Making the Fan

The University of Miami became the first college athletic department to break into the NFT space, announcing the new CanesVault this week that will officially open on August 16. In this episode, Dan Boyd, Miami's Senior Associate AD for Sales and Marketing and Jon Parise, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of GigLabs, Miami's NFT partner,  join David to discuss the strategies and behind-the-scenes conversations leading to this innovative launch.

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Show Notes

7:16    Building the Hurricanes Legacy

9:13    Breaking into the NFT Game

11:13  Miami’s Partnerships with Gig Labs and Black Madre

14:20  Maintaining Ownership to Drive Incremental Revenue

19:42  The Brainstorming Process

23:00  Leveraging the Brands’ Full Intellectual Property

24:37  Other Model NFT collections 

26:03  Infinite Objects and Rare Rooms

31:34  Arguments Against NFTs

34:40  Appealing to the Global Fan Base

39:05  Why buy a Miami Hurricanes’ NFT?

43:57  Defining CanesVault Key Holders

48:18  Relationship Between Season Ticket Members and Key Holders

51:46  Understanding Smart Contracts

54:24   Fostering Community and NFTs as Status Symbols

For more info on topics covered this episode:

Check out the Miami Hurricanes’ Canes Vault  |  CanesVault Twitter

GigLabs | Rare Rooms

Infinite Objects

Other NFT collections: Cryptopunks  |  Bored Ape Yacht Club

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Connect with Dan via email or LinkedIn 

Connect with Jon via email or LinkedIn 

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For other Flip the Switch episodes on NFTs, check out:
Episode 58: $208K for a LeBron Replay? NFTs explained
Episode 62:  NIL & NFTs w/ Luka Garza

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Today’s episode was sponsored by CheckdIn.  Delivering training digitally to better equip your staff for game day.

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Connect with Host, David Millay:
Connect w/ David Millay on LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmillay/
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This week’s special College Leaders segment features Rick George, Athletic Director at University of Colorado.  Rick had a rather unorthodox path to the big chair, taking on roles with the PGA Champions Tour and the Texas Rangers’ Front Office, before returning to the collegiate industry with Colorado in 2013.  Throughout this episode, Rick and David discuss Colorado’s strategic plans, its "RAPID" core values and the importance of incremental revenue generation.  

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Show Notes

(2:56) The Path Less Traveled to the Big Chair

(6:49) Erasing “Dark” Days & Creating “Folsom Field Events” 

(10:15) Rebranding the Texas Rangers & Revenue Generation

(13:54) Colorado’s Strategic Plan & Core Values

(21:42) Frameworks for Leading through Change

(24:17) Building Your Team

(27:45) Core Factors in Conference Realignment

(30:44) The NIL Impact on College Athletics

(35:40) Colorado’s Relationship with SportsBet 

(39:29) Leaders Who Have Impacted Rick

(41:46) Learning From Failure

(45:44) Providing Constructive Feedback

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Connect with Rick via email or on Twitter


For more info on topics covered this episode:

Bob Beaudine - Power of Who

Colorado's Strategic Plans: 2014-17 |  2018 - 20  |  2021 - 23

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Today’s episode was sponsored by CheckdIn.  Delivering training digitally to better equip your staff for game day.

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Connect with Host, David Millay:
Connect w/ David Millay on LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmillay/
Follow David on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/david.millay/
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This week’s episode strays from our usual podcast pattern.  David is joined by Justin Doherty, Wisconsin's Senior Associate AD for External Communications and member of EngageMint's tribe.  Outside of his roles in brand communications, marketing, video services and facility branding, Justin has authored four books on Wisconsin history.  David and Justin have embarked on a 25-book challenge and share some of their top hits and reading strategies in this bonus episode. 

