As many of my friends and colleagues gather at the #NACDA Convention this week, I've been reflecting on the evolving role of the gameday experience in college athletics.
It's one of the few places where sponsors, donors, student-athletes, alumni, and campus leadership all experience an institution's brand at the same time.
That's why the experience surrounding the event is much more than a support function.
It's a strategic asset.
#CollegeAthletics #EventPresentation #FanExperience
Everyone talks about execution in live events.
Far fewer talk about the mindset required to perform when the pressure is on.
In my latest episode of ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ, mindset expert @RickyKalmon shares practical insight on:
โข Building confidence
โข Staying focused under pressure
โข Recovering from mistakes
โข Avoiding burnout
โข Performing at a high level consistently
A great conversation for anyone working in sports, live events, or other high-pressure environments.
๐ง Listen here:
https://t.co/C9t2hBxmTX
#EventPresentation #LiveEvents #SportsBusiness #Mindset #Leadership
One thing I didnโt expect after releasing ๐๐ฆ๐บ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ค๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ was how personal this experience would feel.
After 30+ years in sports and live events, one realization stayed with me:
There was never really a roadmap or formal training for Event Presentation.
Most people in this area of the industry are expected to either follow the process established before them or figure it out along the way.
That gap is what ultimately led me to writing the book.
Seeing it now show up with professional teams, athletic departments, classrooms, and people entering the industry has honestly meant a lot to me.
Organizations like the @HoustonRockets , @49ers, @Chiefs, @OhioStAthletics, and @Huskers are already using it with their staffs, and I truly donโt take that support for granted.
Really grateful for all of it.
#SportsBusiness #EventPresentation #FanExperience
Most event experiences donโt fail because of one big mistake.
They break down when the experience stops feeling connected.
A transition runs long.
A sponsor activation disrupts momentum.
The energy drops during a timeout.
A cue is missed.
Individually, these moments seem minor.
Collectively, they shape how fans experience the event.
After 30+ years in professional sports and live events, I realized the industry never had a true framework for Event Presentation.
Thatโs why I wrote ๐๐ฆ๐บ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ค๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ, the first book published by @SBJ.
Available now on Amazon:
https://t.co/fXARetZiBf
#SportsBusiness #FanExperience #EventPresentation
The gameday experience is shaped long before the first moment happens.
Appreciate the opportunity to speak with @DellRob44916462's class at @ohiou last week on Event Presentation and the decisions behind the scenes that shape the experience.
#SportsManagement#EventPresentation
Most hosts donโt struggle because of talent.
They struggle because they donโt understand the role.
Hosting is about preparation, timing, awareness, and guiding an audience through an experience.
On ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ, I talk with @LThompsonGC about what it takes to succeed.
She shares a piece of advice from early in her career that completely changed how she approaches hosting.
๐ง Listen: https://t.co/pJzhLkOBKu
Whatโs one skill most hosts overlook?
#LiveEvents #SportsBusiness #EventProduction
Today the crews are installing the final donor walls for @GCSAAโs Colonel John Morley Centennial campaignโhonoring those who believe in the future of our profession.
Be part of this movement. Be part of the legacy. Get your name on the wall: https://t.co/89IvJWG8Uy
The same problems keep showing up in event presentation.
At every level.
Some are obvious.
Others show up in real time on gameday.
โข Communication gaps
โข Predictable programming
โข Underused digital production
โข Inconsistent show flow
โข Execution that misses the brand
โข Fan engagement that falls flat
Individually manageable.
Together? They define the experience.
Thatโs the gap.
๐๐ฆ๐บ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ค๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ, the first book published by @SBJ, provides a clear framework for addressing these challenges with structure and confidence.
๐ https://t.co/wQiMgQrwir
Fans see the final product.
Few see what happens before the gates open.
Great events arenโt luck. Theyโre built on planning, coordination, and execution.
Most organizations donโt have a system for it.
They feel it every gameday.
Thatโs why I wrote ๐๐ฆ๐บ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ค๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ.
A practical playbook for building high-impact events that deliver under pressure.
๐ https://t.co/wQiMgQrwir
#SportsBusiness #FanExperience #GameOperations
Most people see the finished product.
