Craig Tomson

Actions speak louder than words. Sports Sales has shown me that for almost a decade now. And it’s why I love this business. - If you say you’re a top seller? Are you are at the top of the leaderboard? - If you say you’re coachable? Are you out-volunteering everybody in training? - If you say you’re a hard worker? Did you finish at the top of the hustle board? - If you say you’re a leader? How many people seek you for advice and guidance? - If you say you’re positive? How many times did others hear you complain today? Reminder – you are what you do. Not what you say you will do. #LinkedInSports #SportsBiz #Sales

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How to be a part of the top 1% in sports sales. 👇 - You always are trying to learn something new - You are great with pipeline management - You operates from an abundant mindset - You focus on setting appointments - You step up every chance you get - You are diligent in your follow ups - You seek feedback consistently - You are consultant minded - You push your teammates - You work hard AND smart - You are a full menu seller - You ask for the sale a lot - You creatively engage What else would you add to this list? Drop it in the comments. #LinkedinSports #SportsBiz #Sales

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I've talked about the impact that the AIQ.team has in the NFL, but our value transcends beyond just the sport of football - we have a significant presence in basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer and more. With the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals & Draft right around the corner, our team is looking at this past year's rookie class and the signals the AIQ picked up between the players cognitive scores & performance on the court. 🏀 I wanted to share one in particular: the NBA All-Rookie team outperformed all of the other 2023 NBA prospects in the area of Learning Efficiency (LE). LE is one of the 15 data points the AIQ measures and affects a player's ability to learn technique, strategy, reports, etc. and recall this information readily when needed. Teams that use the AIQ for scouting & talent selection know that LE is a crucial indicator in a prospect's ability to learn the playbook more quickly than their peers and adjust to the speed of the game better than other draftees. As sports evolve to rely heavily on analytics and measuring "between the ears", we continue to provide insights & correlations to our teams to help them select the right talent, develop players properly, and ultimately take the right step to a championship caliber team. #Linkedinsports #NBA #CognitiveAssessment

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This partnership between #MajorLeagueBaseball and #Mastercard highlights the connection food has with baseball and sports overall, from traditional items like hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream, and peanuts to unique choices such as fried chicken donuts at #CitiField and the Mac Bat at #TropicanaField, a cone filled with Mac n Cheese. Utilizing the connection with culinary in your market can also bring the rewards of engaging both inside and outside your venue. Minor League Baseball and "Home Run Foods" Minor League Baseball (MiLB) partnered with local eateries to offer "Home Run Foods," delivering stadium favorites to fans' doorsteps. This initiative boosted fan engagement during the pandemic, achieving a 20% increase in merchandise sales tied to food orders. ECHL Inc. and "Fan Feast" The ECHL's "Fan Feast" program, launched in collaboration with regional food vendors, provided fans with team-branded meal kits. This initiative saw a 15% increase in online fan engagement and helped sustain local businesses. Local Quick Service Restaurant (#QSR) partnerships are crucial for community connections. They provide unique, regional flavors that resonate with local fans, enhancing the authenticity of the at-home experience. These collaborations also support local businesses, fostering community goodwill and creating a mutually beneficial relationship. ❇ Tips for Finding Local QSR Partners 1. Identify Popular Local Eateries: Look for restaurants with a strong local following or reflect the community. 2. Evaluate Brand Alignment: Ensure the QSR’s brand connects with your team’s values and fanbase preferences. 3. Leverage Existing Relationships: Utilize existing sponsorships or vendor relationships for potential partnerships. 4. Consider Logistics: Choose partners capable of handling high volumes and maintaining food quality during delivery. Building Community and Revenue Implementing these food delivery programs creates a strong community connection, and loyalty and generates new revenue streams. A simple, easy-to-activate idea is to collaborate with a popular local food provider to offer team-branded meals for delivery during home and away matches. This enhances the fan experience and supports local businesses, driving engagement and sales. Consider what your local culinary providers might offer your fans. #Sportsbiz #FanEngagment #Partnerships #Community #Baseball #Food #Concessions

