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How does a minor league hockey team add nearly 1,500 fans per game in just four seasons? In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Adam Winslow, Chief Marketing Officer for the Florida Everblades, to break down the strategies that fueled a 27% attendance jump. 

From surviving COVID challenges to building a data-driven marketing machine, Adam shares how his team turned small experiments into major wins. If you’re looking for a roadmap to sustainable ticket growth, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for sports marketers at every level.

Key Topics Covered:

• Navigating the uncertainty of COVID as a newly hired marketing director
• How technology upgrades like Dash, Podium, and StellarAlgo changed their approach
• Turning email and text platforms into real revenue drivers
• The role of personalization in ticket marketing—“don’t sell fish to steak eaters”
• Why small, methodical tests (like $20 ad spends) can snowball into big wins
• Marketing’s evolution from a “support” function to a true revenue generator
• Continuous investment in the fan experience to keep things fresh and engaging
• Staying adaptable to tech changes, from social media shifts to AI integration

Timestamps:

• 00:57 – Starting in the middle of COVID – Adam’s move to Florida, uncertainty during shutdowns, and building from scratch.
• 02:24 – Growing attendance by 27% – From 5,327 to 6,758 fans per game and the factors that drove it.
• 04:39 – Leveraging technology – From digital jersey auctions with Dash to email, text, and Meta ads.
• 06:49 – Data-driven marketing – How StellarAlgo transformed personalization, targeting, and ROI tracking.
• 12:22 – Marketing as a revenue driver – Moving beyond “sales support” and proving measurable impact.
• 18:16 – Testing, ROI, and scaling – Small ad spends, benchmarks, and learning from what works.
• 23:43 – Fan experience and community connection – Theme nights, charity auctions, and reinvesting in the arena.
• 27:17 – Looking ahead – Investing in AI, TikTok/Reels, LinkedIn ads, and building team culture.

Quote Pulls / Social Teasers:

• “Marketing isn’t just sales support anymore—it’s a revenue generator.”
• “Don’t try to target steak eaters with fish. Know your audience and deliver exactly what they want.”
• “AI is not going away.”
• “Just take one step forward.”
• “You don’t need to fill the tank—start with $20 on an ad and see what happens.”

Call to Action:
If you’d like to connect with Adam, you can find him on LinkedIn or by email - [email protected].

Links:

Episode 119: Fan Activation, Revenue Growth, and Digital Engagement with Dash’s Jonathan Hufnagel

Keywords / Tags:
COVID-19, sports marketing strategies, attendance growth, fan engagement, technology in sports, data-driven marketing, personalization, minor league sports, AI in marketing, sports management, ticket marketing, revenue generation, ticket sales

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Meta keeps moving the goalposts—and if you’re still running ads like it’s last season, you’re wasting money. In this episode of Sports Marketing Machine, Jeremy Neisser breaks down the three biggest changes Meta has rolled out—weaker targeting, new placements, and the launch of its AI engine Andromeda—and shows you how to stay ahead so your ads actually sell tickets instead of just burning budget.

Sports marketers who adapt will get cheaper ads and more conversions while their competitors are left scratching their heads.

Key Topics Covered

• Why Meta stripped out many interest categories (and how to replace them with custom audiences)
• The power of local radius targeting paired with AI expansion
• How to use new ad placements on Threads and WhatsApp to follow fans across platforms
• Why Meta’s endgame is no longer being the “biggest social network” but the world’s most powerful AI ad engine
• How creative—not targeting—is now the #1 driver of ad performance
• What the “fishbone effect” means for testing and scaling multiple ad formats
• Tactical tips for building the right funnel with top, middle, and bottom audiences
• Practical examples of creative that sells (e.g., reels of fireworks night vs. static graphics)

Timestamps

00:00 – Why Meta keeps changing the rules
 01:30 – Change #1: Targeting got weaker (and what to do about it)
 05:40 – Building custom audiences and giving AI guardrails
 08:15 – Change #2: New ad placements on Threads & WhatsApp
 10:30 – Meta’s real endgame: AI-first ad engine
 15:20 – Change #3: Creative is king thanks to Andromeda
 17:45 – How Advantage+ campaigns scale the right creative
 20:00 – Main takeaways & what to adjust first

Relevant episodes: 

• Episode 111 - Building Your Marketing Budget Like A Funnel 
• Episode 80 - First Party Data vs Third Party Data
• Episode 37 - Cold Audiences & Warm Audience - The Differences for Your Marketing
• Episode 21 - 3 Audiences You Should Have in Your Meta Business Suite 

Call to Action

If your ads feel more expensive or less effective than last year, it’s not you—it’s Meta. Adjust your funnel, upload fresh creative, and let AI work for you.

