter Franco (SMBA '14), corporate sales director for the Utah Grizzlies.

Alex West, Landon Hemsley and Matthew Sill discuss the recent goings-on of SMBA 2015.

Dom Luc interviews Danny Roach and Michael Schwartz about the 2013 NBA Draft, specifically issues associated with free agency.

Adam John, Dom Luc, Walter Franco and Adam Dubois discuss everything soccer.  Topics include a proposed MLS expansion, Clint Dempsey's recent signing, and the Qatar World Cup controversy.

SDSU SMBA Program Director Scott Minto interviews Jen Hanson, Assistant Director of Marketing Promotions for the University of Washington and a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA).

SDSU SMBA Program Director Scott Minto interviews current student Dan Claycomb (SMBA '14).  Topics discussed include the recent goings-on in the NFL.

Adam John interviews Dom Luc and Dan Claycomb regarding recent issues in the NFL.  Topics discussed include the new concussions protocol, the Trent Richardson trade and the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Dom Luc interviews SMBA Program Director Scott Minto in regard to the recent goings on of the SDSU SMBA program.  

Dom Luc, Program Director Scott Minto and Christian Jensen discuss the Ultimate Fantasy Basketball League.

Adam John, Carlos Maldonado and Rich Davis recap Days Four and Five of SMBA '14's trip to the Dominican Republic.  Topics addressed include the cohort's trip to the Altagracia textile factory and a description of the group's lodging in Boca Chica.

Adam John, Dwayne Jones and Johnson Tran recap Day Three of SMBA '13's trip to the Dominican Republic.  Topics include after school program that the cohort visited and their opportunity to play basketball against some of the program's students.

Host Dom Luc (SMBA '14) interviews Kevin Doidge regarding his position as a manager of business development at IMG as well as the importance of professional networking.

Host Dom Luc (SMBA '14) interviews SDSU SMBA Program Director Scott Minto regarding his various recruiting trips throughout North America and discusses various aspects of the SMBA Program.

Host Dom Luc (SMBA '14) interviews Sacramento-based ESPN Analyst Amin Elhassan with guest Michael Schwartz (SMBA '14).  Topics discussed include the NBA's Development League, general issues in the NBA and the possibility of the Sacramento Kings relocation.

From his days as a Sports MBA student in 2012, Mike Warkentin (SMBA '13) worked hard to set himself apart and get involved in the industry in any way possible.  This led to an internship in Edmonton with Northlands, and the opportunity to work his way up to Venue Manager of Rexall Place in just a few short years.  With the Oilers moving to downtown Edmonton, Northlands has a plan for its massive property, Vision 2020, and Mike's been an integral part of this new era for the organization.  

Alex West interviews brothers Zach (SMBA '15) and Adam Johnson, assistant equipment manager of the Oakland Raiders. They go behind the scenes in an NFL training camp. 

Alex West interviews Mike Warkenten (SMBA '13), venue manager of Rexal Place, about what brought him to SDSU and the business of hockey.

Alex West interviews Luke Willardson (SMBA '15) and Zach Bradshaw, sports analytics specialist at ESPN, about his path into the sports industry.

Alex West and Sarah Nollner discuss a variety of sports business topics

Alex West interviews Paul Zickler, licensing manager with the MLBPA about baseball memorabilia, licensing, and the interactions between the MLB and the MLBPA. 

Host Adam John welcomes classmates Steve Fuller and Dominic Lucq to discuss the first couple of days of the San Diego State Sports MBA annual trip to the Dominican Republic.  We discuss our visit in Santo Domingo, our trip to the Caribbean Baseball Academy, seeing the Major League Baseball office, and conversing with players at the San Diego Padres academy.  To wrap up this podcast we get a very special interview with our new friend Emilio who gives us perspective on what baseball means to the people in the Dominican Republic.

Host Adam John (class of 2014) is joined by fellow classmates Carrie Bregman, Dan Claycomb, Adam Dubois and now alum from the class of 2013 "Canadian" Mike Warkentin to discuss all things NHL.

Host Dominic Lucq (SMBA 2014) is joined by SMBA alum Tariq Virani of the San Francisco Giants.  They discuss Tariq's time at the SDSU program, networking advice, and takes us into the world of CRM and sports business analytics.

Host Adam John (SMBA '14) is joined by two classmates, Michael Schwartz and Dan Claycomb to discuss the NFL draft.  Topics include: a draft review, the value of offensive linemen, a potential British influx, Matt Barkley, the Revis-Bucs trade and many more topics.