Advertise on podcast: Navigating Sports Business

"There is always a cost to progress"   Bob Kendrick – President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum – on three vital lessons we can all learn from the story of the Negro Leagues. He also points out how progress comes at a price. With integration into Major League Baseball, many Black-owned businesses suffered.   Bob explains why it's important to remember the team managers, owners, and other employees who made the Negro Leagues possible, not just the players who were heroes on the field. Their stories are an essential part of sports business history, and we urge everyone to listen to Bob's full episode for many more stories from the rich history of Negro Leagues baseball.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=094dbf0f9b0124c594740b88d443a64a   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Bob Kendrick – President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum – on the profound story of baseball and American history that was intentionally ignored by historians, and the museums's mission to make that story known.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=094dbf0f9b0124c594740b88d443a64a   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Bob Kendrick - President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - has spent decades educating people about one of the most important chapters in American history.   He and Jeff Nelson discuss the fascinating history of the Negro Leagues and the star players that have been far-too-often overlooked by sports fans across the country.   They also discuss the museum's 55-million-dollar fundraising campaign and the expansion to a new renovated district which will include a 30,000 square foot museum building. Bob has been with the museum since it was still a collection of stories and memorabilia in one room in Kansas City.   The NLBM was recently featured in an episode of Ted Lesso and that attention has meant great things for the museum's publicity. Bob tells of how he was offered a cameo role and why he turned it down. He is, however, prominently featured in the MLB The Show video game.   Timestamps: 2:15 - Touring Henry Aaron 8:35 - Expanding from one room 13:55 - Coexisting with Cooperstown 18:20 - Negro Leagues stats added to MLB record books 22:00 - Ted Lasso visits the NLBM and the business impact 26:15 - Three key lessons from the Negro Leagues 31:25 - The museum's role in representation in baseball     For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Should the NFL put a team in Europe?   AJ and Charles discuss paths to international expansion in Europe or Africa as the NFL looks to expand its global presence beyond the United States.   The NBA already gets around 10% of its media dollars from international rights, and that could be the goal for the NFL in its next wave of negotiations.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=3d71db41f8d7a394d6b587a7f171f363   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

51% of Americans are NFL fans. Where does the league go from here?   AJ & Charles discuss the prospects of NFL international expansion, an 18th game, the next media deal, flag football, and other ways that American football can continue to grow.   Are you an employee or equity holder for a U.S.-based pro sports team? Take the PRO Public Policy Poll by September 4th: https://survey.sightx.io/9866314006e0c906ca306f3eac718882b45e18ecff0f34bc2bd3ada1cb809aae   Timestamps: 0:45 - How big is the NFL?  3:00 - The next NFL media deal 10:10 Adding an 18th game 13:40 - International growth for the NFL 17:55 - Flag football 19:00 - Predictions   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

The cost of supporting your favorite teams has doubled in the past 10 years.   Our most recent episode of Navigating Sports Business explores the rising cost of sports fandom and if that trend is sustainable for fans, teams, and leagues.   Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=fe4d6cb197e064772ba8c97f8090c9f0   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

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/.