Share this episode with a teammate running ads, and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts if you found it helpful.

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What happens when the world’s biggest pop star drops in on an NFL podcast? A marketing masterclass in collaboration, authenticity, and buzz creation. In this episode, Jeremy Neisser breaks down the viral Travis Kelce, Jason Kelce, and Taylor Swift moment—and turns it into three concrete, locally applicable strategies any sports team can use to sell more tickets and grow their fan base. From cross-audience partnerships to personality-driven content and buzz-worthy activations, you’ll walk away with ready-to-run ideas you can launch in your own market.

Key Topics Covered

• The “cross-audience moment” and how to find the perfect local partner to expand your reach
• Why showing the human side of your players builds deeper fan connections
• Creating quirky, unexpected moments that fans can’t help but share
• Real-world examples: zoo ice cream shifts, player-chef cook-offs, and mascot mechanic makeovers
• How to turn attention into actual ticket sales with bundles, opt-ins, and QR codes
• Audience verification tips to ensure partnerships drive local results
• Balancing creative activations with bottom-line sales goals

Timestamps
00:00 – Why the Taylor & Travis podcast moment matters for sports marketing
01:33 – Lesson 1: The power of cross-audience partnerships
05:55 – How to bundle game tickets with partner offers for bigger impact
06:21 – Lesson 2: Showing your players’ human side
08:44 – Player-chef cook-off activation idea
10:57 – Lesson 3: Give fans something they’ll talk about
13:16 – Recap: Turning buzz into ticket sales

Call to Action
Ready to brainstorm your own collaboration ideas? Visit sportsmarketingmachine.com to schedule a call and map out how these tactics can fit into your ticket sales funnel.

Love the podcast? Take a moment to rate or review the podcast on your favorite platform. 

Quote Pulls / Social Teasers

• “Don’t just partner with brands your fans already love—find ones with a compatible but different audience.”
• “Your players’ content is gold. Show their personality, not just their athletic skill.”
• “Sometimes the quirky, unexpected ideas create better engagement than polished videos.”

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Nick Richardson, VP of Ticket Sales & Service at the Texas Rangers, joins the show to break down how one of MLB’s premier organizations is evolving ticket plans to match fan behavior, preferences, and expectations. From mini packs and flex plans to AI-driven outreach and unforgettable fan experiences, Nick shares powerful, tactical insights on customer service, digital transformation, and building a culture that wins fans—not just renewals.

This episode is a must-listen for marketing directors, sales leaders, and team execs looking to boost retention and modernize their ticketing approach.

Key Topics Covered:

• How the Rangers structure and position modern ticket plans (10-game, flex, theme-night bundles, and more)
• Why subscription models didn’t work in Texas (but might in your market)
• How to use promotional items and exclusive perks to drive ticket sales and renewals
• Strategies for retaining flex plan buyers who don’t schedule in advance
• The power of fan surveys—and how to turn feedback into action
• How to train reps for service-first selling (and why one rep’s 90%+ renewal rate proves it works)
• A behind-the-scenes story of a $70 gesture that created lifelong fandom
• Where AI fits into the sales funnel—and where it absolutely doesn't

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Welcome & intro to Nick Richardson
• 01:00 – Evolution of ticket plans: from full season to flex
• 04:30 – Why theme-night mini packs are a hit
• 07:00 – Subscription models: what works (and doesn’t)
• 08:45 – Value perception: experience > discount
• 11:00 – Digital ticketing: overcoming resistance
• 13:00 – Turning survey feedback into real changes
• 17:30 – Building a service-first culture
• 22:30 – Creating magical fan moments (on a budget)
• 31:00 – How the Rangers measure customer service
• 38:00 – Where AI helps (and where it can't replace humans)

Call to Action:

Looking to revamp your ticketing strategy? Take a page from the Rangers playbook—prioritize flexibility, experiences, and service. And don’t underestimate the power of small, surprising moments.