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Show Notes

4:14     Diving in to Justin’s Books

6:03     Reading vs. Writing Note Taking

13:46  The 2021 25-Book Challenge

20:16  Intentional Reading Strategies

30:19  Most Recommended Books

35:31  Most Impactful Books

39:01  Building Your Own 25-Book Challenge

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For more info on topics covered this episode:

Seth Godin - altMBA program
Tim Ferriss - Scientific Speed Reading

Recommended by Justin:

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Glory Days by L. Jon Wertheim

Recommended by David:

A Memory of Light, Wheel of Time (Book 14) by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Four-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss

Authored by Justin:

Tales from the Wisconsin Badgers Sideline: A Collection of the Greatest Badgers Stories Ever Told

The Wisconsin Football Vault
with Pat Richter and Vince Sweeney

The Dayne Game: Ron Dayne and the Greatest Day in Wisconsin Football History

What It Means to Be a Badger: Barry Alvarez and Wisconsin's Greatest Players

Connect with Justin on Twitter 

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Today’s episode was sponsored by CheckdIn.  Delivering training digitally to better equip your staff for game day.

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Connect with Host, David Millay:
Connect w/ David Millay on LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmillay/
Follow David on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/david.millay/
Follow David Millay on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DavidMillay

In our latest podcast, David sits down with John Kosner.  After 20 years at ESPN, where he transformed its digital media strategy, John co-founded Micromanagement Ventures with former NBA Commissioner David Stern. John currently leads Kosner Media, where he invests in and advises sports tech companies focused on sports media, sports betting and gambling and player development.  

This episode covers all things sports tech, truth speaking and leadership and the future of sports broadcasting.

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Show Notes

(4:00)  Forming Micromanagement Ventures with David Stern

(15:04)  Importance of Humor in the Workplace

(18:11)  Assembling the Right Team Around the Right Purpose

(21:51)  Trust is the Essence of Every Human Relationship

(25:35)  The NBA Trade Machine and Taking ESPN Digital

(32:35)  Learn from TikTok, Instagram and Twitch

(34:53)  Static Personalization vs. Modern Personalization

(36:55)  John’s Advisory Work

(43:34)  The Adrenaline Factor in Viewing Sports

(50:32)  Overcoming Complacency

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For more information on the topics covered this episode:

Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christianson

The Adrenaline Factor by John Kosner

Check out more from Kosner Media

Connect with John on Twitter or LinkedIn

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Today’s episode was sponsored by CheckdIn.  Delivering training digitally to better equip your staff for game day.

Want more from EngageMint? Subscribe to our newsletters at https://engagemintpartners.com/newsletters

Connect with Host, David Millay:
Connect w/ David Millay on LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmillay/
Follow David on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/david.millay/
Follow David Millay on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DavidMillay

A long-time sports executive, Rick Burton brings a breadth of experience and insights to this week’s podcast.  After roles in brand management with Miller Lite, a stint as commissioner of the National Basketball League in Australia and Chief Marketing Officer for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rick has spent the last 12 years at Syracuse University as the David B. Falk Professor of Sport Management and Faculty Athletics Representative.  He's also co-authored three books and contributes regularly to Sports Business Journal, as well as Sportico and Sports Business.    

This episode goes deep on all of Rick’s specialties - sports marketing sponsorship, the Tokyo Olympics, organizational management and leadership and ESports. 

Show Notes

(4:11)  The Digital, Global and 24/7/365 Economies

(5:23)  An Impactful Career

(9:29)  Rick’s Inspirations

(12:46)  Emerging Leaders - Skating to Where the Puck is Going

(15:40)  Proactive vs. Reactive Leadership and Exploring New Trends

(18:43)  Content Consumption - Are You Scuba Diving or Jet Skiing?

