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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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