Navigating Sports Business

Gretchen Sheirr - President of Business Operations for the Houston Rockets - explains the evolution of digital ticketing best practices since she joined the organization two decades ago, and how her team was on the cutting edge.  Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=2ff005acc36817567fec4d871854d24d For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Keia Clarke - CEO of the New York Liberty - joins the show to discuss the bright future of the Liberty and the WNBA as a whole.   She shares with AJ Maestas her career path and how she made the transition from marketing to operations, and now to the role of CEO. They also touch on the Liberty's investment in custom market research and the work they're doing with Navigate.   Details: 2:15 - The $75M investment in the WNBA 4:50 - The Tsai Family 9:05 - Following in Keia’s footsteps 14:15 - DEI in Sports 17:45 - YES deal and the Liberty’s star power 28:10 - Rapid Fire Questions   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/ 

Bob Cialdini, the best-selling author of Influence shares the importance of using his Seven Principles of Persuasion ethically and authentically.    He also gives tips for negotiations, and explores the authority principle as it applies to pricing, and why you should never round your prices.    Listen to the full interview here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=f25c6273083e5871d732a8ac155034dc    Find Bob's books here: https://www.influenceatwork.com/   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/

Former Oregon AD - Pat Kilkenny- is a close friend and advisor to many leaders in college sports, including Phil Knight, Bob Bowlsby, and Larry Scott. He shares the lessons he learned as an entrepreneur and how he applied them at Oregon.    He and AJ Maestas discuss his transition to the world of college sports, and why he ultimately left Oregon. They also discuss Pat's relationship to Phil Knight, and the role that Nike and other large brands might play as NIL continues to evolve.      Details:    2:10 - Pat’s path the Oregon AD job 9:30 - NIL 15:40 - The Pac-12 22:40 - Nike and Apple’s role in college athletics 24:25 - Pat’s business background 27:15 - the Lucky Duck Foundation 33:10 - Pat’s childhood on a farm in Oregon 34:50 - Rapid Fire Questions   Learn more about the Lucky Duck Foundation at https://www.luckyduckfoundation.org/   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/ 

Gretchen Sheirr - President of Business Operations for the Houston Rockets - spent 20 seasons with the team before ascending to her current role in 2021.    Over that stretch, she pioneered new ticketing practices, and became one of our industry's leading experts on digital ticketing. She join AJ Maestas to discuss the lessons she's learned over the course of her career, some best practices for ticketing and venue management, and how we as an industry can improve when it comes to DE&I practices.    Details 1:30 - Gretchen’s career path/staying with the same organization 7:27 - Ticketing 11:40 - Rockets Owner, Tilman Fertitta 14:00 - Lessons from the COVID-19 experience 20:05 - DE&I in sports 24:05 - Rapid Fire Questions   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/ 

Dr. Robert Cialdini is is the author of the best-selling book, Influence, and is an expert on psychology and human behavior. His research spans sports fandom, business, and beyond. He and AJ Maestas discuss the 7 principles of persuasion: Reciprocity Scarcity Authority Consistency Liking Social Proof Unity   Bob shares how to use these principles to ethically inform and influence people in a business setting, including best practices for negotiation, price setting, and messaging.    Details 2:55 - What the sports industry can learn from experts like Bob 10:50 - The 7 Principles of Persuasion 21:05 - Using Bob’s work in Sports 28:05 - Bob’s research on sports fandom   Find Bob's books and his new course (coming Autumn 2022) here: https://www.influenceatwork.com/ Link to the research Bob mentioned: https://hbr.org/2021/12/need-a-favor-research-suggests-its-best-to-ask-in-person?ab=hero-subleft-3 Link to Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari: https://www.ynharari.com/book/sapiens-2/ For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/ 

George Kliavkoff - Commissioner of the Pac-12 - on the 3 main factors he's focusing on for the conference's upcoming media rights negotiations, with the current deal expiring in 2024.   Revenue Broad Distribution Competitive Advantage   The current media rights deal expires in 2024, so these negotiations will be taking place soon.   Listen to the full interview from 2-2-22 here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=46682cf3db2b284481233d6d74e81438   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/ 

Georgia Tech Director of Athletics - Todd Stansbury - joins AJ Maestas to discuss trending topics in college athletics, the challenges of running a modern athletic department, the future of the NCAA, and more.   Details: 2:05 - Todd’s career path 17:10 - Changes to collegiate athletics 23:35 - The NCAA’s evolving role 32:20 - Fundraising at Georgia Tech 35:15 - Georgia Tech’s MMR deal with Legends 38:55 - Rapid Fire Questions More info on Radiochain - the startup founded by 3 Georgia Tech swimmers. Link to GTAA Ventures - the VC Fund for Georgia Tech Athletics Jenny Moore - the former Georgia Tech athlete who became a fighter pilot. Shane Kimbrough -astronaut and honorary Georgia Tech letterwinner For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/ 

Chris Overholt - President and CEO of OverActive Media - shares what traditional sports properties can learn from the rise of esports, and how they should be preparing their investments in the broader gaming world.   Conversely, he also gives his thoughts on what esports organizations can take from traditional properties as the industry continues to grow.   Listen to the full interview from 1-29-22 here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=690212cb878c08c37334f692caac25e6   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/   

Mid-American Conference Commissioner, Jon Steinbrecher, gives us the G5 perspective on all of the hot topics we're seeing in college sports.    Jon has been a conference Commissioner since 1994, making him the second longest-tenured Commissioner at the FBS level. He has been in the room when major decisions have been made regarding NIL, the-time transfer exception, CFP expansion, and more. He and AJ Maestas discuss all of the above, as well as talking about what makes the MAC such a fun and unique conference.    Details 1:30 - The state of college athletics 9:15 - #MACtion & Fly the Flag 17:40 - NIL & the future of the NCAA 30:20 - Sports betting in college sports 36:15 - CFP Expansion 42:45 - Rapid Fire Questions   Check out MAC's Fly The Flag campaign.    For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/