Three Things I Learned in SaaS, Sports, Tech & Live Events: Super Bowl Edition
Phoenix delivered a world- class Super Bowl. Here's what we learned
Super Bowl LVII Phoenix 2023 Edition
Phoenix delivered a fantastic Super Bowl experience, from social events to the game itself. One of the best I've been to. It's a great blessing we get to go for work.
Here's what we learned, and were reminded of, in working the 2023 Super Bowl.
Favors are quickly forgotten. Yet, at the big game, some of the suckers learn that lesson the hard way. The Super Bowl, for many, is a status game. Who has access to what? Who is/was where? And what's the hot party this year? As people scramble for access, they begin to throw around promises/positions in exchange for a favor. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "We should give tickets to X person and we'll get a meeting for sure" when referring to someone who has been blowing them off for years. Tickets to events, parties and the game itself are very expensive, yet so many newbies get taken advantage of year after year. If they haven't been responsive and respectful to you before this weekend, nothing you give them will change your relationship for the better. Save your powder for better times.
Avoid the tourists, the blowhards and "everyone's +1." An extension of #1, there is a well known group of company brand execs and team execs who are "everyone's guests." They make a lot of promises and can smile with the best of em, but don’t spend any time there. Remember, you're there to make money. They're at all the parties, all the events, all the houses.
Times have changed - yet so many haven't figured it out. Had a humorous exchange with a top level executive at a major brand who was bragging about how terrific their "exclusive" party was the night before. Why humorous? Just ten minutes earlier, in a large group, we were getting reviews of how the party was "all men" and "felt like a frat party - just the frat boys were in custom suits." I'm not sure who needs to read this these days, but if your "exclusive party" has zero diversity (all dudes who look the same), it's a really bad look.
Sometimes when you get what you want, life shows you there's more. Had a good laugh when talking to an NFL contact who was skipping the Super Bowl this year for the first time in a long time- yet was pulled in and "had" to go when a co-worker got sick. We laughed as we had shared one week prior our kids had sporting events we'd rather be at - and that sounded terrible. Enjoy where you are. Sometimes it's better than "behind the doors"
Make sure you find time to see the fans and get the full experience. Speaking just for me on this one: Life behind the doors isn't what I thought it'd be. In the early part of my career, I thought it was so "cool" to be at all the hyper-exclusive events. Now that I'm there, I see it for what it is. We're so blessed to have great friends and we've found them to spend time with at these events. However, to me, behind the gates is full of insufferable and self-important jerks. There's so much good to the Super Bowl. Find it. And don't worry about what's behind the door. If they're too important for you where you are, you don't want to be there- trust me.
And a bonus one: Joy is still free. The Super Bowl is incredible. It is so much fun. We love it and made memories for life. The excitement, the people, the crowds - all of it. I'm a week late to this writing (busy times at TicketManager). The most joy of the last week? I teach Sunday school for the elementary school kids at the local church. One of the best parts is when the special needs ministry joins us for worship. Everyone sings, dances, and lets loose. But when they join? They really get after it. It hit me as I was watching: This is free. And everyone is welcome. No lists. No bottle service charge. No cover. All are welcome. As all the best things in life are.
See everyone in Las Vegas for the 2024 Super Bowl!