PODCAST

Navigating Sports Business

AJ Maestas

Gain exclusive insight into the professional and personal worlds of high-level executives in sports and entertainment as we host top decision-makers in the industry to discuss emerging topics, their business, careers, and personal life stories.   From collegiate conference commissioners to professional sports team executives and owners, to CMOs and leading marketers at global brands, Maestas takes listeners inside the lives of key people making a major impact on the sports and entertainment industry.
Start Here
Highlight: Earl Santee - Populous
Highlight: Earl Santee - Populous
3d ago
7 mins
Highlight: Earl Santee - Populous
Highlight: Earl Santee - Populous
Earl Santee - Senior Principal & Global Chair at Populous - on the evolution of sports venues from a seated experience to more of a personalized entertainment experience, and a community meeting place.    He and AJ also cover the importance of easy transit as a common friction point among fans, and as a key way that live sports needs to improve in order to compete with the ease of at-home entertainment.    Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=76aabd97d697699a6c7d7ac9e2e47eef   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.
3d ago
7 mins
45. Lorien Parry Luehrs - HomeTown Ticketing
45. Lorien Parry Luehrs - HomeTown Ticketing
Lorien Parry Luehrs - President & COO of HomeTown Ticketing - joins the show to discuss how digital ticketing is changing the game for high school sports and other community events. With 865M tickets sold each year, K-12 events (including sports and other events) account for 60% of ticket sales in the U.S. - pro sports sell about 200M for comparison.   HomeTown Ticketing is the market leader in digital ticketing for K-12 schools and colleges, and offers benefits beyond ticketing such as improved security, push notification marketing, and access to important game day data.    Together they dive into the digital ticketing space, and highlight the growth and impact HomeTown Ticketing is making in the space.      Details:  11:00 - COVID as an accelerant  12:55 - Lorien’s background 28:00 - HomeTown Ticketing 42:15 - The impact of technology on high school events 45:20 - Rapid Fire Questions   Books and TED Talks Mentioned: The Hard Things About Hard Things The Obstacle is the Way Brené Brown - The Power of Vulnerability   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.
May 11 2022
55 mins
Highlight: Keia Clarke - New York Liberty
Highlight: Keia Clarke - New York Liberty
With the WNBA tipping off this week, we're showcasing a highlight from our interview with current client Keia Clarke, CEO of the New York Liberty. She breaks down how her team is working to share the unique story of each of their players, not just the stars.    She also talks about the team's talent and how they'll be able to capitalize on basketball success when it comes to the business side.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=74f86ab7111e99260206d7f845a8c9cb   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.
May 4 2022
4 mins
44. Earl Santee - Populous
44. Earl Santee - Populous
Earl Santee - Senior Principal & Global Chairman at Populous - is one of the most most well-known and respected stadium designers in the world. As a founder of Populous, he and his team pioneered practices that we take for granted today, like the "skybox" that led directly to the prevalence of luxury suites in modern stadiums.  He and AJ explore some of his favorite projects he's worked on, and discuss what rapidly-evolving technology means for the future of entertainment gathering spaces likes arenas and ballparks.  Details: 9:40 - Looking back 13:15 - The future of stadiums 24:55 - Food & beverage 31:20 - Collegiate Athletics 36:10 - Rapid Fire Questions   Books mentioned in the show: Future Shock, by Alvin Toffler The Algorithmic Leader by Mike Walsh Age Power by Ken Dychtwald   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/
Apr 27 2022
47 mins
Highlight: Gretchen Sheirr - Houston Rockets
Highlight: Gretchen Sheirr - Houston Rockets
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/.
Apr 20 2022
3 mins
43. Keia Clarke - New York Liberty
43. Keia Clarke - New York Liberty
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/
Apr 13 2022
34 mins
Highlight: Dr. Robert Cialdini – Influence at Work
Highlight: Dr. Robert Cialdini – Influence at Work
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/
Apr 6 2022
7 mins
42. Pat Kilkenny - Former Oregon AD
42. Pat Kilkenny - Former Oregon AD
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/
Mar 30 2022
39 mins
41. Gretchen Sheirr - Houston Rockets
41. Gretchen Sheirr - Houston Rockets
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/
Mar 23 2022
27 mins
40. Dr. Robert Cialdini - Influence at Work
40. Dr. Robert Cialdini - Influence at Work
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: ReciprocityScarcityAuthorityConsistencyLikingSocial ProofUnity   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/
Mar 16 2022
48 mins
Highlight: George Kliavkoff - Pac-12
Highlight: George Kliavkoff - Pac-12