What they donโt see are the decisions that determine whether a moment actually lands.
Thatโs the work.
Proud to support the College Baseball Foundation VIP Reception & Night of Champions.
See how it comes together.
#EventPresentation #LiveEvents #SportsBusiness
A great host can make or break a live event.
Itโs preparation, timing, awareness, and the ability to connect in real time.
On the latest episode of ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ, I talk with @LThompsonGC about what it takes to succeed as a host.
She shares a piece of advice from early in her career that completely changed how she approaches hostingโalong with practical insights on preparation, delivery, and common mistakes.
๐ง Worth your time: https://t.co/pJzhLkO3UW
#LiveEvents #SportsBusiness #EventProduction
Great conversation yesterday with @mBLASzKa class at @indianastate.
We talked about how branding, storytelling, and content come to life on gameday and what it takes to execute at a high level.
Appreciate the engagement and thoughtful questions from the students.
#SportsMarketing #EventPresentation #SportManagement
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ 32 ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ?
In the latest episode of ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ, John Bochiaro (@Jboch62), @NHL Group VP of Game Presentation & Entertainment, shares how the league drives consistency through peer review and best-practice systems.
๐ง Listen: https://t.co/P9NjJNsvyH
#SportsBusiness #GamePresentation #FanExperience #LiveEvents
League events demand a different level of responsibility.
Higher expectations. Smaller margin for error. National and global brand exposure.
On the latest episode of ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ, I sit down with John Bochiaro (@Jboch62) with the National Hockey League (@NHL) to discuss how marquee events are conceptualized from a league office perspective โ and the systems he built to elevate standards across 32 clubs.
This is about governance, discipline, and sustaining excellence.
๐ง Listen: https://t.co/P9NjJNsvyH
#GamePresentation #SportsBusiness #LiveEvents #FanExperience #Leadership
The @NatlSportsForum wrapped up in St. Louis.
Revenue. Sponsorship. Premium. Data. Tech.
All critical.
But one theme kept surfacing: The gameday experience.
Because none of those strategies matter if the in-venue product doesnโt deliver.
As Chris Zimmerman (@CZimmerman9) noted, the gameday experience ultimately drives long-term value for fans & partners.
Thatโs exactly why I wrote ๐๐ฆ๐บ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ค๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ: ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ญ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต๐ด ๐๐ท๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ (@SBJ Publishing) โ the first comprehensive playbook devoted entirely to structuring and executing enhanced gameday environments.
Congrats to Ron Seaver (@ronseaver) on 30 years of leading the National Sports Forum.
#NationalSportsForum #SportsBusiness #EventPresentation #FanExperience #SBJPublishing
@NatlSportsForum wrapped up in St. Louis this week.
Conversations centered on revenue growth, sponsorship innovation, tech, fan data & premium strategy.
One theme consistently surfaced: the gameday experience.
As Chris Zimmerman (@CZimmerman9) noted, the gameday experience ultimately drives long-term value for fans & partners.
That focus is why I wrote ๐๐ฆ๐บ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ค๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ: ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ญ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต๐ด ๐๐ท๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ โ the first comprehensive playbook devoted entirely to building and executing enhanced gameday environments.
Congrats to @ronseaver on 30 years of leadership with NSF.
#NationalSportsForum #SportsBusiness #EventPresentation #FanExperience #SBJPublishing
The live, in-venue experience remains one of the most undervalued assets in sports.
Revenue, sponsorship, ticket sales โ all important.
But none of it sustains without a clear presentation strategy.
Game presentation drives the energy.
Defines the execution.
Brings fans back.
Iโll be at @NatlSportsForum in St. Louis. Letโs connect.
#NationalSportsForum #EventPresentation #GameOperations #FanExperience
What makes an event meaningful isnโt the production. Itโs the people.
Last week in Overland Park, the College Baseball Foundation (@CollegeDiamonds) honored 21 Hall of Fame inductees and celebrated the very best in collegiate baseball.
These nights arenโt about lights or scripts. Theyโre about legacy.
Honoring legacy is a responsibility. Getting it right is a privilege.
#CollegeBaseball #EventPresentation #LiveEvents #SportsBusiness #CollegeBaseballFoundation