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Build It

Build It

By Community Soccer Consulting

Talking non-league US soccer with non-league US soccer people. Part of the Alliance podcast network.
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Cliff Conrad - Union Dubuque

Build ItSep 08, 2020

00:00
50:41
Building with ... Dave Wakeman - Talking Tickets & The Business of Fun

Building with ... Dave Wakeman - Talking Tickets & The Business of Fun

The podcast discusses building value for long-term success through emotional connections, market research, and branding. Dave, John and Nik decode pricing strategies and fan reactions, optimizing ticket prices for events. Insights on enhancing ticket value perception and strategies for season ticket sales are also explored, along with casual banter and a soccer club startup advertisement.


3 Takeaways

•Understanding customer value is crucial for effective pricing strategies.

•Enhancing customer experience through unique offerings can improve value perception.

•Market research and tailored pricing strategies are essential to meet audience preferences.


Deep Dives


Valuing the Product and Establishing Pricing Strategy


The podcast discussion delves into the importance of accurately assessing the value of a product or service in order to establish an effective pricing strategy. It emphasizes that value perception can be influenced by both tangible and intangible factors, such as the emotional experience offered to customers. By focusing on understanding what customers find valuable and engaging in dialogue with them, businesses can tailor their pricing and offerings to meet consumer preferences.


Enhancing Customer Experience and Perceived Value


The podcast highlights the significance of enhancing customer experience to increase perceived value, especially in the context of a soccer club. It suggests innovative approaches, like offering exclusive experiences or benefits alongside ticket purchases, to add value for customers. By providing unique and memorable experiences, clubs can differentiate themselves, build stronger relationships with fans, and attract more supporters.


Differentiation in Pricing and Adding Experiential Value


The discussion underscores the importance of differentiation in pricing strategies to maximize perceived value. By offering tiered pricing structures or special incentives for early purchases, businesses can create a sense of exclusivity and increase appeal. Additionally, incorporating experiential elements, like unique events or collaborations, can further enhance the value proposition for customers.


Understanding Market Dynamics and Unique Audience Preferences


The podcast emphasizes the need to understand market dynamics and tailor pricing and offerings to specific audience preferences. It highlights the diverse nature of audience segments and how unique demographics may require different pricing approaches. By conducting market research and engaging with customers, organizations can adapt their strategies to align with market needs and enhance overall value perception.


Building Sustainable Business Models and Community Engagement


The discussion touches on the significance of building sustainable business models while fostering community engagement. It stresses the importance of long-term sustainability, which may involve evaluating pricing structures and revenue sources. By actively engaging with the community, understanding local dynamics, and offering value-driven experiences, businesses can create a lasting impact and establish strong relationships with their audience.


Mar 20, 202455:19
Building with ... Andrew Grum, Ticketing Operations

Building with ... Andrew Grum, Ticketing Operations

<ul>
<li>A conversation between John and Andrew Grum. They discuss Andrew's background, his internship experiences with Dekalb County United and the minor league baseball team, Kane County Cougars.

We hear about:

Andrew's interest in sports, sales, and providing good fan/community experiences
Differences between the casual, volunteer-based soccer club structure and the more corporate structure of minor league baseball
Ticket sales strategies and offerings for generating fan attendance and engagement
Ideas for improving operations and accountability within the volunteer-based soccer club
Andrew's career interests and goals for the future
John's motivations for starting the soccer club and perspectives on its evolution and impact in the community

Overall, it's a wide-ranging conversation about sports, community engagement, internship experiences, and operational considerations for amateur sports organizations.

</li>
</ul>
Feb 26, 202401:03:04
Building with ... Sarah Levinger

Building with ... Sarah Levinger

Sarah Levinger, a Consumer Behavior Strategist, discusses the power of perspective and long-term brand building, the importance of connections and attentional bias, the psychology of marketing and branding, understanding generational differences in marketing, and expanding the market and creating a different experience. She might also be a lunatic, in the most wonderful way.


Big shout out to our special guest co-host on this episode, Ashely.


Key Takeaways

  • Understanding generational slang helps create relatable content
  • Select specific AI tools with an understanding of capabilities for marketing efficiency
  • Target different customer segments with offers that make trying your product easy


Feb 08, 202454:08
Building with ... Zach Fisher, AFC Colombia
Dec 07, 202344:11
Building It with ... Michael Hitchcock, Soccer Club Maker

Building It with ... Michael Hitchcock, Soccer Club Maker

Michael Hitchcock has a soccer problem. It's not a bad thing. It's definitely a Good Thing. He likes to start soccer clubs. He's very good at it too.

