Meet Sarah...

Readers, I like to introduce you to Sarah Girouard... a wounded victim from the tragic Boston Marathon bombings. She is truly a brave individual. All proceeds from shirt sales will go to her.

Thank you! Make sure you buy a     t-shirt... and of course #PrayForBoston

#PrayForBoston

So it has been awhile since I posted anything. I have a video clip about "Post-Event Management" and wrap-up from the Trinity Bat HR Challenge for the Cory Hahn Fund. I truly have been focusing on teaching my Sports Marketing class, getting ready for my Event and Facilities Management class and training for my first triathlon, which I survived. I have some other projects in the works and actually a few new clients I am excited to work for... more to come later. 

Obviously, everyone was shocked with the tragic bombing at the Boston Marathon. As the events unraveled I sat staring at my computer screen paralyzed with thoughts of... not again. I could't believe it... someone was attacking America. I don't know if this hit me harder because it was at a sporting event or because I have friends in Boston. That night after taking with some colleagues and scrolling through Twitter I realized I wanted to do something more. I called a good friend, Larry Vega at Vega Designs and shared my idea; #PrayForBoston t-shirts with proceeds going to someone that was injured in this horrific event. "Love it, let's make it happen" said Vega. 

Within 24 hours I had shirts and people at my work, colleagues in the sports industry and family & friends starting buying them. However, the big question was who was the money going to? After doing some research I read about a college student from Northeastern University injured in the bombing. Perfect! I have a former student at NEU and it just seemed like a right fit. Currently we have reached out to this student and once I get her permission I will post her name and a recent article about her.

Helping people... I love to do it and I feel my skills in sports management and my consulting company (S3M) allows me to reach out and try to make a difference in this world. I hope you will buy a shirt and if you do not... I definitely understand, however, I do ask you to do one thing; #PrayForBoston.

If you are interested in buying a shirt please shoot me an email at scteward@Verizon.net. You can pay on Paypal and I will ship it to you ASAP. Shirts are on $10. 

An Event with the Dodgers and UCLA

The Dodgers and Los Angeles after 50 Years: 

The Economics of How a Sports Icon and a City Grew Together.

Tues. Nov. 27th 2012 

Presented by UCLA Dept. of Economics

The buzz of the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and UCLA alumni sharing stories with one another hummed in the air during this event. At first I was not sure if this was an event to promote a possible new program presented by UCLA Dept. of Economics or a promotional event to keep riding that thrill of new owners and big time players for the LA Dodgers organization.

From a fan perspective the night started off well. I got out of my car and Ron Cey arrived at the same time. To frozen to say "hi," I gave the “cool guy” smile and head nod. Then I had the chance to follow him to the event…walking behind the legendary 3^rd basemen. Ron and his small entourage (3 whole people) walked casually to the presentation. He walked passed several students that had no clue who he was...not even the guy wearing a Dodgers hat. However, to me... I was walking behind the "penguin," the man who played the "hot corner" with ease... the man who left the Dodgers to the Cubs, which made me buy a Cubs hat. I only wore it one season. As the event started and the presenters talked about stadium upgrades, organization changes over the last 50 years and different financial issues, I really enjoyed the story about the Dodgers move to LA told by the team historian, Mark Langill. Very interesting…O’Malley truly had a vision for a great west coast team.

From a sports management perspective this was an awesome opportunity to learn how the Dodgers have grown since their move from New York and their plans for the future. Michael Young, Dodgers Chief Revenue Officer, revealed some interesting points. When Young joined the Dodgers organization he said the fans (stakeholders) had doubts about their team because they were investing into it, but the Dodgers organization were not putting money back into the team and/or stadium. However, with the new owners putting money back into the organization since day one of ownership the fans have already seen new stadium projects and top MLB players wearing Dodger Blue. Young also made an extremely important point “know your fans...give them a customize experience.” He truly believes that this new vision and passion will take the Dodgers organization to the next level.

Peter Guber, Co-Owner of the Dodgers, was on the same page as Young. Guber talked about the a new DAS system to help wireless service and made a funny yet very true point; “Who is addicted to crack in the audience?” No one raised his or her hands. “Who has a cell phone?” Everyone raised his or her hands. “This is our crack. We cannot be disconnected for three hours. Social Media touches every aspect of the fan experience.” Guber also pointed out the renovations to the stadium to make sure it’s digitally fit and briefly touched based on new media deals the Dodgers are working on. As Guber stated, “media is not a game changer it’s the game!”

