The NFL draft is coming to Detroit next weekend, arguably one of the largest events held in the city's history. In an attempt to mitigate traffic and parking headaches, the city encourages fans to take advantage of several 'Park and Ride' shuttles which will bus residents and suburbanites from several pick-up locations into downtown. These shuttles reminded me of a similar system utilized during the 2006 Super Bowl. Unfortunately, the system was in such high demand that, despite DDOT and SMART's best efforts, an overburdened transit system left angry fans waiting hours for buses. On the Detroit Free Press "Super Bowl Report Card," the system received an F. This sparked a call for improved public transportation in the city. Many argued that if public transit was more available and reliable, more would utilize these services. In light of this upcoming NFL draft, I wrote about the 2006 Super Bowl "Park and Ride" shuttle system and what it reveals about needed improvements in public transportation for Outlier Media . Considering the system is a great idea in theory, I'm curious to see how it will work 18 years later (hopefully with greater improvements). https://lnkd.in/enQZb8JT

A person of discipline and thoughtfulness.

The 2024 NFL Draft set a new attendance record with over 700,000 fans flooding downtown Detroit for the three-day event. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the news during the final day of the draft, held at Campus Martius Park. This year's draft shattered the previous record set by Nashville in 2019, drawing more fans to Detroit than ever before. 😧 I was so grateful to be in attendance on Day 2 to witness history in my hometown. The success of the event can be attributed to effective marketing strategies that showcased Detroit's transformation and attracted football fans from across the country. By hosting the draft, Detroit had the opportunity to present itself as a vibrant and revitalized city to over 50 million viewers. The NFL's decision not to charge fans for attendance also played a significant role in driving the massive turnout. The economic impact of the event was substantial, with an estimated $160 million generated from sold-out hotels, bustling bars and restaurants, and increased retail activity in downtown Detroit. Former Lions running back Billy Sims, whose restaurant saw brisk sales during the event, emphasized the positive impact the draft had on the entire state of Michigan. Overall, the 2024 NFL Draft was not only a success for football but also for showcasing the new and dynamic image of Detroit to the world. #DraftDayInTheD #Marketing #NFLDraft #NFLDraft2024 #MarketingStrategies #SocialMediaManager #SocialMediaMarketing #SocialMediaStrategist #SportsMarketing

Good things come to those who wait. Our daily reminder in sports: The Indiana Pacers were awarded the All-Star game back in 2017. The 2021 All-Star game… The pandemic put many things on hold, including Indianapolis’ opportunity to play host. Three extra years of planning, Indiana’s obsession with the game of basketballl, and some patience — have all set up for a special weekend. Here is just a snapshot of the upgrades: 🏀 Major renovations (~$400 million) to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the surrounding downtown area 🏀 Pacers Sports & Entertainment opened Commission Row — a 30,000 square-foot facility for dining and entertainment 🏀 Serious makeover for the Indiana Convention Center so it can host the NBA Crossover fan events which include a concert series If you don’t know the whole story, the Sports Business Journal article is linked in my comments. 📈 Investors in Shake Shack just experienced the same story arc. Like most publicly traded restaurants, shareholders saw their position in a 70% drawdown by the end of March 2020. 📈After a positive earnigs call yesterday (+26%), the stock is approaching its pre-pandemic high. It didn’t happen overnight and management needed to invest in productivity, but the path forward for SHAK now includes strong profitability and big growth expectations. Any setback has the potential to turn into opportunity. Patience is required. #NBA #allstarweekend #SHAK #Sportsadvisors

Guardian Caps have emerged as a popular new addition in the NFL, primarily aimed at reducing the high incidence of concussions among players in positions prone to head impacts, like linemen and line… #sports #nfl #guardiancaps Read more here

