1
00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:03,600
Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're gagging

2
00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:08,200
Speaker 1: over two PWHL stars turned cover girls. Marie Flipoulan Grace

3
00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:10,600
Speaker 1: is the cover of the November issue of El Quebec

4
00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:15,440
Speaker 1: and Sarah Nurse is El Canada's November cover star. It's Wednesday,

5
00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,639
Speaker 1: October twenty ninth. Then on today's show, we'll be talking

6
00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:20,640
Speaker 1: to Jen Millet, the president of NWSL expansion team, the

7
00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:24,680
Speaker 1: Denver Summit FC, about being higher number one, how the

8
00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,080
Speaker 1: Summit will tell the story of its city and the

9
00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,440
Speaker 1: mad race to get the team onto the pitch and

10
00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,000
Speaker 1: the temporary stadium up and built. Plus the w ghost

11
00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,600
Speaker 1: glam stepping up for the CBA and creating a problem

12
00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:39,160
Speaker 1: to freak out about. It's all coming up right after

13
00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:49,040
Speaker 1: this Welcome Back slashays here's what you need to know today.

14
00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,600
Speaker 1: Let's start at the WNBA, where the Dallas Wings have

15
00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,120
Speaker 1: made things official with new head coach Jose Fernandez. He

16
00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,320
Speaker 1: comes to the pros after spending the last twenty five

17
00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,160
Speaker 1: seasons the women's hoops team at the University.

18
00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:02,440
Speaker 2: Of South Florida.

19
00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:05,760
Speaker 1: Fernandez was also in talks to coach the Wings last year,

20
00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:08,480
Speaker 1: but the team went with Chris Coklanis, who was let

21
00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:10,760
Speaker 1: go at the end of the season. Fernandez will be

22
00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:15,720
Speaker 1: formally introduced on November sixth. More WNBA the w players

23
00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,440
Speaker 1: have some new supporters ahead of the October thirty one

24
00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:22,720
Speaker 1: deadline for CBA negotiations. More than seventy elected officials from

25
00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:26,800
Speaker 1: around the country, including New York City mayoral candidate Zoron Mamdani,

26
00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:30,759
Speaker 1: pend a letter to WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert and NBA

27
00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:34,319
Speaker 1: Commissioner Adam Silver, urging them to quote bargain in good

28
00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,840
Speaker 1: faith to reach a fair collective bargaining agreement in a

29
00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,800
Speaker 1: timely manner end quote meantime, Five WNBA players have been

30
00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,440
Speaker 1: named to the annual Glamour Women of the Year list,

31
00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,280
Speaker 1: as representative of over the one hundred and fifty players

32
00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,800
Speaker 1: that make up the league and are currently fighting for

33
00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:52,720
Speaker 1: better pay. Nafisa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, Lexi Hull

34
00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,920
Speaker 1: of the Indiana Fever, John Quell Jones and niar Asabli

35
00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:57,960
Speaker 1: of the New York Liberty, and Satu Sabli of the

36
00:01:58,000 --> 00:01:59,800
Speaker 1: Phoenix Mercury are the honorees.

37
00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:01,720
Speaker 2: We'll link to the feature on them in the show

38
00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:02,960
Speaker 2: notes to the.

39
00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:07,320
Speaker 1: NWSL, where Angel CITYFC defender Elizabeth Eddie posted a lengthy

40
00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:11,400
Speaker 1: Twitter screed on Sunday about the NWSL's gender policy, and

41
00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,760
Speaker 1: it ended up almost verbatim as an op ed in

42
00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,000
Speaker 1: The New York Post the very next day. In it,

43
00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,560
Speaker 1: Eddie calls for the adoption of quote unquote, a clear

44
00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:23,000
Speaker 1: standard for gender eligibility in the NWSL. Eddie suggested that

45
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,600
Speaker 1: players must be born with ovaries or potentially submit to

46
00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:30,280
Speaker 1: gene testing or other similar verification. Now, the NWSL has

47
00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:33,800
Speaker 1: been without a specific policy on gender eligibility for three years,

48
00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,480
Speaker 1: per a story from the Guardian, The league abandoned a

49
00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:39,560
Speaker 1: twenty twenty one policy in early twenty twenty two, prior

50
00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:43,760
Speaker 1: to Jessica Berman's installation as NWSL commissioner. In twenty twenty four,

51
00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:47,120
Speaker 1: Berman responded to a question about how another Trump presidency

52
00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,760
Speaker 1: might affect the league in its policies, saying, quote, We're

53
00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:52,920
Speaker 1: going to continually live by our values and support everyone

54
00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:57,079
Speaker 1: in our ecosystem, inclusive of our fans, our players, our employees,

55
00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:01,040
Speaker 1: in every community where we operate end quote. Meg Lenahan

56
00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:03,280
Speaker 1: has a nice write up on Eddie's op ed and

57
00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,400
Speaker 1: the league's failure to establish its values and guidelines by

58
00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:10,320
Speaker 1: not having a proper policy, quoting writer and editor Julie Kleegman,

59
00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,560
Speaker 1: who said, in part quote scrapping that policy without a

60
00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,160
Speaker 1: plan in place and relying on the refrain of will

61
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,960
Speaker 1: live by our values, you need to articulate what those

62
00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,280
Speaker 1: values are in a transparent way. Ultimately, you're just feeding

63
00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:26,359
Speaker 1: the quote unquote debate in an unproductive way. Eddie's language

64
00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:31,120
Speaker 1: is dehumanizing, it's restricting, it's not inclusive. This is coming

65
00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,280
Speaker 1: for all of sports right now. It's obviously not specific

66
00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,480
Speaker 1: for the nwsl end quote. We'll link to Meg's story,

67
00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,080
Speaker 1: which also includes reactions from others around the league.

68
00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,720
Speaker 2: In the show notes more soccer.

