Big news—Sports Marketing Machine has officially joined forces with Revelocity Sports. But this episode isn’t just about the merger… it’s about what it unlocks for you. Jeremy breaks down why the best teams aren’t just running promotions and ads—they’re building connected marketing systems that drive more ticket sales, better decisions, and stronger fan engagement.

Key Topics Covered

•  The big announcement: why Sports Marketing Machine joined Revelocity Sports 
•  Why most sports teams are running disconnected marketing tactics
•  The difference between “busy marketing” and revenue-driving systems
•  How connecting your ads, email, data, and CRM unlocks better results 
•  Why automation creates space for strategy instead of constant execution
•  The role of personalization and fan data in driving engagement and sales 
•  How top teams are building systems that generate momentum over time 
•  What this partnership means for future insights, strategies, and case studies 

Timestamps

• 00:00 — Big announcement: SMM joins Revelocity Sports 
• 01:24 — The mission: helping teams sell more tickets and grow their fan base 
• 02:48 — Why traditional strategies still work (but aren’t enough alone) 
• 03:46 — The shift: from tactics to connected marketing systems 
• 05:12 — Disconnected vs. system-driven teams 
• 06:08 — How automation changes the role of marketing leaders 
• 07:33 — Creating space for strategy and long-term planning 
• 08:02 — What stood out about Revelocity Sports 
• 08:24 — Shared mission: helping teams and communities thrive 
• 09:21 — Data, personalization, and smarter fan communication 
• 10:48 — What this means for the future of the podcast 
• 12:13 — Developing staff and reducing turnover through education 
• 13:08 — Closing thoughts and what’s ahead 

Call to Action

If you’ve been focused on improving individual tactics—your ads, your emails, your promotions—this episode will challenge you to think bigger. Start looking at how everything connects. Because that’s where the real growth happens.

And if you’ve been listening to the podcast, get ready—this next chapter is all about bringing you deeper insights, smarter strategies, and real-world examples you can apply immediately.

Links mentioned: 

Revelocity Sports - LINK

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Should Sports Teams Eliminate the Ticket Office?

What if your team stopped selling tickets at the window… completely?

In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine Podcast, Jeremy Neisser breaks down one of the most polarizing ideas in sports ticketing today: going fully digital and eliminating the ticket office altogether. This isn’t a hot take—it’s a strategic conversation about how fans actually buy tickets today, and what teams need to consider before making a major operational shift.

If you're focused on selling more tickets and improving the fan experience, this episode will challenge how you think about your current ticketing model.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

•  Why digital-only ticketing is becoming the norm across sports 
•  The biggest advantage of removing the ticket office: a simpler buying process 
•  How teams can reduce staffing and operational costs on game day 
•  Why pushing fans to buy earlier improves data, planning, and revenue opportunities 
•  The real risk of losing spontaneous, last-minute buyers 
•  What happens when you remove human interaction from the buying experience 
•  Why your website and ticketing flow must be frictionless before making the switch 
•  Jeremy’s benchmark: when 80–90% of your tickets are already sold online 
•  How to rethink on-site support without a traditional box office 
•  The most important question every team should ask before making this move 

Timestamps

00:00 – Why this is a conversation worth having
02:23 – Do teams still need a ticket office?
04:46 – Simplicity, efficiency, and cost savings
07:09 – The power of digital data and earlier purchases
08:34 – The downside: lost walk-ups and human touchpoints
09:33 – Why your digital experience must be dialed in
11:54 – When it actually makes sense to consider this
14:15 – Improving the buying experience with better tools
15:11 – Why you still need game-day support
16:39 – The key question: what would break?
18:02 – Final takeaway: make it easier to say yes

Key Takeaway

This isn’t about copying what another team is doing.

It’s about understanding how your fans buy tickets—and making it as easy as possible for them to say “yes, I’m coming to the game.”

Share This Episode

If this got you thinking, send it to someone on your team and start the conversation.

And if you found value in this episode, a quick rating or review on Spotify or Apple helps more sports marketers like you discover the show.

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Most teams are asking the wrong question when it comes to theme nights—and it’s costing them ticket revenue. In this episode, Jeremy Neisser breaks down a practical, repeatable framework for building theme nights around real audiences, not random ideas. If you want your promotions to actually sell tickets (and grow year over year), this is the blueprint.

Key Topics Covered

•  Why “What theme night should we do?” is the wrong starting point 
•  The shift from idea-first thinking → audience-first strategy
•  The 4-part framework every successful theme night must have: 
  •  Clear audience 
  •  Reachable list 
  •  Organizer/advocate 
  •  Compelling reason to attend 
•  How weak theme nights fail (and why they don’t drive group sales) 
•  Real examples of audience-driven nights (Korean Night, Healthcare Appreciation, Bark in the Park) 
•  How to evaluate and score your current theme nights for effectiveness 
•  The role of organizers (coaches, principals, business leaders) in scaling ticket sales 
•  Building momentum: turning 200-ticket nights into 500+ year-over-year 
•  Why specificity beats broad appeal when trying to grow attendance 

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction: Why most theme nights don’t work
 00:26 – The common mistake teams make when planning promotions
 00:54 – Theme nights as audience strategy (not ideas)
 01:46 – The wrong question teams are asking
 02:16 – Start with audience: the foundation of every successful night
 03:15 – Real-world examples of targeted theme nights
 04:10 – Build the idea for the audience (not the other way around)
 05:07 – The 4-part theme night framework
 05:37 – Defining a clear, specific audience
 06:05 – Do you actually have a list to reach them?
 06:34 – The importance of having an organizer/advocate
 07:03 – Creating a compelling reason to rally a group
 07:58 – Challenges at the minor league and college level
 09:22 – The 4-point filter to evaluate your theme nights
 10:20 – Using momentum to grow attendance year-over-year
 11:14 – Leveraging past success to scale future nights
 12:13 – Why specificity drives results
 13:10 – Prioritizing high-impact theme nights
 14:07 – Continuous improvement and iteration
 15:04 – Final takeaway: audience first, always
 15:34 – Wrap-up and next steps

Core Takeaway

Theme nights aren’t promotions—they’re audience acquisition strategies.

If you don’t have:

•  A clearly defined audience 
•  A way to reach them 
•  Someone to organize them 
•  A reason for them to show up 

…you don’t have a theme night. You have an idea.

Resources & Links

•  Previous Episode: Top 10 Theme Nights That Actually Sold Tickets 
•  Revelocity Sports 

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Most teams sit at a 75–85% group renewal rate… but that’s not the goal — it’s the starting point. In this episode, Jeremy breaks down what elite renewal actually looks like, why groups really don’t come back, and how small breakdowns quietly kill retention. If you want to stop rebuilding your book of business every year and start compounding revenue, this is a must-listen.

Key Topics Covered

• Why 75–85% renewal is average — and why 90%+ should be your target
• The hidden cost of low renewal rates (and how it kills efficiency)
• The real reason groups don’t come back: “death by a thousand cuts”
• Why lack of follow-up is the #1 renewal killer (and how to fix it)
• How experience vs. expectation gaps destroy retention
• Turning one-time group outings into long-term relationships
• Simple post-event follow-up systems that drive repeat bookings
• How to segment groups by renewal potential and prioritize the right ones
• Why you’re not selling tickets — you’re selling someone else’s reputation
• The KPIs that actually matter: tracking renewal revenue, not just volume

Timestamps

00:00 – Why renewal rates matter more than you think
 00:30 – Industry benchmarks vs. real goals (75–85% vs. 90%+)
 01:35 – Renewal rate = reflection of your entire system
 02:28 – The compounding impact of lost groups each year
 03:53 – Excluding one-time groups from your true renewal rate
 04:51 – Why higher renewal = massive efficiency gains
 05:20 – “Death by a thousand cuts” — why groups actually leave
 05:49 – The #1 mistake: not asking for the renewal
 06:45 – No follow-up = no renewal system
 07:16 – Experience vs. expectation gaps
 08:12 – Group leader pressure: you’re selling their reputation
 09:10 – Why transactional thinking kills long-term revenue
 09:39 – Creating next steps and ongoing engagement
 10:08 – One-time vs. repeatable groups (and how to handle both)
 11:04 – Turning situational buyers into repeat customers
 12:23 – Game day execution + post-event engagement
 12:52 – Using photos and recaps to reinforce the experience
 14:35 – Pricing vs. perceived value
 15:04 – Positioning your offer as a time-saver
 16:55 – Building a simple follow-up sequence (24–72 hours + beyond)
 17:21 – Creating urgency for next year’s booking
 18:10 – Giving group leaders a “win”
 18:39 – Segmenting groups by renewal potential
 19:31 – Tracking renewal KPIs that actually matter
 21:18 – Why renewal is always improve-able
 21:47 – The real takeaway: small issues drive churn
 22:17 – Shift from transactional → relationship-based selling
 23:13 – Using surveys and feedback to continuously improve

Episodes mentioned: 

134: Season Tickets vs Single Game - And How to Convert One Into the Other

139: What Is Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)?

Call to Action

Pull your group sales data from last season and answer two questions:

1. What percentage actually renewed?
2. Why didn’t the others come back?

Then build a simple post-event follow-up system — because without it, you don’t have a renewal strategy… you have a guessing game.

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Trade deals are everywhere in sports—but most teams treat them like “free marketing” instead of what they actually are: untracked investments. In this episode, Jeremy breaks down how trade really works, where it provides value, and why it often fails to drive results. If you’re relying on trade without accountability, this will change how you think about it.

Key Topics Covered

• Why trade isn’t free—and how teams unknowingly give up real revenue
• The right way to use trade: unsold inventory, awareness, and sponsor amplification
• Why trade is almost always a top-of-funnel channel (not a ticket sales driver)
• The biggest mistakes teams make: no tracking, no accountability, wrong expectations
• How media partners often deliver leftover or low-value inventory
• The problem with inflated trade value across different market sizes
• Why digital add-ons (email blasts, banners) are often overvalued and underperforming
• How to treat trade like paid media with promo codes, landing pages, and performance reviews

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro: Why trade is everywhere—but rarely measured
• 01:25 – What trade actually is (and why teams love it)
• 02:23 – The “free marketing” illusion
• 03:47 – Why lack of accountability is the real issue
• 04:16 – Where trade actually works (unsold inventory + awareness)
• 05:56 – Budget constraints and why trade is so attractive
• 06:24 – Using trade to enhance sponsorship value
• 08:13 – Creative community exposure opportunities
• 09:08 – Trade = top-of-funnel (not direct response)
• 10:37 – The expectation gap: trade vs. paid media
• 11:07 – The tracking problem (and why nobody knows what works)
• 12:56 – Leftover inventory and bad placements
• 15:18 – Inflated value and market-size mismatches
• 16:00 – Why accountability disappears in trade deals
• 17:09 – The truth about digital add-ons
• 20:31 – How to actually use trade the right way
• 21:22 – What to avoid (high-demand inventory, no tracking)
• 22:47 – Treating trade like real media
• 23:16 – Final takeaways: awareness vs. revenue

Episodes Mentioned:
125 - I saw your ad but didn't buy
111 - Building Your Marketing Budget Like a Funnel

Call to Action

If you’re doing trade deals and not sure if they’re actually working, let’s take a look.
 Head over to sportsmarketingmachine.com and schedule a free 30-minute call—I’ll help you evaluate what you’re getting and where you might be leaving revenue on the table.

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Most teams treat in-game promotions as filler between plays. The best teams use them to design the energy of the building.

In this episode, Jeremy breaks down what he observed during a Sacramento Kings game and shares five practical principles he calls Game Entertainment 101. These fundamentals show how smart teams engage thousands of fans at once, create better crowd energy, support sponsors, and even drive revenue during the game.

Whether you work in marketing, ticket sales, or game operations, these lessons can help you create a more intentional and more engaging game-day experience.

Game Entertainment 101 – The 5 Rules

1. Design promotions for thousands, not one person
Too many promotions involve one fan on the field while everyone else watches. The best promotions invite entire sections — or the whole building — to participate. At the Kings game, a themed “Lowrider Cam” had fans pretending to drive lowriders in their seats, turning thousands of fans into part of the entertainment.

2. Timing matters more than the promotion
Crowd prompts like “Make Noise” or decibel meters are most powerful when used strategically. The Kings used them before tip-off, coming out of halftime, and during key late-game moments — when the team needed crowd energy the most.

3. Let the game breathe
The video board shouldn’t demand attention every second. The best game presentations mix high-energy interactive moments with quieter stretches where fans can simply watch the game and take in the atmosphere.

4. Game entertainment should drive revenue
In-game moments are powerful opportunities to promote concessions, merchandise, and sponsors. The Kings tied promotions to specific game moments — like a discount triggered after the team hit its 10th three-pointer — creating excitement while driving sales.

5. Your PA announcer is a crowd conductor
A great PA voice does more than read scripts. They help guide the rhythm of the game — amplifying big moments, supporting promotions, and letting the game breathe when it needs to.

Key Topics Covered

• Why many in-game promotions fail to engage fans
• How to design promotions that involve entire sections
• The importance of timing for crowd prompts and giveaways
• Using game entertainment to drive concessions and sponsor activations
• The role of the PA announcer in shaping the fan experience

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Group ticket buyers aren’t casual fans — they’re planners.

Office managers, HR directors, coaches, and teachers are trying to organize an event without creating more work for themselves. If your group sales page makes them think too hard, they leave.

In this episode, Jeremy Neisser explains how cognitive load quietly kills group sales and shares a simple framework that helps teams make their group pages clearer, faster to understand, and easier to book.

Jeremy also walks through how small changes in messaging — like clearer headlines, pricing cues, and fewer decisions — can dramatically increase group inquiries.

Key Topics Covered

• Why cognitive load is one of the biggest hidden killers of group ticket sales
• The four questions every group sales page must answer immediately
• Why group buyers behave differently than single-game ticket buyers
• How too many packages, options, and paragraphs create friction
• The power of bullet points over paragraphs on sales pages
• Why teams should show starting prices early instead of hiding pricing
• The importance of one clear call-to-action for group buyers
• The “Caveman Test” for instantly evaluating your website clarity

The 4 Questions Every Group Sales Page Must Answer

When a group organizer lands on your page, they are trying to answer four simple questions:

1. Is this for me?
   Show the types of outings immediately (company picnic, youth sports night, church outing, birthday party, etc.).
2. What do I get?
   Use bullet points instead of long paragraphs.
3. What does it cost?
   Even simple starting pricing reduces friction.
4. What do I do next?
   Give one clear action like “Check available dates” or “Get group pricing.”

If buyers have to scroll around and interpret things to figure these out, you’ve created friction.

And confused people don’t buy tickets.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction: The hidden killer of group sales
 01:28 – What cognitive load actually means
 02:30 – Why group buyers behave differently than single-game buyers
 04:16 – The four questions every group sales page must answer
 05:43 – Why bullet points outperform paragraphs
 06:41 – The importance of showing pricing early
 07:32 – Simplifying your call-to-action
 08:57 – Common mistakes teams make on group sales pages
 10:50 – The “Caveman Test” for website clarity
 11:48 – Live teardown of a Minor League group sales page
 14:06 – Why clarity matters more than traffic

YouTube walk-through video - LINK

Call to Action

If this episode helped you rethink your group sales pages, share it with someone else in sports who’s trying to sell more tickets and grow their fan base.

