The New Orleans Pelicans are weathering several storms brewing around the Smoothie King Center and they do not all revolve around Zion Williamson. Ben Hales (Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer for the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans) and Jen Martindale (Vice President, Brand Strategy at New Orleans Saints and Read more…
It’s been 19 months since the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March 2020. Still, we are caught in its grip — from burdening global healthcare systems, financial and educational institutions to problems with personal finances, jobs, housing and general well-being. Click here to read the story at forbes.com. Read more…
ESPN recently featured a video short called “How the Savannah Bananas have become the greatest show in baseball” on SportsCenter. The clip explores how the Savannah Bananas minor league baseball team made going to a baseball game an experience, becoming the “greatest show in baseball.” Click here to watch the Read more…
Penn State football was stagnant in 2004, and so were the fans. Then the program’s branding expert said, ‘Everyone’s got a white T-shirt.” Click here to read the story at si.com. Discussion Questions: What is fan experience? Why is fan experience important at sporting events? What factors might influence fan Read more…
Let’s unpack Disney’s huge announcement this week about the new Disney Genie system that’s coming to Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Like a modern mobile game, Disney Genie is a free offering that comes with abundant upsells. The free part is a day-planning service, a recommendation engine that will suggest Read more…
Three new MLS stadiums will open by the time summer 2021 finishes. But Q2 Stadium in Austin wouldn’t fit anywhere other than Austin. At least that’s the plan. “We wanted a stadium inspired by Austin, with Austin textures, Austin tastes and Austin sounds,” says Andy Loughnane, Austin FC president. “We Read more…
First, the simple, courteous act of wearing a protective mask in public managed to polarize the country. Now it appears “vaccine passports”—basically an app to show you have received your COVID-19 vaccine—may be headed for the same fate. (Though apparently we should drop “passport” and call them vaccine “verification” papers Read more…
Watching your favorite sports team from afar just doesn’t compare to the experience of being inside the stadium, hearing the crowd roar as you follow the action live. But attending a game can be pretty pricey, or reasonable, depending on the team. Researchers analyzed data to determine the most expensive sports experiences Read more…
The NFL built it. Friday, they will come. Football fans by the thousands, looking for a touch of the Big Game magic that Super Bowl 55 at Raymond James Stadium is rubbing off on the rest of the city. Click here to read the story at tampabay.com. Discussion Questions: What Read more…
Fans looking for pregame entertainment before the Super Bowl will have another option this year. Shaquille O’Neal will be holding the virtual SHAQ Bowl on Feb. 7. It’s one of the few events taking place in Tampa, Florida, since many parties that traditionally take place during Super Bowl week have Read more…