Learn more about his story, his vision, and his ethos. Find out how he invests in local talent to embed the club in the community and leans on his vast network to fill the gaps in expertise.

And if that's not enough, he's just opened the Pro/Rel Soccer shop.

Dec 07, 202356:39
Building with ... River Light FC

Building with ... River Light FC

Introducing a New Soccer Franchise in Aurora, Illinois

The podcast episode features an interview with the founders of Riverlight, a new soccer franchise in Aurora, Illinois. The founders discuss their soccer backgrounds and their goal of bringing a new USL team to the area. They explain that Aurora was chosen as the location due to its large population center and the presence of a strong youth soccer community. The founders express their ambition to be a USL League One team in the future.

Challenges and Strategies for Community Engagement

The founders discuss the importance of community engagement and building partnerships in Aurora. They explain that success for them means having a positive impact on the community and building a fan base of around 500 people per game. They highlight their focus on being family-friendly, affordable, and providing a high-quality soccer experience for the community.
The founders also mention their plans to hold events, collaborate with local businesses, and work with youth soccer clubs to promote their brand.

The Workload and Marketing Plans for Riverlight

The founders discuss the amount of time they are investing in the club, with each of them dedicating around 40 hours per week to various tasks. They mention that marketing and storytelling are a priority for them, as they aim to create a narrative around the club's development. They emphasize the importance of spreading the workload and working with volunteers and professionals to market the club effectively.
The founders express their desire to learn from other clubs and implement successful strategies in their own marketing efforts.
Nov 10, 202339:52
Building with ... George Gorecki, Walking Soccer Chicago
Oct 25, 202349:39
Building with ... Jimmie Martin, Bluegrass Soccer Cast
Oct 24, 202301:11:52
Building with ... Brad Seymour, Windy City Bulls

Building with ... Brad Seymour, Windy City Bulls

In this episode, we speak with Brad Seymour, President of the Windy City Bulls, the G League affiliate of the Chicago Bulls. Brad shares his insights on running a successful minor league basketball franchise, including how they approach ticket sales, promotions, partnerships, and creating a great fan experience.

Key topics discussed:

  • Brad's career path from baseball to basketball, and his philosophy on creativity and not being afraid to fail
  • Differences between independent minor league teams vs NBA-affiliated G League teams
  • How the Windy City Bulls focus ticket sales on group outings rather than individual season tickets
  • Tailoring promotions and giveaways towards weekend games vs lower attendance weeknights
  • Partnering with arena management to enhance branding and fan experience
  • Leveraging resources from the Chicago Bulls while still maintaining autonomy over Windy City's messaging
  • Guiding younger staff and taking pride in their development and growth

We feel like there is much to be learned from Brad's time in minor league sports, and you'll gain useful insights into engaging fans, corporate partners, and the local community. Tune in to hear Brad's minor league sports wisdom!

Oct 18, 202355:34
Building with ... Harpos FC - Johnny Freeston

Building with ... Harpos FC - Johnny Freeston

Founder and managing director of Harpost Football Club, Johnny Freeston is our guest today as we discuss the club's history and its success. We touch on the challenges of running the club daily and the secret sources for its success. Freeston, who has led the club to over a dozen trophies and championships, emphasizes the club's goal of fostering community and providing opportunities for players to develop. Then we discuss the importance of culture and advice for non-league soccer clubs in making an impact on the pitch and beyond.

Sep 28, 202301:00:26
John Hall. Again.

John Hall. Again.

John and Nik catch up after the season ends, talking about the highlights from this past year. The club had record fundraising, killer attendance, and some big wins against rival clubs when they were the home team. But they struggled to keep that energy going for away games.

They talk about how they really need to actively invite and pump people up to come out each week, rather than just assuming fans will show up on their own. The corporate parties and group outings were a hit.

Looking ahead, they want to focus more on community impact through new volunteer committees. John is putting together an operations manual to capture all their institutional knowledge.

Nik discusses the positives on the marketing side, like pivoting to fun, community-focused messaging. He wants to improve targeting different platforms and audiences. They need more high-quality creative content.

They debate how to turn casual fans into passionate supporters who bleed club colors. Getting the next generation hyped, like the academy kids, is crucial.