And if you enjoyed the show, a quick rating or review on Apple or Spotify helps more sports marketers discover the podcast.

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Should your team be selling merchandise on Amazon?

In this episode, Jeremy breaks down the real strategic implications of adding Amazon as a sales channel — from margin math and SEO strategy to customer data ownership and cannibalization risk. If you're responsible for revenue, merchandise, or digital marketing, this is your practical roadmap before you jump in.

Key Topics Covered

• Why Amazon is more search engine than storefront — and why that matters
• The real math behind Amazon’s 15% referral fee
• FBA vs. FBM: Fulfillment by Amazon vs. Merchant fulfillment
• The hidden cost of losing first-party customer data
• Why you should never push your fans from Shopify to Amazon
• How Amazon SEO works (and why semantic SEO matters)
• Why city/state-forward merchandise should launch before team-branded items
• How to prevent Shopify cannibalization
• Pricing strategy: Why you may want to charge more on Amazon
• Using Amazon strictly as an acquisition channel
• Connecting Shopify to Amazon with Marketplace Connect
• Modeling margin before listing a single product

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Selling Merchandise on Amazon
 01:59 Why Amazon Is a Powerful Sales Channel
 03:48 Revenue Potential During Peak Seasons
 05:42 Fulfillment Options: FBA vs FBM
 07:08 Understanding Amazon Fees and Margins
 08:32 Customer Data Ownership and Marketing Challenges
 10:54 The Importance of SEO and Search Demand
 13:14 Keyword Strategies and Search Terms
 14:58 Starting with City and State Apparel
 18:23 Semantic SEO and Listing Optimization
 20:12 Connecting Shopify and Amazon
 21:32 Getting Started and Learning the Platform
 22:29 Pricing, Margins, and Protecting Your Brand
 23:25 Strategies to Increase Sales and Customer Lifetime Value
 24:46 Balancing Amazon and Shopify for Growth
 26:10 Next Steps and Deeper Conversations

Core Strategic Takeaways

1. Amazon is an acquisition engine — not a loyalty platform.
 You will gain reach. You will gain visibility. But Amazon owns the customer relationship — not you.

2. Start broad before going branded.
 City-forward, state-pride, and general baseball apparel can build search velocity and reviews before you launch deeper team SKUs.

3. SEO is the real game.
 Amazon rankings are driven by relevance + performance + conversion velocity. Without visibility, there are no sales.

4. Model your numbers before you move inventory.
 Understand your true profit after fees. Align pricing carefully. Consider charging slightly more on Amazon to protect margin.

Resources Mentioned

• Shopify Marketplace Connect
• Marketplace Connect Tips
• Fulfillment by Merchant Overview & Referral Fees
• Amazon Seller Central
• Amazon Seller University
• Semantic SEO research tools
  • Jungle Scout
  • Helium 10

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One team grew social reach from 7 million to 12+ million impressions.
 Engagement exploded. Video views were up.

ROAS? 7–8x.

And yet… single-game ticket sales stayed flat.

In this episode, Jeremy breaks down why awareness alone doesn’t create growth, the difference between monetizing demand vs. multiplying it, and how to structure your funnel so reach actually turns into repeat buyers.

Key Topics

• Why a strong ROAS can still hide a growth ceiling
• Monetizing demand vs. multiplying demand
• The 3 Ad Buckets every sports team must use
• Why frequency problems get mistaken for awareness problems
• The overlooked “Game 2 Strategy”
• Database growth as a revenue multiplier
• Why timing sales ads to 24–48 hour buying windows matters

The Core Lesson

This team didn’t hit a wall.
 They hit a ceiling.

Their ads worked.
 Demand exists.

But their funnel wasn’t engineered to move fans from awareness → intent → repeat behavior.

The 3 Ad Buckets Framework

Every ad must live in one of three buckets:

1. Audience Building - Build familiarity and retargeting pools.
2. Buyer Warming - Reduce friction and drive traffic.
3. Buyer Ready - Sell tickets.

If every ad says “Buy Now,” none of them function like true sales ads.

Platforms optimize for engagement — not wallet behavior.

They’ll find people who:

• Watch
• Like
• Comment
• Share

They are not automatically optimizing for:

• Selecting a date
• Bringing a family
• Buying multiple games

That behavior must be engineered.

This team likely:

• Re-activated past buyers
• Sold to an existing pool
• Improved efficiency

But didn’t expand the buyer base.

That’s a frequency problem — not an awareness problem.

5 Layers That Unlock Growth

1. Capture Before Conversion – Own the relationship early.
2. Retargeting Discipline – Structured audience building.
3. Separate Content Tracks – Entertain and sell.
4. Game 2 Strategy – Opening Day is marketing. The rest is sales.
5. Group Data Capture – 50 tickets sold ≠ 1 contact captured.

Database growth = revenue growth.

The Timing Insight Most Teams Miss

Most single-game tickets are purchased within 24–48 hours of the game.

If your conversion ads aren’t strongest during that window, you’re fighting buying behavior.

Align your ads with when fans are ready to act.

Timestamps

00:00 – Massive reach, flat sales
 01:16 – The 7–8x ROAS breakdown
 03:30 – Monetize vs. multiply demand
 05:14 – The 3 Ad Buckets
 08:16 – Engagement vs. buyer behavior
 12:57 – 5 growth unlocks
 19:43 – Ceiling vs. wall
 20:20 – Timing matters
 21:52 – Self-audit questions

Episodes mentioned:

Episode 125 - “I Saw Your Ad—But Didn’t Buy”: Fixing the Fan Follow-Up Funnel

Episode 111 - Building Your Marketing Budget Like a Funnel: Awareness to Action

Episode 132 - The 35,000 Visitor Problem: Why More Traffic Can Tank Your Profits

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If you're still running one “hero ad” and hoping it scales, you're already behind.

In this episode, Jeremy breaks down why Meta’s evolving algorithm has made single-creative campaigns obsolete—and why sports teams must shift from building one good ad to building a creative system. You’ll learn how to structure multiple angles around one game, how to think in buyer motivations (not demographics), and how to create a “creative menu” that actually drives ticket sales.

Key Topics Covered

• Why “What’s the best ad format?” is the wrong question
• The myth of the one perfect ticket-selling ad
• How Meta’s reduced targeting options change everything
• The “menu problem” most teams don’t realize they have
• 5 psychological ticket-buyer motivations for the same event
• Why frequency spikes and CPM increases aren’t budget problems
• How to build 8–10 creative variations from one game
• Using ChatGPT to generate angles, hooks, and copy faster
• Why warming ads matter (AIDA framework explained)
• The difference between boosting posts and building strategy

Timestamps

00:00 – The myth of the “one killer ad”
02:40 – Why buyers aren’t all motivated by the same thing
05:50 – The ice cream shop analogy (creative variety explained)
06:11 – 5 angles for the same Saturday Night Fireworks game
08:30 – Why Meta won’t scale one message anymore
10:44 – How to practically build multiple creative angles
11:51 – The AIDA framework and warming ads
13:00 – Simple 4-step creative system for teams
15:19 – Stop boosting. Start building a creative menu.

The Big Idea: You Don’t Have a Targeting Problem. You Have a Creative Problem.

Most teams run:

• One graphic
• One hype video
• One caption
• One boosted post

That’s vanilla ice cream.

But your fans don’t all buy tickets for the same reason.

Some buy for:

• Family memories
• Social nights out
• Date nights
• Corporate hosting

When you run only one angle, Meta finds one pocket of people, frequency climbs, CPM increases, and performance plateaus.

It’s not a budget issue.

You ran out of angles.

The Creative Menu Framework

For one game:

1. Write down 5 reasons someone would attend (motivations, not demographics).
2. Create 2 angles per motivation.
3. Make sure visuals are different (faces, scenes, tone, format).
4. Let Meta run long enough to optimize (not 48 hours).

That’s 8–10 ads from one event.

That’s scale.

Jeremy references the classic AIDA model:

• Attention
• Interest
• Desire
• Action

Not every ad converts immediately. Some warm. Some build trust. Some create demand.

If you shut off non-converting ads too quickly, you kill the top of your funnel.

Call to Action

If this episode helped shift your thinking, share it with someone on your marketing or ticket sales team.

Because the teams that move from one creative to a creative system are the teams that will scale ticket sales in 2026 and beyond.

Links mentioned: 

Sports Marketing Machine powered by Revelocity Sports 

AIDA Framework via

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If you’re spending money on Meta ads but don’t fully trust the numbers… you’re not crazy. In this episode, Jeremy Neisser breaks down why Meta’s reporting often doesn’t match ticketing reality—and what sports teams should track instead. You’ll get a simple, no-nonsense framework for measuring marketing performance using real revenue, not modeled guesses.

Key Topics Covered

• Why Meta’s reports and your ticketing software rarely line up
• What Conversion API (CAPI) actually does—and what it doesn’t
• The difference between optimization data and reporting truth
• Why your ticketing system and bank account are the real scoreboard
• A simple framework to track marketing without attribution drama
• New Customer Acquisition Cost (NCAC) explained for sports teams
• How Average Order Value (AOV) and Revenue Per Buyer reveal buyer quality
• Why judging ads every 48 hours leads to bad decisions
• How to evaluate marketing weekly (and ROI monthly or by homestand)

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Why teams don’t trust their marketing numbers
• 02:16 – How this episode connects to Meta strategies & budget planning
• 04:37 – How Meta actually matches purchases (and why it breaks)
• 06:57 – CAPI helps optimization, not reporting accuracy
• 09:18 – Meta is better at finding buyers than explaining them
• 11:36 – Why attribution falls apart in real fan journeys
• 12:04 – A simple, spreadsheet-level tracking framework
• 13:58 – Measuring ROI the way owners and GMs actually understand
• 16:11 – NCAC: the metric that removes attribution arguments
• 18:31 – AOV vs. Revenue Per Buyer (offer strength vs. buyer quality)
• 20:40 – What to stop over-obsessing about immediately
• 23:00 – Final framework: delivery engine vs. scoreboard

Core Framework (This Is the Money Slide)

Use Meta as a delivery engine.
Use your ticketing system as the scoreboard.

Track:

• Real ad spend (including agency fees)
• Real ticket revenue
• New Customer Acquisition Cost (NCAC)
• Average Order Value (AOV)
• Revenue per buyer
• Repeat purchase behavior

Ignore:

• Platform-specific ROAS arguments
• Modeled attribution fights
• Day-to-day emotional decision-making

Call to Action

If this episode helped you, share it with someone on your team. The fastest way to kill “marketing isn’t working” conversations is getting everyone to agree on one scoreboard—your ticketing data.

Links mentioned:

Sports Marketing Machine powered by Revelocity Sports 

Episode 135 - Simplest Way to Justify Your Marketing Budget

Episode 147 - Meta Ads Strategies That WORK in 2026

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Performance Max (P-Max) is showing up in more agency proposals—but most teams don’t fully understand what they’re buying. 

In this episode, Jeremy Neisser breaks down what P-Max actually is inside Google Ads, why it sounds so attractive to sports teams, and how it’s often used to hide weak or undefined marketing strategy. You’ll learn when P-Max can help, when it hurts, and the critical questions teams should ask before letting automation take the wheel.

Key Topics Covered

• What Performance Max really does (in plain English)
• Why P-Max is an execution layer—not a marketing strategy
• How messy data causes P-Max to optimize for the wrong wins
• The danger of blended audiences and lost message control
• How agencies use P-Max as a reporting smoke screen
• When P-Max actually can work for sports teams
• Why segmentation and funnel clarity still matter in an AI world
• How to spot red flags in agency P-Max proposals

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 – Why Performance Max keeps showing up in agency proposals
• 02:47 – What P-Max actually is (and how it works)
• 05:36 – Why automation without strategy is dangerous
• 08:58 – How P-Max steals credit and inflates “conversions”
• 11:49 – When Performance Max can make sense for teams
• 14:39 – Strategy over automation: the real takeaway

Key Takeaways

• Performance Max is often used to mask weak strategy, not enhance strong ones.
• Automation simplifies execution—but it doesn’t replace thinking.
• P-Max is only as smart as your data (and most teams’ data is messy).
• Blended audiences lead to blended messaging—and wasted spend.
• If you can’t explain who’s buying and why, P-Max is a blindfold.
• P-Max works best as a supporting channel, not your entire plan.
• Clear funnel logic beats “AI will figure it out” every time.

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In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine podcast, Jeremy Neisser discusses the often-overlooked aspect of lead generation in sports marketing. He emphasizes the importance of allocating a portion of the marketing budget to grow the fan database, rather than solely focusing on immediate ticket sales. Neisser outlines effective strategies for lead generation, including involving sponsors, creating compelling offers, and implementing follow-up plans. He also provides insights on budgeting for lead generation and the long-term benefits of building a larger audience.


Takeaways

• Most teams allocate 80-90% of their budget to single game ticket sales.
• Lead generation should be a key focus for sports teams.
• Growing your database is essential for long-term success.
• Lead generation is about capturing fan information, not immediate sales.
• Involving sponsors can enhance lead generation campaigns.
• High perceived value offers attract more participants.
• Follow-up is crucial after lead generation campaigns.
• Budgeting for lead generation should be a priority.
• Teams should think strategically about audience building.
• Lead generation is an investment in future ticket sales.

This episode makes the case that lead generation isn’t optional—it’s a core revenue strategy. Teams that dedicate real budget to list growth lower future ad costs, stop burning out their database, and give sales teams warmer leads to work. Whether sponsor-powered or self-funded, the key is high perceived value, simple opt-ins, fast follow-up, and intentional segmentation. Teams that treat lead gen as an investment—not an expense—build momentum that pays off all season long.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Lead Generation in Sports Marketing
02:35 The Importance of Growing Your Database
05:52 Lead Generation Strategies and Sponsor Involvement
08:42 Creating Compelling Offers for Lead Generation
11:54 Follow-Up Strategies for Lead Generation
14:37 Budgeting for Lead Generation in Sports Marketing
17:51 Key Takeaways and Action Steps

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Meta ads didn’t “break” — they evolved. In this episode, Jeremy explains (in plain English) what actually changed inside Meta over the last few months and why the old playbook of tight targeting, lookalikes, and lots of small campaigns no longer works. If you’re trying to sell more tickets in 2026, this episode gives you a clearer, simpler framework built around creative, behavior, and momentum — not guesswork.

