Making the Fan College Leaders | Using Data and Tech to Amplify the '12th Man' Tradition w/ Michael Thompson
Michael Thompson joins David for this week’s College Leaders podcast. After nine years at Ole Miss, Michael reunited with Ross Bjork at Texas A&M in October of 2019 as the Deputy Athletics Director for External Relations and Business Development. His innovative leadership has led to appointments as the 2020-21 NACMA President and membership in the SEC’s fan experience working group. His team also won the 2019 NACDA Technology Innovation Award.
Counting down the days to football at Kyle Field, Michael shares his framework for keeping the 12th Man traditions sacred while employing data and new technology to evolve and innovate game day and carrying that through to other sports.
Show Notes
6:06 What’s new for 2021 Texas A&M Football?
8:57 Creative Planning for Staffing Challenges
13:54 Celebrating The 100th Season of the 12th Man
19:18 Balancing Traditions with New Innovations
23:55 If Money Was No Object...Investments to Enhance Customer Experience
27:03 Defined Social Spaces in Stadiums
30:27 Diving into NFTs and the Blockchain
33:43 Cracking the Code on Season Ticket Usage
38:43 The Flexible ‘Gig ‘Em Pass’
39:33 Understanding Your Different Customers
43:30 The “FOMO” Factor
46:48 On Michael’s Bookshelf
50:56 When “No” Presents a Better Opportunity
56:36 Best Investment Under $100
57:59 Practicing Intermittent Fasting
1:01:53 Michael’s Billboard
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For more information on topics discussed in today’s episode:
On Michael’s Bookshelf
Endurance | Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
Dispatches from Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta by Richard Grant
On David's Bookshelf
Forged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent
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