Episode 30: Heisman Moments, Magic Johnson, and Red Carpet Events — What Happened to the Sports Museum of America?

What do you get when you combine the Heisman Trophy, Magic Johnson, Steve Nash, red carpet events, and an all-star team of tourism pros in downtown Manhattan?

You get the Sports Museum of America—a $100 million startup attraction that opened with massive fanfare... and quietly closed less than a year later.

In this episode, host Mario Bauduin and three of his former teammates (and founding staffers) reunite to share the real story behind the museum’s rise and rapid fall. From events booked out for years to the day Tony Hawk tweeted asking for his trophy back—this one has everything: startup hustle, sports culture, tourism lessons, and a whole lot of heart.

🎙️ What we cover:

• The wild mix of ambition, heart, and inexperience that defined the launch

• What it felt like to work there—and why team culture mattered more than anything

• The surprising lessons about marketing, timing, and leadership

• Could it work today? We break it down

Whether you’re in travel, entertainment, or just love a good startup story, this episode will have you laughing, nodding, and asking, “What if?”

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