69
00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:44,840
Speaker 1: As the US women's national team finishes out there trio

70
00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,200
Speaker 1: of October friendlies with a contest against New Zealand tonight

71
00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:50,920
Speaker 1: in Kansas City. This will be the twenty second meeting

72
00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,600
Speaker 1: all time between the two teams, with the US posting

73
00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:57,000
Speaker 1: nineteen wins, one loss, one draw, and there's a seventy

74
00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,360
Speaker 1: five goal gap between the two squads. This will be

75
00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,360
Speaker 1: the team's first ever match at CPKC Stadium, home of

76
00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,800
Speaker 1: the KC. Current kickoff is at eight pm Eastern on TNT,

77
00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:11,000
Speaker 1: True TVNHBO, Max Plus in Spanish on Universo and also

78
00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:15,080
Speaker 1: on Westwood one Sports Radio. Finally, some PWHL news, The

79
00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,400
Speaker 1: Montreal Victoire have announced that the team has signed two

80
00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,680
Speaker 1: year contract extensions with the first three foundational players in

81
00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:24,960
Speaker 1: team history, Captain Marie Filippe Pulen, goaltender and Renee Debien,

82
00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,120
Speaker 1: and alternate captain Laura Stacey.

83
00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:29,960
Speaker 2: All three players are now under contract.

84
00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,200
Speaker 1: Through the end of the twenty twenty seven to twenty

85
00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,120
Speaker 1: eight season, and according to The Hockey News, all three

86
00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,520
Speaker 1: players took a pay cut to help allow the Victoire

87
00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,720
Speaker 1: to attract and retain more talent this season. Those ladies

88
00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:43,960
Speaker 1: are looking for that Walter Cup, all right, Slaic's We

89
00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:45,880
Speaker 1: got to take a quick break. When we come back,

90
00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:48,839
Speaker 1: meet me at the summit. Jen Millett is next.

91
00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:56,800
Speaker 2: Joining us now.

92
00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:00,520
Speaker 1: She's the president of the NWSL expansion club denvers At FC,

93
00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,320
Speaker 1: set to kick off their inaugural season next year. She

94
00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,840
Speaker 1: spent the last two seasons as the chief operating officer

95
00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,880
Speaker 1: at BAYFC. Previously served as Chief Marketing officer for the

96
00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,200
Speaker 1: mnba's Golden State Warriors and had other stops at Pandora

97
00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,919
Speaker 1: stub Hub and Live Nation. A native of Denver and

98
00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,919
Speaker 1: a University of Colorado at Bouldergrad, she suddenly got a

99
00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,479
Speaker 1: whole lot of forest green clothing in her closet.

100
00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:22,360
Speaker 2: It's Jen Millett hijen.

101
00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:23,400
Speaker 3: Hi, how are you?

102
00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:25,400
Speaker 1: You're not wearing forest green now? So it's not a

103
00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,120
Speaker 1: requirement just for major events.

104
00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,120
Speaker 3: It is freezing today. So while I filled up my

105
00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,680
Speaker 3: summer and fall wardrobe with green, I haven't got to

106
00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,320
Speaker 3: the winter wardrobe yet. So that's next on the agenda.

107
00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:39,640
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's one of my favorite things.

108
00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:41,600
Speaker 1: Over the last couple of years, there's been so many

109
00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,480
Speaker 1: expansion teams across women's sports. Is watching each of the

110
00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,760
Speaker 1: women I interview start to find how many custom suits

111
00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,080
Speaker 1: they can get in the color of their team, you know,

112
00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:52,960
Speaker 1: Valkyrie's violin and you know Toronto tempo.

113
00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:54,200
Speaker 2: Like, yeah, it's been fun.

114
00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,080
Speaker 3: You'd be amazed. I was concerned about the amount of

115
00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,520
Speaker 3: green iw I fine out in the world, but it's

116
00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:01,760
Speaker 3: been real, relatively easy to pick stuff up.

117
00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:03,200
Speaker 2: Yeah, no, you're good.

118
00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:06,200
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's an easy one, just to standard jewel tone.

119
00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:07,280
Speaker 2: You could find that anywhere.

120
00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,120
Speaker 1: You were the first big a hire for the summit.

121
00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,200
Speaker 1: That's a lot of pressure to build something from scratch.

122
00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:15,440
Speaker 1: So what was at the very top of your to

123
00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:16,640
Speaker 1: do list on day one?

124
00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:21,320
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean hiring other people for sure, get me out.

125
00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:25,240
Speaker 3: Oh yeah, you know, I think coming in and obviously hiring,

126
00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,880
Speaker 3: but I also think understanding what the objectives and the

127
00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:32,400
Speaker 3: intentions of this ownership group was, like the why about

128
00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:36,320
Speaker 3: their desire to bring this team to market, And it

129
00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:38,359
Speaker 3: was easy to understand that a lot of that was

130
00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:40,800
Speaker 3: just around the community here in the market that had

131
00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:43,560
Speaker 3: done so much work to bring this club here and

132
00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,120
Speaker 3: how strongly this ownership group sort of attached to that vision.

133
00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:50,840
Speaker 3: And then for me as coming in, you know, as

134
00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,880
Speaker 3: club president, was just to understand that and do right

135
00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,360
Speaker 3: by it and bring the community along on this journey

136
00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,840
Speaker 3: with us, which is extremely fast.

137
00:06:59,240 --> 00:06:59,840
Speaker 2: Yeah.

138
00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,120
Speaker 1: Well yeah, because you have to understand sort of the

139
00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:06,119
Speaker 1: roots of everything, and then it's your responsibility to grow

140
00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,279
Speaker 1: from there, including the business side of things.

141
00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:12,080
Speaker 2: As far as that list.

142
00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,320
Speaker 1: Goes, what's the first thing you do when you take

143
00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,160
Speaker 1: over a team that doesn't exist yet.

144
00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,120
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest thing for expansion

145
00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,960
Speaker 3: clubs and teams is just understanding your timeline to market.