Key Topics Covered

• Why Meta Platforms knows less about fans — and why that’s not a bad thing
• How privacy changes permanently weakened interest targeting and lookalike audiences
• The shift from labels (sports fan, parent, local) to behavior-based learning
• Why creative now does the targeting — not audience checkboxes
• How too many small campaigns quietly kill performance
• Why fewer campaigns + more creative = better results
• The real minimum budgets Meta needs to learn and optimize
• How sports teams can let fans “self-identify” through engagement

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 – Why Meta ads feel broken right now
• 01:03 – What actually changed inside Meta
• 03:28 – Why interest targeting is fuzzy (and always will be)
• 05:49 – Why lookalike audiences are slower and less predictable
• 08:03 – The biggest shift: Meta learns from behavior, not labels
• 10:14 – Creative as targeting: showing moments, not audiences
• 12:14 – Campaign structure mistakes teams keep making
• 14:24 – The new Meta mindset: clear beats clever
• 15:39 – Homework, next steps, and final takeaways

Tactical Takeaways

• Stop asking “Who should we target?” — start asking “What moment are we showing?”
• Let Meta learn from scroll-stopping content, not assumptions
• Consolidate campaigns so Meta gets enough data to optimize
• Feed the algorithm with real fan experiences, not generic graphics
• Clarity sells tickets better than cleverness

Call to Action

If this episode helped clarify where Meta ads are actually heading, share it with someone on your team who’s frustrated with paid ads right now.
 And if you want to pressure-test your current Meta setup, head to the website and book a quick call — even if it’s just to sanity-check what you’re running.

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Marketing predictions are everywhere—but most don’t help sell tickets. In Episode 146, Jeremy Neisser shares 13 practical marketing predictions for 2026, filtered through one question: does this sell more tickets, or is it busy work? This episode focuses on controlling the buying moment, personalization, signal-based marketing, and why the revenue loop replaces the funnel.

Key Topics Covered

• Personalization as a ticket-sales differentiator
• Creative as the new media buyer
• Signals over pixels (Buyer data)
• Saves, comments, & DMs as buying intent
• Zero-click checkout & social selling
• Data reclamation from marketplaces
• First-click ownership as a revenue KPI
• Warm audiences vs. cold acquisition

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
 01:08 Personalization
 04:31 Creative as Media Buyer
 06:51 Signals Over Pixels
 10:34 DMs as Soft Leads
 12:56 Zero-Click Checkout
 15:15 Social Selling
 18:04 Data Reclamation
 19:58 First-Click Ownership
 21:26 Warm vs Cold
 23:49 Per Persona Campaigns
 25:10 Marketing as Inside Sales
 26:35 Revenue Loop

Supporting Links

https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-advertising-changes-2025/
https://www.jonloomer.com/understand-meta-advertising-8-episodes/
https://www.jonloomer.com/interactions-post-engagement/
https://www.emarketer.com/content/social-commerce-2024
https://www.insiderintelligence.com/insights/social-commerce/
https://www.brightedge.com/resources/webinars/owning-the-first-click
https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-strategies/search/brand-vs-non-brand-search/
https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/secondary-ticket-market
https://baymard.com/lists/cart-abandonment-rate
https://baymard.com/blog/checkout-usability
https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2015/03/02/retargeting
https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics
https://www.facebook.com/business/help/146787991656572?id=561906377587030
https://hbr.org/2016/07/ending-the-war-between-sales-and-marketing
https://www.forrester.com/blogs/b2c-marketing-and-sales-alignment/
https://www.meta.com/business/help/1438417719786914

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In this episode, Jeremy Neisser reviews his previous predictions for sports marketing and fan engagement for 2025, assessing where he was right, where he was wrong, and what the implications are for 2026. He discusses the impact of AI and personalization, the shift towards membership models, the rise of short form video, the importance of user-generated content, and the challenges of holistic attribution. He also delves into the complexities of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in sports, donor engagement strategies, and the significance of focusing on fan quality over quantity.

Key Themes Covered

• AI & personalization (where it works and where it doesn’t)
• The continued shift from season tickets → membership models
• Short-form video becoming the backbone of ticket marketing
• Why creative is now the targeting
• The messy reality of attribution
• NIL’s impact on ticket sales and sponsorships
• Donor engagement at scale
• Why fan quality matters more than fan quantity

Takeaways

• AI and personalization are crucial for sports marketing success.
• Membership models are replacing traditional season tickets.
• Short form video has become essential for engaging fans.
• User-generated content builds trust and engagement.
• Holistic attribution is challenging but necessary for understanding marketing impact.
• NIL has complicated the landscape of college athletics.
• Donors seek meaningful engagement beyond transactions.
• NIL platforms need to simplify for small market teams.
• Focusing on fan quality leads to better outcomes than quantity.
• Auditing marketing strategies is essential for future success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Self-Audit of Predictions
01:01 AI and Personalization in Sports Marketing
03:54 Membership Models and Fan Engagement
05:46 The Rise of Short Form Video
08:04 User-Generated Content and Micro Influencers
09:28 Holistic Attribution Challenges
13:11 Navigating Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)
16:31 Donor Engagement and Experience
18:54 NIL Platforms and Market Scaling
20:20 The Importance of Fan Quality Over Quantity
22:13 Conclusion and Advice for 2026

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Episode 95 – 12 Marketing & Fan Engagement Predictions for 2025
• 80/20 Principle (Pareto Principle)
• Sports Marketing Machine Strategy Call

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The marketing landscape changed fast in 2025—and sports teams felt it in their revenue. In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine, Jeremy Neisser breaks down 13 real-world marketing lessons that directly impacted ticket sales, renewals, and average order value. No trends, no platforms, no vanity metrics—just the decisions that actually showed up on the revenue report and matter heading into 2026.

Key Topics Covered

• Why buying friction quietly kills impulse ticket sales
• How revenue exposes bad marketing faster than engagement metrics
• Why timing beats messaging when it comes to conversions
• The costly mistake of choosing clever over clear
• How personalization (not tech) drove higher sales
• Why owned channels became the safest revenue engine
• How creative replaced targeting in paid media
• Why familiar offers outperform “new and shiny” ideas
• Bundles vs. discounts—and why bundles win
• The overlooked revenue power of single-game buyers
• How promotions train (or damage) fan behavior
• Why retention quietly became cheaper than acquisition
• How top teams turned marketing into a revenue system, not a department

Episode Chapters / Timestamps

• 00:00 – Why these aren’t trends, platforms, or vanity metrics
• 01:30 – Lesson 1: Buying friction kills impulse sales
• 04:53 – Lesson 2: Revenue exposes bad marketing
• 07:15 – Lesson 3: Timing > messaging
• 09:07 – Lesson 4: Clarity always beats cleverness
• 10:54 – Lesson 5: Personalization as a revenue lever
• 13:32 – Lesson 6: Owned channels = owned revenue
• 15:28 – Lesson 7: Creative became the new targeting
• 17:24 – Lesson 8: Familiarity sells faster than novelty
• 19:20 – Lesson 9: Bundles beat discounts
• 20:17 – Lesson 10: Single-game buyers as a growth engine
• 21:42 – Lesson 11: Promotions train fan behavior
• 23:09 – Lesson 12: Retention beats acquisition
• 25:00 – Lesson 13: Marketing as a revenue system

Call to Action

If this episode sparked an idea—or exposed something you need to fix—reach out at sportsmarketingmachine.com or connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn. And if alignment still isn’t happening between sales and marketing on your team, this episode is required listening.

Why This Episode Matters

The teams that won in 2025 didn’t shout louder or spend more—they reduced friction, showed up at the right moment, personalized their offers, and aligned sales, marketing, and data around revenue. These 13 lessons are your blueprint for turning marketing into predictable ticket sales in 2026.

Links mentioned:

Episode 140: Mystery Park Promo that Sold 700 Tickets

Episode 137: Make Your Black Friday/Cyber Monday Offer So Good! 

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The way fans decide where to spend their money has fundamentally changed—and many sports teams are still marketing like it hasn’t. In this episode, Jeremy Neisser breaks down the post-COVID “experience shift” and explains why fans are choosing experiences over products, convenience, and even price. By studying how restaurants reinvented themselves after COVID, Jeremy shows sports marketers how to drive urgency, attention, and ticket sales by turning games into moments worth sharing.

 Key Topics Covered

• How consumer behavior shifted dramatically after COVID—and why it didn’t “go back to normal”
• The rise of the experience economy and why experiential spending has exploded since 2019
• Why restaurants leaned into the weird, the wacky, and the visually shareable
• What “the experience is the marketing” actually means for sports teams
• How social media now directly influences purchasing decisions, not just awareness
• Why Millennials and Gen Z choose events based on what they see online
• How attention and urgency outperform discounts and promotions
• What every game needs to have to stand out in a crowded entertainment market

 Timestamps

• 00:00 – The post-COVID landscape and the experience shift
• 02:35 – Why restaurants are the best case study for sports marketers
• 05:45 – The experience economy and why attention beats paid media
• 08:33 – Social media as a buying decision, not a branding tool
• 11:51 – What sports teams should steal from restaurant marketing
• 13:30 – Selling moments instead of schedules and discounts
• 15:51 – Final takeaway: how experiences create urgency and revenue

Links mentioned:

1. Forbes – Experience Economy Growth Post-COVID
   https://www.forbes.com/sites/jefffromm/2023/11/09/gen-z-and-affluent-consumers-are-re-shaping-the-experience-economy/
2. Restaurant Dive – Thriving in the Experience Economy
   https://www.restaurantdive.com/spons/how-restaurants-can-thrive-in-the-experience-economy/728365/
3. Restaurant Social Media Statistics (Discovery → Purchase)
   https://cropink.com/restaurant-social-media-statistics
4. Deloitte – Social-First Restaurants & Revenue Growth
   https://www.deloittedigital.com/us/en/insights/perspective/social-media-strategies-restaurants.html
5. Gen Z & Social Food Trends
   https://www.fb101.com/why-84-of-gen-z-are-trying-social-media-food-trends-and-what-that-means-for-restaurant-marketing/

6. Episode 90: How Chili’s Leveraged User-Generated Content to Drive Engagement an

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In this episode, Jeremy breaks down one of the most overlooked—but most profitable—windows in the entire sports marketing calendar: Q5, the five-to-seven-day stretch between Christmas and New Year’s. While big advertisers shut down campaigns and CPMs plummet, fans are at home scrolling with gift cards, holiday cash, and a “treat yourself” mindset. Jeremy explains why Q5 consistently delivers cheaper traffic, higher conversions, and a massive edge for teams who prepare simple, compelling offers. You’ll walk away with tactical ideas, best practices, and pitfalls to avoid so you can win that week without increasing your budget.

Key Topics Covered

• What Q5 is and why marketers consider it the “hidden fifth quarter.”
• Why ad costs drop 20–50% and how sports teams can capitalize
• The psychological mindset of fans between Christmas and New Year’s
• The four big benefits of Q5: cheaper ads, impulse buying, treat-yourself energy, and better-performing creative
• Tactical promos perfect for Q5: mystery packs, January/February packs, flash offers, family-focused bundles
• Why storytelling ads and light content crush during this window
• What NOT to do during Q5 (complicated offers, pausing spend, ignoring warm audiences)
• How Q5 builds momentum for January–March ticket sales

Suggested Timestamps

00:00 — What is Q5 and why sports teams ignore it
01:06 — Why advertisers disappear (and why that's good for you)
03:33 — Cheaper CPMs, CPCs, and conversions: the Q5 advantage
05:55 — The “treat yourself” mindset and holiday buyer psychology
08:15 — Q5 offer ideas: mystery packs, winter ticket packs, flash promos
10:27 — Using content to cheaply warm audiences
11:38 — Q5 cautions and best practices
12:49 — Final thoughts + why Q5 is the easiest win of the year

Call to Action

Got a Q5 idea you want to pressure test? Want help shaping an offer, promotion, or ad angle for that week? Send Jeremy a message or schedule a quick 10–20 minute call to brainstorm your Q5 plan and set up your January–March sales for a major lift.

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Buyout nights are one of the most misunderstood tools in sports marketing. Some teams swear by them — others won’t touch them with a ten-foot pole. In this episode, Jeremy breaks down exactly why buyout nights can be a revenue machine and a sponsor slam dunk… but also how they can quietly erode your ticketing strategy, overwhelm your operations, and reposition your brand as the “free entertainment option” in your community.

You’ll learn the financial upside, the hidden dangers, the operational realities, and a step-by-step framework for running buyout nights with intention — including the essential data capture, segmentation, bounce-back offers, and sponsor recaps that turn a one-night giveaway into long-term revenue.

Whether you’ve done buyout nights for years or you’re debating your first one, this episode gives you the guardrails you need to do them right.

Key Topics Covered:

✔ Why Buyout Nights Work — When They Work

• Guaranteed revenue upfront, regardless of opponent, weather, or win-loss record
• Perfect for teams in unpredictable climates or with volatile attendance rhythms
• Creates a “manufactured” packed house that directly enhances game entertainment
• Strengthens sponsor relationships through visibility, goodwill, and community impact
• Functions as a massive sampling event for new or casual fans
• Acts as one of the cheapest fan acquisition channels when data is captured properly

✔ The Hidden Downsides Most Teams Ignore

• Training your market to wait for free tickets (the “coupon culture” problem)
• Risk of season ticket holders questioning their investment
• Free/discounted attendees spend less, engage less, and convert less
• Turning your brand into the low-price entertainment option in town
• Sponsor expectations ballooning after their first successful buyout night
• Operational meltdowns when attendance jumps from 2,000 to 7,000 unexpectedly
• Lost marketing value if fan data isn’t collected every single time

✔ Why Email & Contact Capture Is Non-Negotiable

• Turning “visitors” into “buyers” starts with having their information
• Free ticket = free lead… only if you set the system up correctly
• Simple Google Form strategy: name, email, phone, zip, and one qualifying question
• How these leads power future meta audiences, family offers, and retargeting campaigns
• Why collecting data turns buyout night into one of your highest ROI events of the season

Timestamps

00:00 — Introduction: Why buyout nights spark so much debate
01:30 — The benefits: guaranteed revenue, packed buildings, sponsor wins
04:02 — How buyout nights boost community goodwill and brand visibility
06:06 — The lead-generation opportunities teams often miss
09:02 — The downside: discount culture, low-value fans, and pricing damage
12:50 — Operational challenges when attendance explodes overnight
14:49 — The secret sauce: bounce-backs, segmentation, sponsor POP recaps
17:23 — Final takeaways: Intentional vs. accidental buyout nights

Call to Action

Thinking about running a buyout night? Not sure how to price it, structure it, or avoid the pitfalls? Reach out and schedule a call — Jeremy can help you build a buyout strategy that gener

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In this episode, Jeremy breaks down one of the strangest ticket offers he’s ever seen—a “mystery pack” that moved nearly 700 opening day tickets months before first pitch. He unpacks why fans lined up to buy something they couldn’t fully see, using four key levers: price, surprise, giftability, and game-specific demand. You’ll walk away with plug-and-play mystery pack ideas you can adapt for your team this season.

