The Crowdmakers

Imagine being in charge of a 3.5-mile world-class motorsports facility, a 13,000-seat amphitheatre and a 5,000-seat soccer-specific stadium in the middle of a pandemic. Rick Abbott is “that guy”. As Chief Operating Officer of Circuit of the Americas, the Austin, TX megaplex, Rick describes how they dealt with cancelling 32 concerts, postponing or cancelling multiple race events, and dancing around limited soccer opportunities in 2020. Rick also shares how his background as VP of Global Operations for ESPN and VP of Facilities Operations for NBC Universal Media prepared him for the current challenges he and his staff are facing, and COTA’s plans for a robust 2021.

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Driven, confident and positive, Dionna Widder’s rise to Chief Revenue Officer was no accident. In this high-energy, entertaining episode, Dionna reveals her secrets to succeeding in the sales departments of both low-performing and high-performing teams, the power of being exposed to several teams’ cultures within her work at the NBA’s TMBO, juggling career and family, and her mission to give women and minorities a voice in the business of sports, including starting her own podcast called Women Blazers.

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No one arrives in sports in quite the same way, and Jake Bye’s successful path to a key position in sports business started in the music business. You’ll hear Jake’s story of earning his music business degree in Nashville, hearing the call of the Predators after graduating, and what led to his climb to the position of EVP of Sales and Service overseeing one of the largest groups of ticket sales professionals in the US. You’ll also learn what’s ahead for LIMGC’s 50+ partner universities across the country, and Jake’s plans for sustained company growth going forward.

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Colorful, charismatic and kind, Brandon Steiner epitomizes the self-made man who gives far more credit for his success to those around him. As founder of Steiner Sports Memorabilia, one of the largest sports collectibles companies in the world, he was an innovator in the space, and continues to innovate with two new companies (The Steiner Agency and Collectible Xchange) that bring the excitement of sports directly to fans. In this refreshingly candid interview, Steiner discusses his deals with Derek Jeter, George Steinbrenner, Joe Torre and many others in the sports industry, and how he bought the rights to sell every single piece of the old Yankee Stadium — and what it took to make it happen.

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The Charlotte Bobcats were virtually brand new to the NBA when Jacob Gallagher joined the organization in 2006. You’ll hear the fascinating story of Jacob’s start in ticket sales, the culture change internally when Michael Jordan became the new owner of the team, the marketing strategy behind bringing the original Hornets name back to Charlotte, and his plans for the Hornets’ front office both now and beyond this extraordinary year.

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Does a collegiate player-based hockey league need to install more robust precautions in a pandemic? How will hockey come back post-COVID, and what plans are the USHL making to bring fans back into their dozens of arenas? Listen in as Tom Garrity, USHL Commissioner and President, reveals what’s being discussed, as well as how his involvement in minor league baseball and sports marketing have prepared him for this moment in time. You’ll hear about Tom’s background and experience, his predictions about Group Sales in sports, and how his college experience at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville shaped his desire to begin a career in sports.

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What is Live Nation discussing in their Zoom boardrooms? The concert and live event industry is, at its core, “a business of relationships”, says SVP of Premium Seat Sales Bryan Dockett. In this candid interview, Bryan brings you behind the scenes of their “Drive-Thru” Concert Series featuring Brad Paisley, the valuable lessons they learned, and how Live Nation is re-inventing the premium seat buyer’s experience during the pandemic with their “Banding At Home” initiative. You’ll also learn how Live Nation is planning to recharge their service initiative through the 30,000+ part-time day-of-event staff using techniques inspired by Bryan’s background at Disney.

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Shawn Doss of Elevate Sports Ventures shares his insights on growing up in Saskatchewan, the importance of his career path roadmap of following key people to work for, and being present and intentional in this new era of business, From his start in sports at the Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes to working overseas in sports, Shawn shares the insights he’s learned and the philosophy he lives in his career and at home.

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When COVID-19 hit, every type of business had its own set of concerns, restrictions, and game plans. Brian Bucciarelli had to deal with MULTIPLE priorities simultaneously as the Managing Director of Entertainment & Partner Sales for Hershey Entertainment & Resorts. His responsibilities include the theme park, children’s wildlife park, a 7,000-seat multi-use arena, a 15,000 seat soccer and football stadium, an 8,000-seat outdoor music pavilion, a 2,000-seat INDOOR theatre for Broadway-style shows, AND a 10,000-plus seat arena which is the home ice for the AAA Hershey Bears hockey team — PLUS responsibilities for sales and partnerships for the Hotel Hershey, which is an official Historical Landmark, the Hershey Lodge, Hershey Country Club, a camping resort, and several restaurants and retail stores within all these properties.  How has he managed ALL of these through the pandemic? Listen in and find out.

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Get an “inside look” at the decisions and the planning that led to one of the most successful franchise startups in MLS history! In this frank interview with the Executive Vice President and CRO of Minnesota United FC, you’ll discover how and why they set the odd goal of 11,842 season tickets for their opening match at Allianz Field, how they reached that goal, and how Bryant Pfeiffer has made his mark throughout his career in sports with unorthodox creative ideas and solutions, including the MLS National Sales Center in Blaine, MN, and the “cockroach” that sold hundreds of group tickets for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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