Overall is was a great event and solid starting point for the UCLA School of Economics development of the Institute For The Study Of Economics of Sports and Society. I was truly impressed by the presenters, especially Michael Young and Peter Guber. 

Event Management

My first VLOG... easier then typing.

2nd Annual Trinity Bat Co.

Homerun Challenge

for the #CoryHahn Fund

Check out the following website for an awesome graphic designer.

www.myblueandorange.com

Follow these people on Twitter:

@TrinityBatCo

@CoryHahn34

Sometimes It's Okay To Be A Fan

Working in sports always has their ups and downs. A wise marketing guru once said “check your jersey in at the door,” which if you think about it makes sense. However, anyone who works in sports knows this; you work in sports because you love it.

Last week was a week I truly loved working in sports and I admit that I was a “worker” and a fan. I had the opportunity to take my graduate students in my Event & Facility Management class to a Rancho Cucamonga Quakes game, a minor team and Dodger affiliate in the California League. It was an awesome opportunity for them. We received a tour of the stadium, watch the game in a VIP suite and numerous Quakes executives visited us and talked about their journey in sports and their job duties. This was great and my students truly enjoyed this class. Okay… here comes the fan part. Every male baseball fan has had the conversation with his buddies about the song they would play when coming up to bat or coming out to pitch in the last inning. My song, “Jump Around” by House of Pain (what can I say? I love the bagpipes). So going to this game my dream somewhat came true. I didn’t get to bat or come out of the bullpen to save the game, but I did get to throw out the first pitch. It was exciting and I was somewhat nervous. My students reminded me not to bounce it and of course… I bounced it. (Barely and I considered it to be a sinkerball.) To be honest with you I didn’t care because I got to go to the mound of a professional baseball game and throw a pitch. It might not have been to close the game and “Jump Around” may not have been playing but I didn’t care… it was true fan moment.

As I sit and reflect on the difference of being a fan and “checking my jersey in at the door” I have come to realize I love sports from a fans and business perspective. I am a fan of numerous teams. I love watching games and extremely addicted to ESPN Sportscenter. I love watching deals come together or watching my student’s careers begin in sports management. I dork-out when I see client’s social media strategies thrive or when I collect and examine data from tweetreports. This is who I am…and I am good with it.

So are you a fan or a businessman? I think you can be both…sometimes you just have to wear your jersey underneath your shirt and tie or in my case a bowtie.

This post is dedicated to Katherine Kirby (1918 – 2012), a true fan and an amazing grandma. 

Battle, It's What They Do.

My grandma is 94 years old and until recently she has been in good health. For her 93^rd birthday I took her to a Dodgers game… it was Fernando Vanenzuela fleece blanket night. She was extremely excited to attend and get her free blanket. The last time she went to a game was in the early 80s. It was then when I used to watch Dodger games with her at least twice a week. She was always calling Ron Cey the Penguin and couldn’t speak highly enough about Garvey… and when Steve Sax had that mental breakdown and couldn’t throw the ball from second to first base, well let’s just say, I learned a few new bad words.

Recently visiting my grandma at the hospital I talked to her about going to the Dodgers vs. Angels game. She smiled, held my hand and brought up the time we went to the game last year. I can remember that game so vividly, maybe not the balls and strikes or even who won, but the stories my grandma told me. The story of how she was proud of Koufax staying true to his beliefs and not pitching on a Jewish holiday or Duke Snider going to Compton HS and was the talk of southern of California. She even mention the cost of programs and how you could get a new one every game … not like now (1 per home stand). Yet, the one main memory about that game last year was the customer service my grandma and I received when entering Dodger stadium.

When arriving to the stadium a ticket taker asked my grandma if she would need assistance getting to our section. She promptly radio for assistance and a man with a wheelchair whisked my grandma away to our seats. When she had to walk down the stairs (we had field level seats) an usher walked behind her while I held her hand. However, what truly impressed me was when I went to get Dodger dogs for us; an usher sat in my seat to make sure if a foul ball came our way she would protect my grandma. This was a true class act by the Dodgers organization and staff.

Last year the Dodgers went through some major struggles and had to deal with a public relations nightmare because of a financially corrupt owner and two classless individuals who decided to act violently towards an opposing fan. However, the Dodgers battled through those tough times and are moving forward, hopefully just like my grandma.

Yankee Stadium

My first trip to the NYC and shot this little video using my Flip.