The average sports fan spends $3,600 per year watching and supporting their favorite teams. Twice what they spend putting gas in their car.

Ticket prices, subscription costs, and other expenses continue to rise. AJ and Charles look into the inflation-adjusted numbers to determine what's driving the increases and if we're on a sustainable trajectory.

They also discuss ways that properties and brand sponsors can mitigate the expenses for fans.

Timestamps:

• 0:35- The cost of being a fan
• 3:45 - Does expense change fan behavior?
• 14:55 - How sponsors and brands can reduce fan friction
• 18:35 - What's driving cost increases?
• 23:55 - Predictions

For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

"If you care about the game of baseball growing, these are the things we need to continue to do."

Don Rovak - CRO of the Baltimore Orioles - on the fan reactions to their renovations of Camden Yards.

They have focused on adding new, branded social spaces as well a new video board to modernize the in-stadium fan experience.

Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast/

For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

It's the 150th episode of Navigating Sports Business! We're joined by our client, Don Rovak, to discuss to the latest with Camden Yards and the Baltimore Orioles.

Don Rovak - CRO at the Baltimore Orioles - has helped modernize and grow the Orioles' commercial operation. He and Jeff Nelson discuss the Camden Yards renovation and how the definition of a great fan experience is always changing.

They also explore some of the recently announced premium partnerships, the keys to hiring great sales people, and how success on the field impacts the business side.

Timestamps:

• 1:20 - Differences working in NFL and MLB
• 3:15 - Responsibilities of the C-Suite
• 5:55 - Is hiring salespeople more difficult than ever?
• 12:00 - How the team's success impacts the CRO role
• 15:10 - Camden Yards Renovations
• 24:50 - Bringing non-baseball events to Camden Yards
• 28:15 - Rapid Fire Questions

For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

AJ Maestas and Ally Corbin recap Navigate's fan friction study and Ally's presentation at the SBJ Brand Innovation Summit.

Fans remember the brands that provide a practical benefit, not just a logo. Ally shares key insights and the best practices we're seeing today.

Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=0dcdb8b6faede311663e63eb7feb10d3

For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Where is the current version of the Protect College Sports Act lacking, and what needs to change?

Amid ongoing leaks and revisions, AJ Maestas and Charles Rolston examine how the proposed legislation could shape the long-term health of college athletics and impact athletes, schools, and conferences.

Can pooling media rights really double revenue? Navigate's analysis suggests otherwise. AJ breaks down where the projections fall short, the real ways the industry can professionalize, create stability and preserve what makes college sports special.

Timestamps:

• 0:35 - The latest on the Protect College Sports Act
• 1:35 - The realignment provision
• 6:10 - Downsides to collective media rights pooling
• 8:45 - Should be focusing on NIL?
• 14:10 - Key Takeaways
• 15:20 - Predictions

Eddie Lewis - two-time World Cup player for the U.S. and founder of TOCA Soccer - on the two eureka moments that led to the creation of TOCA Social.

TOCA supports training for high-level athletes but also a fun soccer experience for the casual fan.

Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=8e379d9055c0772740f5bb58db0f35c8

For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

For this year's brands-only workshop at SBJ BIS - Navigate's custom insights team conducted a robust study of sports fans and where they perceive friction points in the fan experience. Ally Corbin presented the findings along with Navigate's recommendations for brands looking to build relevance and affinity through sponsorship.

She joins AJ Maestas to discuss her presentation and other key learnings from the workshop.

We've created an interactive dashboard based on the study's data. You can filter by question or demographics, or use the AI-feature to chat directly with the data. You can view the dashboard, here: https://navigate-fan-friction-research.manus.space/

Timestamps:

• 0:30 - Navigate's Workshop at the SBJ Brand Innovation Summit
• 2:55 - Friction points in fandom
• 5:55 - Strategies for brands - relevance over impressions
• 9:15 - Session #2 - The Rising Cost of Sponsorship
• 12:40 - Tracking & attributing sponsorship
• 17:10 - Sponsorship growth rates
• 19:35 - Takeaway points from Ally's presentation

For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

"Our primary brand value, the thing that people choose us for...is about fun and entertainment."

Radhika Duggal – CMO of Major League Soccer – on how MLS used consumer research, stakeholder feedback, and competitive analysis to define its brand.

She explains why creating a fun, inclusive experience is at the heart of the league's identity.

Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=0485ea629690be3624d73b7eee3a7873

For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Eddie Lewis - Two-time World Cup player for the U.S. and founder of TOCA Soccer - is changing the way that young soccer players train, while simultaneously building soccer's answer to Topgolf. He shares how he balances both objectives domestically and his plans for international expansion.

Timestamps:

1:50 - TOCA's Elevator Pitch

5:55 - TOCA Soccer vs. TOCA Social

8:15 - Youth sports

12:55 - The infrastructure of American soccer

16:50 - MLS Partnership

18:40 - International expansion

22:00 - Lessons from playing soccer

28:55 - Rapid Fire Questions

For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Ryan McCarthy — Board of Visitors Member at Virginia Tech — explains the power of athletics to bring positive global exposure to a university.

Smart investments in athletics have the potential for as much as $1B in ROI, and universities like Virginia Tech are wisely making those investments for the future.

Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=344ead289d120de9f56f07165421bb56

For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.