Rick Stephan

Who's the more foolish: The fool, or the fool who follows him?

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

The @NHL needs to implement a dark mode viewing option.

The ice is real bright when you’re trying to watch games in the dark with a newborn.

#nhlplayoffs #UX

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

Wait, was that supposed to be the Canadian national anthem? #FailEh #MLB

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

I miss Vin Scully

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

Today is World Autism Awareness Day!

I’ve learned a lot about Autism over the last 5 years as it’s become an important topic in my family, and continue to learn more every day.

Check out this great post from @AutismCanada: https://t.co/pu6EGS5cHR

#WAAD #WAAD2025

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

“What are you waiting for?”
- Scott Stillman, I Don’t Want to Grow Up

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

@Super70sSports New York Giant legend, Lavar Arrington (aka Double Nickels)

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

@DiscussingFilm He obviously did the murder this season.

[Matt Dagley @mattdagley]

I am Canadian (2000) - We are Canadian (2025)

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
https://t.co/x8w7unuwZg

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

@Moneris Great spot! (@LeslievilleBIA)

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

Me: “Oh, the Jays traded Yusei Kikuchi to Houston”

*Checks @astros fan reactions*

Analysis: Good job, @BlueJays!

[Moneris @Moneris]

Join our President and CEO, James Hicks, on this special episode of the Just Good Business podcast as he discusses important resources and initiatives with the Hon. @rechievaldez that may help you with your business journey. 🎧: https://t.co/x4vzkvj09B

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

Reminder: Make the most of a wet situation #toronto #onstorm

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

@Papasterg Is there an official opening date?

[Moneris @Moneris]

As we all look ahead to what 2024 🎉 may bring, it is common to make #resolutions for the coming year & #businesses are no different in setting up goals & #targets for the coming year.

🎧Listen to some ideas on important goals to improve your business: https://t.co/9CcDOs15mC

[Joe Pompliano @JoePompliano]

Amazon is paying $100 million to broadcast the NFL's first-ever Black Friday game.

But it's really a chess move to steal market share from brick-and-mortar stores and generate online sales.

Let me explain 👇

Thanksgiving Day football has always been huge.

Last year's games averaged 33.5 million viewers, including 42 million viewers for the Cowboys vs. Giants — the most-watched regular season game of all time.

2022 Average Viewership
• NBA Christmas Day: 4.27 million
• NFL Thanksgiving Day: 33.5 million

But the NFL has never done a Black Friday game because 1) it's a holiday known for people leaving the house to go shopping and 2) the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 prohibits NFL games on Fridays after 6 pm ET and all day on Saturdays during the fall.

This rule was implemented by Congress to protect high school and college football from seeing a decline in attendance and viewership because of the NFL.

But Amazon offered the NFL $100 million for the game, so they decided to put it at 3 pm ET to skirt the rule.

And it's an even better deal for Amazon.

Amazon is allowing anyone to watch — Amazon's first TNF broadcast generated more Prime sign-ups than any other 3-hour window in company history — and Amazon is also reportedly charging 2x more than their TNF broadcast for 30-second ad placements.

Cost Of A 30-Second Commercial
• Thursday Night Football: $440,000
• Black Friday: $880,000

But more importantly, Amazon will leverage its new ad strategy called "audience-based creative."

This will enable brands to target different audience segments with different ads in the same time slot.

For example, according to Ad Age, Bose will show three different ads using Amazon's ad technology.

The first ad features Joe Burrow and will be delivered to non-Prime members, while the other two Bose ads will feature different products and be shown only to Prime members based on their Amazon Prime search history.

And here's the best part...

These targeted ads will also be shoppable, meaning viewers can watch the commercial, place the product in their cart with the click of a button, and checkout without ever leaving the broadcast.

That makes Amazon's broadcast far more valuable than a typical commercial — brands will be able to retarget these customers after the game — and it also gives us a view into how brand advertising could look in the future.

Companies like Amazon and Apple are only going to spend more money on live sports rights, and their ad targeting could change how brands market forever.

Now that's pretty damn cool.

** If you enjoyed this breakdown, follow me @JoePompliano for more sports business content **

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

@mlbtraderumors Michael Lorenzen (Pitcher) or Michael Lorenzen (Batter)?

Need to know for fantasy purposes.
#FantasyBaseball

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

DMX stuck in my head today...don't know why.

#GoodbyeTwitter

[Moneris @Moneris]

Are you looking to get out there and find a POS that moves with you? 🏃‍♀️ A solution that will help your #business grow? 📈

As Canada's trusted #payment provider, choosing Moneris means choosing a partner that will have your back day and night 🔗 https://t.co/BRWxFHElKC

[Rick Stephan @Rick_Stephan]

Anyone else feeling the full moon, Mercury retrograde, long COVID, Seasonal Affective Disorder, burnout feels right about now?

Cuz, same.