146
00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:27,800
Speaker 3: So I had worked in consumer product and tech previous

147
00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,560
Speaker 3: in my career, and there's just a luxury there to

148
00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:34,640
Speaker 3: a certain degree around like, oh, engineering's not finished with

149
00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,200
Speaker 3: this product. Let's just push it back. We'll push the

150
00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,920
Speaker 3: launch back. And you might have some like earnings calls

151
00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:43,720
Speaker 3: and quarterly numbers you're trying to hit that would limit that.

152
00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:50,239
Speaker 3: But there's flexibility there. There's not flexibility here. So we're

153
00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:53,320
Speaker 3: kicking a soccer ball in the middle of March, and

154
00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,520
Speaker 3: so I think on the business side, it's really like,

155
00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:59,960
Speaker 3: how are you standing up all of the business function

156
00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,040
Speaker 3: that can support kicking a soccer ball in March? So

157
00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:07,080
Speaker 3: getting a ticketing team set up, securing a platform, getting

158
00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:11,520
Speaker 3: for us a stadium built, a temporary stadium built. So

159
00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:16,600
Speaker 3: the roadmap isn't that complicated. It's very functionally sort of

160
00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,560
Speaker 3: oriented around like, Okay, we've got to you know, find

161
00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:22,200
Speaker 3: a home for these matches and build that. We've got

162
00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,560
Speaker 3: to get you know, get the fans connected to this

163
00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:29,040
Speaker 3: product and sell tickets. Obviously, you know, we've got to

164
00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:33,280
Speaker 3: move the needle forward with the sponsorship partnership conversations and

165
00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:36,600
Speaker 3: bring these brands into the fold. And then I think,

166
00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,880
Speaker 3: you know, just envisioning them what do we want that

167
00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,640
Speaker 3: fan experience to be. How do I want to build

168
00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:46,080
Speaker 3: connection between the players We're going to recruit these fans,

169
00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,760
Speaker 3: get them the access that they deserve, you know, leverage

170
00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,520
Speaker 3: them to help steer you know, parts of this experience,

171
00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:55,720
Speaker 3: whether that's bringing in you know, local food and beverage

172
00:08:55,760 --> 00:09:00,680
Speaker 3: providers into our building, understanding like mobility and transportation needs

173
00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:04,200
Speaker 3: of the sites that we're building. So it is a

174
00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,800
Speaker 3: lot at once, and I think, you know, you really

175
00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:11,600
Speaker 3: have to be able to ruthlessly prioritize that makes sense

176
00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:12,800
Speaker 3: just against that goal.

177
00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:16,040
Speaker 1: Yeah, And you know, to your point about there's the

178
00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,440
Speaker 1: pressure of when you start, there's also the pressure of

179
00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:19,320
Speaker 1: the first time.

180
00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:21,679
Speaker 2: You only get to make that first impression once.

181
00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:24,000
Speaker 1: You only get to show the fans who you are

182
00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:26,120
Speaker 1: and what you want this experience for them to be once,

183
00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:29,760
Speaker 1: which does make some of the things that maybe feel

184
00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:34,720
Speaker 1: less pressing because they're more creative or subjective, still feel

185
00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,200
Speaker 1: like a big deal because they matter so much to

186
00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:39,520
Speaker 1: the fan experience side of things, just as much as

187
00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:43,320
Speaker 1: having somewhere to play does. So after you're hiring the team,

188
00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,440
Speaker 1: add a GM Kurt Johnson head coach Nick Kushing, how

189
00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,120
Speaker 1: have you all worked together in understanding your different roles

190
00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:51,400
Speaker 1: when it comes to building up and out because everyone's

191
00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,080
Speaker 1: responsible for different sort of staff players in culture here.

192
00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:56,760
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it's been great. I would say one

193
00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:59,480
Speaker 3: of the you know, massive benefits. Kurt and I were

194
00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,520
Speaker 3: sort of high in quick succession, and so at the

195
00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,720
Speaker 3: very beginning we were like employees one and two just

196
00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,480
Speaker 3: being able to sit together. And I think I wouldn't

197
00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,440
Speaker 3: underestimate how powerful that is to be able to build

198
00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:13,640
Speaker 3: connection from day one and feel like you're in the

199
00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,840
Speaker 3: trenches with someone. I think a lot of times, just

200
00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:19,960
Speaker 3: over the course of like operating business and sporting, can

201
00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,280
Speaker 3: just get separated. There can just be not intentionally, but

202
00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:27,000
Speaker 3: sometimes you're in different physical locations and you're you know,

203
00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:30,520
Speaker 3: focused on different most immediate things specifically. But I think

204
00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:33,960
Speaker 3: he and I sitting in here, you know, him, you know,

205
00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,679
Speaker 3: trying to hire staff the same as I was, and

206
00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,560
Speaker 3: battling through some of that together, him, you know, working

207
00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,240
Speaker 3: to say, oh, where should we put off a space

208
00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:44,360
Speaker 3: for folks? You know, how do we want to think

209
00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:48,640
Speaker 3: about these shared services like an HR leader or a

210
00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,640
Speaker 3: finance leader that we're both going to leverage and utilize,

211
00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,360
Speaker 3: and so I think that was super meaningful. I think

212
00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,400
Speaker 3: you know, Nick has been amazing and been able to

213
00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:00,800
Speaker 3: come over and spend time with us. I think just

214
00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:03,920
Speaker 3: you know, has a great vision for this club and

215
00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,920
Speaker 3: also just the culture of this club. And I think

216
00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:11,480
Speaker 3: truly believes in like a player led mindset and you know,

217
00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,640
Speaker 3: I think wants to bring that into a locker room.