(22:58)  What to Expect from the Tokyo Olympic Games

(28:16)  The Role of Faculty Athletics Representative

(33:20)  The NIL Impact

(39:22)  Shifting Traditional College Athletics Mindsets

(43:36)  Traditional Sports Diversifying into Digital Worlds

(50:24)  Moore’s Law of Digital Transformation

(53:38)  The Mission of Athletic Departments

(55:09) Rick’s Billboard of Advice

For more information on the topics covered this episode:

Moore’s Law
Replika.ai
Ready Player One

Connect with Rick via email or on Twitter

Read more from Rick

Forever Orange: The Story of Syracuse University
20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes Who Won’t Go Pro
The Sport Business Handbook: Insights From 100+ Leaders Who Shaped 50 Years of the Industry
Sports Business Unplugged: Leadership Challenges from the World of Sports

Sportico Guest Columns  |  Other Recent Publications 

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Today’s episode was sponsored by CheckdIn.  Know exactly who’s working in your venue.

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Connect with Host, David Millay:
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Flip the Switch is all about uncovering the latest trends in sports and entertainment and the experiments organizations are running.  Working alongside college athletic departments has inspired a new series: Flip the Switch - College Leaders.  Joining David on the show will be senior leaders who are transforming the industry and implementing those trends and experiments. 

Our first guest of the series is DeWayne Peevy, Vice President and Director of Athletics at DePaul University.  Peevy became AD in September of 2020, after 12 years at Kentucky, including the last 7 as Deputy AD. 

In this episode, DeWayne shares his experience from the first 10 months in the role, lessons from his past that have influenced his leadership style today and the vision he has for DePaul, recently announced through the department’s new "Dream Big" strategic plan.

Show Notes:

(6:41)  The First Ten Months 

(7:50)  Building the Bigger University Brand  

(10:47) NIL & Launching Legacy 

(17:22) The 5 Pillars of DePaul’s Strategic Plan 

(21:50)  Challenging Your Team to Meet Your Vision

(31:18)  What Would I Want My Leader to Do?

(37:26)  Learning through Adversity - Biggest Lessons in DeWayne’s Career 

(45:16)  Building the Circle of Trust and Transparency

(55:41)  DeWayne’s Billboard of Advice

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko7tG2-7E3A

For more information on the topics covered this episode:
DePaul's Strategic Plan
LEGACY - An Immersive Entrepreneurship & Brand Development Program

Connect with DeWayne on Twitter or LinkedIn

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Today’s episode was sponsored by CheckdIn.  Know exactly who’s working in your venue.

Want more from EngageMint? Subscribe to our newsletters at https://engagemintpartners.com/newsletters

Connect with Host, David Millay:
Connect w/ David Millay on LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmillay/
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Our guest this week is Nick Sautner, CEO of Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.  A worldwide leader in sports and entertainment, Eden Park was the first venue to host a sporting event and a concert at full capacity since the pandemic and has won a number of recent global awards, including the Product Innovation Award for  "Staydium Glamping".  Sautner has also been recognized as EVANZ Supreme Person of the Year and TheStadiumBusiness Global Executive of the Year.   Throughout this episode, Sautner shares his framework for  Eden Park's strategic plan, his "town hall vs. cathedral" mentality and monetizing the venue to create more participative events and experiences. 

Show Notes
(4:38) Escapism and importance of returning to operation

(5:38) Hosting the world’s first capacity sporting event and concert  

(8:42) Pre-COVID vs. Post-COVID Operational Changes

(14:50) Relay communication like a coaching game plan 

(17:25) Communicating the game plan throughout all organization levels 

(22:17) Driving Strategic Plans & Creating "Instagrammable" Experiences 

(29:23) Instilling an Entrepreneurial Culture

(31:16) “People Describe Stadiums As Cathedrals..Think of Them More Like Town Halls”

(35:29) Cultivating a Culture of Utilization and Collaboration

(39:31) The Idea Factory

(42:19) 3 Beneficiaries for Successful Events

(45:23) Hot Take: Design Flaws of Stadiums

(49:53) Nick’s Mantras

Additional Notes

Visit Eden Park |  Experiences |  Partnerships

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn or via email

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Today’s episode was sponsored by CheckdIn.  Know exactly who’s working in your venue.