Key Topics Covered

• The “Mystery Pack” Breakdown – How a minor league team sold 100 packs at $50 and 70 more at $40, pre-selling almost 700 opening day tickets in November.
• The 4 Levers That Make It Work – Price, surprise, giftability, and game-specific demand—and how each one lowers friction and boosts perceived value.
• The No-Brainer Floor Test – Why your base offer (even without the mystery items) has to pass a simple, “Would I buy this anyway?” sniff test.
• Designing Smart Surprise – How to keep the experience known and only make the extras mysterious so the offer feels fun, not risky.
• Turning Packs into Perfect Gifts – Structuring bundles that can go under the tree, into a stocking, or become an easy “one and done” gift for families, dads, or grandparents.
• Game-Specific Demand & Early Momentum – Using mystery packs to pre-sell your keystone nights (Opening Night, fireworks, theme nights, etc.) and build urgency months in advance.
• Ready-to-Use Mystery Pack Templates – Kids Holiday Pack, Father’s Day Dad Box, Theme Night Mystery Pack, and National Ice Cream Day bundle you can copy and customize.
• Guardrails So It Doesn’t Backfire – Avoiding junky merch, setting quantity limits, nailing fulfillment, and tracking new buyers, usage, and per caps to prove ROI.

Episode Chapters & Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction to the Mystery Pack Promotion
• 01:21 – The Offer That “Shouldn’t Work”… But Does
• 07:06 – The Four Key Levers: Price, Surprise, Giftability, Game Demand
• 13:53 – Pre-Selling Opening Night & Keystone Games
• 19:54 – Plug-and-Play Mystery Pack Ideas You Can Steal
• 23:37 – Guardrails, Metrics, and Final Checklist

Call to Action

Testing a mystery pack this season—holiday, Father’s Day, theme night, or something wild your GM dreamed up? Jeremy wants to see it. Send your offer, pricing, and results his way, or head to SportsMarketingMachine.com to schedule a call and workshop your own mystery bundle that makes fans say, “I don’t totally know what’s in it, but I’d be dumb not to buy it.”

Episodes Mentioned:

137: Make Your Black Friday Offer So Good Fans Feel Stupid Saying No To

40 - Savannah Bananas President Jared Orton Talks Social Media & Improving the Fan Experience

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n this episode, Jeremy breaks down Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) in the simplest, most actionable way for sports teams. You’ll learn what CRO actually means, which parts of the process you can control, and how small tweaks to your copy, creative, and landing pages can turn more fans into ticket buyers. If you’ve ever wondered why your ads get clicks but not sales, this episode gives you the clarity you’ve been missing.

Key Topics Covered

• What CRO really means for sports teams and why it matters
• The difference between controllable and uncontrollable factors (hint: your ticketing software isn’t one of them)
• How to improve conversion rates through stronger copy, visuals, and offer clarity
• Why “Buy Tickets” beats “Click Here to Learn More” every time
• The importance of landing page congruency with your ads
• Tracking the right metrics: website visitors → buyers
• How email simplicity boosts conversions
• Why CRO isn’t magic—it’s math, momentum, and message clarity

Timestamps

00:00 — Introduction: What CRO is (and what it isn’t)
 01:06 — Breaking down conversion rate basics
 03:30 — What you can’t control (ticketing software headaches)
04:00 — What you can control: copy, creative, CTAs, and layout
05:49 — Metrics that matter: website traffic → single-game sales
07:00 — Email mistakes teams make and how to fix them
08:11 — Seasonal conversion rate trends and how to optimize
09:45 — Final thoughts + how to get help diagnosing your sales and marketing performance

Sound Bite Pulls

• “You only have one offer.”
• “One offer per landing page.”
• “They want to buy now.”
• “CRO isn’t magic. It’s math.”

Social Teaser Hooks

• “If your ads get clicks but not sales, the problem isn’t the targeting—it’s what happens after the click.”
• “Sports teams don’t need more traffic. They need more conversion.”
• “Stop overwhelming fans. One page. One offer. One clear next step.”

Call to Action

If this episode helped you understand CRO in a new light, share it with someone on your team who’s trying to sell more tickets or sharpen their digital marketing. If you want Jeremy to review your sales + marketing performance and uncover growth opportunities, you can always connect at SportsMarketingMachine.com.

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Not all surveys are created equal. In this episode, Jeremy breaks down the crucial difference between community surveys (awareness audits) and fan surveys (experience audits)—and how using both strategically can turn feedback into real ticket sales. Learn when to deploy each, what questions to ask, and how to connect survey results directly to your CRM to uncover actionable insights that boost revenue and fan loyalty.

Key Topics Covered

• The real difference between a community survey and a fan survey
• How to use surveys to uncover brand awareness gaps and fan experience issues
• Why perception (community) and behavior (fans) require different approaches
• How to segment survey data by purchase history and fan type
• Turning survey results into ticket sales, renewals, and sponsorship leads
• How attention and retention work together to build community momentum
• Common mistakes teams make when collecting and analyzing survey data
• Practical examples of survey insights driving smarter marketing and ad placement

Chapters & Highlights

00:00 – Understanding surveys in sports marketing
01:00 – What a community survey really measures (perception, not performance)
03:20 – The fan survey: your experience audit
05:40 – When and how to deploy each type of survey
08:00 – Turning raw feedback into an actionable ticket sales strategy
10:30 – How to segment and analyze survey data to uncover buying intent
12:00 – Final takeaways: attention + retention = community momentum

Quote Pulls

“A community survey tells you what people think about your brand. A fan survey tells you how they feel about your experience.”“Always connect survey results back to ticket information — that’s how you turn feedback into ticket sales.”“Think of surveys not as paperwork, but as your next year’s playbook.”

Call to Action

If this episode got you thinking about how your team collects feedback, don’t wait until the end of the season—start now. Learn more about building smart, segmented survey dashboards at sportsmarketingmachine.com
under the Fan+ Survey service.

And if you found this helpful, share it with a fellow marketer or GM who wants to use their data better and sell more tickets.

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Black Friday and Cyber Monday are no longer about slashing prices — they’re about stacking value. In this episode, Jeremy Neisser breaks down how sports teams can create irresistible, high-perceived-value bundles that fans can’t resist. Using Alex Hormozi’s “Value Equation” as a foundation, Jeremy shows you exactly how to build, time, and promote a Black Friday offer that feels too good to pass up — without cheapening your brand.

Key Topics Covered

• Why Black Friday isn’t a clearance sale — and how to stop competing on price
• The Value Equation for sports teams: dream outcome, effort, and likelihood of success
• How to “stack value, not slash price” when building your ticket bundle
• The secret power of abundance framing (“Buy 3, Get 1 Free” beats “25% off”)
• Adding risk reversal and scarcity to drive urgency and trust
• A three-phase launch plan (Tease → Reveal → Drop) for maximum conversion
• The Five Ad Apocalypse strategy to warm up your audience before launch
• Copy, email, and landing page templates that make your offer a no-brainer
• Common conversion killers to avoid — and how to track what really worked

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Why most Black Friday offers flop
 01:20 – The “Value Equation” for ticket sales
 03:40 – Stack value, don’t slash price
 06:05 – Competing on experience, not discounts
 08:20 – The 3-phase launch plan (Tease → Reveal → Drop)
 10:50 – The Five Ad Apocalypse for Meta ads
 14:00 – Landing page & email copy that converts
 16:20 – Measuring success & analyzing what worked
 18:40 – Common pitfalls that kill conversions
 21:00 – Final takeaways & challenge to listeners

Main Takeaways

1. Stack value. Bonuses beat discounts every time.
2. Follow the three-phase plan: tease, reveal, and drop.
3. Warm your audience with five ad types to build anticipation.
4. Show the math and the deadline in every message.
5. Document your results to double down next year.

Call to Action

If you create a killer Black Friday bundle, send it to Jeremy on LinkedIn
or via his website — he’ll be featuring standout examples in December. And don’t forget to rate and review the show to help more teams turn their marketing into ticket sales.

Alex Hormozi's - 100M Launch Book (AMAZON LINK)

Showpage - LINK

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Minor league veteran and Game Day Advising founder Mike Van Hise breaks down how teams can squeeze more revenue from the same building—without gutting budgets or fan experience. We talk menu engineering, speed vs. margin at concessions, season-seat strategy, staffing math, and a simple “3% better” rule that compounds into real profit. If you lead marketing, ticketing, or operations, this is a tactical roadmap you can use this homestand.

Key Topics Covered

• Clarity over cuts: Why operational efficiency starts with knowing where money flows (and leaks), not slashing line items.
• Concessions that move: Menu simplification, bottles/cans vs. fountain, and designing for speed so fans buy twice, not once.
• Presentation = price: “Cook to order” stations (grill, tacos/nachos) that lift perceived value and per caps.
• Ticketing mix that protects you from weather: Targeting a 33/33/33 revenue blend (season seats / groups / singles) and pushing pre-sold to 55–66%.
• Season seats the right way: Focus on business buyers; don’t waste cycles trying to jump a single-game fan to 70 games.
• Change management: Killing “this is how we’ve always done it” by building trust and showing a clear plan.
• Smart staffing: Use entry-gate data, cross-train roles, and cut idle time early to avoid morale hits later.
• The 3% Rule: Micro-efficiencies across 150–200 budget lines, vendor prepay discounts, and compounding gains.
• Per-cap wins: Right number of beer taps, local SKUs for pricing power, and distributor intel (what’s actually selling).
• Fail small, learn fast: Encourage $100–$500 tests; avoid the $10,000 mistake. Keep a “Book of Bad Ideas.”

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Why operational efficiency = clarity, not cuts
• 02:53 – Defining operational efficiency for sports teams
• 06:01 – Concessions: menu design, SKUs, and speed vs. margin
• 08:59 – Ticketing strategy: groups vs. season seats (and when to push each)
• 11:57 – Overcoming “we’ve always done it this way”
• 15:03 – Baseball’s timing reality: build for 90–130 sec windows
• 17:53 – Game entertainment efficiency (and why fireworks always work)
• 20:56 – The “Book of Bad Ideas”: inventory, concerts, and learning loops
• 21:21 – Over-prep vs. under-prep: where margins die
• 23:22 – Culture: allow small mistakes; forbid big ones
• 28:12 – The 3% improvement rule (and vendor discount plays)
• 33:11 – Per-cap levers: cook-to-order, local beer, the right number of taps
• 37:40 – What Game Day Advising actually does (and how to engage)

Call to Action

• Book a 30-minute consultation with Mike and the Game Day Advising team to map your top efficiency wins for next season.
• Check out Mike’s article on season seat strategy and grab his full-club assessment overview. (Links in episode description.)

Resources Mentioned

• Game Day Advising – Operational efficiency, ticketing, F&B support (link)
• Season Seat Strategy article by Mike - (link)

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In this episode of The Sports Marketing Machine, Jeremy Neisser breaks down a simple, data-driven way to build — and defend — your marketing budget. Forget complicated spreadsheets and vague “awareness goals.” Jeremy shows how using your single game ROI as your north star can turn every budget request into a business case. Learn how to project spend, justify investment, and track your performance with a system built specifically for sports teams.

Key Topics Covered

• The easiest way to calculate single game ROI (and why it’s your strongest budget tool)
• How to project next year’s budget using last year’s data
• Proving efficiency gains to leadership with small, measurable improvements
• The 70-30 rule for smart budget allocation (sales vs. awareness)
• Why simplicity sells: how to make your budget “bulletproof” in one conversation
• Tracking ROI month-by-month like an investor — not a guesser
• Turning your marketing budget into an investment plan

Chapters

00:00 – Building a Marketing Budget Framework
 01:01 – Understanding Single Game ROI
 04:05 – Projecting Future Budgets with Historical Data
 07:53 – Improving Marketing Efficiency
 10:10 – The 70-30 Rule for Budget Allocation
 12:35 – Tracking ROI and Adjusting Strategies
 14:54 – Key Takeaways for Marketing Directors

Call to Action

Want help connecting your ad data to your ticketing results so your next budget meeting is a breeze? Head to SportsMarketingMachine.com
to grab time with Jeremy and build your marketing ROI dashboard.

View Episode age with details

Episodes mentioned: 

Episode 67 – Why Your Return On Ad Spend (ROAS) is WRONG – Case Study

Episode 111 – Building Your Marketing Budget Like a Funnel: Awareness to Action

Episode 125 – “I Saw Your Ad—But Didn’t Buy”: Fixing the Fan Follow-Up Funnel

Episode 121 – How Video Content Makes Paid Traffic Easier (and Cheaper)

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Season ticket holders give you stability; single-game buyers fuel reach and growth. In this episode, Jeremy maps a practical “ticket plan ladder” to convert first-timers into multi-game, mini, half-season, and ultimately full season ticket holders. You’ll get concrete plays—post-game bouncebacks, perk-led nurturing, and data-driven upsells—plus how marketing and sales should operate in lockstep to make it happen.

Key Topics Covered

• Why season ticket holders still matter: bankable revenue, sky-high LTV, and culture/word-of-mouth impact
• Single-game buyers as your largest conversion pipeline (and why flexibility-first offers win)
• Rethinking budget mix: stop spending 70–80% only on single-game ads; invest in mid/long-term plan growth
• Building the ticket plan ladder: single → multi-game → mini/flex → half → full season
• The post-game “bounceback” play: targeted email/text offers that turn 1 game into 2–3
• Perk-led nurturing: exclusive experiences that sample season-ticket value (create FOMO)
• In-season, data-driven upsells: flag 3–4 game attendees as warm leads (don’t wait till year-end)
• Using STH testimonials as “Yelp reviews” in ads, email, and on-site to add trust + urgency
• Marketing x Sales alignment: shared intel, warm lead routing, timing, and messaging

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction & NSF Fall Summit preview (Oct 9, 2025)
• 02:08 Why season ticket holders matter (stability, LTV, culture)
• 06:23 Single-game buyers as a growth market (flexibility, data capture)
• 10:41 Budget allocation pitfalls and fixes
• 12:29 The Ticket Plan Ladder explained
• 17:57 Walking fans up the ladder: bouncebacks, nurture, perks
• 20:24 Marketing + Sales must operate as one
• 22:42 Key takeaways & next steps

Call to Action

• Tune in: National Sports Forum Virtual Fall Summit on October 9, 2025—Jeremy joins the “Hot Takes in Marketing” panel (link in show notes).
• This week’s play: Run a post-game bounceback to opening night/next promo buyers and test a 2-for-1 or “prime + value” two-game bundle.
• Upgrade engine: Add STH testimonials to your mini/flex upgrade emails and landing pages, then route multi-game attendees to sales as warm leads.

Quote Pulls / Social Teasers

• “Season tickets are stability; single-game is your conversion pipeline.”
• “Fans crave choice and digital-first options—meet them there.”
• “Stop ending the sale at the first sale. The ladder starts after Game 1.”
• “Use your season ticket holders as your Yelp reviewers.”
• “Sales and marketing must work hand-in-hand—or the ladder collapses.”

Keywords

sports marketing, season tickets, single game tickets, fan engagement, marketing strategies, ticket sales, audience conversion, marketing budget, sports teams, sports business

NSF Event - LINK

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All You Can Eat ticket plans sound like a fan’s dream—one ticket, unlimited food—but are they really a win for your team? In this episode of The Sports Marketing Machine, Jeremy Neisser breaks down the pros and cons of these packages, from predictable revenue and marketing appeal to margin risks and operational headaches. You’ll learn how to structure these plans strategically so they elevate the fan experience while still protecting your bottom line.