218
00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:16,760
Speaker 3: But I think the dynamic has been awesome. You know,

219
00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:18,840
Speaker 3: he's got a really good, like dry sense of humor

220
00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:20,880
Speaker 3: as well, and so I think that's just like fun

221
00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:24,200
Speaker 3: to to interact with. And then I think the big

222
00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,160
Speaker 3: piece for all of us is we all agree that

223
00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,920
Speaker 3: we're all equally insane for trying to do this on

224
00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:32,959
Speaker 3: the timetable, that that we're trying to execute a lot

225
00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,080
Speaker 3: of this, And so I think there's just like a

226
00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:39,280
Speaker 3: shared you know, like renegade kind of mentality around that, right.

227
00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:40,720
Speaker 2: It's like pledging a frat.

228
00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:42,319
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, there's.

229
00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,679
Speaker 2: A podcast with yeah yeah, neither exactly.

230
00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,480
Speaker 1: I didn't personally do it, but the analogies are always

231
00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:52,600
Speaker 1: fraternities and the military. So yeah, the first one that

232
00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:54,880
Speaker 1: you know or or or you know, bungee jumping on

233
00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,559
Speaker 1: The Bachelor, whatever it is, it brings the two people

234
00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:01,880
Speaker 1: closer as they go through the traumatic and stressful total situation. Yeah,

235
00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:04,800
Speaker 1: is Nick finishing up coaching elsewhere before he comes over.

236
00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,640
Speaker 3: I think he's pretty much done. I know he's spent

237
00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:10,560
Speaker 3: some blocks of time over here over the last couple

238
00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,280
Speaker 3: of months, and I think he'll be coming over full

239
00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:17,040
Speaker 3: time I think the next few weeks. I know he's

240
00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,320
Speaker 3: been able to pop out and while he's been in

241
00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:23,760
Speaker 3: the States and attend some NWSL matches, obviously to sort

242
00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:25,720
Speaker 3: of look at players, but I think he's also really

243
00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:29,520
Speaker 3: interested in understanding, you know, the fan experience, venue experience,

244
00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,439
Speaker 3: and so he's been really leaning in on that.

245
00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,360
Speaker 2: Cool. So you mentioned the facility.

246
00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:39,000
Speaker 1: There's a big old training facility and temporary stadium. Where

247
00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:40,800
Speaker 1: will you play your first season? And what's the plan

248
00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:44,000
Speaker 1: eventually going forward for both training and competition venues.

249
00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:49,959
Speaker 3: Yeah. So we're building performance center in Centennial. So it's

250
00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:53,480
Speaker 3: sort of south of Denver, about ten miles south of downtown,

251
00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:58,400
Speaker 3: and our performance center is actually we're having a topping off.

252
00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,520
Speaker 3: If anyone knows construction, they know to topping off ceremony is.

253
00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:04,000
Speaker 3: But that's on Friday. We just realized we're putting the

254
00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,080
Speaker 3: last steel being in on the roof, which is incredible,

255
00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,720
Speaker 3: so that's in motion, and then adjacent to that we're

256
00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:13,679
Speaker 3: building a temporary stadium. So it's interesting. I don't know,

257
00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:17,240
Speaker 3: you know, if you've attended. I think Inner Miami has

258
00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,079
Speaker 3: what they would call a temporary stadium, a modular stadium.

259
00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:24,960
Speaker 3: I think Northwestern also has been playing out, which I

260
00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,200
Speaker 3: think the Stars are out there for a match this year.

261
00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:31,400
Speaker 3: So these stadiums are pretty incredible. And so we're building

262
00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,080
Speaker 3: temp stadium out in Centennial adjacent to the performance center site,

263
00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:38,080
Speaker 3: so the club will play there the first two seasons,

264
00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:43,880
Speaker 3: and then we are also simultaneously building permanent stadium in Denver,

265
00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:48,439
Speaker 3: so sort of just like a mile south of pure

266
00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:53,079
Speaker 3: downtown in an area called Santa Fe. So that is

267
00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:57,600
Speaker 3: on track to be stood up for twenty eight so

268
00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:00,800
Speaker 3: or third season we'll move over to that stadium. So

269
00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:07,480
Speaker 3: I think that's what makes this project really compelling but

270
00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,320
Speaker 3: also insane. So I've done.

271
00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:11,320
Speaker 2: Buildings are tough.

272
00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:15,200
Speaker 3: Yeah, Like at Bay we had a very aggressive stand

273
00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,480
Speaker 3: up timeline. Obviously, you know, the Sixth Street Award of

274
00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:22,680
Speaker 3: the franchise in late winter with you know, a little

275
00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:24,320
Speaker 3: bit less than a year by the time you got

276
00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,880
Speaker 3: staff in to stand it up, and that was really hard.

277
00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:30,240
Speaker 3: The same timetable to stand up the club, but you're

278
00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:35,840
Speaker 3: simultaneously also building all the facilities that will house the

279
00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:39,360
Speaker 3: club and fans. So it's aggressive.

280
00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:41,920
Speaker 1: So you've gone back to your roots in Colorado. What

281
00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:44,880
Speaker 1: excited you about returning to run your hometown team.

282
00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,480
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean Clorido is an amazing state. I think

283
00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:53,000
Speaker 3: just so much time spent outdoors and the ability to

284
00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:56,000
Speaker 3: do that. I think people sometimes think, oh, it's it's

285
00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:58,360
Speaker 3: freezing there in the winter. It is today, but you know,

286
00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:01,480
Speaker 3: I think the Colorado's like to say, there's three hundred

287
00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,080
Speaker 3: days of sunshine here a year. So I'm going to

288
00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:06,760
Speaker 3: put it to the test because it's been a few

289
00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:08,760
Speaker 3: years since I've lived here. But I mean that's just

290
00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:12,760
Speaker 3: an incredible, you know, incredible like landscape. I think to

291
00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:16,840
Speaker 3: spend time, but more importantly, you know, to be part

292
00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:21,560
Speaker 3: of bringing the first women's team to Colorado is just

293
00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:26,160
Speaker 3: a privilege. I think this market has shown up time

294
00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:30,080
Speaker 3: and time again for its sports teams, and I think

295
00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,200
Speaker 3: clearly had a massive passion to bring a women's team

296
00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:38,200
Speaker 3: here just by the groundswell that we saw from the

297
00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:42,840
Speaker 3: for Denver FC group to be awarded the bid, but

298
00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:47,160
Speaker 3: has carried through. You know, when we reached fifteen thousand

299
00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:51,520
Speaker 3: season ticket deposits, that was without us going out and

300
00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:55,680
Speaker 3: spending a dollar towards driving that activity. That was just

301
00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:56,840
Speaker 3: purely organic.