Overall the club keeps growing and building sustainability, but there's still a ton of work to become integral to the local community.


Sep 05, 202359:42
Building with ... Ian Blackley, San Francisco City FC

Building with ... Ian Blackley, San Francisco City FC

The only way you stand out is to be different.

Apr 06, 202350:14
Building with ... Bruce Bode, USASA Executive Director Region 2

Building with ... Bruce Bode, USASA Executive Director Region 2

In this edition of the Build It podcast, Bruce Bodie joins us discuss Bruce’s impressive background as a soccer player, referee, and event producer. Bruce is the co-founder of the Illinois Referee Alliance, an organization dedicated to supporting and training referees in the state. The hosts also dive into Bruce’s new role as the Executive Director with the United States Adult Soccer Association and the work he is doing to support adult soccer players across the country. The conversation also discussed several issues that the US Adult Soccer Association (USASA) faced at their annual meeting.

Mar 21, 202359:50
Building with ... Javi Bautista, Liquid Football

Building with ... Javi Bautista, Liquid Football

Javi Bautista was a college soccer player at Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa. During his sophomore year, he realized that coaching was going to be what he wanted to do full-time. Nik and John welcomed him to the Buildit Podcast to discuss his brand, presentation, and why he chose to focus on certain things. 

Javi explained that he has been passionate about soccer ever since he can remember and has been fortunate enough to play college soccer. He is now pursuing a career in coaching.  Javi discussed his experiences of playing for Detroit City FC in 2015 and 2016. He was part of the very first group to be offered housing by the club and was lucky enough to spend a couple of seasons with them. After completing his masters degree, Javi returned to Detroit to help start the youth program and assist with the men's team. In 2019, he was asked to become the full time assistant coach of Detroit City FC, a role he held until 2022 when he moved over to the Michigan Hawks. In 2021, he won the Midwest Premier League Conference championship with Detroit City FC's under 23s in their first season.  

In this conversation, Javi discusses his experiences coaching and working with the Midwest Premier League. He was the assistant for the first team, and then they decided to do a U 23 team in the Midwest Premier League. When the club announced they were going into the USL, they ended up just doing the USL Academy instead. Javi also talks about his time on the MWPL disciplinary committee that first season, helping with how the league operates. He enjoyed the experience of coaching, but also thought it would be beneficial to get involved in something on an unpaid basis.

With his friend George Chomikoff he had the idea of starting their own soccer team in Michigan. They had the knowledge of the game and the landscape needed to do it, but due to their busy schedules they never had the time or resources to do it until the move to the Michigan Hawks and had more free time. With their combined experience, they decided it was possible and began the process of building their team from the ground up. Despite the difficulty of the task, they remained determined to make it happen and were confident that, with their knowledge and experience, they could make their dream a reality.

Mar 08, 202354:58
Building with ... Jonathan Rednour, Crescent City & Gold Coast Premier League

Building with ... Jonathan Rednour, Crescent City & Gold Coast Premier League

Jonathan Rednour is the President and CEO of Crescent City Football Club and Vice President of operations for the Gulf Coast Premier League. He talks about his passion for soccer and how he got into promoting and developing the sport in the greater New Orleans area. He and John discussed the challenges they face in their local regions, and both agreed that grassroots level clubs are the best way to start building a strong foundation in the community. They highlighted the importance of investing in local clubs, emphasizing the need for strong foundations in order for clubs to be sustainable in the long-term.

Mar 03, 202350:47
Midwest Regional Soccer League Expanding And Prioritizing Quality In 2023

Midwest Regional Soccer League Expanding And Prioritizing Quality In 2023

John, and Nik speak with Joe about their preparations for the upcoming soccer season, discussing their progress and plans to create an amazing experience for players and fans alike. Nik, the marketing team leader, has been busy generating interest in the club through Twitter, podcasts, and photo shoots, and emphasizes the importance of community involvement. With 19 players returning and local kids in the pipeline, the coaches and technical staff at Dekalb County United are excited about the team's roster coming together. Nik and John also discuss the possibility of utilizing interns over the course of the season, encouraging anyone interested to reach out. 

The energy is high and excitement is building as they look forward to the start of the season in May.