Key Topics Covered

• Why fans love the simplicity and value of All You Can Eat plans
• How bundling food into tickets creates predictable, upfront revenue
• The operational efficiencies (and pitfalls) of prepaid concessions
• Margin risks and how heavy eaters can wipe out profits
• Menu design, alcohol clarity, and the importance of perceived value
• Structuring plans using per caps, pricing buffers, and sponsorship offsets
• Positioning All You Can Eat as an entry-level ticket plan without cannibalizing premium options
• Long-term strategy: renewals, upsells, and loyalty building

Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction to All You Can Eat Ticket Plans
• 01:00 – Pros of All You Can Eat Packages
• 05:38 – Cons and Risks of All You Can Eat Packages
• 08:53 – Structuring All You Can Eat Plans Smartly
• 12:14 – Long-Term Strategy for All You Can Eat Packages
• 16:02 – Key Takeaways and Conclusion

Sound Bites / Social Teasers

• “One ticket, unlimited food.”
• “It elevates the experience.”
• “Define the package clearly—or risk an all you can lose plan.”

Call to Action
Tried an All You Can Eat ticket plan before? Jeremy wants to hear how it worked for your team—DM him or reach out through Sports Marketing Machine. If this episode gave you some food for thought (pun intended), share it with a colleague and leave a review on Apple or Spotify so more sports pros can sell smarter and build their fan base.

Links mentioned: 

David Salyers - Chick-Fil-A "Creating A Value-Inbalance"

Loss Leaders - Episode 117

Episode page - Episode 133

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More traffic doesn’t always mean more profit. In this episode, Jeremy Neisser unpacks a real case study from a minor league baseball team that saw website visitors surge from 27,000 to 35,000—but lost $15,000 in profit along the way. He explains why chasing vanity metrics like clicks, impressions, and raw attendance can mask deeper problems in profitability. From understanding diminishing returns to prioritizing average order value (AOV) and smarter budget allocation, Jeremy gives sports teams a playbook for turning data into dollars.

Key Topics Covered

• Why more traffic can actually hurt your bottom line
• Case study: 35,000 visitors that led to declining ROAS
• The difference between quality vs. quantity traffic
• Diminishing returns: when extra spend stops paying off
• The role of average order value (AOV) in real growth
• How to use the 60-40 rule for smarter budget allocation
• Avoiding the vanity metric trap (traffic, impressions, and “sellouts”)
• Why profitability > popularity in sports marketing

Chapters

• 00:00 – Understanding Marketing Data for Minor League Baseball
• 01:29 – The Impact of Traffic on Profitability
• 04:43 – Quality vs. Quantity in Traffic
• 09:26 – Diminishing Returns and the 60-40 Rule
• 12:21 – The Importance of Average Order Value
• 16:37 – Key Takeaways and Action Plan

Call to Action
Before you chase big traffic numbers, dig into your AOV and ROAS data. If you need help unpacking what actually happened with your team’s marketing this season, reach out to Jeremy for a free 30-minute breakdown.

Episode Page: Episode 132 

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In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine podcast, Jeremy Neisser unpacks Meta Advantage Plus—Meta’s automated ad system for Facebook and Instagram. While it promises simplicity, Advantage Plus often hurts sports teams by prioritizing clicks over actual ticket sales, lumping all fans into one generic audience, and masking true performance with misleading metrics.

Jeremy explains why manual ad setup, audience segmentation, and conversion tracking are essential to avoid wasted spend. He also highlights when Advantage Plus can be useful, such as for merchandise sales, but makes it clear: selling tickets requires a more hands-on, strategic approach.

Takeaways

• Advantage Plus is Meta’s autopilot for ads.
• It often works against sports teams trying to sell tickets.
• Personalization in ads is critical for success.
• Manual setup helps you better understand your fans.
• Conversion tracking is essential for measuring real results.
• Wasted impressions and high frequency are red flags.
• Build warm and hot audiences for targeted marketing.
• Advantage Plus works better for broad merch campaigns.
• Don’t rely solely on Meta’s “easy button.”
• A manual, hands-on approach makes you a stronger marketer.

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction and context
02:15 – What Advantage Plus really is
04:32 – Why Advantage Plus fails for ticket sales
07:10 – How to tell if Advantage Plus is wasting your money
09:30 – Smarter alternatives: warm audiences and creative testing
11:30 – When Advantage Plus can help (merchandise sales)
13:45 – Final takeaways and call to action

Episodes mentioned:

• Episode 128 – 3 Changes with Meta That Affect Your Ads (and How to Sell More Tickets Anyway)
• Episode 125 – “I Saw Your Ad—But Didn’t Buy”: Fixing the Fan Follow-Up Funnel
• Episode 111 – Building Your Marketing Budget Like a Funnel: Awareness to Action
• Episode 110 – Meta Ads 101 – The Smart Way to Retarget: Website Visitors, Social Engagers & Timing That Converts (Part 4 of 4)
• Episode 109 – Meta Ads 101 – The Hidden Power of Lookalike Audiences in Meta Ads (Part 3 of 4)
• Episode 108 – Meta Ads 101 – How to Use Exclusion Lists in Meta Ads to Boost ROI (Part 2 of 4)
• Episode 107 – Meta Ads 101 – Link Clicks vs. Landing Page Views (Part 1 of 4)
• Episode 21 – The 3 Audiences You Should Have In Your Meta Business Suite

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AI isn’t just about writing better emails anymore—it’s about creating visuals that sell. In this episode, Jeremy introduces Nano Banana, Google’s new AI image-generation tool, and breaks down exactly how sports teams can use it to move more merchandise, sell more tickets, and close bigger sponsorships. If you’ve ever wished you could create pro-level visuals in minutes instead of weeks, this episode shows you how.

See all of the mock-ups and designs Jeremy made here: Episode 130

Key Topics Covered

• What Nano Banana is and why it’s like “Canva on steroids”
• How to use AI visuals to test merchandise concepts and launch pre-order campaigns risk-free
• Quick-win strategies to boost ticket sales with AI-generated graphics and personalized fan content
• Bounce-back offers: using visuals to re-engage fans right after games
• Sponsorship mock-ups that turn “maybe” into “heck yes” during pitches
• Time-saving workflows for marketing teams without huge budgets or staff
• The three-step approach to testing Nano Banana in your operation (pick one bucket, run a 30-day test, track results)
• Why early adopters of AI visuals will outpace their competition

Timestamps

• (00:00) Intro: The revenue power of AI visuals
• (01:06) What is Nano Banana?
• (03:26) Three big reasons it matters: time, money, and new possibilities
• (03:54) Revenue bucket #1: Merchandise mockups & pre-order testing
• (05:39) Revenue bucket #2: Ticket sales promotions, bounce-back offers, and personalization
• (10:15) Revenue bucket #3: Sponsorship mockups, player content, and mascot marketing
• (12:37) Why better visuals sell better
• (14:59) Where to start: a simple 4-step process
• (17:21) Main takeaways

Main Takeaways

1. Nano Banana isn’t a gimmick—it’s a real revenue driver for sports teams.
2. Start small with merchandise mockups for quick wins.
3. Expand into ticket sales and sponsorships once you see results.
4. Early adopters who build repeatable AI workflows will win big.

Call to Action
Share this episode with a colleague stuck in Photoshop or Canva who needs faster, smarter ways to create visuals.
Want help mapping AI into your team’s revenue strategy? DM Jeremy or schedule a call at SportsMarketingMachine.com

Links mentioned: 

Google Gemini

Episode: 122 - 9 ways to use ChatGPT to help you sell more tickets

Episode 117 - Good Deal or Bad Strategy? The Right Way to Use Loss Leaders

Episode 115  - “We Miss You”: The Email That Brings Fans Back

Episode 103 - Personalize It - Why it Works (Part 1)

Episode 101 - 6 Fan Experience Lessons Learned from Going to Disneyland

.

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How does a minor league hockey team add nearly 1,500 fans per game in just four seasons? In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Adam Winslow, Chief Marketing Officer for the Florida Everblades, to break down the strategies that fueled a 27% attendance jump. 

From surviving COVID challenges to building a data-driven marketing machine, Adam shares how his team turned small experiments into major wins. If you’re looking for a roadmap to sustainable ticket growth, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for sports marketers at every level.

Key Topics Covered:

• Navigating the uncertainty of COVID as a newly hired marketing director
• How technology upgrades like Dash, Podium, and StellarAlgo changed their approach
• Turning email and text platforms into real revenue drivers
• The role of personalization in ticket marketing—“don’t sell fish to steak eaters”
• Why small, methodical tests (like $20 ad spends) can snowball into big wins
• Marketing’s evolution from a “support” function to a true revenue generator
• Continuous investment in the fan experience to keep things fresh and engaging
• Staying adaptable to tech changes, from social media shifts to AI integration

Timestamps:

• 00:57 – Starting in the middle of COVID – Adam’s move to Florida, uncertainty during shutdowns, and building from scratch.
• 02:24 – Growing attendance by 27% – From 5,327 to 6,758 fans per game and the factors that drove it.
• 04:39 – Leveraging technology – From digital jersey auctions with Dash to email, text, and Meta ads.
• 06:49 – Data-driven marketing – How StellarAlgo transformed personalization, targeting, and ROI tracking.
• 12:22 – Marketing as a revenue driver – Moving beyond “sales support” and proving measurable impact.
• 18:16 – Testing, ROI, and scaling – Small ad spends, benchmarks, and learning from what works.
• 23:43 – Fan experience and community connection – Theme nights, charity auctions, and reinvesting in the arena.
• 27:17 – Looking ahead – Investing in AI, TikTok/Reels, LinkedIn ads, and building team culture.

Quote Pulls / Social Teasers:

• “Marketing isn’t just sales support anymore—it’s a revenue generator.”
• “Don’t try to target steak eaters with fish. Know your audience and deliver exactly what they want.”
• “AI is not going away.”
• “Just take one step forward.”
• “You don’t need to fill the tank—start with $20 on an ad and see what happens.”

Call to Action:
If you’d like to connect with Adam, you can find him on LinkedIn or by email - adamw@floridaeverblades.com.

Links:

Episode 119: Fan Activation, Revenue Growth, and Digital Engagement with Dash’s Jonathan Hufnagel

Keywords / Tags:
COVID-19, sports marketing strategies, attendance growth, fan engagement, technology in sports, data-driven marketing, personalization, minor league sports, AI in marketing, sports management, ticket marketing, revenue generation, ticket sales

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Meta keeps moving the goalposts—and if you’re still running ads like it’s last season, you’re wasting money. In this episode of Sports Marketing Machine, Jeremy Neisser breaks down the three biggest changes Meta has rolled out—weaker targeting, new placements, and the launch of its AI engine Andromeda—and shows you how to stay ahead so your ads actually sell tickets instead of just burning budget.

Sports marketers who adapt will get cheaper ads and more conversions while their competitors are left scratching their heads.

Key Topics Covered

• Why Meta stripped out many interest categories (and how to replace them with custom audiences)
• The power of local radius targeting paired with AI expansion
• How to use new ad placements on Threads and WhatsApp to follow fans across platforms
• Why Meta’s endgame is no longer being the “biggest social network” but the world’s most powerful AI ad engine
• How creative—not targeting—is now the #1 driver of ad performance
• What the “fishbone effect” means for testing and scaling multiple ad formats
• Tactical tips for building the right funnel with top, middle, and bottom audiences
• Practical examples of creative that sells (e.g., reels of fireworks night vs. static graphics)

Timestamps

00:00 – Why Meta keeps changing the rules
 01:30 – Change #1: Targeting got weaker (and what to do about it)
 05:40 – Building custom audiences and giving AI guardrails
 08:15 – Change #2: New ad placements on Threads & WhatsApp
 10:30 – Meta’s real endgame: AI-first ad engine
 15:20 – Change #3: Creative is king thanks to Andromeda
 17:45 – How Advantage+ campaigns scale the right creative
 20:00 – Main takeaways & what to adjust first

Relevant episodes: 

• Episode 111 - Building Your Marketing Budget Like A Funnel 
• Episode 80 - First Party Data vs Third Party Data
• Episode 37 - Cold Audiences & Warm Audience - The Differences for Your Marketing
• Episode 21 - 3 Audiences You Should Have in Your Meta Business Suite 

Call to Action

If your ads feel more expensive or less effective than last year, it’s not you—it’s Meta. Adjust your funnel, upload fresh creative, and let AI work for you.

Share this episode with a teammate running ads, and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts if you found it helpful.

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What happens when the world’s biggest pop star drops in on an NFL podcast? A marketing masterclass in collaboration, authenticity, and buzz creation. In this episode, Jeremy Neisser breaks down the viral Travis Kelce, Jason Kelce, and Taylor Swift moment—and turns it into three concrete, locally applicable strategies any sports team can use to sell more tickets and grow their fan base. From cross-audience partnerships to personality-driven content and buzz-worthy activations, you’ll walk away with ready-to-run ideas you can launch in your own market.

Key Topics Covered

• The “cross-audience moment” and how to find the perfect local partner to expand your reach
• Why showing the human side of your players builds deeper fan connections
• Creating quirky, unexpected moments that fans can’t help but share
• Real-world examples: zoo ice cream shifts, player-chef cook-offs, and mascot mechanic makeovers
• How to turn attention into actual ticket sales with bundles, opt-ins, and QR codes
• Audience verification tips to ensure partnerships drive local results
• Balancing creative activations with bottom-line sales goals

Timestamps
00:00 – Why the Taylor & Travis podcast moment matters for sports marketing
01:33 – Lesson 1: The power of cross-audience partnerships
05:55 – How to bundle game tickets with partner offers for bigger impact
06:21 – Lesson 2: Showing your players’ human side
08:44 – Player-chef cook-off activation idea
10:57 – Lesson 3: Give fans something they’ll talk about
13:16 – Recap: Turning buzz into ticket sales

Call to Action
Ready to brainstorm your own collaboration ideas? Visit sportsmarketingmachine.com to schedule a call and map out how these tactics can fit into your ticket sales funnel.

Love the podcast? Take a moment to rate or review the podcast on your favorite platform. 

Quote Pulls / Social Teasers

• “Don’t just partner with brands your fans already love—find ones with a compatible but different audience.”
• “Your players’ content is gold. Show their personality, not just their athletic skill.”
• “Sometimes the quirky, unexpected ideas create better engagement than polished videos.”

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Nick Richardson, VP of Ticket Sales & Service at the Texas Rangers, joins the show to break down how one of MLB’s premier organizations is evolving ticket plans to match fan behavior, preferences, and expectations. From mini packs and flex plans to AI-driven outreach and unforgettable fan experiences, Nick shares powerful, tactical insights on customer service, digital transformation, and building a culture that wins fans—not just renewals.

This episode is a must-listen for marketing directors, sales leaders, and team execs looking to boost retention and modernize their ticketing approach.