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Is your ad traffic up but ticket sales down? In this episode, Jeremy Neisser dives into the most overlooked reason sports teams struggle to convert traffic into revenue: misaligned messaging and retargeting. 

He outlines a smarter, segmented funnel approach that turns casual ad viewers into committed buyers. Learn how to optimize each stage of your ad strategy—from TOFU to BOFU—and stop wasting budget on clicks that don’t convert.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why more traffic isn’t always better (and can even hurt your results)
• The hidden danger of relying solely on ROAS
• How to fix message and audience misalignment
• Building segmented funnels: TOFU, MOFU, BOFU explained
• Matching ad creative to the fan’s buying journey
• Recognizing and preventing ad fatigue
• Leveraging video views, cart activity, and timing for retargeting
• Creative that converts: proof over promotion

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Understanding the Conversion Problem
• 04:11 – Rebuilding the Retargeting Funnel
• 09:00 – Creating Effective Ad Creative
• 11:27 – Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Call to Action:
📥 Grab the free audience segmentation download at sportsmarketingmachine.com/125
📞 Want a free single-game ticket sales audit? Schedule a call directly with Jeremy.

Quote Pulls / Social Teasers:

• "Eyeballs don’t equal buyers."
• "More traffic isn’t always better—especially if it’s the wrong traffic."
• "A good ROAS can hide weak performance."

Keywords:
sports marketing, ad conversion, retargeting, ticket sales, audience targeting, ad creative, marketing strategy, conversion optimization, sports teams, advertising effectiveness, ticket marketing

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In this episode, Jeremy Neisser sits down with two seasoned college athletics marketers: Scott Peace (Senior Associate AD for Revenue Generation at UNI) and Kelly Wilga (Assistant AD for Marketing at Sacramento State). Together, they dive into what it takes to successfully plan and execute a football marketing campaign.

From budget discussions and scheduling promotions to engaging students and running creative, on-brand theme nights, this episode is packed with actionable insights. They explore how even teams with limited resources can deliver unforgettable fan experiences and improve attendance through collaboration, strategy, and bold creativity.

Takeaways

• Start football marketing planning early — often as early as March.
• Prioritize student engagement, especially for early-season games.
• Build partnerships across campus to extend your budget and reach.
• Theme nights and experiential promotions (like hot tubs or tattoo artists) can dramatically boost attendance.
• Always evaluate the ROI of long-standing marketing traditions — and be willing to scrap or evolve them.
• Focus on controllable factors of fan experience from “driveway to driveway.”
• Giveaways still work, especially when they're creative and unique.
• Use athletics as a platform to highlight broader university initiatives.
• Even with a tight budget, you can get creative and make a big impact.
• Don’t accept the limitations of a small team — lean on relationships, data, and smart execution.

Memorable Quotes

💬 "You can never have enough money to get your messaging out."
 💬 "Flooding the zone with digital retargeting is essential."
 💬 "We're not going to settle for the norm anymore."
 💬 "Delivering a memorable fan experience should be your #1 priority."
 💬 "Think creatively. That isn’t always expensive."

 Chapters

00:00 – Kickoff: Importance of Football Marketing
 02:52 – Budgeting and Scheduling
 05:49 – Student Engagement Strategies
 08:39 – Enhancing Game Day Experience
 11:51 – Creative Promotions & Brand Alignment
 14:42 – Innovation & Risk-Taking
 22:26 – Balancing Fun with University Identity
 25:35 – The Rise of Theme Nights
 32:03 – Lessons Learned and Venue Improvements
 38:25 – Fan Experience as the Ultimate Driver
 43:42 – Advice for Small Teams with Tight Budgets

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What do Harry Potter, Hello Kitty, and Grateful Dead have in common? They each helped sports teams sell out stadiums.

In this special episode, Jeremy Neisser welcomes Denise Sicheneder from Spinzo to break down the Top 10 highest-performing theme nights of the past year — from licensing and community engagement to surprise breakout hits.

