Navigating Sports Business

Ben Abbott - Ph.D scientist and Assistant Professor of Ecosystem Ecology at BYU - joins the show for a special episode as he shares facts behind climate change, and how the sports industry is already being impacted. As a close friend to AJ, they discuss what we can do as an industry, and as individuals to work towards a more sustainable future. Details: 1:55 - Sports as a unifier 6:20 - What can be do to fight climate change? 15:45 - Climate Pledge Arena 21:05 - Stadiums and transportation impacting ecology 24:45 - More recommendations for sports 30:50 Rapid Fire Questions References: Electrify Everything, by Julian Bell Short Circuiting Energy Policy, by Leah Stokes Website: Skepticalscience.com Joule article on economic impact of renewable energy Joro - an app for tracking your carbon footprint For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Kevin Warren - Commissioner of the Big Ten - highlights the recent work of the Big Ten's Equality coalition. This summer, the coalition's Big Life Series provided 100 student athletes with the chance to travel to Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, engaging in an educational opportunity to develop their breadth of experiences outside of sport. Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=b85061c576629eb368517f53b165c619 For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Patti Phillips - CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports - shares some interesting statistics on diversity in college sports, and what she and her organization are doing to improve those numbers. She and AJ discuss the factors that lead to hiring decisions at the Athletic Director level, and the cultural biases that tend to impact those decisions. Details 2:10 - Reasons for the lack of diversity in college athletics 16:05 - The hiring funnel 35:25 - Zone of Possibility, Patti's TED Talk 39:35 - Rapid Fire Questions Books: Mindset by Carol Dweck Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Cues by Vanessa Van Edwards Impact Player by Liz Wiseman High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy Studies: Orchestrating Impartiality: the Impact of "Blind" Auditions on Female Musicians Can Blind Hiring Improve Workplace Diversity? Other Suggested Content: Patti's TEDx Talk: The Zone of Possibility Oprah's Super Soul Sunday For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Tom Stultz - Special Advisor to the CEO and former President at JMI Sports - breaks down the current MMR marketplace and how it will be impacted by changes to the structure of college sports, such as NIL and conference realignment. He and AJ also discuss JMI's status as a privately held company, and why that's unique among their competitors. Details: 7:30 - The future of JMI 20:30 - Tom's background 31:30 - Changes to college athletics 33:55 - Rapid Fire Questions Book Recommendations: The New York City Noon Prayer Meeting Burl The Church of Baseball Dreamland Dopesick For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

If the NBA decides to expand, Oak View Group will be ready with state of the art arenas in Seattle and Las Vegas. However, Tim Leiweke - Chairman & CEO of OVG - breaks down why the business plan in those cities doesn't rely on the NBA. Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle is already home to the NHL's Kraken, and the WNBA's Storm. The new development in Las Vegas is designed to be the city's first true point of destination built around live entertainment, and will be profitable through concerts, UFC fights, and other events, whether or not it lands a full-time NBA tenant. Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=9e7c1d2eaa20d5a4a8ad004e6839afa8 For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Catie Griggs - President of Business Operations for the Seattle Mariners - joins the show for an insightful conversation about increasing the popularity of baseball among young fans. She and AJ discuss her time at Atlanta United, the exciting Mariners stars including Julio Rodriguez, and what the MLB All-Star game will mean for the city of Seattle in 2023. Catie also shares how she went to T-Mobile Park incognito to observe the fan experience when she first joined the organization. AJ points out that Adrian Hanauer, Majority Owner of the Seattle Sounders, takes the same approach to undercover data-gathering, so it's a proven strategy in the Seattle sports market. Details 1:40 - Catie's Time at Atlanta United 3:35 - Going undercover at Mariners games 12:10 - The next generation of Baseball fans 14:10 - Catie's background 17:55 - MLB All-Star Game coming to Seattle 23:15 - Future of the Mariners 27:35 - Rapid Fire Questions For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

David Cutcliffe - Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Football Relations at the Southeastern Conference and college football veteran - shares his advice for aspiring athletic directors and the importance of the company you keep. Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=026a19eb25ca6ea439a75e9009579b21 For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Mike Leach - Head Football Coach at Mississippi State - caught up with AJ Maestas while on a bike ride around the Florida Keys. Coach Leach was previously at Texas Tech and Washington State and is known for his animated interviews and his pioneering of the air raid offense. He gives his take on the state of Division I athletics and breaks down his plan for a 64-team College Football Playoff. He also shares a novel idea for a two-tiered system that would allow football recruits to chose between becoming traditional student athletes, or professionals that can be signed, traded, and cut by coaches. Details 5:00 - Mike's idea for a new college football system 11:50 - Relating to college players 16:10 - Rapid Fire Questions For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren joins the show with AJ Maestas to discuss the rapidly evolving collegiate landscape. He also shares lessons he's learned over the course of a 30-year career across law, professional sports, and now college athletics. Details 3:45 - The state of college athletics 6:10 - The Big Life Series 11:10 - Changes to college athletics 20:00 - Kevin's reputation in the press 22:30 - The professionalization of collegiate athletes 27:05 - Rapid Fire Questions For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/. AJ's conversation with the late Roger Valdiserri: https://nvgt.com/podcast/?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=1b442ef51a297a93127e7ad32dba776a

Nina King - Vice President / Director of Athletics at Duke University - on the need for NIL regulation and what the future holds for college athletics. Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=4361a573b41e714c7af1fc46ad073408 For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.