Key Topics Covered:

• How the Rangers structure and position modern ticket plans (10-game, flex, theme-night bundles, and more)
• Why subscription models didn’t work in Texas (but might in your market)
• How to use promotional items and exclusive perks to drive ticket sales and renewals
• Strategies for retaining flex plan buyers who don’t schedule in advance
• The power of fan surveys—and how to turn feedback into action
• How to train reps for service-first selling (and why one rep’s 90%+ renewal rate proves it works)
• A behind-the-scenes story of a $70 gesture that created lifelong fandom
• Where AI fits into the sales funnel—and where it absolutely doesn't

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Welcome & intro to Nick Richardson
• 01:00 – Evolution of ticket plans: from full season to flex
• 04:30 – Why theme-night mini packs are a hit
• 07:00 – Subscription models: what works (and doesn’t)
• 08:45 – Value perception: experience > discount
• 11:00 – Digital ticketing: overcoming resistance
• 13:00 – Turning survey feedback into real changes
• 17:30 – Building a service-first culture
• 22:30 – Creating magical fan moments (on a budget)
• 31:00 – How the Rangers measure customer service
• 38:00 – Where AI helps (and where it can't replace humans)

Call to Action:

Looking to revamp your ticketing strategy? Take a page from the Rangers playbook—prioritize flexibility, experiences, and service. And don’t underestimate the power of small, surprising moments.

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Is your ad traffic up but ticket sales down? In this episode, Jeremy Neisser dives into the most overlooked reason sports teams struggle to convert traffic into revenue: misaligned messaging and retargeting. 

He outlines a smarter, segmented funnel approach that turns casual ad viewers into committed buyers. Learn how to optimize each stage of your ad strategy—from TOFU to BOFU—and stop wasting budget on clicks that don’t convert.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why more traffic isn’t always better (and can even hurt your results)
• The hidden danger of relying solely on ROAS
• How to fix message and audience misalignment
• Building segmented funnels: TOFU, MOFU, BOFU explained
• Matching ad creative to the fan’s buying journey
• Recognizing and preventing ad fatigue
• Leveraging video views, cart activity, and timing for retargeting
• Creative that converts: proof over promotion

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Understanding the Conversion Problem
• 04:11 – Rebuilding the Retargeting Funnel
• 09:00 – Creating Effective Ad Creative
• 11:27 – Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Call to Action:
📥 Grab the free audience segmentation download at sportsmarketingmachine.com/125
📞 Want a free single-game ticket sales audit? Schedule a call directly with Jeremy.

Quote Pulls / Social Teasers:

• "Eyeballs don’t equal buyers."
• "More traffic isn’t always better—especially if it’s the wrong traffic."
• "A good ROAS can hide weak performance."

Keywords:
sports marketing, ad conversion, retargeting, ticket sales, audience targeting, ad creative, marketing strategy, conversion optimization, sports teams, advertising effectiveness, ticket marketing

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In this episode, Jeremy Neisser sits down with two seasoned college athletics marketers: Scott Peace (Senior Associate AD for Revenue Generation at UNI) and Kelly Wilga (Assistant AD for Marketing at Sacramento State). Together, they dive into what it takes to successfully plan and execute a football marketing campaign.

From budget discussions and scheduling promotions to engaging students and running creative, on-brand theme nights, this episode is packed with actionable insights. They explore how even teams with limited resources can deliver unforgettable fan experiences and improve attendance through collaboration, strategy, and bold creativity.

Takeaways

• Start football marketing planning early — often as early as March.
• Prioritize student engagement, especially for early-season games.
• Build partnerships across campus to extend your budget and reach.
• Theme nights and experiential promotions (like hot tubs or tattoo artists) can dramatically boost attendance.
• Always evaluate the ROI of long-standing marketing traditions — and be willing to scrap or evolve them.
• Focus on controllable factors of fan experience from “driveway to driveway.”
• Giveaways still work, especially when they're creative and unique.
• Use athletics as a platform to highlight broader university initiatives.
• Even with a tight budget, you can get creative and make a big impact.
• Don’t accept the limitations of a small team — lean on relationships, data, and smart execution.

Memorable Quotes

💬 "You can never have enough money to get your messaging out."
 💬 "Flooding the zone with digital retargeting is essential."
 💬 "We're not going to settle for the norm anymore."
 💬 "Delivering a memorable fan experience should be your #1 priority."
 💬 "Think creatively. That isn’t always expensive."

 Chapters

00:00 – Kickoff: Importance of Football Marketing
 02:52 – Budgeting and Scheduling
 05:49 – Student Engagement Strategies
 08:39 – Enhancing Game Day Experience
 11:51 – Creative Promotions & Brand Alignment
 14:42 – Innovation & Risk-Taking
 22:26 – Balancing Fun with University Identity
 25:35 – The Rise of Theme Nights
 32:03 – Lessons Learned and Venue Improvements
 38:25 – Fan Experience as the Ultimate Driver
 43:42 – Advice for Small Teams with Tight Budgets

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What do Harry Potter, Hello Kitty, and Grateful Dead have in common? They each helped sports teams sell out stadiums.

In this special episode, Jeremy Neisser welcomes Denise Sicheneder from Spinzo to break down the Top 10 highest-performing theme nights of the past year — from licensing and community engagement to surprise breakout hits.

We unpack:

• How teams use nostalgia, cultural relevance, and smart strategy to build packed promotions
• Why some nights succeed wildly while others fall flat
• How to build long-term momentum with fan groups, community partners, and themed mini plans

Whether you work in college athletics, minor league sports, or pro teams — this episode is full of practical, repeatable insights you can use today.

Top Takeaways:

• Theme nights = more than ticket deals — they’re emotional marketing engines
• Community champions are your secret weapon to grow niche nights
• Licensing matters — do it right with Hello Kitty, Batman, Star Wars, and more
• Go all in — concerts, costumes, contests, concourse activations = full takeover
• Nostalgia sells — fans love reliving what they grew up with
• Don’t ignore merchandise — hats, jerseys, and collectibles drive urgency
• Short promos can work — if you go heavy on email, SMS, and retargeting
• Mini-plans are evolving — think dog ticket plans, comic bundles, and repeat-night strategies

Featured Theme Nights:

1. Grateful Dead Night – 6,844 tickets
2. Star Wars Night – 4,112 tickets
3. Hello Kitty Night – 2,444 tickets
4. First Responders Night – 2,932 tickets
5. Bark at the Park – 1,670 tickets
6. Batman Night – 955 tickets
7. Margaritaville Night – 770 tickets
8. Filipino Heritage Night – 539 tickets
9. Dia de los Muertos – 432 tickets
10. Harry Potter Night – 323 tickets

Chapters & Timestamps:

• 00:00 — Intro: Why Theme Nights Still Work
• 02:58 — #10 Harry Potter Night: Fast, Focused, Effective
• 05:58 — #9–8 Cultural Nights: Dia de los Muertos & Filipino Heritage
• 08:50 — The Power of Local Partnerships & Authenticity
• 12:04 — #7 Margaritaville: Music, Merch & Massive Sales
• 15:03 — #6 Batman Night: Licensing + Fandom = Revenue
• 17:49 — #5 Bark at the Park: Dogs Sell Tickets
• 20:25 — Expanding Bark into Mini Plans & Membership
• 22:06 — #4 First Responders: Honoring & Engaging Heroes
• 26:18 — #3 Hello Kitty: Surging Demand, Big Smiles
• 29:43 — #2 Star Wars Night: Timeless. Scalable. Profitable.
• 31:48 — #1 Grateful Dead Night: Cult Fans, Sold-Out Stadiums
• 33:07 — Final Takeaways: Build Better Nights with Community

Links & Resources:

•  Spinzo Pulse Interview Series - includes the top 10 article and Margaritaville and Bark in the Park interviews
•  TicketPlaybook.com: Theme Night Articles
• Contact Denise at Spinzo to explore theme night tools - denise.sicheneder@spinzo.com 

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In this episode of The Sports Marketing Machine Podcast, host Jeremy Neisser reveals nine powerful ways sports marketers can use ChatGPT to boost efficiency, save time, and most importantly — sell more tickets. From crafting better emails and social posts, to analyzing Meta Ads data and fan surveys, to writing scripts and FAQs in seconds — ChatGPT can act like your own virtual marketing assistant.

Each tip is practical, easy to implement, and designed for busy marketing directors looking to stretch their resources and drive real results. Plus, Jeremy includes links to companion YouTube videos so you can see these prompts in action.

💡 Key Takeaways

• 🧠 Always give ChatGPT context by assigning it a role — like your team’s marketing director.
• ✉️ Generate high-converting subject lines that boost email open rates.
• 📝 Enhance email copy, social posts, and even social captions with tone-appropriate writing.
• 📊 Analyze Meta Ads performance and surface trends you might have missed.
• ❓ Create detailed FAQ sections to reduce customer service questions and increase conversions.
• 🖥️ Improve ticketing and group sales pages to drive more clicks and revenue.
• 🗣️ Summarize fan surveys and reviews to uncover common themes and new opportunities.
• 🎙️ Write scripts for video, radio, or PA announcements faster — with better clarity and tone.
• 🌐 Translate and localize your campaigns for multilingual fans to boost reach and inclusion.

🎯 Sound Bites

"Make your work more efficient and your marketing more effective."
 "Give ChatGPT a role, and it works like a teammate."
 "Analyze fan feedback in seconds — and act on it."
 "Scripts, emails, FAQs — ChatGPT can handle it all."

⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Intro: 9 ChatGPT Tips to Sell More Tickets
00:37 – Tip #1: Give ChatGPT Context for Better Results
02:32 – Tip #2: Write Catchy Email Subject Lines
03:13 – Tip #3: Improve Email and Social Media Copy
05:24 – Tip #4: Analyze Your Meta Ads Data
07:10 – Tip #5: Create Detailed Promotion FAQs
09:47 – Tip #6: Optimize Website Copy for Ticket Sales
11:52 – Tip #7: Summarize Fan Surveys & Reviews
13:58 – Tip #8: Write Promotional Scripts in Seconds
16:44 – Tip #9: Translate & Localize Marketing Campaigns

YouTube Tutorial Videos:

• Tip #1: Give ChatGPT Context for Better Results
• Tip #2: Write Catchy Email Subject Lines
• Tip #3: Improve Email and Social Media Copy
• Tip #4: Analyze Your Meta Ads Data
• Tip #5: Create Detailed Promotion FAQs
• Tip #6: Optimize Website Copy for Ticket Sales
• Tip #7: Summarize Fan Surveys & Reviews
• Tip #8: Write Promotional Scripts in Seconds
• Tip #9: Translate & Localize Marketing Campaigns

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In this episode of The Sports Marketing Machine Podcast, host Jeremy Neisser shares why consistent video content is no longer a "nice-to-have" — it's the cornerstone of a smarter paid media strategy. Whether you're trying to warm up cold audiences, lower your ad costs, or re-engage past ticket buyers, video is the most powerful (and underused) tool in your marketing playbook.

Jeremy explains how short-form videos help you build trust, increase engagement, and improve targeting — even on a tight budget. He also shares real-world examples and actionable tips for sports teams to use video content to drive more clicks, conversions, and repeat attendance.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Creating video content isn’t optional anymore — it’s essential for effective paid ads.
• Warm audiences with video = lower CPMs and higher conversion rates.
• Retargeting video watchers boosts ROI dramatically.
• Use highlight reels and event recaps to re-engage past ticket buyers.
• Organic content that performs well should be amplified with paid dollars.
• Fans don’t buy tickets — they buy experiences. Show the experience.
• You don’t need fancy equipment — just start filming.

Sound Bites

"People buy experiences, not tickets."
 "Create more video content — your ads will thank you."
 "Warming the audience makes everything cheaper and easier."

Chapters
00:00 – Why Video Matters More Than Ever
02:42 – Using Video to Warm Up Cold Audiences
05:59 – Lowering CPMs Through Smarter Targeting
08:47 – Re-Engaging Past Buyers with Video Highlights
11:34 – Key Takeaways + Simple Video Ideas for Teams

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In this episode, Jeremy unveils two powerful tools Sports Marketing Machine is currently beta-testing — both born from real challenges teams are facing.

➡️ Fan Feedback Tool:
Surveys are great... until they become static, siloed, and unusable. Jeremy breaks down how their new Dynamic Survey Dashboard goes beyond SurveyMonkey and Google Forms by segmenting responses by fan type, age, zip code, and behavior — giving marketing teams actionable insights instead of generic feedback.

➡️ Sponsorship Management Tool:
Tired of managing partnerships with 10 different spreadsheets? Jeremy introduces an all-in-one Sponsorship Dashboard that organizes contracts, asset tracking, proof-of-performance photos, tasks, and more — eliminating chaos and enabling teams to deliver partner ROI with confidence.

Whether you're a marketer drowning in data or a partnership director juggling Google Sheets, this episode shows there's a better way.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why traditional fan surveys are missing the mark — and how to fix them
• The power of survey logic and segmentation to reveal deeper trends
• How survey feedback becomes business intelligence when structured right
• What’s broken in most teams’ sponsorship management systems
• How a centralized dashboard can replace 5+ spreadsheets and save you time
• Why end-of-season panic over proof-of-performance reports can now be avoided

🔧 Tools Discussed:

• Dynamic Fan Survey Dashboard
• All-in-One Sponsorship Management Platform

✅ Take Action:

If you'd like beta access to either tool — or you're just tired of managing your season in spreadsheets — reach out to Jeremy directly jeremy@sportsmarketingmachine.com or visit sportsmarketingmachine.com to schedule time to see a demo.

📣 Let’s Connect:

Subscribe & Review: If this episode sparked a new idea or solution for you, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review — it helps the show grow and reach more sports marketers.

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In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Jonathan Hufnagel, founder and CEO of Dash, the leading fan activation platform used by over 400 sports teams across North America. What started as a digital auction tool has evolved into a comprehensive fan engagement and e-commerce solution helping teams drive revenue, generate leads, and create unforgettable in-game experiences.

Jonathan shares the story behind Dash's creation, how they're helping teams simplify promotions like jersey auctions and mystery tickets, and why now is the time for teams to lean into digital engagement — not shy away from it. Plus, hear real-world success stories from teams like the Florida Everblades and Coachella Valley Firebirds that are driving major ROI through creative, data-driven activations.

Whether you're in ticketing, sponsorship, or marketing, this episode is packed with actionable ideas to help your team move faster, sell smarter, and activate fans more effectively.

🔑 Topics Covered:

• The origin story of Dash and its evolution beyond auctions
• Why "making it easy" is the key to digital fan engagement
• How to drive revenue with creative promotions like:
  • First Goal Puck auctions
  • Guaranteed giveaways
  • Mystery tickets
• Tips for using Dash to activate sponsors AND collect leads
• How front offices can start simple and scale over time
• Why you shouldn’t assume your fans won’t engage digitally
• Using data (like names, emails, and transactions) to close the loop with fans
• The shift from sponsorship “branding” to sponsorship performance

💡 Notable Quotes:

“You’ve got to stop making buying decisions for your fans before you've even given them the opportunity.” — Jonathan Hufnagel
“Most people want to win. When there's urgency, limited quantity, and emotion involved, you sell more.”
“Activations are moving from signage to experiences. That’s where ROI lives.”

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Dash: https://winwithdash.com
• Follow Jonathan on LinkedIn: Jonathan Hufnagel
• Watch Jeremy’s tutorial on how to use Dash (coming soon!)