Feb 23, 202325:58
Building with ... Troy Talaga, Realize Athletics

Building with ... Troy Talaga, Realize Athletics

Exploring Entrepreneurial Growth Through Community Engagement


Nik and John interview Troy Talaga, the owner of Realize Athletics, a sports performance facility in DeKalb, Illinois, which caters to ages six to twenty-six, and discuss the importance of injury prevention and sports performance. During the interview, John explains their partnership with Troy's organization, which was built on a shared passion for sports, and Troy discusses his background in sports and his dedication to helping kids reach their goals. Troy's plans include growing his business and getting more involved in the community, with the ultimate goal of opening a facility in Florida. He is currently focused on starting a youth flag football league.

Feb 10, 202353:16
Building with ... Larry Sancombe, Sporting Director Christos FC

Building with ... Larry Sancombe, Sporting Director Christos FC

Christos SC Sporting Director Larry Sancombe: A History of Soccer Success

Christos FC is a semi-professional soccer club based in Baltimore, Maryland. The club was founded in 1984 by a group of local players who wanted to continue playing at a high level after their college careers ended. Christos FC has won seven Maryland Major Soccer League titles, three USA SA National Amateur Cup titles, and two USSA USA SA Verna Fricker National Open Cup titles. The club is also known for its strong community ties.

In the conversation, we discuss the history of Christos FC and the club's various successes over the years. W also talked about the importance of community partnerships, and how the club has been able to remain successful despite the ever-changing landscape of American soccer.  

Larry discusses the club's recent success in various competitions, as well as their plans for the future. He notes that the club has been able to produce a number of professional-level players, thanks in part to their strong connections with local youth soccer programs. The club is known for its connection to the MLS and for its ability to produce high-level players. Christos brothers are on coaching staffs of many teams in the Maryland area, and the club has a core group of players that come back every year. Christo's tries to make it so that the only thing their players have to pay is their initial due, and they are sponsored so that they don't have to rely on player's money to operate.

Jan 17, 202342:08
Building with ... Fanbase

Building with ... Fanbase

Fanbase is a new app designed to help with marketing and media for lower league clubs. We discuss why Ali and his team decided to create the app and how it can be used by clubs at our level to level up marketing and media content.  John, Nik and Ali discuss how the tool can help sports teams with ticketing, memberships, communications, and data management. Crawley explains that the tool is meant for teams that are wanting to take themselves more seriously and be more professional.

Jan 10, 202356:48
Building with ... Neil Horowtiz, Digital & Social Media Sports Podcast

Building with ... Neil Horowtiz, Digital & Social Media Sports Podcast

Nik and Neil talked about the digital and social media sports podcast and how it is a catch little title. Neil is always up of the mindset to that as they learn what they are learning.


Neil talked about the podcast and how it allows them to reach out to people they admire and wants to meet. Neil talked about the pain of asking for podcast numbers and said that every time someone says they listen to an episode or a podcast, it blows them away.


Nik and Neil talked about the most recurring theme that has been recurring through the last ten years of best practice in social media. Neil talked about needs and behaviors that always resonate and that ultimately it comes down to driving that emotional connection between fan and player or team.


Neil and Nik talked about the principles that guide them even when they are ten fifteen twenty years old. Nik and John are discussing the authenticity of social media and how it does not allow you to hide north east.


Neil talks about developing super fans and develops a fan spectrum. Neil is talking about getting a better feel for the team and wants to learn more about them. Neil talked about how to bring casual fans up the fan spectrum by finding ways to connect to passionate fans.


Neil talked about ways to get fans interested in learning more about the event and then the sport. Neil talked about buying them into the fold and mobilizing them. John is trying to figure out how to give away the store and give fifty brand ambassadors season tickets.


Neil talked about the importance of finding groups that already exist and finding who is the leader of those groups. Neil talked about using your sport as a connective tissue and using it to connect them even further.


Neil is talking about the social activity they do and John is curious about your opinion of it. Neil talked about the different ways to look at the community first model and how it can create emotional connections with people.


Neil talked about the impact that deep engagements have on a fan's psyche. Neil and Nik discussed the impact of human touch and handcrafted spoke. Nik and Neil talked about two things that do not scale.


Neil talked about jobs that were based in a hockey team in el paso. Neil talked about the perspective of a kid and how it is easy to lose that perspective. Nik is curious about the difference between a real and a short form video and Neil explained the goals that people are trying to accomplish.


