Kris McCarthy on LinkedIn: #livingthestartup #sportstech #sportsbiz (2024)

According to Motor Sports NewsWire I'm now an "Industry Veteran". Conference this year should be fun. Hoping that this year I won't be sicker than a dog and loopy on codeine. In this year's Powersports Business Accelerate presentation, I'll discuss how dealers "promote to failure" and what we can do to prevent that from happening. See you there#PowersportsBusiness #MotorSportsNewsWire #Powersports #Accelerate2023

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NEW BLOG POST: Pickleball is rapidly growing as a sport. Adding it to your facility's business plan can help your facility grow and bring in wider audiences. Learn how to add it to your facility now: https://lnkd.in/gbi4CUPw#pickleball #sportsfacility #businessplan

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Commercial retail properties, listen up! Pickleball has ben the fastest growing sport in America for three years running, with over 40 million active players and that number continues to grow everyday. Here is a few reasons why you should be looking at Indoor Pickleball for your retail center! 1️⃣ Diverse Demographic Draw: Pickleball attracts players of all ages. Transform your retail property into a destination for families, young professionals, and active seniors, creating a diverse and inclusive atmosphere.2️⃣ Increased Foot Traffic: Imagine the buzz! A Pickleball court can drive foot traffic to your retail space. Players and spectators alike contribute to a bustling environment, potentially boosting business for neighboring establishments.3️⃣ Community Connection: Foster a sense of community within your property. Pickleball tournaments, leagues, and events create opportunities for social interaction, turning your space into a gathering point for like-minded individuals.4️⃣ Adaptable Spaces: Convert unused or underutilized areas into Pickleball courts. Whether indoors or outdoors, the adaptability of Pickleball facilities allows for creative use of spaces, maximizing the potential of your property.5️⃣ Health and Wellness Hub: Position your retail property as a destination for health and wellness. Pickleball's combination of fun and fitness aligns with the growing trend of active lifestyles, attracting health-conscious individuals to your space.6️⃣ Media-Worthy Events: Host Pickleball tournaments and events that garner media attention. This not only promotes the sport but also elevates the visibility of your retail property, creating a positive image in the eyes of the community.7️⃣ Collaborative Partnerships: Forge partnerships with local Pickleball clubs and organizations. Collaborative efforts can lead to mutually beneficial initiatives, enhancing the overall experience for both players and visitors.Transform your commercial retail property into a dynamic hub that goes beyond traditional shopping experiences. Embrace the Pickleball revolution and watch as your space becomes a thriving center of activity and community connection! #RetailInnovation #CommunityEngagement #PickleballRevolution #CommercialRealEstate #thepicklr

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It was Marathon Weekend this past Sunday here in Atlanta. From a marketing lens, here’s what I loved about the experience and activations: — 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰: after 16 years of tradition, Atlanta Track Club introduced a new start/finish line and (3) new race formats that encouraged community, flexibility, and personalization. I love that in addition to heritage, there’s always room to innovate and try something fresh. — 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜: at aid stations you’ll often have music blasting across the course. I loved how ATC strategically stationed a live band at an iconic Atlanta backdrop (Jackson Street Bridge, a la notorious Walking Dead scene). It turned an already cool photo opp into an even more memorable experiential moment. —𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲: despite shifting start/finish locations, runners still meandered through notable ATL neighborhoods. For businesses along the course, I loved seeing them cheering on folks and building awareness and consideration with primely timed race rewards (who doesn’t love discounts?!) — 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐚 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧: handcrafted posters are my race favorite and keep me engaged as a runner. The number of “Strava is forever” signs I encountered is too many to count. Seriously. They’ve created a palpable cultural idiom among the active community that might one day rival Nike’s iconic “Just Do It.” When I think about the number of fitness events at scale where I’m sure this phenomenon is happening, I can’t help but think of the creative ways Strava could capitalize on this. It makes me wonder how or if they’re “cashing in” on this cultural cache. As experiences become an increasingly compelling way to connect and give value to the customer, I hope to see more personalized, thoughtful and dynamic moments like these that made my 13.1 in the cold so much fun!

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We are amidst a recreational renaissance. Play is becoming a more viable business. I am seeing it emerge in three forms:1. Eatertainment: Companies that combine dining with an activity to make more money than the parts could alone. TopGolf and Dave & Busters are the largest players here but companies like Swingers - the crazy golf club are distinguishing themselves with a great caliber of F&B or more niche activities. In many ways, this format is becoming the new hospitality. I sat down with Co-Founder Matt Grech-Smith to learn more. 2. New Sports: Pickleball took us by surprise. Ace Pickleball Club says to leave the food at home and focus on the sport. Built to accommodate the growing league and tournament segment, Ace focuses on the highest standards for indoor play. 3. Autonomous Recreation: PINGPOD INC and Sharks Pool Hall take the most novel approach to recreation. Both concepts have no onsite staff. You book a table on your phone and use that to let yourself in. PodPlay Technologies, the company behind both, now licenses their technology to venues that want to incorporate some autonomy in their operations. The ramifications are huge. I spoke with Co-Founder David Silberman to learn more. Learn more about each, the history of how we got here, and why it's happening now below. https://lnkd.in/eCwBvNjR