302
00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:57,520
Speaker 2: Wow.

303
00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:02,720
Speaker 3: And so it's clear you know that this state loves sports,

304
00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:05,320
Speaker 3: but truly loves women's soccer. And when you think about

305
00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:09,440
Speaker 3: the caliber of talent that you know Colorado has produced

306
00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,280
Speaker 3: just at the US women's national team level, but also

307
00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:16,360
Speaker 3: collegiate level, there's something happening here. And I think it's

308
00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:21,000
Speaker 3: a perfect storm of being part of bringing the first

309
00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,840
Speaker 3: women's team here in a landscape where women's sports is

310
00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:28,280
Speaker 3: just massively exploding, but I think soccer in particular really

311
00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:31,840
Speaker 3: lands here and there's such a massive community that supports it,

312
00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,480
Speaker 3: and so I don't know how anyone could say no

313
00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:38,160
Speaker 3: to this opportunity, especially someone with roots in Colorado.

314
00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:40,520
Speaker 1: You mentioned the women's side and being the first. The

315
00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,160
Speaker 1: Colorado Rapids of the MLS have been around a long

316
00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,880
Speaker 1: time since nineteen ninety five. What have you learned about

317
00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:47,960
Speaker 1: the soccer fan community from their history?

318
00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:49,440
Speaker 2: What have you maybe.

319
00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,120
Speaker 1: Connected with them on and do you anticipate much crossover

320
00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:53,000
Speaker 1: in terms of fans.

321
00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:55,680
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I think that you know, they have

322
00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:59,400
Speaker 3: built an amazing complex for their team for their fans,

323
00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:02,120
Speaker 3: So just being able to support a first team, I

324
00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,360
Speaker 3: think even a second team out out at Dick's Sporting

325
00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:08,800
Speaker 3: Goods is really impressive. I think they've done a great

326
00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:13,159
Speaker 3: job connecting with the youth soccer community and so just

327
00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:17,439
Speaker 3: you know, bringing in families and youth programs to share

328
00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,639
Speaker 3: in the experience of soccer and the love of the game.

329
00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:23,560
Speaker 3: And so that's been really impressive and something we can

330
00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:27,040
Speaker 3: learn from from, like a youth marketing strategy. I think

331
00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:30,000
Speaker 3: there's definitely appetite for us to partner with them now

332
00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:33,280
Speaker 3: that boys and girls can see a women's professional team

333
00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:36,080
Speaker 3: here as well, not just a men's So looking forward

334
00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:38,560
Speaker 3: to kind of tapping into that playbook a little bit.

335
00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:42,919
Speaker 3: And Yeah, I mean, I think they've been amazing partners

336
00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:45,639
Speaker 3: to us, as has all of the sports teams I

337
00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:48,200
Speaker 3: would say in the market have been incredible in terms

338
00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:51,240
Speaker 3: of reaching out, looking for ways to help and support

339
00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:54,639
Speaker 3: and amplify our message. Really excited to have, you know,

340
00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,160
Speaker 3: a women's team on the roster of the professional teams

341
00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:57,679
Speaker 3: in the market.

342
00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:01,440
Speaker 1: Yeah, so interesting talking to Smith of the Golden State

343
00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:06,159
Speaker 1: Valkyries about how there was a much smaller crossover of

344
00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:09,720
Speaker 1: season ticket holders for the Warriors and the Valkyries than

345
00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:13,000
Speaker 1: maybe some anticipated because it was serving a group of

346
00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:17,000
Speaker 1: people that didn't just like basketball. They wanted specifically this

347
00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:21,560
Speaker 1: women's product. They wanted specifically this expansion team. Are you

348
00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:25,760
Speaker 1: thoughtful about making sure that people who aren't already served

349
00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:29,240
Speaker 1: by soccer that exists in the space get something out

350
00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:31,520
Speaker 1: of the summit that feels unique and special.

351
00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,760
Speaker 3: Yeah. I would say it's interesting because we saw the

352
00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:38,520
Speaker 3: same in the Bay Area with BAFC and earthquakes.

353
00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:38,840
Speaker 2: Right.

354
00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:42,159
Speaker 3: We sort of were curious, especially again given playing in

355
00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,879
Speaker 3: the same venue to see, okay, you know, what is

356
00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:47,919
Speaker 3: this overlap going to mean and look like? And it

357
00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,960
Speaker 3: was fewer people, especially season ticket members, than we thought.

358
00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:56,040
Speaker 3: I think that it's interesting the demographics in women's sports

359
00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:58,680
Speaker 3: because I do think there's a core audience that connects

360
00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:03,199
Speaker 3: to this message of community and really identifies with the

361
00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:07,760
Speaker 3: inclusiveness that exists in women's sports. But I also think

362
00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:12,640
Speaker 3: that this is a demographic that is growing rapidly. So

363
00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:16,360
Speaker 3: when you look at I think the report coming out

364
00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:20,679
Speaker 3: of the WNBA season was that the largest audience growth

365
00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:22,960
Speaker 3: they saw, which I think was like over one hundred

366
00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:26,840
Speaker 3: and fifty percent, was in men and boys watching the

367
00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,879
Speaker 3: w And so I think that, you know, we have

368
00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:35,120
Speaker 3: to be open to bringing everyone in to women's sports

369
00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:39,440
Speaker 3: and everyone supporting women's sports. And I feel really strongly

370
00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:41,840
Speaker 3: that yes, we want to be in this market as

371
00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:45,680
Speaker 3: a women's team so that little girls can see that

372
00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:49,680
Speaker 3: professional athletes can be women. But I feel it's equally

373
00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:53,119
Speaker 3: important for a little boys to see that, absolutely, because

374
00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:56,960
Speaker 3: when I'm sitting in a conference room or a board meeting,

375
00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:02,399
Speaker 3: I think boys men need to understand that it's okay

376
00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:05,600
Speaker 3: for women to be competitive, that women are resilient, and

377
00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:11,280
Speaker 3: I think seeing that through sports just normalizes it for people.

