Navigating Sports Business AJ Maestas

J.J. Gottsch – CEO of the Austin Gamblers – explains how the Gamblers were able to cultivate a team mentality in a sport that has traditionally been an individual competition.
 
They debated bringing in a legendary coach like Mike Krzyzewski or Mike Tomlin, before ultimately deciding to bring in leaders from the Navy SEALs to train their riders to work together as a unit. He also talks about how other PBR teams have overcome that same problem, leading to success as a league, and ultimately to expansion.
 
Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=13726e34cf42ab2a01d2f2eea28db73a
 
For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Jeff Longo & Patrick Stack - Co-Founders of Sports Biz Careers - share the story of how they launched their non-profit five years ago, with the mission of changing the lives of underrepresented high school and college students through the sports business.
 
So far, they have directly supported over 2,500 students, with the support of more than 1,000 donors, 50 sponsors, and 800 individuals who have volunteered their time.
 
They share some highlights of their first five years, as well as some of the challenges of scaling a non-profit and how they've overcome them.
 
Details:
2:00 - Pat and Jeff’s Backgrounds 6:25 - The origins of SBC 12:00 - The rebrand from Sports Biz Camps 14:30 - Milestones after 5 years 19:25 - Looking 5 years ahead 24:20 - SBC Alumni Board  
 
For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Rich Franklin – VP of ONE Championship – on his transition from elite MMA fighter to executive, and how his mindset as an athlete has helped him succeed.
 
His current role involves working with sports commissions to pave the way for ONE to host events in those locations.
 
Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=dd737148b64032b84f53bedb88b0002c
 
For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Bob Thurman - Global VP, WIlson R&D & GM, Global Golf at Wilson - shares the process behind designing and producing high-quality sporting goods, from the classics to the ground-breaking new technologies.
 
He gives our listeners a behind-the-scenes tour of Wilson's famous Innovation Center, including the file cabinet that contains the specs for personalized golf clubs for everyone from Michael Jordan to Gerald Ford.
 
He also discusses his background in aerospace engineering and how it led him to his current career. As far as we know, he's the first guest on Navigating Sports Business to hold a patent (and he owns several)!
 
Details:
2:15 - Bob’s engineering background 6:00 - Wilson’s patents 13:50 - The R&D process 18:50 - Wilson Golf 19:45 - The Wilson Innovation Center 28:20 - Working with youth sports 30:05 - Rapid Fire Questions  
Links:
ARC'TERYX Brand Bob and Wilson's list of Patents  
For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Mike Buckley – Co-Owner & CEO of the United States SailGP Team – shares his excitement upcoming New York Sail Grand Prix, now less than a month away.
 
Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=bd72917e7532c2539a4ce4e7783f67b5
 
For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

J.J. Gottsch - CEO of the Austin Gamblers - explains how he transitioned to running a Professional Bull Riders team after more than two and a half decades working in baseball.
 
The team-based model of PBR aligns more closely with other professional sports, so that new fans feel a familiar atmosphere despite many being previously unacquainted with bull riding.
 
Details:
1:40 - J.J.’s baseball background 11:25 - Moving to the Austin Gamblers 18:20 - The Ride docuseries 20:15 - Who are the bull riders? 22:15 - The team model 27:20 - The outlook for season 3 31:45 - Rapid Fire Questions  
For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.