Want more from EngageMint? Subscribe to our newsletters at https://engagemintpartners.com/newsletters

Connect with Host, David Millay:
Connect w/ David Millay on LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmillay/
Follow David on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/david.millay/
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This week, we welcome Kevin Gober, Senior Director of Arena Employee Experience and Learning & Development for the Atlanta Hawks, back to the podcast.  A recurring guest on the show, Kevin shares his takeaways from welcoming fans back to venues and gets candid on the staffing challenges that State Farm Arena has faced. 

For venues across the country preparing for a return to full capacity, this episode dives deep into the programs Kevin and State Farm Arena are putting in place to grow their staff, create an employee referral program and develop the leadership skills of their current team.  

Show Notes

4:33   Crawl, Walk, Run - Embracing Capacity Changes

11:30  One Culture, One Team, One Purpose - Build Your Team Through a Central Hiring Fair

17:38 Creating an Employee Referral Program

21:55 State Farm Arena’s New Leadership Growth Series

31:47 Measuring the Impact of Staff Development 

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Today’s episode was sponsored by CheckdIn.  Know exactly who’s working in your venue.

Want more from EngageMint? Subscribe to our newsletters at https://engagemintpartners.com/newsletters

Connect with Host, David Millay:
Connect w/ David Millay on LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmillay/
Follow David on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/david.millay/
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For our second Flip the Switch Live episode, we are joined by Dan Gale of Leona Marketing Group and Tim Rebich of Varsity Partners.  Sharing their perspectives as third-parties in the college athletics space, this episode is more idea-based than best practices focused.  Dan, Tim and David forecast where college athletics is headed and the impacts NIL and multimedia sponsorship will have on the industry.

Show Notes

10:28 - Introducing Dan Gale and Tim Rebich

17:09 - Embracing NIL and Fair Market Value

22:49 - Creating Endemic Brand Experiences

28:08 - Changing Landscape for Multimedia Rights

36:31 - Brand Loyalty and Brand Value Alignment

40:13 - Redefining Corporate Sponsorship Assets

49:57 - Building Trust as a Third-Party Operator

56:32 - Shifting Mindsets in College Athletics

1:01:43 - Parting Advice

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Connect with Dan on LinkedIn
Follow Dan on Twitter
Visit Leona Marketing Group's Website

Connect with Tim on LinkedIn
Follow Tim on Twitter
Follow Varsity Partners

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Connect with Host, David Millay:
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Follow David on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/david.millay/
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Our latest episode features Jen Rottenberg, Chief Marketing Officer for Fan Controlled Football (FCF).  Just as it sounds, this new professional league gave the fans the ability to select everything from team names, colors and logos to the plays that were called on the field during the game.  To make that all happen, data is at the heart of everything FCF does, attracting four uniques audiences and crafting every aspect of the game for active broadcast viewing, as opposed to the traditional emphasis on the in-person experience.  

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Show Notes

(4:31) Breaking Down Fan Controlled Football - “Madden in Real Life”

(6:17) The Four Fan Controlled Football Audiences

(10:16) The Viewing Experience on Twitch 

(14:29) The Shift from Passive Consumption to Active Participation

(19:35) If Something Sucks, We’ll Change It...If Something’s Awesome, We Can Make It Better

(23:47) The Leadership Balance of Relinquishing Control

(27:36) The Gamification of Fan Engagement - Fan IQ, Badges and Sponsorship Activation 

(37:30) Idea Creation & Prioritization

(41:56) The In-Person Viewer vs. the Broadcast Viewer

(47:30) What’s Next for Season Two?

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Follow Fan Controlled Football
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitch

Connect with Jen
Email | LinkedIn

Connect with Host, David Millay:
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Follow David on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/david.millay/
Follow David Millay on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DavidMillay