📲 Subscribe & Follow:

Don’t miss a future episode of The Sports Marketing Machine!

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In this episode of The Sports Marketing Machine Podcast, Jeremy Neisser sits down with Arthur, the CEO of Vibe.co — a self-serve streaming TV ad platform changing how sports teams approach fan acquisition and ticket sales.

Arthur pulls back the curtain on why CTV (connected TV) advertising isn’t just for big brands anymore, and how teams with modest budgets can now launch high-impact TV campaigns that are trackable, targeted, and ridiculously easy to set up — no agency required.

Whether you're trying to sell more tickets, build brand awareness, or just find a new way to get in front of fans, this episode shows how streaming TV can (finally) be part of your playbook.

✅ Top Takeaways:

• TV Ads Are Now Self-Serve: No contracts, no reps — just launch like you would a Meta ad.
• Start with Warm Audiences: Use Vibe’s pixel or upload your CRM list for retargeting.
• TV That Performs: Streaming campaigns have shown better ROAS than Meta or Snapchat in many cases.
• Minimum Budget to Start: 3x your average order value per day, for at least 2 weeks.
• Keep Your Creative Sharp: 30-second ads work best — and sound matters more than you think.
• Skip the Freebies: Every impression is trackable, and every dollar can be measured.

🗣️ Sound Bites:
“Your local TV rep won’t give you conversion data. Vibe will.”
“If your mom couldn’t launch a campaign on it, we didn’t build it right.”
“Streaming TV retargeting might be the best silver bullet in marketing right now.”
“It’s not just ads — it’s insights. You’ll know which channels and audiences convert.”

🧠 Topics Covered:

• What Vibe.co is and how it simplifies TV advertising
• Why teams should treat CTV like a performance channel, not just branding
• How to retarget site visitors and CRM audiences on streaming platforms
• The compounding power of running TV, Meta, and search at the same time
• What budget and campaign length really work (and what’s a waste)
• How to approach creative: format, duration, and call to action
• Why sound is 50% of your ad’s effectiveness on TV
• What audience size makes TV worth it (and when to wait)

⏱ Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to Vibe and CTV Ads
01:37 – Why TV Advertising Isn’t Complicated Anymore
04:51 – Start with Retargeting, Not Branding
07:36 – Vibe vs. Meta: Similar Tactics, New Medium
08:57 – Combining TV with Other Channels
10:43 – Measuring Incrementality: Why Vibe Beats Most Platforms
11:30 – Campaign Budget Guidelines That Actually Work
13:08 – Reusing Video Across Platforms
14:47 – Why Audio Is Everything for TV Ads
15:45 – Audience Size & When to Launch Your First Campaign
17:40 – Final Thoughts + How to Get Started

📣 Ready to Test TV for Your Team?
Want to launch your first streaming TV campaign?
▶️ Watch the tutorial Jeremy made - HERE
🚀 Try Vibe for yourself - SIGN UP HERE

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In this episode of The Sports Marketing Machine Podcast, host Jeremy Neisser breaks down one of the most misunderstood tactics in sports marketing: the loss leader. While promotions like $1 hot dogs or “Kids Eat Free” nights can pack the stands and drive in-game revenue, not every deal is a good deal. 

Jeremy explains how smart promotions protect perceived value, generate buzz, and increase total spend — while bad ones can erode your brand and season ticket strategy.

 Learn which deals drive revenue, which ones backfire, and how to craft promotions that make fans feel like they scored — without your team taking a loss.

✅ Top Takeaways

• Not Every Deal Is a Good Deal: Free or steeply discounted offers can do more harm than good.
• Loss Leaders Should Drive Spend: The goal isn’t cheap tickets — it’s getting fans in the door to spend more.
• Perception Is Everything: A $1 hot dog feels like a steal; a free ticket feels like a handout.
• Avoid Undermining Value: Don’t train fans to wait for discounts — protect your full-price strategy.
• Use Promotions to Increase Per Cap: Target food, drink, and merchandise add-ons that drive incremental revenue.
• Track the Right Metrics: Redemption rates and per-cap spending are your best indicators of success.
• Smart Bundles Win: Pair tickets with value-added incentives (not price cuts) to boost attendance and loyalty.

🧠 Sound Bites

• “Not every deal is a good deal.”
• “Loss leaders can work — if they lead somewhere valuable.”
• “The moment you give tickets away, you start losing perceived value.”
• “Watch your data and bundle smartly.”

🕒 Episode Chapters

• 00:00 – Welcome & The Real Role of Promotions
• 01:13 – What Is a Loss Leader? (And Why It’s Misunderstood)
• 03:09 – Real Examples That Work (and Why)
• 06:31 – Promotions That Hurt More Than They Help
• 08:15 – The Psychology of Perceived Value
• 09:40 – Final Thoughts & Actionable Takeaways

Vermont Lake Monsters - Hot Dog Hysteria

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In this episode of The Sports Marketing Machine podcast, host Jeremy Neisser unpacks a massive missed opportunity hiding in plain sight — your youth programming. From reading programs to Little League nights and summer camps, teams engage with thousands of families every year… but most fail to collect the right data that fuels future revenue.

Jeremy shares why collecting just a few key data points — like birthdays, school names, and sibling info — can open the door to birthday party bookings, targeted promotions, and long-term fan engagement. Whether you run camps, clinics, kids clubs, or school nights, this episode will show you how to turn participation into ticket sales with minimal effort and maximum return.

✅ Top Takeaways:

• You’re already doing the hard part: engaging families through youth events. Now it’s time to turn that engagement into insight.
• Collect what matters: Birthday, ZIP code, school name, sibling count — that’s the data that drives repeat business.
• Personalized offers = more conversions: A “Happy Birthday” free ice cream voucher or invite to a themed night goes a long way.
• You don’t need a new system: A few smart questions and simple tracking can lead to major ROI.
• Think long-term: Every camp signup or reading log is a warm lead for a future birthday party, family pack, or group outing.

🧠 Key Insights:

• Most teams excel at hosting youth events — but never follow up with a strategic plan to bring those families back.
• School partnerships aren’t just feel-good PR — they’re your future audience.
• Personalized marketing beats one-size-fits-all promotions, especially when kids and families are involved.
• The youth segment is your most impressionable — and your most likely to convert when engaged early and often.

🔊 Sound Bites:

• “If you're not asking for birthdays, you're leaving birthday party sales on the table.”
• “Youth events aren’t just for community engagement — they’re your next revenue stream.”
• “Keep it simple. You don’t need fancy tech — just ask the right questions.”

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Why Youth Events Are Full of Untapped Potential
02:54 – What Data Teams Should Be Collecting
06:01 – Using School Info for Strategic Outreach
08:53 – Birthday Campaigns, Family Offers & Other Smart Uses
11:59 – Keep It Simple: Easy Ways to Collect and Track Data

Episodes mentioned:

103 - Personalize It - Why it Works

104 - Personalization That Sells: How Revelocity Helps Teams Fill Seats

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In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine podcast, host Jeremy Neisser tackles a critical issue facing sports marketers: how to bring back fans who came once — but never returned.

With 85% of single-game buyers not returning the following season, teams are leaving massive revenue on the table. Jeremy breaks down a proven, cost-effective solution: the “We Miss You” email strategy — a personalized outreach approach that leverages existing data to re-engage past buyers.

Forget the generic newsletter blast. This strategy is all about 1:1 connection: short, simple, text-based emails that feel like they’re written just for them. Jeremy shares tips, templates, and timing advice to help you set up a campaign that feels authentic and drives results.

Whether you're in-season or planning ahead, this episode gives you a repeatable, high-ROI tactic you can launch fast.

Top Takeaways

• 85% of single-game buyers don’t come back — but they’re still your warmest leads.
• Personal > Polished: A personal email that looks like it came from a rep gets opened. A newsletter? Often ignored.
• No fancy graphics required: Keep it plain text, use their name, and mention the game they attended.
• Timing is key: Don’t wait until they forget — follow up when the memory is still fresh.
• Set up audience segments: Group buyers by game, seat type, or date for stronger messaging.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 – Why Single Game Buyers Don’t Return
• 03:40 – Personalization Beats Automation
• 06:15 – What to Include in a ‘We Miss You’ Email
• 09:10 – Segmenting Your List for Better Results
• 11:55 – How to Set This Up Quickly (Even Without a CRM)

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In this episode of The Sports Marketing Machine, host Jeremy Neisser explores one of the most underrated tools in sports marketing: service recovery. Mistakes at games are bound to happen — a missed giveaway, a ticketing issue, a long concession line — but how your team responds can turn frustration into fierce loyalty.

Jeremy shares memorable examples from companies like 1-800-FLOWERS and Disney, illustrating how proactive, empowered customer service can create “wow” moments that stick. You'll walk away with real strategies to help your team not just fix problems, but build fans for life.

✅ Key Takeaways:

• Mistakes are inevitable — recovery is optional.
  Great brands aren’t perfect. They’re prepared.
• Fans remember how you made them feel.
  Especially when things didn’t go right.
• Your frontline staff is your brand.
  Empower them with tools, autonomy, and encouragement to turn tough moments into memorable ones.
• Service recovery is a marketing opportunity.
  A fan who had a problem and a great resolution will tell more people than one who had a smooth experience.
• Train for the unexpected.
  Small gestures in high-stress moments = lifetime loyalty.

💬 Sound Bites:

• “You won’t just fix the problem — you’ll be building a fan for life.”
• “Recovery is where loyalty is born.”

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction: Why Recovery Moments Matter
 02:47 – Real-Life Examples (1-800-FLOWERS, Disney, and more)
 06:10 – Fan Service Playbook: How to Train, Empower & Respond

If you found this episode valuable, share it with your team or drop a quick review on Apple or Spotify.
 🎧 Subscribe, rate, and help more marketers learn how to turn mishaps into marketing gold.

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In this episode of The Sports Marketing Machine podcast, host Jeremy Neisser breaks down how sports teams can turn end-of-season fan surveys into a powerful tool for driving next season’s ticket sales and improving game day experience. Instead of sending out generic surveys that lead nowhere, Jeremy walks through five key categories every fan survey should cover — from ticket access to promotional impact — and explains how to structure questions for actionable insights.

He also reveals how dynamic dashboards (like Power BI) transform raw survey responses into strategic clarity by tying fan feedback directly to buyer behavior. Whether you're sending your first survey or looking to overhaul your current one, this episode helps teams ask smarter questions and make smarter decisions.

✅ Top Takeaways:

• Generic Surveys Waste Time: If your survey questions aren’t connected to outcomes, they’re not helping you improve.
• Targeted & Segmented = Actionable: Separate your ticket plan holders from single-game buyers for more accurate insights.
• Dynamic Dashboards > Static Reports: Interactive reporting helps teams spot patterns and pivot faster.
• Ask the Right Questions in 5 Categories:
  • Experience: "Rate your overall game day from 1–10."
  • Ticket Access: "How easy was it to buy or access your tickets?"
  • Promotions: "Did a theme night influence your decision to attend?"
  • Intent: "How likely are you to come back next season?"
  • Demographics: Age, Zip, Family status — all crucial for targeting.
• Use Surveys to Shape Strategy — Not Just Summarize the Season: Align fan feedback with ticketing data to guide promotions, pricing, and messaging for next year.

🧠 Key Insights:

• Fans who found ticketing confusing are less likely to return — use conditional logic to uncover friction points.
• Promotions matter — asking which themes drove attendance helps teams double down on what works.
• Knowing if fans have kids, their age range, and location can directly shape outreach and offers.
• Connecting survey sentiment to actual buyer behavior unlocks more strategic marketing and retention plays.

🗣️ Sound Bites:

• “If you don’t segment your responses, you’ll miss the most important patterns.”
• “Don’t ask a question unless you plan to act on the answer.”
• “Dynamic surveys + sales data = a goldmine of strategy.”

⏱️ Chapters:

• 00:00 – Intro: Why Surveys Are a Hidden Power Tool
• 03:08 – The 5 Essential Survey Question Buckets
• 05:53 – Static vs. Dynamic: Why Dashboards Matter
• 09:13 – Sample Survey Questions You Should Be Asking
• 12:03 – Final Thoughts & How to Use Surveys to Guide Strategy

📬 Looking to level up your fan survey process?

We now offer a full-service solution for teams: from survey setup to dynamic reporting dashboards that tie fan feedback directly to outcomes.
 📅 Schedule a demo to see how it works.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more teams grow their fan base and sell more tickets!

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In this episode of The Sports Marketing Machine Podcast, host Jeremy Neisser gives sports marketers a hands-on walkthrough of Vibe.co — the self-service streaming TV ad platform that’s changing how teams approach awareness and brand marketing.

Jeremy breaks down how sports teams (even with limited budgets or staff) can now create, launch, and track targeted TV campaigns without needing an agency or a massive media buy. From selecting your audience to understanding how Vibe’s IP tracking works, this episode demystifies the streaming TV ad space and shows you how to make it part of your fan acquisition strategy.

Whether you’re promoting theme nights, ticket plans, or simply trying to build brand awareness, this is your crash course in modern TV advertising that finally works for sports teams.

✅ Top Takeaways:

• TV Advertising—Without the Gatekeepers: Vibe lets teams launch streaming TV campaigns as easily as Meta ads.
• Hyper-Targeting Built In: Filter by age, location, interests, and more — just like digital ads.
• Real-Time Reporting = Real-Time Optimization: No more waiting weeks for reports.
• IP Address Tracking = Attribution: See what happened after your ads ran — including visits to your ticketing site.
• Affordable for Every Team: Run awareness campaigns without a six-figure spend.
• TV Is Now Part of the Funnel: Use Vibe to layer awareness into your digital strategy.
• Creative Still Matters: Good ads = good results. Keep it sharp, relevant, and action-oriented.

🗣️ Sound Bites:

• “You can now do what used to require an ad agency — and do it yourself on TV.”
• “Think of it like Meta, but on connected TVs.”
• “They track by IP, so you’re seeing true campaign impact.”

⏱️ Episode Chapters:

• 00:00 – Intro: Why TV Advertising is More Accessible Than Ever
• 03:01 – Campaign Creation: Audiences, Targeting & Setup
• 06:11 – What Does Audience Reach Really Mean in TV?
• 08:56 – How to Think About Your Creative & Reporting Metrics
• 11:51 – Real Campaign Examples + Key Takeaways

📢 TV Ads Just Became a Real Option for Sports Teams.

Vibe gives you the power to run streaming TV ads on your terms — budget-friendly, easy to manage, and built for sports marketers.

🎯 Want to see how it works?
 Check out the full walkthrough in this episode — or schedule a call and I’ll show you how teams are using Vibe to sell more tickets.

Full YouTube Walk-Through Video

Vibe platform

Request an Intro to Vibe.com

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more teams market smarter, grow their fan base, and fill more seats!

