Sports Marketing Machine Podcast

Nick Richardson, VP of Ticket Sales & Service at the Texas Rangers, shares insights on revolutionizing ticket sales through a fan-focused approach. He discusses innovative strategies like flexible ticket plans and themed mini packs. Nick reveals how AI can enhance customer engagement while emphasizing the importance of personal touch and fan feedback. A standout story illustrates how a simple gesture created lifelong fans. Dive into tactics for nurturing customer loyalty and modernizing ticketing experiences that resonate with today’s sports fans.

Is your ad traffic soaring but ticket sales lagging? Discover the importance of aligning your messaging and targeting for better conversions. Learn about building a smarter funnel strategy from awareness to purchase. Explore the risks of focusing solely on return on ad spend and uncover ways to combat ad fatigue. Hear insights on leveraging audience behavior for effective retargeting and crafting creative that connects with fans' buying journeys. Don't let clicks go to waste—turn casual viewers into devoted buyers!

Send us a textIn this episode, Jeremy Neisser sits down with two seasoned college athletics marketers: Scott Peace (Senior Associate AD for Revenue Generation at UNI) and Kelly Wilga (Assistant AD for Marketing at Sacramento State). Together, they dive into what it takes to successfully plan and execute a football marketing campaign.From budget discussions and scheduling promotions to engaging students and running creative, on-brand theme nights, this episode is packed with actionable insights. They explore how even teams with limited resources can deliver unforgettable fan experiences and improve attendance through collaboration, strategy, and bold creativity.TakeawaysStart football marketing planning early — often as early as March.Prioritize student engagement, especially for early-season games.Build partnerships across campus to extend your budget and reach.Theme nights and experiential promotions (like hot tubs or tattoo artists) can dramatically boost attendance.Always evaluate the ROI of long-standing marketing traditions — and be willing to scrap or evolve them.Focus on controllable factors of fan experience from “driveway to driveway.”Giveaways still work, especially when they're creative and unique.Use athletics as a platform to highlight broader university initiatives.Even with a tight budget, you can get creative and make a big impact.Don’t accept the limitations of a small team — lean on relationships, data, and smart execution.Memorable Quotes💬 "You can never have enough money to get your messaging out." 💬 "Flooding the zone with digital retargeting is essential." 💬 "We're not going to settle for the norm anymore." 💬 "Delivering a memorable fan experience should be your #1 priority." 💬 "Think creatively. That isn’t always expensive." Chapters00:00 – Kickoff: Importance of Football Marketing 02:52 – Budgeting and Scheduling 05:49 – Student Engagement Strategies 08:39 – Enhancing Game Day Experience 11:51 – Creative Promotions & Brand Alignment 14:42 – Innovation & Risk-Taking 22:26 – Balancing Fun with University Identity 25:35 – The Rise of Theme Nights 32:03 – Lessons Learned and Venue Improvements 38:25 – Fan Experience as the Ultimate Driver 43:42 – Advice for Small Teams with Tight BudgetsSports Marketing Machine on LinkedInSports Marketing Machine on InstagramBook a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

In this engaging discussion, Denise Sicheneder from Spinzo, an expert in sports marketing, reveals the magic behind successful theme nights. She shares how nostalgia, cultural relevance, and smart strategies have led teams to sell out stadiums for events like Grateful Dead Night and Hello Kitty Night. Learn why community champions matter in crafting unique experiences and how innovative merchandise can drive ticket sales. Denise emphasizes the importance of collaboration and timing, showcasing fun ideas from dog-friendly mini plans to vibrant themed promotions that resonate with fans.

Discover innovative strategies for harnessing ChatGPT to supercharge ticket sales and marketing efforts. Learn how to craft compelling emails, analyze ad performance, and create engaging social media posts. Get tips on writing clear scripts and FAQ sections to streamline customer queries. Explore ways to translate campaigns for broader audiences and enhance your overall marketing efficiency. This podcast is packed with practical insights that can help marketers maximize their resources and achieve real results!

Discover why consistent video content is now essential for sports marketing success. Short-form videos can effectively warm cold audiences and lower advertising costs. Uncover how retargeting those who watch your videos can dramatically boost ROI. Get real-world examples of using highlight reels and event recaps to bring back past ticket buyers. Most importantly, remember: fans purchase experiences, not just tickets. No need for fancy gear—just start creating! Your ads will really thank you for it.