We unpack:

• How teams use nostalgia, cultural relevance, and smart strategy to build packed promotions
• Why some nights succeed wildly while others fall flat
• How to build long-term momentum with fan groups, community partners, and themed mini plans

Whether you work in college athletics, minor league sports, or pro teams — this episode is full of practical, repeatable insights you can use today.

Top Takeaways:

• Theme nights = more than ticket deals — they’re emotional marketing engines
• Community champions are your secret weapon to grow niche nights
• Licensing matters — do it right with Hello Kitty, Batman, Star Wars, and more
• Go all in — concerts, costumes, contests, concourse activations = full takeover
• Nostalgia sells — fans love reliving what they grew up with
• Don’t ignore merchandise — hats, jerseys, and collectibles drive urgency
• Short promos can work — if you go heavy on email, SMS, and retargeting
• Mini-plans are evolving — think dog ticket plans, comic bundles, and repeat-night strategies

Featured Theme Nights:

1. Grateful Dead Night – 6,844 tickets
2. Star Wars Night – 4,112 tickets
3. Hello Kitty Night – 2,444 tickets
4. First Responders Night – 2,932 tickets
5. Bark at the Park – 1,670 tickets
6. Batman Night – 955 tickets
7. Margaritaville Night – 770 tickets
8. Filipino Heritage Night – 539 tickets
9. Dia de los Muertos – 432 tickets
10. Harry Potter Night – 323 tickets

Chapters & Timestamps:

• 00:00 — Intro: Why Theme Nights Still Work
• 02:58 — #10 Harry Potter Night: Fast, Focused, Effective
• 05:58 — #9–8 Cultural Nights: Dia de los Muertos & Filipino Heritage
• 08:50 — The Power of Local Partnerships & Authenticity
• 12:04 — #7 Margaritaville: Music, Merch & Massive Sales
• 15:03 — #6 Batman Night: Licensing + Fandom = Revenue
• 17:49 — #5 Bark at the Park: Dogs Sell Tickets
• 20:25 — Expanding Bark into Mini Plans & Membership
• 22:06 — #4 First Responders: Honoring & Engaging Heroes
• 26:18 — #3 Hello Kitty: Surging Demand, Big Smiles
• 29:43 — #2 Star Wars Night: Timeless. Scalable. Profitable.
• 31:48 — #1 Grateful Dead Night: Cult Fans, Sold-Out Stadiums
• 33:07 — Final Takeaways: Build Better Nights with Community

Links & Resources:

•  Spinzo Pulse Interview Series - includes the top 10 article and Margaritaville and Bark in the Park interviews
•  TicketPlaybook.com: Theme Night Articles
• Contact Denise at Spinzo to explore theme night tools - [email protected] 

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In this episode of The Sports Marketing Machine Podcast, host Jeremy Neisser reveals nine powerful ways sports marketers can use ChatGPT to boost efficiency, save time, and most importantly — sell more tickets. From crafting better emails and social posts, to analyzing Meta Ads data and fan surveys, to writing scripts and FAQs in seconds — ChatGPT can act like your own virtual marketing assistant.

Each tip is practical, easy to implement, and designed for busy marketing directors looking to stretch their resources and drive real results. Plus, Jeremy includes links to companion YouTube videos so you can see these prompts in action.

💡 Key Takeaways

• 🧠 Always give ChatGPT context by assigning it a role — like your team’s marketing director.
• ✉️ Generate high-converting subject lines that boost email open rates.
• 📝 Enhance email copy, social posts, and even social captions with tone-appropriate writing.
• 📊 Analyze Meta Ads performance and surface trends you might have missed.
• ❓ Create detailed FAQ sections to reduce customer service questions and increase conversions.
• 🖥️ Improve ticketing and group sales pages to drive more clicks and revenue.
• 🗣️ Summarize fan surveys and reviews to uncover common themes and new opportunities.
• 🎙️ Write scripts for video, radio, or PA announcements faster — with better clarity and tone.
• 🌐 Translate and localize your campaigns for multilingual fans to boost reach and inclusion.