Neil talked about the monetization of youtube shorts and tick talk reals. Neil talked about the difference between the audience on instagram and tick talk. Nik and Neil discussed the value of saying they are quote a tick tock brand and that it is better to spread themselves thinly.


Neil talked about the value of being the best on a platform. Neil and John are discussing the sustainability of the club. Neil likes to pick the brains of the youngsters who come with some great stuff.


Neil talked about tracking their marketing spend and using basic surveys and talking to their super fans. Neil is trying to take qualitative knowledge and make it into quantitative. Neil talked about figuring out who are the influencer people in your community and how to reach them more effectively.


Neil talked about how takers are in the community so that they can leverage them to become super fans. Neil said that it starts with auditing your channels and understanding the community that you are up against.

Dec 08, 202248:11
Building with ... John Morgan of Rosevelt SC

Building with ... John Morgan of Rosevelt SC

Rosevelt soccer club have humble roots and lofty ambitions. From a seed of an idea borne from travels in Iceland, John Morgan has earned his stripes coaching youth soccer in all manner of places, before starting up his own club in Gorham, Maine, 30 minutes outside of Portland. Disillusioned with the exclusive nature of local youth operations, John has worked tirelessly to grow his club to nearly 200 players across all age groups. The club's 2050 initiative is the latest step on the path to bringing competitive adult soccer in Maine into the US system.

Nov 21, 202246:23
Building with ... David Serowka, College Instructor of Sport Management at Northern Illinois University

Building with ... David Serowka, College Instructor of Sport Management at Northern Illinois University

Nik, John and Dave spoke about the biggest challenges facing college graduates entering the sports management field, and how lower league soccer clubs can come to a mutually beneficial partnership with local educational institutions to provide experience in the field.

Nov 09, 202257:41
Building with ... Mark Bradley, Fan Experience Co.

Building with ... Mark Bradley, Fan Experience Co.

Mark Bradley is the founder of ‘The Fan Experience Company’, where he and his colleagues look at social behavior in fan engagement in modern day sport, especially in soccer. Mark specializes in supporting clubs and leagues around the world enhance their fans' experience during a game. A better experience means more returning fans, and greater advocacy within your community.

Nov 03, 202201:00:01
Building with ... Madyson Foster-Smith

Building with ... Madyson Foster-Smith

Madyson is Director Of Corporate Partnerships at Chattanooga Football Club. She joined John and Nik to talk about building relationships with businesses in your community, the importance of the personal touch.

Oct 27, 202201:04:34
Building with ... Jentry Mullins

Building with ... Jentry Mullins

Jentry has nearly a decade of experience working with sports organizations, and knows what it takes to streamline, maximize effectiveness and increase revenue. He nearly always has a budget, so we challenged him on what he do without one!


https://www.linkedin.com/in/jentrymullins/

Oct 21, 202249:39
Brendan Jaltz - Temecula FC

Brendan Jaltz - Temecula FC

Join Nik and John as the chat with Brandon Jaltz from Temecula FC. From English nonleague soccer trials, through battles with local youth soccer teams, and how important community support is to his bigger mission. Brandon talked about the challenges of running a club and ensuring the support is engaged every day.

  • difficulties of dealing with membership models as TFC try to gain additional investment.
  • branding and the very distinctive quail on the TFC crest.
  • perils of setting up a soccer organization where existing operations exist, particularly youth programs
  • creating the culture
  • that Wrexham show
Oct 12, 202259:45
Zach Fisher : AFC Columbia

Zach Fisher : AFC Columbia

Now the dust has settled on the club's inaugural season in the MWPL, how is Zach feeling? Was it all worth it? What lessons has he learned?

Sep 23, 202248:59
Marketing a Nonleague Soccer Club - with Michael Bochel

Marketing a Nonleague Soccer Club - with Michael Bochel

Michael Bochel is a freelance Sports Marketing Consultant and former Head of Digital at the Scottish FA who volunteers with his hometown club, Nairn County.

Michael recently launched his own podcast, where he shares his experiences of helping out the club in his own spare time. We got Michael on the podcast because not only does he know his marketing, he knows how to get results on a volunteer budget with a volunteer workforce. We would like tp think that some of what is discussed might resonate with others who are volunteering at their local club and spark some ideas.


"Marketing a Non-League Football Club" is available wherever you get your podcasts, and you really should give it a listen.



Sep 19, 202201:02:27
Andy Hayes - MWPL Commissioner

Andy Hayes - MWPL Commissioner

Andy Hayes talks. A lot.