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Here are 10 player development questions YOU MUST answer. What are your answers? Listen to podcast here: https://lnkd.in/gGjdJmB9 #PlayerDevelopment #LinkedInSports

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Here's 4 benefits of using more urgency in your sales process: 👇 -Increased desire for your product -Better pipeline management -Quicker decisions -More sales What's the most effective ways you've used urgency in your sales process? #LinkedinSports #SportsBiz #Sales

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What Hockey Scouts are looking for? Here at Hudl we are always trying to find the best answers to questions like that. Players aiming the next level and parents and coaches supporting them, understanding what scouts look for is crucial. I’ve compiled insights from top scouts and hockey analysts to highlight the key attributes that make a player stand out. Here are the 9 essential traits: Offensively: 1️⃣ Creating Time and Space – The cornerstone of offensive play. 2️⃣ Handling Pressure – Patience and playmaking under pressure. 3️⃣ Depth of Skills – Multiple options to beat defenders. 4️⃣ Work Off the Puck – Effort and intelligence in positioning. 5️⃣ Ice Scanning – Constant awareness and information gathering. Defensively: 6️⃣ Taking Away Time and Space – Effective angling and positioning. 7️⃣ Retrievals – Essential puck retrieval and breakout skills. Intangibles: 8️⃣ Body Language – Positive and resilient attitude. 9️⃣ Accurate Self-Assessment – Honest self-evaluation and growth plans. During this week I'll discuss more about the findings and how Hudl Instat Ice Hockey can help. #scout #icehockey #playerdevelopment #playeragent

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North American teams have consistently been pioneers and trendsetters in the world of basketball. I've had the honor of working with some of the top European Elite teams from the Euroleague, Eurocup, FIBA Champions, and ACB for over eight years. And it's a remarcable journey so far, I need to admit! The University of Utah serves as a shining example and partially explains why North American basketball organizations, in my view, are often several steps ahead of elite European basketball clubs, both strategically and technologically. Consider how the women's teams and their coaches integrate live capturing and coding into their routines—it's not just groundbreaking; it's become the standard. This begs the question: can you name even two Euroleague teams that employ similar techniques? This highlights a significant opportunity for growth in our field. We have a lot of ground to cover to elevate European basketball to the level of North American teams. Thankfully, solutions like Hudl provide all the tools necessary to achieve these advancements. Let's embrace this challenge and make a concerted effort to incorporate these cutting-edge practices into our teams. It's time to learn, adapt, and innovate. Let's work together to bring European basketball to new heights!

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The growth of Playfly continues.

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Next level event promotion. Create your organization. Schedule events. All of your followers get your events on their calendar. #camps #clinics #games #practice #speakers #influencers #podcasters #eventplanners

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You're about to see more sports highlights pop up on Reddit Here’s why 👇 Professional sports leagues are among the most popular subreddits on the platform. With sports one of its most popular and fastest growing interest groups. Up 26% year over year. 🔥 And more than 1,000 communities. 🔥 So they’ve struck deals with major sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB and PGA Tour. The result? More game highlights, behind-the-scenes videos, and ‘ask me anything’, sessions with players. The NFL started testing this type of content during the 2023–2024 season. Featuring Pro Bowl players and the NFL’s schedule planners. The partnership will enhance the community experience on Reddit for sure. But it’ll also enable opportunities for advertisers. Companies such as FanDuel, Samsung, Ford, and Volkswagen have already taken that opportunity. It’s a great way for advertisers to align their brands to those communities and the content within them. Exciting times. 💪 P.S. Follow me (Chris Swadling) for more sports business content! #sportsbiz #sportstech

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Interesting details coming out for the NBA package A, B and C media partners… all this will lead to superstar players earning $60m, $70m and $80m per year on their super max contracts! Check out the article