Discover two innovative tools designed to revolutionize sports marketing. A Dynamic Survey Dashboard captures actionable fan insights, overcoming the limits of traditional surveys. Meanwhile, an all-in-one Sponsorship Management Tool consolidates contracts and performance data, reducing chaos for marketing teams. Say goodbye to generic feedback and endless spreadsheets—it’s time for smarter solutions that enhance engagement and drive ROI!

Join Jonathan Hufnagel, the founder and CEO of Dash, a fan activation platform transforming engagement for over 400 sports teams. He shares the journey of evolving from a digital auction tool to a comprehensive e-commerce solution. Discover how teams can drive revenue with creative promotions like mystery tickets and auctions. Hufnagel emphasizes the importance of data in enhancing fan experiences and urges teams to embrace digital engagement. Real-world success stories amplify the impact of innovative strategies in connecting with fans better than ever.

Send us a textIn this episode of The Sports Marketing Machine Podcast, Jeremy Neisser sits down with Arthur, the CEO of Vibe.co — a self-serve streaming TV ad platform changing how sports teams approach fan acquisition and ticket sales.Arthur pulls back the curtain on why CTV (connected TV) advertising isn’t just for big brands anymore, and how teams with modest budgets can now launch high-impact TV campaigns that are trackable, targeted, and ridiculously easy to set up — no agency required.Whether you're trying to sell more tickets, build brand awareness, or just find a new way to get in front of fans, this episode shows how streaming TV can (finally) be part of your playbook.✅ Top Takeaways:TV Ads Are Now Self-Serve: No contracts, no reps — just launch like you would a Meta ad.Start with Warm Audiences: Use Vibe’s pixel or upload your CRM list for retargeting.TV That Performs: Streaming campaigns have shown better ROAS than Meta or Snapchat in many cases.Minimum Budget to Start: 3x your average order value per day, for at least 2 weeks.Keep Your Creative Sharp: 30-second ads work best — and sound matters more than you think.Skip the Freebies: Every impression is trackable, and every dollar can be measured.🗣️ Sound Bites:“Your local TV rep won’t give you conversion data. Vibe will.”“If your mom couldn’t launch a campaign on it, we didn’t build it right.”“Streaming TV retargeting might be the best silver bullet in marketing right now.”“It’s not just ads — it’s insights. You’ll know which channels and audiences convert.”🧠 Topics Covered:What Vibe.co is and how it simplifies TV advertisingWhy teams should treat CTV like a performance channel, not just brandingHow to retarget site visitors and CRM audiences on streaming platformsThe compounding power of running TV, Meta, and search at the same timeWhat budget and campaign length really work (and what’s a waste)How to approach creative: format, duration, and call to actionWhy sound is 50% of your ad’s effectiveness on TVWhat audience size makes TV worth it (and when to wait)⏱ Episode Chapters:00:00 – Introduction to Vibe and CTV Ads01:37 – Why TV Advertising Isn’t Complicated Anymore04:51 – Start with Retargeting, Not Branding07:36 – Vibe vs. Meta: Similar Tactics, New Medium08:57 – Combining TV with Other Channels10:43 – Measuring Incrementality: Why Vibe Beats Most Platforms11:30 – Campaign Budget Guidelines That Actually Work13:08 – Reusing Video Across Platforms14:47 – Why Audio Is Everything for TV Ads15:45 – Audience Size & When to Launch Your First Campaign17:40 – Final Thoughts + How to Get Started📣 Ready to Test TV for Your Team?Want to launch your first streaming TV campaign?▶️ Watch the tutorial Jeremy made - HERE🚀 Try Vibe for yourself - SIGN UP HERESports Marketing Machine on LinkedInSports Marketing Machine on InstagramBook a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

Join a deep dive into the complex world of loss leaders in sports marketing. Discover how promotions like $1 hot dogs can fill stands but might harm your brand if mismanaged. Learn the significance of perceived value and why a free ticket often feels less appealing than a discounted snack. The discussion emphasizes clever bundling of offers to boost attendance and drive incremental revenue, all while protecting your full-price strategy. Tune in for insights on tracking success metrics that elevate fan engagement!