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.   RevenueBroad DistributionCompetitive 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/
Mar 9 2022
7 mins
39. Todd Stansbury - Georgia Tech
39. Todd Stansbury - Georgia Tech
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 AthleticsJenny 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/
Mar 2 2022
44 mins
Highlight: Chris Overholt - OverActive Media
Highlight: Chris Overholt - OverActive Media
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/
Feb 23 2022
6 mins
38. Jon Steinbrecher - Mid-American Conference
38. Jon Steinbrecher - Mid-American Conference
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/
Feb 16 2022
49 mins
Highlight: Justin Toman - PepsiCo
Highlight: Justin Toman - PepsiCo
In honor of Super Bowl LVI and Tom Brady's retirement, we're featuring a highlight from our interview with Justin Toman, Head of Sports Marketing for PepsiCo.    Justin highlights the brand's strategy around the Super Bowl and why they chose Pepsi as the sponsor of the halftime show rather than the other brands in their portfolio. He also shares the story of how he won the University of Michigan's Male Athlete of the Year award over Tom Brady in 1999.    Listen to the full interview released on 4-28-21 with AJ Maestas here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=70fb32b2f9f7d365e52223245852545d   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/
Feb 9 2022
4 mins
37. George Kliavkoff - Pac-12
37. George Kliavkoff - Pac-12
George Kliavkoff - Commissioner of the Pac-12 - joins AJ Maestas to discuss the major trends in college athletics like CFP expansion, NIL, and potential football rule changes.   George talks about how his career outside of college athletics has prepared him for his new role, and what that transition has been like so far. He also explains why he's so optimistic about his conference's future.    Details: 1:28 - The transition from fan to commissioner 8:45 - CFP expansion and football rule changes  12:05 - NIL & broader changes to the NCAA 32:10 - Future of the Pac-12 44:30 - The Alliance (Pac-12, ACC, and Big 10) 50:00 - Rapid Fire Questions   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/
Feb 2 2022
57 mins
Highlight: Ariel Kelman - Oracle
Highlight: Ariel Kelman - Oracle
Ariel Kelman - Oracle's EVP & Chief Marketing Officer - on how he selected Red Bull Racing as a partner, and how he uses that partnership to showcase Oracle's technology.    Listen to the full interview released on 12-21-21 with Jeff Nelson here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=199f4dff26be0bba46c7db9b60685730   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/
Jan 26 2022
5 mins
36. Chris Overholt - OverActive Media
36. Chris Overholt - OverActive Media
Chris Overholt - President and CEO of OverActive Media - on the rise of esports and gaming, and what it means for the future of sports fandom.    Chris and AJ discuss how OAM's esports model reflects traditional sports properties that own and operate teams in multiple leagues. They also examine how brands can use esports to authentically reach younger generations.    Details: 2:00 Chris Overholt's background  6:30 OAM: A media company for the 21st century 19:40 How traditional sports properties reach an esports audience 23:45 The future of esports fandom 34:45 Crypto, gambling, and emerging trends 39:35 Rapid Fire Questions     For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/
Jan 19 2022
47 mins
Highlight: Gene Smith - Ohio State
Highlight: Gene Smith - Ohio State
Gene Smith - Director of Athletics at Ohio State - shares his thoughts on expanding the CFP to 8 or 12 teams.  He highlights the opportunity that expansion would provide for teams that often don't have a realistic chance to make the top 4, while also acknowledging the risk of devaluing the lower level bowl games for fans - in the same way that the NCAA basketball tournament devalues conference tournaments.  Listen to the full interview released on 12-8-21 with AJ Maestas here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=d0c53ae36b6339643c529a0f6571effd   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/  For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/
Jan 12 2022
4 mins
35. Xavier Gutierrez - Arizona Coyotes
35. Xavier Gutierrez - Arizona Coyotes
Xavier Gutierrez - President, CEO, & Alternate Governor of the Arizona Coyotes - on his career path from finance, to politics, to the NHL. He shares his experience as the league's first Latino president, and how he plans to market the Coyotes to the Latino community.    He and AJ also discuss the team's commitment to Arizona, including their 2-billion dollar arena development plan in Tempe.    Details: 1:55 - Being the first Latino president in the NHL 9:55 - Xavier’s background in finance and politics  26:15 - The Coyotes and sports betting, given they own a casino 28:45 - Building a new arena  35:35 - The Coyotes commitment to Arizona  38:10 - Coyotes business practices  44:30 - Rapid Fire Questions    For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page and learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/
Jan 5 2022
52 mins