The sound quality on this episode is pretty poor, sadly. This is mainly due to Nik forgetting to plug his microphone in. So apologies for that.



Sep 01, 202251:36
Andy Hayes debriefs the MWPL AGM

Andy Hayes debriefs the MWPL AGM

All good things must come to an end. So, too, must poorly produced podcasts.


Back for an unprecedented third appearance on the pod, John & Nik begrudgingly welcomed Andy Hayes back to Build It Towers. There's a lot of talk about administration. And dick bags. If you're Andy's mother, might want to give this one a miss.


We'll be back in the Fall. Maybe the Winter. First, we have soccerballs to play!

Mar 09, 202250:13
Name, Image, Likeness with Zach Fisher

Name, Image, Likeness with Zach Fisher

From July last year, new NCAA legislation cleared student-athletes to pursue name, image & likeness deals. As a result, every college athlete in the United States – across all divisions and sports - is now able to make money from endorsements and through a variety of other ventures, over-and-above the scholarship they receive from the college. According to ESPN, it is estimated that a typical NCAA athlete could be able to earn anywhere from $75,000 to $100,000 annually from their NIL; whilst also estimating that an All-American athlete could earn anywhere between $500,000 to $2 million per year in social media endorsements.

This is obviously a huge issue in the minds of so many players at clubs like ours across the country, so we sought out the best mind that we could find, Zach Fisher, Marketing Specialist and former Collegiate Athletics Director of Marketing.

Strap in!

Mar 04, 202252:30
In Conversation with ... Dennis Crowley, Kingston Stockade

In Conversation with ... Dennis Crowley, Kingston Stockade

Dennis is a guest we have wanted to have for a long time. His "Open Source Soccer" concept was a catalyst for so many in US lower league soccer today, including ourselves. In this conversation, we talk set up nightmares, on-field success, off-field trials, and there is an unseemly amount of talk about folding t-shirts.

Feb 24, 202253:45
#hergametoo - FIGHTING AGAINST SEXISM IN FOOTBALL
Feb 15, 202217:58
Building with Palm Beach Breakers

Building with Palm Beach Breakers

We spent an hour in the company of Christian Franek, who heads up Palm Beach Breakers. We speak about their super-distinctive lines of merch, what it takes to progress from local rec leagues to a national system like NISA, and what exactly day to day management of an amateur club looks like.


Strap in!

Feb 08, 202252:34
Ivaldo Basso

Ivaldo Basso

Listen in as John and Nik talk with Ivaldo Basso of @SteelCityFC1 Ivaldo is a straight talker who pulls no punches about what growth the club looks like for his club.

Jan 31, 202201:04:25
Jesse Cole - "Play A Game That You Can Win"

Jesse Cole - "Play A Game That You Can Win"

Our guest this week is Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment and owner of the Savannah Bananas, an independent baseball team playing in the Coastal Plain League.

The Bananas have been awarded Organization of the Year, Business of the Year and won the CPL Championship in their first year.  Fans First Entertainment has been featured on the INC 5000 lists as one of the fastest growing companies in America. His teams have welcomed more than one million fans to their ballparks and have been featured on MSNBC, CNN, ESPN and in Entrepreneur Magazine. 

The Savannah Bananas currently have sold out every game since their first season and have a waiting list in the thousands for tickets.

Jan 25, 202248:44
Arik Housley - Napa Valley 1839

Arik Housley - Napa Valley 1839

Our guest this week is Arik Housley of Napa Valley 1839. Having robbed DKCU of a place in the next round of the Copa Insignia, we connected to discuss the club, the community, and how to grow a club in the current environment.

Full disclaimer here, technical issues which may or may not be related to my idiocy, meant that we are missing the first couple of minutes of the conversation. Apologies for that. All you need to know is that Arik and his colleagues elected to join the NPSL from the origin of their club in 2017.


Sorry!

Jan 12, 202251:09
Dorian Lair - General Manager - Snohomish County Football Club

Dorian Lair - General Manager - Snohomish County Football Club

Our guest today is Dorian Lair, General Manager of Snohomish County Football Club, situated to the North West of Seattle, Washington. Fun fact, the movie War Games, which listeners of a certain age will be very familiar with, was filmed in art in Snohomish High School.