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One of the goals for my book is to get it as a recommended text in all S&C University programs. One of the best things about this book is how I use foundational principles effectively over and over again to get real results. I believe it’s one way we can start driving the speed training for team sport conversation. Can anyone help me start these initial conversations? Daniel Cleather Phil Price Jamie Tallent

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NHL Schedule Release Stats You *NEED* To Know [h/t Annie-Mai Hodge] 🤝 47% of teams (15 out of 32) had a sponsored schedule release. 📽 60% of these sponsorships (9 out of 15) included video integration. 📸 22% of teams (7 out of 32) opted for no schedule release video. 💯 100% of sponsored schedule releases included a partner’s logo. ✋ 47% of sponsored schedule releases (7 out of 15) included partner tagging. 🎟 40% of sponsorships (6 out of 15) came from the ticketing category (5 from Ticketmaster, 1 from SeatGeek). 💰 40% of sponsorships (6 out of 15) came from the financial or medical categories (3 financial, 3 medical). 🏆 The Carolina Hurricanes take the top spot for their Schedule Release video, shot entirely in a Harris Teeter. It cleverly showcases weekend matchups, sponsored by the grocery store chain, with a fun twist of the Canes "working" there. Honorable Mentions: Chicago Blackhawks x Circa Sports – Guess Who? St. Louis Blues x Ticketmaster – Intern Generates Schedule Using AI Canucks Sports & Entertainment (CSE) – Nuckflix Ottawa Senators Hockey Club – Great Glebe Garage Sale New Jersey Devils – Douglas D. Admin’s Class -- Tomorrow in Sponcon Sports, I’ll be breaking down the NHL and NBA Drafts, exploring why sponsorship isn't as prominent as in the NFL, and sharing my favorite pieces of sponsored content from those events. Link to subscribe in the comments. #sportsbusiness #sportsmarketing #sponsorship

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Utah Hockey Club... The Utah Yetis... The Utah Blizzard... We will see what the final name of the NHL's Utah franchise will be as they start their campaign next season, but once thing that is quite clear today is that Utah has quickly become a major growth hub for professional sports. Ryan Smith has purchased all 4 professional sports franchises in Utah in 5 years. The Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals, and the aforementioned National Hockey League (NHL) franchise which is to be named very soon. Ryan has a vision and a commitment to the area. He is invested in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) which is major growth opportunity where Francis valuations are doubling, doubling again, and the ceiling seems to be ever-climbing. The Jazz are part of National Basketball Association (NBA) furniture. Listening to Ryan on the Pat McAfee show, he has done his homework. He cited only small percentages of overlap in season ticket holders across his 4 teams. Each team plays a specific part in connecting to the fans and the community. It is not just about amassing toys, it is about building a diverse portfolio of sports assets. Investing in sports does not have to be a losing proposition and sharp minds like Ryan Smith are showing the way. Sports Business Classes - - Read the article from Front Office Sports. Looking at sports franchises as investments, what league would you invest in and why? (Hint - focus on the WHY. There is no wrong answer but the work here is to do a little research to back up your plan) What market or city would be THE best place to invest for that league? What does success look like in terms of professional sports team ownership in 5 years? 10 years? Fox School of Business at Temple University University of Utah - David Eccles School of Business University of Oregon Lundquist College of Business UO Sports Product Management Master’s Program The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business UCLA Anderson School of Management Oregon State University College of Business #sportsbusiness #sportsmarketing #sportsbiz #sportsmanagement #NHLUtah #sportsbizprof

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We work in a competitive industry as #sports professionals. - Competition with other teams (regional and national) - Competition with emerging sports properties (TopGolf. PBL, etc.) - Competition within our own cities - Even competition with our teammates We have to be aggressive. If you see an opportunity take it. - A prospect nobody's touched - A challenger brand in a category - The brand everyone else gave up on But... #DefaultAggressive does not mean we cannot operate with compassion, cheer for each other, and support each others efforts. Whether it's your teammates, industry friends at other teams/leagues, when somebody wins, #sportsbusiness wins. Everyone can eat. #sales #sports #LinkedInSports #sportsbiz