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🙌 You love to see a partnership that rewards your most passionate fans 🙌 This season, the Seattle Seahawks and Delta Air Lines are running a program called 12 Status, allowing fans to earn one mile for every Seahawks passing yard, including the postseason, by connecting their SkyMiles account with 12Status.But that's not all! By signing up, 12s also receive:→Main Priority Boarding: Board departing flights at Seattle Tacoma during Main Cabin 1 from September 10, 2023, until the end of the Seahawks' 2023-24 Season.→Team Store Discount: Exclusive 12% discount at Seahawks Pro Shop retail stores on the 12th of each Seahawks in-season month.Check out the well-designed landing page linked below, which includes social proof for the program, highlighting the exact number of 12Status members (130,553) and the total miles awarded to 12Status Members to date (1,320,762,605).A program like this just makes sense.→For the Seahawks, it's an outstanding way to reinforce the 12s brand and demonstrate the value of fans dedicated to their team.→For Delta, it drives account signups for their free loyalty program (SkyMiles) and provides more data points about their current members by linking the account. Plus, it fosters brand affinity and incentivizes Seahawks fans to choose Delta for their flights to accumulate more points.→For the fans (12s), they enjoy a better travel experience and the opportunity for "discounted" fares, all by simply signing up for the program at the beginning of each season.If your partner has a free loyalty program, this is a model you should replicate for your fans.#sportsbusiness #sportsmarketing #sponsorship

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Really interesting article in Sports Business Journal this week about how we're forming team partnerships.A big thanks to our partners for their early leap of faith in joining us on this journey, we’re excited to be working with such great people and brands.If you'd like to have a chat with us, get in touch with me on here, or email the team on partnerships@majesticksgc.com

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Swings And Misses: Callaway’s Exploring A #Topgolf Spinoff.FORE! (Quarters of Decline). Topgolf — the driving range chain where families, friends, and colleagues can whack a few balls onto greens littered with interactive targets — isn’t getting the footfall it used to, leading parent co. Topgolf #Callaway Brands Corp. to explore a potential spinoff.#Golf ball, bag, and club-making giant Callaway acquired Topgolf in a 2021 deal that valued the make-golf-fun-again brand at more than $2B, keen to get in on the less stuffy off-course craze that Topgolf has capitalized on since it was founded 24 years ago. In its latest report, however, the company bemoaned “softer than expected” traffic at the ranges, despite CEO Chip Brewer claiming last year that more people would be visiting a Topgolf in 2024 than “playing traditional golf”.Reduced visitor figures have been weighing on Topgolf’s top line too, with same-venue #sales declining in each of the last 4 quarters, as the allure of grooving your swing while surrounded by “loud music, giant targets, giant TVs, and hand-crafted food & drinks” has started to fade a little.In previous quarters, the company had explained that the falling figures were just a correction following a “post-Covid surge in the corporate events business” in the preceding year. The further we get from the #pandemic, though, the more difficult it becomes to explain the drops away, with Brewer conceding in Q2 that he’s been “disappointed” with Topgolf’s same-venue sales figures and the company’s share price for some time. Topgolf Callaway Brands stock is down 19% in the last 5 days, and down more than 67% since its May 2021 peak.JSesko@meridianfinance.com818-914-9271#tradecreditinsurance

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Top Golf will go 📉 When Topgolf first launched, it offered an exciting blend of sports and entertainment. But as new options emerge, I wonder if Topgolf is starting to lose its edge. Here’s my take:1. Overpriced and Outdated: The thrill of Topgolf seems to be fading as costs rise. Indoor golf ranges and home simulators are gaining popularity, offering more convenient and affordable alternatives.2. Limited Use: Topgolf venues are primarily designed for one purpose, making them difficult to adapt for other uses. This lack of flexibility could hinder their ability to keep up with changing market demands.3. Weather Woes: Playing outside has its downsides. Whether it's braving the cold with space heaters or sweating in the heat, the weather can be a major drawback.4. Underwhelming Experience: During a recent corporate event at Topgolf, I was disappointed by the overall experience. The equipment needed repairs, service was slow, and we only managed to get one drink all evening. The pace of play was so slow that both experienced and novice players were left feeling frustrated.Unless Topgolf makes some significant changes, it might struggle to compete with more flexible and customer-friendly options.What do you think? Can Topgolf turn things around, or are they at risk of losing their place in the entertainment scene?https://lnkd.in/eeRstiwv

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How do big brands take advantage of college football season and stand out? Easy: acitvations.Our pals at @BizBash brought together a list of engaging marketing strategies big brands are bringing to the field this football season.Read the article!https://lnkd.in/edZG4m-y#football #marketing #brandmarketing #brandtricks

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