Mark Simon | Growing Hockey in China The Negotiation

In this episode of The Negotiation, we speak with international hockey consultant Mark Simon. Mark spent 15 years in the Chinese hockey industry, doing everything from coaching to program creation to on-the-ground operations. He has also collaborated with numerous media outlets on navigating the Chinese landscape from a marketing perspective. Mark is a key member of the leadership team for China Hockey Group, the country’s largest organization dedicated to running high-level adult and youth hockey programs both locally and on the world stage. He is also the founder of Hockey Hands, a non-profit organization teaching English and hockey to orphans, migrant children, and children with disabilities. Obviously, this is a hockey-centric discussion, but the business and cultural nuances are plentiful as we explore the game’s growth and future; the players including kids, women and adult participation; the geography of hockey in China including where the arena’s and rinks are located and why; we look at the ancillary participants such as referees and fans, and lastly we look at what a professional league in China might look like; and what it would take for becoming a professional hockey player to be an economically-viable career path. Enjoy!