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How Do You Explain Passes per Defense Action(PPDA) to a 10-Year-Old? PPDA might sound tricky, but it's really about how good a soccer team is at getting the ball back from the other team. Imagine you're playing soccer with friends. When the other team has the ball, you all try to take it away. PPDA helps us understand how often your team tries to stop the other team's passes and win the ball back. ✅ What is Passes Per Defensive Action (PPDA)? PPDA is a number that tells us how many passes the other team makes before your team tries to take the ball away. It only looks at the first 60% of the field opposite to the attacking direction. Here are FIVE lessons for understanding PPDA: ✔ 1st Lesson 👉 Low PPDA = Your team doesn't let the other team pass more before trying to take the ball. Simple Rule: The fewer passes the other team makes, the lower your PPDA. Quick Pressing: Your team tries to win the ball after just a few passes. Low PPDA, around 5. ⚽️🏃‍♂️ ✔ 2nd Lesson 👉 High PPDA = Your team lets the other team pass more before trying to take the ball. Simple Rule: The more passes the other team makes, the higher your PPDA. Waiting to Press: Your team waits and lets the other team pass a lot. High PPDA, around 15. ⚽️🕰️ ✔ 3rd Lesson 👉 PPDA Helps Teams Improve Defense Coaches use PPDA to see how well their team is pressing to win the ball back. Simple Rule: Press more to make the other team pass less, lowering your PPDA. Coach's Plan: "Let's press more and get the ball back quicker!" 📋🏃‍♂️ ✔ 4th Lesson 👉 PPDA Shows Team Strategy Some teams press a lot to win the ball back quickly, while others wait and defend deeper. Simple Rule: A low PPDA means a pressing team; a high PPDA means a waiting team. Real-Life Example: Liverpool FC (2021-2022 EPL Season): PPDA of 9.83. Quick to win the ball back, pressing high up the pitch. Manchester United (2021-2022 EPL Season): PPDA of 13.26. More patient, allowing more passes before pressing. ✔ 5th Lesson 👉 PPDA Tracks Every Defensive Action Every time your team tries to take the ball away, it counts as a defensive action. PPDA only counts passes in the first 60% of the field opposite to the attacking direction. 🛡 Defensive Actions Include: ◻ Tackles ◻ Interceptions ◻ Pressures ◻ Blocks Formula: PPDA = Total Opponent Passes / (Total Defensive Actions) Example: If Team A allows 50 passes and tries to win the ball 10 times, PPDA is 5. 📊 Example: If Team B allows 150 passes and tries to win the ball 10 times, PPDA is 15. 📉 💭 Final Thoughts PPDA helps players, coaches, and fans see how fast a team tries to get the ball back. It shows the team’s strategy and how well they defend. ❓ Do you think your favorite team press a lot or wait to defend? Day 2 of the How Do You Explain 'The Stat' to a 10-Year-Old? - Let me know which metric you want me to cover next in the comments below 👇 Sources - Medium , The Premier League #footballstats #PPDA #socceranalytics #dataanalysis #videoanalysis

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Sometimes the simplest updates are the best. Effortless iOS split-screen navigation now available in the Trackman golf pro app for iPhone and iPad.

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For the 2024 class, we have identified this number of players signed for 10k or less per country of origin. Colombia 6 = 46% of total of players Mexico 9 = 33% total of players Venezuela 95 = 33% total of players Dominican R 72 = 24% total of players Panama 4 = 21% total of players If an International Draft comes into the equation, it's possible that most of these 186 players will have a much higher valuation. At Wahoo, we are here to help make the best data-driven decisions. https://lnkd.in/eK8zQTXE

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