378
00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:13,960
Speaker 3: And I think, you know, we're really excited to be

379
00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,119
Speaker 3: able to do that here in Denver.

380
00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:18,240
Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, we know, and we've known for a

381
00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:20,879
Speaker 1: long time that the fan base for women's sport is

382
00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,560
Speaker 1: very diverse, male, female, non binary, and that a lot

383
00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:27,040
Speaker 1: of folks just really want the experience that is different

384
00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:31,080
Speaker 1: from the traditional men's sports experience, especially attending in person,

385
00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:34,080
Speaker 1: which is why it's so fun to see so many

386
00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:36,760
Speaker 1: more opportunities across the country for folks. You know, one

387
00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,520
Speaker 1: of the fun things about watching these expansion teams launch

388
00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:42,960
Speaker 1: is how they tell the specific story of the city

389
00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:45,200
Speaker 1: therein And I wonder, what are some of the ways

390
00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,600
Speaker 1: the summit is going to tell the story about Denver.

391
00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:49,840
Speaker 1: What are some things that stand out to you that

392
00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:51,680
Speaker 1: you're like, oh, yeah, we want to bring that in,

393
00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,240
Speaker 1: or this is a vendor or a partner that's really

394
00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,560
Speaker 1: going to help people see what we're all about. What

395
00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:01,760
Speaker 1: ye stands out other than sunshine, beautiful use mountains, you know.

396
00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:04,600
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I think there are a few things

397
00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:07,800
Speaker 3: especially specific to our Santa Fe yard sites or our

398
00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,840
Speaker 3: permanent stadium site. Obviously, the F and B experience and

399
00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,600
Speaker 3: making sure we're bringing in, you know, the flavors of

400
00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:19,720
Speaker 3: Colorado and just more like local hometown favorites, small businesses

401
00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:21,600
Speaker 3: into the F and B experience is going to be

402
00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,680
Speaker 3: big for us. But I think the Santa Fe Stadium

403
00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:27,919
Speaker 3: in particular is going to be I'm pretty sure the

404
00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:30,520
Speaker 3: first stadium in Denver that has no parking, So we

405
00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:35,400
Speaker 3: are not building parking into this experience with the mindset

406
00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,399
Speaker 3: really being like we are a city venue. Denver is

407
00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:42,600
Speaker 3: a massive bike city. The stadium is adjacent to one

408
00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:46,040
Speaker 3: of the biggest trail walking and biking trails in Colorado.

409
00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:50,280
Speaker 3: We play in the summer, so really encouraging you know,

410
00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:53,359
Speaker 3: fans to be active when they're attending games. So bike

411
00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:57,159
Speaker 3: walk and obviously transit is big here as well, and

412
00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:00,000
Speaker 3: the site is adjacent to the second biggest public trans

413
00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:03,119
Speaker 3: that sort of RGD stop in the city. So people

414
00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:06,440
Speaker 3: coming to the games really just like moving and that's

415
00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:10,600
Speaker 3: a big part of Colorado. Like everyone is constantly outdoors,

416
00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:15,760
Speaker 3: super active, running ultra marathons, like biking hundred milers, like

417
00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:19,399
Speaker 3: you know, my staff even in general too, I'm just like,

418
00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:21,719
Speaker 3: what are you doing this weekend? That sounds insane? Like,

419
00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:25,840
Speaker 3: so I think trying to bring that into the culture

420
00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,480
Speaker 3: a little bit, and then I think the other pieces

421
00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:31,280
Speaker 3: of the you know, the stadium itself is, yes, you know,

422
00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:35,000
Speaker 3: trying to build something that's architecturally differentiated, but a big

423
00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,720
Speaker 3: piece of that is making sure that people have views

424
00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,280
Speaker 3: of the mountains from the open end of the stadium, right,

425
00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:42,960
Speaker 3: because I think that it's just a big part of

426
00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,000
Speaker 3: the culture here, as I've said, just people getting outdoors,

427
00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:48,439
Speaker 3: spending time in nature, and so how are we bringing

428
00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:51,080
Speaker 3: that into the experience. The stadium site will also be

429
00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:53,960
Speaker 3: adjacent sort of to a city park as part of

430
00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,359
Speaker 3: that component as well. So really just trying to.

431
00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:00,680
Speaker 1: Gosh, this sounds magical. It's what I always think about

432
00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,000
Speaker 1: when I think about Colorado. Obviously, accessibility will be a

433
00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:04,600
Speaker 1: part of the plan for folks who aren't able to

434
00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:06,399
Speaker 1: be activating out there, but I love the idea of

435
00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:09,280
Speaker 1: sort of everybody making it a part of their day.

436
00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:12,240
Speaker 1: Like I'm already daydreaming about coming there and you know,

437
00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:15,040
Speaker 1: grabbing coffee and then yeah, for a gorgeous walk through

438
00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:15,960
Speaker 1: some nature to get.

439
00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:16,320
Speaker 2: To the game.