Super Bowl LVIII is over. And while the The Kansas City Chiefs scored an overtime victory vs. the San Francisco 49ers, off the field, big-name advertisers pulled out all stops as they competed for viewers' attention at a reported average cost of $7 million for a 30-second commercial. As always, there were winners and losers in their effort to break through the clutter. For me, Dunkin’ Donuts' ‘The DunKings’ spot won the night hands down. It was the continuation of a story rolled out during the Grammy Awards introducing the idea of Ben Affleck trying to be a pop star. The humor was cringy but funny, Ben was hilariously self-deprecating, and J. Lo's reaction shots and closing line to Tom Brady “Tom? You can stay,” were priceless. Also, the Michael Cera CeraVe spot was brilliant. It wasn't a new idea (Bubly did it with Michael Bublé in 2019) but it was smart and well concepted, with a teaser campaign that began a week prior. Beyond that, I really found the spot supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent bid for the White House, that invoked uncle president John F. Kennedy’s 1960 campaign spot, to be in very poor taste and incredibly insulting to the Kennedy family. So, which commercial spots do you think achieved greatness and which were stinkers? #vendaragroup #consulting #strategy #branding #marketing #events #sponsorship #agencylife #advertising #superbowl

🏈 The NFL is stepping up player safety for the 2024 season with groundbreaking initiatives. From the new Strike device that standardizes field conditions to the expanded use of Guardian Caps during games, the league is focused on reducing injuries like concussions and non-contact injuries. Additionally, new kickoff rules aim to lower high-speed collisions for safer play. Learn more about these critical changes and what they mean for the future of football safety: https://lnkd.in/eCnWyCde

🏈SuperBowl Sunday🏈 Who are you rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs or the San Francisco 49ers? The Super Bowl, much like financial planning, is a strategic game that requires careful consideration of resources and a well-thought-out playbook. In both instances, success hinges on setting clear goals, making informed decisions, and adapting to changing circumstances. As football teams devise winning strategies for the Super Bowl, individuals can similarly work with financial planners to create effective plans that lead to a secure and prosperous future. Let Eastern Planning be your coach, we are rooting for you! #Superbowl #Football #FinancialPlanning #EasternPlanning

Caitlin Clark and Iowa continue to smash viewership records. Last Sunday’s Big 10 championship – in which Clark led Iowa to a come-from-behind overtime victory over Nebraska – averaged 3.02 million viewers on CBS, making it the most-watched women’s basketball game on CBS since UConn-Tennessee back in 1999. The game peaked with 4.45 million viewers – and that only makes it the second-most watched game this season. Last week’s Iowa-Ohio State matchup on Fox averaged an eye-popping 3.39 million viewers. Want to put that in perspective? Saturday’s Duke vs North Carolina men’s game averaged 3.076 million viewers on ESPN. That means Caitlin Clark and company are keeping pace with what is historically the biggest game in men’s college hoops. And it’s not just Iowa – 1.96 million viewers tuned in for LSU vs South Carolina, while 1.44 million watched USC beat Stanford. It isn’t just a moment. It’s now the status quo. 

🏈 The Keystone State Conundrum: Reflecting on the Consistent Letdowns of Pennsylvania Sports 🏈 The recent playoff losses of both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers have once again brought to the forefront a familiar narrative for sports fans in Pennsylvania: the consistent letdowns by the state's NFL teams. This recurring theme offers a thought-provoking parallel to the world of business and team management. 📉 High Hopes, Hard Falls Much like ambitious projects or business ventures, both the Eagles and Steelers entered their respective seasons with high hopes and strong fanfare. Yet, their journeys ended in disappointment, mirroring the often unpredictable nature of business outcomes. Just as these teams struggled to meet expectations, so too do businesses face challenges in delivering consistent results. 👨💼 A Lesson in Managing Expectations The experiences of Pennsylvania's NFL teams highlight the importance of managing expectations. In the corporate world, this translates to setting realistic goals, transparent communication, and preparing stakeholders for various outcomes. Balancing ambition with practicality can be the key to long-term success and maintaining team morale. 😨 Resilience in the Face of Adversity Another lesson to be drawn is the importance of resilience. Just as football teams regroup and strategize for the next season, businesses must learn from setbacks, adapt strategies, and come back stronger. The ability to bounce back from disappointment is a crucial trait for any successful team or organization. 🗣 Encouraging Open Discussion As professionals, we can relate to the highs and lows experienced by the Eagles and Steelers. How do we handle setbacks in our careers and businesses? What strategies do we employ to manage expectations and foster resilience in our teams? Let's use the example of Pennsylvania's NFL teams to discuss how we can apply these lessons to our professional lives and create a culture that thrives on challenges and grows from disappointments. For more sports insight and funnies, follow me and subscribe to End of the Bench Sports!