Dec 20, 202101:08:56
Fan Engagement w/ Kevin Rye

Fan Engagement w/ Kevin Rye

For nearly 20 years, Kevin Rye has been at the center of a unique network of fans, clubs and decision makers in soccer and other sports. He is the owner of Think Fan Engagement, publisher of the Fan Engagement Index and the Fan Engagement Pod. He's former Head of Policy & PR at Supporters Direct/SD Europe. He also teaches on the Football Business and Media undergraduate program at UCFB, Wembley.

Listen in as he, John and Nik talk about what fan engagement really is, how clubs do it right, and, crucially, how wrong they get it too.

Dec 13, 202147:35
The Volunteer Episode
Nov 12, 202101:11:49
League Admin with Brandon Ponchak of the Ohio Valley Premier League

League Admin with Brandon Ponchak of the Ohio Valley Premier League

After untold technological issues, we're back. For how long, lord knows. So get us while we're good*

The OVPL is the premier Adult Amateur soccer league in the IN, KY, OH, PA, WV region. Player development is a central focus of the League, as the league strives to promote the region at a national level. Along the way, we learn about what it takes to actually run a league, what clubs are looking for from leagues, and the remarkable lack of historied clubs in the Cincinnati area.


*bang average at best.

Nov 04, 202147:21
Building It with Jon Bisswurm - Minneapolis City SC

Building It with Jon Bisswurm - Minneapolis City SC

Minneapolis have become the poster child for a lot of non league clubs in the US. From starting out as a tribute to an old high school teacher, to their recent announcement of fielding a team in USL2, they have worked hard to engage their local community and to give players a year-round program. Jon Bisswurm has been there since Day One, and we are grateful to him for taking time to chat about all of it with us.

Sep 30, 202101:12:36
Building an Amateur Soccer Nation - Bill Marth
Apr 12, 202101:01:18
Building with The Online rule

Building with The Online rule

The Online Rule covers the best practices in digital marketing in sport.

Apr 05, 202101:10:26
Build It with Offside Marketing

Build It with Offside Marketing

Offside Marketing offer sports marketing services for teams looking to increase their awareness, marketing infrastructure and ticket sales. 

Jason worked with Cleveland Soccer Club of the NPSL to assist with early marketing efforts and to help build team awareness for their first season.

Offside Marketing was also the presenting sponsor for the 2021 Lower League eCup.  

Jason offers expertise in numerous sports marketing services including sports marketing consulting, management & promotion development, and in this interview talks about about the creation of unique and efficient sports marketing programs for clubs interested in speaking to their audiences through sporting events. 

Mar 15, 202157:49
Building It with Stuart Fuller - Lewes FC

Building It with Stuart Fuller - Lewes FC

Lewes FC have led the way in community ownership for over a decade now. In this episode we hear about the trials and the tribulations of such an operation. How do you engage an ambivalent community? How do you prioritize between winning on the pitch, and succeeding off it? Stuart doesn't have all the answers, but it was great to hear things aren't any easier over there!

Mar 08, 202101:12:31
Zac Hines, First Flight League

Zac Hines, First Flight League

This week we are joined by Zac Hines, commissioner of the First Flight Football League. The First Flight League is a full season men's adult development league in North Carolina. Founded in 2020, the league gives a competitive home for numerous  clubs, players, and coaches looking to continue developing their skills  with a desire to continue playing after youth, high school, college or professional soccer. 


We talk league admin, because why wouldn't you? And then run down our hopes and dreams for US soccer.

Mar 01, 202101:15:43
Building It with Steve Bayley, Non League America

Building It with Steve Bayley, Non League America

Anyone who is anyone in non league soccer knows about Steve's work. For nearly a decade Steve has been an informed voice in the community, telling untold stories and amplifying unheard voices. Today we get a little deeper into the man himself as we talk merch, politics, unity and business plans. It's a long and wide-ranging chat which we hope you enjoy.
Feb 22, 202101:06:39
Building It with Evan Ramist, Maryland Bobcats

Building It with Evan Ramist, Maryland Bobcats

In this chat with Evan, we cover the growth from Sunday League to full-time NISA, creating a youth program to create opportunities to play not just for the sake of a pipeline, and how hard you have to work to get a club established in your community.

Feb 16, 202101:09:57
Building It with Jeremy Rushing - 10K Pitches

Building It with Jeremy Rushing - 10K Pitches

Soccer in Minnesota, and the importance of getting your roots in your community.

Feb 08, 202101:02:53