440
00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:18,919
Speaker 1: And it just sounds like a good time. And you

441
00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,720
Speaker 1: mentioned the mountains. I love the crest. Yeah, I love

442
00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:23,800
Speaker 1: a nature crest. I love a mountain crest. So take

443
00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:25,440
Speaker 1: me through the name, the colors of the branding. How

444
00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:28,040
Speaker 1: you got there? Yeah, via a fan vote that didn't

445
00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:31,840
Speaker 1: technically include Denver Summit as an option, and yet somehow,

446
00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:32,880
Speaker 1: yeah it's still one.

447
00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:37,240
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean I think again, part of

448
00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:43,359
Speaker 3: ownership's intention around the club is feeling its community asset.

449
00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:49,200
Speaker 3: Right they the majority of our ownership has like third

450
00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,520
Speaker 3: and fourth generational roots here in Colorado, and it would

451
00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:54,840
Speaker 3: be arrogant for them to assume that they know everything

452
00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:58,600
Speaker 3: just because, you know, they had the dollars to kind

453
00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:01,679
Speaker 3: of get the project over the line, and so I

454
00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:04,879
Speaker 3: think they wanted to make sure they were being true

455
00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:08,399
Speaker 3: to this larger community that has done so much work

456
00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:11,680
Speaker 3: for soccer and women's soccer here, and so that process

457
00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:15,320
Speaker 3: was really around, hey, look, let's make sure people see

458
00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,479
Speaker 3: themselves in, you know, in what we call the club

459
00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,560
Speaker 3: and feel good about it. And so really going to

460
00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:25,439
Speaker 3: market with a variety kind of names that either fans

461
00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:29,720
Speaker 3: had initially submitted, either just through email or just informal channels,

462
00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:31,760
Speaker 3: but putting that back out to them and saying tell

463
00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,000
Speaker 3: us what you think was a big part of it.

464
00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:39,000
Speaker 3: I think much too. I think the ownership's group excitement,

465
00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:41,200
Speaker 3: you know, everyone kind of landed in the same place

466
00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:44,000
Speaker 3: with Summit, and then I think I think we played

467
00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,000
Speaker 3: around with a lot of different Some of this predated me,

468
00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:48,480
Speaker 3: but I think we played around with a lot of

469
00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:52,879
Speaker 3: different variations of like how we were going to you know,

470
00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,280
Speaker 3: put the moniker in front, whether it was Colorado or Denver.

471
00:24:55,359 --> 00:24:57,640
Speaker 3: But I would just say there's a lot of pride

472
00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:02,200
Speaker 3: that we have, you know, as a club in building,

473
00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:05,439
Speaker 3: you know, the second in the US purpose built stadium

474
00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:09,439
Speaker 3: for women in Denver, and so I think really calling

475
00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:12,879
Speaker 3: that out, you know, in that Denver in particular, you know,

476
00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:15,320
Speaker 3: it's the top twenty DMA that we're going to have

477
00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,119
Speaker 3: this purpose built stadium here in Denver, and really wanting

478
00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,080
Speaker 3: to celebrate that, and so you know, landing in that

479
00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:25,720
Speaker 3: place with the naming convention and then with the crest itself.

480
00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,159
Speaker 3: Obviously we've talked about it, but the mountains are just

481
00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:32,439
Speaker 3: so iconic here and the sunsets are iconic here, and

482
00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:36,520
Speaker 3: just bringing that nature piece in. I think the other

483
00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:39,840
Speaker 3: big easter egg that folks have called out is you

484
00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:44,040
Speaker 3: know the OG license plates in Colorado where this really green,

485
00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:48,680
Speaker 3: vibrant green with a crisp white snow and making that prominent,

486
00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:51,800
Speaker 3: you know, within the brand marks. I think it was

487
00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:54,920
Speaker 3: ownable YEP also, which is nice and in both within

488
00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:58,080
Speaker 3: the professional sports community here in Denver in Colorado, but

489
00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:02,320
Speaker 3: also within NWSL. And so all of those things really

490
00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:06,560
Speaker 3: came together in this design and name convention and you know,

491
00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:09,320
Speaker 3: we really loved it rolling it out and we were

492
00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:13,560
Speaker 3: happy to see the positive response. We received from the largery.

493
00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:16,040
Speaker 1: Lots of merch sales too, because it's it's really sick year.

494
00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,520
Speaker 2: Tell me about Club fifty two eighty yeah.

495
00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,080
Speaker 3: I think that, you know, we had a very progressive

496
00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,960
Speaker 3: sort of ticketing leader that came in and assessed the

497
00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:29,119
Speaker 3: demand that we were seeing and trying to do some

498
00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:32,440
Speaker 3: math around, like, hey, if we convert these depositors at

499
00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:34,720
Speaker 3: this rate, some people are going to be left out.

500
00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:39,760
Speaker 3: And we know we need the full community behind this

501
00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:41,840
Speaker 3: club from day one, and so how are we going

502
00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:45,439
Speaker 3: to create an experience that keeps them in the inner circle,

503
00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:48,359
Speaker 3: similar to the models that you see in Europe with

504
00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:51,840
Speaker 3: membership clubs or I think Kansas City Current also has

505
00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:55,719
Speaker 3: done this right, so creating these access points for fans

506
00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:59,520
Speaker 3: across ticketing so that you know, they get first access

507
00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:02,040
Speaker 3: to our single game tickets when they go on sales,

508
00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:05,200
Speaker 3: should they not convert into you know, full season ticket members.

509
00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:09,359
Speaker 3: They get access to you know, discounts on merch, but

510
00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:12,600
Speaker 3: also pre sale opportunities for those things, and then we

511
00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:15,480
Speaker 3: bring them in to larger kind of community events and

512
00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:18,960
Speaker 3: activations because we understand the commitment it takes to be

513
00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:21,480
Speaker 3: a season ticket member, and we didn't want to create

514
00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,240
Speaker 3: like an all or nothing environment around that. So you know,

515
00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:26,880
Speaker 3: how do you sort of identify yourself as a supporter

516
00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:29,760
Speaker 3: and a fan of the club, but maybe not go

517
00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:32,800
Speaker 3: all in as a season ticket member and giving folks

518
00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:35,680
Speaker 3: kind of that middle ground option. So you know, excited

519
00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:37,879
Speaker 3: to have that and have seen great response to that

520
00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:38,320
Speaker 3: as well.

