Las Vegas' debut as a Super Bowl host was a wild success. It was easy to get around, there was an abundance of rooms and entertainment venues, and even the game was easy to get in and out of.
Three Things I Learned from the first Las Vegas Super Bowl:
1. Las Vegas will enter the new regular rotation.
In the old days, the Super Bowl regular rotation was (with number of Super Bowls hosted): Miami (11), Southern California (11), New Orleans (10), Tampa (5), Phoenix (4)
Recently, the NFL has awarded Super Bowls to the rotation cities and to cities with new stadiums. Las Vegas fell under the "new stadium" classification but, given the way the city hosted the game, the strength of the market, and the city's ability to handle inclement weather, there's no doubt Las Vegas will be in the rotation once a decade going forward.
From the looks of things, the rotation will be (from West to East): San Francisco, Southern California, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta, Tampa and Miami
2. I failed at my promise
The first years of TicketManager (then known as CEG and Spotlight) were very rough. We were broke, working every waking hour, and weary.
I played golf one day with a an older pseudo family member who was about to pull away from his business and enjoy retirement. I remember the conversation vividly. He felt so guilty doing the things he'd earned - like playing golf and working a (gasp) eight hour day for a change.
I was adamant in my response and feelings that I'd never feel guilty if we got through the dark times. And boy were they dark.
All weekend in Vegas my better half noticed I looked detached and like I wasn't enjoying the incredible access we had with customers and partners. I turned down dinner invites and passed on access and invitations to others. Truth is: I felt really guilty.
At our wind-down dinner on Sunday after the game, our VP Sales was clearly exhausted. I mentioned to my wife that "I hope he gets everything he deserves. He works so hard and cares so much." I hadn't seen him all week.
She stopped me in my tracks when she responded: "You do too. And don't forget it."
After dinner I was talking to an entrepreneur friend. I asked him if he was taking Monday off. "No" he responded "there's not point in it. It just delays the work I need to do anyways."
Me neither.
So many think being an entrepreneur ends with half-days and freedom.
It doesn't. Freedom has fangs. And the to-do list never stops. I thought I'd be able to enjoy the fruits at some point. I now know that's not part of the game…and I don't want it to be.
3. When we work the event, we aren't part of the event.
Last week I got to go to the Grammys, the Super Bowl, and the events around them. One thing stands out to me as strange: When the people who work the event post as if they're attending the event.
It's strange to me. We're the servants of the event. We weren't invited to have the fun. It happens at every Grammys and Super Bowl party. Very strange