🎯 Sound Bites

⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Intro: 9 ChatGPT Tips to Sell More Tickets
00:37 – Tip #1: Give ChatGPT Context for Better Results
02:32 – Tip #2: Write Catchy Email Subject Lines
03:13 – Tip #3: Improve Email and Social Media Copy
05:24 – Tip #4: Analyze Your Meta Ads Data
07:10 – Tip #5: Create Detailed Promotion FAQs
09:47 – Tip #6: Optimize Website Copy for Ticket Sales
11:52 – Tip #7: Summarize Fan Surveys & Reviews
13:58 – Tip #8: Write Promotional Scripts in Seconds
16:44 – Tip #9: Translate & Localize Marketing Campaigns

YouTube Tutorial Videos:

• Tip #1: Give ChatGPT Context for Better Results
• Tip #2: Write Catchy Email Subject Lines
• Tip #3: Improve Email and Social Media Copy
• Tip #4: Analyze Your Meta Ads Data
• Tip #5: Create Detailed Promotion FAQs
• Tip #6: Optimize Website Copy for Ticket Sales
• Tip #7: Summarize Fan Surveys & Reviews
• Tip #8: Write Promotional Scripts in Seconds
• Tip #9: Translate & Localize Marketing Campaigns

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In this episode of The Sports Marketing Machine Podcast, host Jeremy Neisser shares why consistent video content is no longer a "nice-to-have" — it's the cornerstone of a smarter paid media strategy. Whether you're trying to warm up cold audiences, lower your ad costs, or re-engage past ticket buyers, video is the most powerful (and underused) tool in your marketing playbook.

Jeremy explains how short-form videos help you build trust, increase engagement, and improve targeting — even on a tight budget. He also shares real-world examples and actionable tips for sports teams to use video content to drive more clicks, conversions, and repeat attendance.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Creating video content isn’t optional anymore — it’s essential for effective paid ads.
• Warm audiences with video = lower CPMs and higher conversion rates.
• Retargeting video watchers boosts ROI dramatically.
• Use highlight reels and event recaps to re-engage past ticket buyers.
• Organic content that performs well should be amplified with paid dollars.
• Fans don’t buy tickets — they buy experiences. Show the experience.
• You don’t need fancy equipment — just start filming.

Sound Bites

Chapters
00:00 – Why Video Matters More Than Ever
02:42 – Using Video to Warm Up Cold Audiences
05:59 – Lowering CPMs Through Smarter Targeting
08:47 – Re-Engaging Past Buyers with Video Highlights
11:34 – Key Takeaways + Simple Video Ideas for Teams

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In this episode, Jeremy unveils two powerful tools Sports Marketing Machine is currently beta-testing — both born from real challenges teams are facing.

➡️ Fan Feedback Tool:
Surveys are great... until they become static, siloed, and unusable. Jeremy breaks down how their new Dynamic Survey Dashboard goes beyond SurveyMonkey and Google Forms by segmenting responses by fan type, age, zip code, and behavior — giving marketing teams actionable insights instead of generic feedback.

➡️ Sponsorship Management Tool:
Tired of managing partnerships with 10 different spreadsheets? Jeremy introduces an all-in-one Sponsorship Dashboard that organizes contracts, asset tracking, proof-of-performance photos, tasks, and more — eliminating chaos and enabling teams to deliver partner ROI with confidence.

Whether you're a marketer drowning in data or a partnership director juggling Google Sheets, this episode shows there's a better way.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why traditional fan surveys are missing the mark — and how to fix them
• The power of survey logic and segmentation to reveal deeper trends
• How survey feedback becomes business intelligence when structured right
• What’s broken in most teams’ sponsorship management systems
• How a centralized dashboard can replace 5+ spreadsheets and save you time
• Why end-of-season panic over proof-of-performance reports can now be avoided

🔧 Tools Discussed:

• Dynamic Fan Survey Dashboard
• All-in-One Sponsorship Management Platform

✅ Take Action:

If you'd like beta access to either tool — or you're just tired of managing your season in spreadsheets — reach out to Jeremy directly [email protected] or visit sportsmarketingmachine.com to schedule time to see a demo.

📣 Let’s Connect:

Subscribe & Review: If this episode sparked a new idea or solution for you, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review — it helps the show grow and reach more sports marketers.

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