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Summary
In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine podcast, host Jeremy Neisser discusses how to strategically plan your marketing budget to maximize ticket sales. Whether you're just starting out with a small email list or you have a $20K marketing budget, Jeremy walks you through exactly where to invest at each stage.
You'll learn why building your owned audience first is crucial, where display ads and Meta campaigns fit in, why smart list buying beats random ad spending, and how to stretch every marketing dollar for maximum ROI.

✅ Takeaways

• Match your marketing spend to your stage of growth.
• Focus on building your email list before jumping into higher-cost tactics like texting.
• Think about your marketing budget like a sales funnel: Awareness ➔ Interest ➔ Conversion.
• Invest in low-cost, high-impact awareness tools like Awarity and Blip billboards.
• Smart list buying (e.g., Chamber of Commerce lists) can deliver great ROI for group sales and hospitality packages.
• Always stretch every dollar by segmenting audiences and retargeting high-intent fans.

🎧 Sound Bites

• "Build a strong owned audience first."
• "Buying a chamber list is a great ROI."
• "Low-cost awareness always wins."

📖 Chapters
00:00 — Introduction: Maximizing Your Marketing Dollars
01:12 — Building a Strong Owned Audience First
03:59 — Smart Budget Allocation for $20K Teams
07:22 — Advanced Tactics: YouTube, Spotify, CTV
10:30 — Why Awareness & Retargeting Should Dominate
12:52 — Final Key Takeaways

🚀 Episode Outline

Stage 1: Foundation First (Small Email List Teams)

• Prioritize building your database (email over texting).
• Start Meta ads for lead generation.
• Layer in low-cost digital display (like Awarity).
• “You wouldn’t build a house on quicksand — same thing here.”

Stage 2: Smart Spending ($20K Budget + Sizable List)

• Funnel your spend:
  • Awareness (40%) ➔ Awarity, Blip billboards.
  • Interest (40%) ➔ Meta ads (Landing Page Views, Lookalikes).
  • Conversion (20%) ➔ Direct mail to a bought Chamber list.
• “Buying 1,000 mailers for $2K can drive real group sales and sponsorship ROI.”

Optional Upgrades for Bigger Budgets

• YouTube Pre-Roll Ads (great if you have game day hype content).
• Spotify Audio Ads (for big promotions).
• Connected TV (for major pushes like Opening Night).
• SMS Marketing (ONLY if you’ve built a good opt-in list).

Summary

• Build the base first.
• Think like a funnel.
• Stretch every dollar.
• Invest smartly based on your current stage and goals.

🎧 Don’t forget:
If you found this helpful, please subscribe, rate, and share the Sports Marketing Machine podcast to help others grow their fan base and sell more tickets too!

Episodes Mentioned:

22 - How to buy Billboards For CHEAP to Promote Your Games

37 - Cold Audiences & Warm Audiences - The Differences For Your Marketing

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In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine podcast, host Jeremy Neisser wraps up the 4-part Meta Ads 101 series with a deep dive into retargeting—what it is, why it works, and how to do it effectively.

Jeremy walks through step-by-step how to retarget website visitors and social media engagers, while showing you how to exclude recent ticket buyers so you’re not wasting ad dollars. Plus, he explains why timing matters more than you think and how to set the right window (3–7 days or 10–14 days) for maximum conversions.

🧠 Takeaways

• Retargeting helps you re-engage warm, high-intent audiences who didn’t convert the first time.
• Website visitors from the past 3–7 days are your best bet for quick wins.
• Use exclusion lists to avoid showing ads to past ticket buyers—save budget & reduce fatigue.
• Social media engagers (likes, shares, comments, video viewers) are great to retarget within 7–14 days.
• Set up rolling audiences to keep campaigns automatically refreshed.
• $5/day budget can go a long way when ads are highly targeted.
• These tactics work best during your season when web traffic is high.
• Big brands do this daily—you can too, without a big budget.
• Combine retargeting + exclusions + time window for highest ROI.

🔊 Sound Bites

 "If you're spending $35 a week to stay in front of high-intent fans—that's worth it."

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Intro to Retargeting
01:12 – Website Visitors: The Most Valuable Warm Audience
03:46 – Creating an 8-Day Retargeting List
06:10 – Building Your Ad & Excluding Ticket Buyers
08:48 – Social Media Engagers: Likes, Shares & Views
11:36 – Why Timing (3–7 or 10–14 Days) Matters
13:22 – Recap & How to Test for Just $5/Day

Watch the tutorial on Youtube

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help others grow their fan base and sell more tickets too!

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In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine podcast, host Jeremy Neisser explores one of the most powerful (and underused) Meta Ads tools: Lookalike Audiences. As part three of the Meta Ads 101 series, this episode unpacks how sports teams can find new, high-quality fans by targeting people who are most similar to those already engaging—like video viewers, past ticket buyers, and website visitors.

Jeremy walks through how to build these audiences, when to use them, what mistakes to avoid, and how to combine them with smart exclusions for even better performance.

🧠 Takeaways

• Lookalike Audiences let you find new fans similar to your best existing ones.
• Use high-quality source audiences: video viewers, past purchasers, website visitors.
• Avoid low-quality sources like general followers or homepage visitors.
• Target hot, warm, and cold audiences separately for better optimization.
• Combine Lookalikes with exclusions (from Ep. 108) to avoid wasting ad spend.
• Update your source audiences regularly to keep your targeting fresh.
• 1% lookalikes = most accurate match, 5% = broader but less precise reach.
• Run A/B tests across multiple audience “buckets” to identify top performers.
• Categorize video viewers: 25% = warm, 75–95% = hot leads.
• Track landing page views and conversions, not just clicks.

🔊 Sound Bite

“If someone’s watching 75% of your video—they’ve already watched a commercial about you.”

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Lookalike Audiences
01:10 – How Meta Tracks Behavior
02:50 – Building Lookalike Audiences from Video Viewers
05:32 – Better Sources = Better Results
08:24 – Layering Location, Demographics & Exclusions
10:46 – How to Organize Campaigns by Audience Type
13:20 – Cold vs. Warm vs. Hot Audiences
17:15 – Recap & Best Practices

📺 Want to see Jeremy build a lookalike audience live?
YouTube tutorial link.

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In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine podcast, host Jeremy Neisser continues the Meta Ads 101 series with a practical deep dive into exclusion lists—one of the most underrated ways to stretch your ad dollars and reach the right fans.

Jeremy walks through why every sports team should separate their audiences (like single-game buyers vs. season ticket holders) and how to use Meta’s built-in tools to make sure you’re not wasting money advertising to people who’ve already converted. Whether you're promoting mini-plans, season tickets, or group packages, this episode gives you a clear game plan to refine your targeting and boost your ad performance.

If you’ve ever wondered how to avoid annoying your most loyal fans or throwing budget away on audiences that already bought—this one’s for you.

🧠 Takeaways

• Separate your lists: Create distinct lists for single-game buyers and ticket plan holders.
• Exclude past purchasers from ads promoting plans or packages.
• Helps reduce ad fatigue and increase relevance score.
• Boosts ROI by only showing ads to people who haven’t converted.
• Exclusions work for more than just tickets—use them for groups, one-time events, and more.
• Meta allows layered exclusions, giving you precision control over who sees your ads.
• Regularly update exclusion lists to keep your targeting sharp.
• Saves budget and increases campaign efficiency.

🔥 Sound Bite

“You're wasting marketing dollars advertising to people who’ve already bought.”

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Intro to Episode 108
00:28 – Why Exclusion Lists Matter
02:18 – Setting Up Targeted Campaigns in Meta
06:06 – Real-World Use Cases and Pro Tips

Want to watch how Jeremy builds these campaigns in real time?
🔗 Check the YouTube walkthrough.

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In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine podcast, host Jeremy Neisser kicks off a brand-new four-part series on Meta Ads, breaking down small but powerful tweaks that can make a big difference in your campaign results.

Today’s focus? The critical difference between Link Clicks and Landing Page Views. While they sound similar, choosing the wrong one can tank your ROI.

Jeremy walks you through step-by-step inside Meta Ads Manager and explains why optimizing for Landing Page Views—not Link Clicks—delivers higher-quality traffic, more engaged visitors, and better conversions.

If you're running ticket sales campaigns and sending fans to your website, this episode will change the way you set up your Meta campaigns from now on.

✅ Takeaways

• Link Clicks ≠ Quality Clicks: Many clicks are accidental or from people who bounce before your site even loads.
• Landing Page Views = Higher Intent: Meta optimizes for people who wait for the page to load—more likely to convert.
• Better Data: Landing Page Views deliver more accurate performance insights (lower bounce rates, higher ROI).
• When to Use Link Clicks: Only if your website loads instantly or if your goal is pure awareness (and even then, there are better options).
• Always Monitor: Watch your landing page views, bounce rate, and conversions—not just CTR.

🛠️ Action Step

Next time you create a Meta Ads campaign to drive traffic to your website:

1. Choose Traffic as your objective.
2. In your Ad Set, select "Landing Page Views" as your performance goal (not Link Clicks).
3. Monitor for real engagement—not just inflated click numbers.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to the Meta Ads Series
 00:26 – Setting Up a Campaign in Ads Manager
 01:19 – Understanding the Campaign Structure
 02:19 – The Common Mistake: Choosing Link Clicks
 03:15 – Why Landing Page Views Are Better
 04:07 – Your Action Plan & Final Thoughts

If you found this helpful, stay tuned for next week’s episode as Jeremy dives deeper into the world of Meta Ads and shows you how to build smarter, better-performing campaigns for your sports organization.

Watch the Tutorial on YouTube

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help others grow their fan base and sell more tickets too!

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In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine podcast, host Jeremy Neisser discusses the pros and cons of buying email lists for sports marketing. He outlines when it makes sense to purchase a list, such as for new teams, urgent campaigns, or targeting specific demographics. 

The episode also covers the benefits of buying lists, including fast access to potential fans and targeted reach, as well as best practices for ensuring compliance and engagement. However, Neisser warns of the potential downsides, including data quality issues and uncertain ROI. He emphasizes the importance of building an organic list as a priority.

Takeaways

• Buying a list can expand your reach.
• Fast fan base with purchased lists.
• Work with a reputable provider.
• Data quality can be unpredictable.
• Low engagement and deliverability issues.
• ROI is going to be uncertain.
• Buying a list makes sense for one-time events.
• Gradually warm up the list.
• Quality beats quantity every time.
• Building organically should be priority number one.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Buying Email Lists
01:11 When to Consider Buying a List
06:51 Benefits of Buying a List
07:19 Best Practices for Buying a List
09:39 Cons of Buying a List
14:23 Main Takeaways and Conclusion

Interested in buying a list and want recommendations - email jeremy@sportsmarketingmachine.com. 

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In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine Podcast, host Jeremy Neisser explores four unconventional marketing strategies to help sports teams reach new fans and grow their brand. The strategies discussed include partnering with community events, leveraging hotel and tourism partnerships, utilizing movie theater advertising, and engaging in influencer marketing. 

Each strategy is designed to create unique opportunities for teams to connect with potential fans and increase ticket sales.

Takeaways

• Partnering with community events can expand your audience.
• Cross-promotions with local events create win-win situations.
• Hotels can be great partners for reaching visitors.
• Movie theaters offer a captive audience for advertising.
• Influencer marketing can drive engagement and ticket sales.
• Micro-influencers are often more effective than big names.
• Creating unique experiences for influencers can enhance promotion.
• Utilizing local events can build community connections.
• Think creatively about where to promote your team.
• Choose one new tactic to implement this season.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Unconventional Marketing Strategies
01:38 Partnering with Community Events
04:25 Leveraging Hotel and Tourism Partnerships
07:46 Movie Theater Advertising: Captive Audiences
10:10 Influencer Marketing for Sports
12:55 Final Thoughts and Actionable Tips

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In this conversation, Jeremy Neisser and Andy Milovich discuss the importance of personalization in sports marketing through Revelocity Sports. They explore the challenges teams face in engaging fans, utilizing data effectively, and the significance of targeted marketing strategies. 

The discussion highlights successful case studies, the impact of creative campaigns, and the necessity of building long-term relationships with fans through effective communication and automation. 

In this conversation, Andy Milovich discusses the importance of engaging fans on a deeper level to enhance their experience and increase repeat attendance at sporting events. He emphasizes the need for sports teams to leverage data analytics to understand consumer behavior and personalize their marketing efforts. 

By breaking down silos within organizations and fostering a sense of community, teams can create meaningful connections with fans and drive revenue growth. Milovich also highlights the significance of tailored communication strategies for different audience segments and the critical role of data in sales and marketing efforts.

Takeaways

• Revelocity Sports leverages technology to build personalized fan journeys.
• Effective marketing requires understanding audience segments and their interests.
• Automation and personalization are key to driving ticket sales.
• Teams face challenges with turnover and complexity in marketing.
• Data utilization goes beyond ticket purchases to understand fan behavior.
• Creative campaigns should resonate with specific audience segments.
• Success stories demonstrate measurable impacts on ticket sales.
• Personalization enhances the fan experience and drives engagement.
• Streamlining marketing tools can reduce chaos and improve efficiency.
• Building long-term relationships with fans is essential for retention. Engaging fans emotionally leads to repeat attendance.
• Understanding customer acquisition costs is crucial for teams.
• Data analytics can enhance fan engagement strategies.
• Different demographics require tailored communication.
• Breaking down organizational silos improves efficiency.
• Sales confidence is driven by data understanding.
• The volume of data is rapidly increasing and must be harnessed.
• Now is the time for teams to invest in data-driven strategies.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Revelosity Sports and Personalization
02:52 Challenges in Sports Marketing and Fan Engagement
05:52 Data Utilization in Fan Engagement
08:49 Segmentation and Targeted Marketing Strategies
12:11 Creative Campaigns and Audience Engagement
15:07 Success Stories and Measurable Impact
18:00 The Importance of Personalization in Ticket Sales
20:53 Streamlining Marketing Tools and Automation
24:08 Building Long-Term Fan Relationships
26:41 Engaging Fans for Repeat Attendance
28:35 Leveraging Data for Fan Engagement
30:36 Understanding Consumer Behavior in Sports
32:32 Personalizing Fan Experiences
34:01 Effective Communication with Diverse Audiences
39:47 Building Community Through Sports
41:45 Connecting Organizational Functions for Success
45:06 Harnessing Data for Enhanced Sales and Marketing

Contact Andy and the Revelocity Team

Revelocity Sport

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In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine Podcast, Jeremy Neisser explores the importance of personalization in sports marketing, drawing parallels with Amazon's successful strategies. 

He discusses the psychological principles behind why personalization works, how Amazon utilizes data to enhance customer experience, and offers practical examples for sports teams to implement similar strategies to boost ticket sales and fan engagement.

Takeaways

• Personalization can significantly enhance fan engagement.
• Amazon's success is rooted in understanding customer behavior.
• Familiarity breeds comfort and increases purchase likelihood.
• Social proof influences consumer decisions.
• Simplifying choices can lead to better decision-making.
• Sports teams can leverage geo-targeting for personalized offers.
• Birthday promotions can enhance fan loyalty.
• Recognizing first-time attendees can improve fan experience.
• Predictive analytics can anticipate fan needs.
• Personalized upselling can increase revenue opportunities.