521
00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:41,280
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think also that through line that connection between

522
00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:45,240
Speaker 1: supporters groups or members or just fans in general and

523
00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:48,960
Speaker 1: ownership in front office for teams is so necessary, especially

524
00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:52,320
Speaker 1: in the women's sports space, especially in the NWSL, where

525
00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:56,280
Speaker 1: there has been unfortunately a lot of fraud experiences for

526
00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:59,879
Speaker 1: players and for fans, a lot of disconnects between what

527
00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:03,840
Speaker 1: it feels like the intention behind creating great community spaces

528
00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:06,919
Speaker 1: that empower women and instead finding a lot of toxicity.

529
00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,600
Speaker 1: So having that connection and having fans feel like they

530
00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:14,479
Speaker 1: can get to know and are on the same side

531
00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:18,040
Speaker 1: as their team is so important if something happens, if

532
00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:21,000
Speaker 1: there's ever issues, for them to feel like they're heard

533
00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:22,680
Speaker 1: and listened to, and for the folks in the front

534
00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:24,760
Speaker 1: office to know what's being talked about and how the

535
00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:28,480
Speaker 1: fans feel about how things are going, it's really so necessary.

536
00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:30,960
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, one thousand percent. It's like, how do

537
00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:36,280
Speaker 3: we keep these pipelines established right where communication can be

538
00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:39,720
Speaker 3: given in both directions and there's connection there so that

539
00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:42,400
Speaker 3: you know, we just feel like it's a touchstone of

540
00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:44,760
Speaker 3: the club and it could be the special sauce of

541
00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:47,600
Speaker 3: our you know, success on and off the pitch, and

542
00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:52,120
Speaker 3: making sure that we're building those connections early so that

543
00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:55,800
Speaker 3: we can sustain, you know, this community movement that brought

544
00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:57,080
Speaker 3: the club here in the first place.

545
00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,920
Speaker 1: Yeah, you mentioned you'll be kicking a ball in Marshall,

546
00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:02,800
Speaker 1: will actually be kicking a ball in February, because your

547
00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,720
Speaker 1: first preseason action is actually going to be at the

548
00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:09,680
Speaker 1: twenty twenty six Coachella Valley Invitational that is early February

549
00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:13,120
Speaker 1: at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, same spot

550
00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:16,560
Speaker 1: as the Music Best Sadly, no crossover for footy.

551
00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:17,560
Speaker 2: And music in February.

552
00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:21,160
Speaker 1: But I do love this because for years I've been

553
00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:24,080
Speaker 1: suggesting and thinking about how much value there would be

554
00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:26,520
Speaker 1: in a sort of spring training like there is in baseball,

555
00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:30,880
Speaker 1: where there are preseason matches, training sessions, informational meetings all

556
00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:34,080
Speaker 1: in one place for best practices to be shared and

557
00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:37,760
Speaker 1: for leaders of teams to connect and help each other thrive,

558
00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:41,280
Speaker 1: which is still so necessary in a relatively nascent league

559
00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:43,600
Speaker 1: like the NWSL. Right now there's six teams committed, a

560
00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:45,160
Speaker 1: whole bunch of MLS teams will be there on the

561
00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:45,960
Speaker 1: men's side as well.

562
00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:48,640
Speaker 2: Really great way to check in with other team leadership.

563
00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:51,320
Speaker 1: Have you found so far that other front offices have

564
00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:53,960
Speaker 1: been really generous with advice and practices?

565
00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:58,880
Speaker 3: Absolutely. I think, you know, on the business side in particular,

566
00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:03,720
Speaker 3: I think NWS leaders owners identified like we're going to

567
00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:08,520
Speaker 3: rise and fall together. And you know, obviously you want

568
00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:10,880
Speaker 3: to do well on the business side and get those

569
00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:13,560
Speaker 3: big sponsorship deals or put up those big ticketing numbers,

570
00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:17,600
Speaker 3: but I also want that for everybody else because you know,

571
00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:19,760
Speaker 3: our success, especially when it comes to something like a

572
00:30:19,840 --> 00:30:23,600
Speaker 3: media rights deal, is dependent right on all clubs running

573
00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:27,280
Speaker 3: a healthy business, having healthy attendance, you know, raising the

574
00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:31,120
Speaker 3: bar on sponsor evaluations, and so I think that's a

575
00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:35,840
Speaker 3: shared mindset across NWSL. I just think also think across

576
00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:39,000
Speaker 3: women's sports. You know, I know Jess Smith really well,

577
00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:42,320
Speaker 3: as you mentioned, I've met a couple other WNBA leaders

578
00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,920
Speaker 3: and I think that we all like see this as

579
00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:49,920
Speaker 3: a path towards just growing the game for female athletes

580
00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:54,600
Speaker 3: and for fans, and so the best practices are openly shared,

581
00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:59,120
Speaker 3: and people I think will constantly sort of like ping

582
00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:03,280
Speaker 3: you know, other leaders in NWOSL or in w and

583
00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:05,040
Speaker 3: just ask hey, I saw you guys did this, how

584
00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:08,320
Speaker 3: did it go? I never paused before reaching out and

585
00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:11,920
Speaker 3: asking for help or asking him for information, and always respond,

586
00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:14,600
Speaker 3: you know, as openly as I can when folks reach

587
00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:17,040
Speaker 3: out to me for like, hey, you know, how did

588
00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:19,400
Speaker 3: you guys do this? Or I noticed you're working with

589
00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:22,680
Speaker 3: this partner, because I think, like I said, Rising Tide

590
00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:26,000
Speaker 3: lifts all boats in this league. We compete on the

591
00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:30,320
Speaker 3: pitch and you know, and we grow together off the pitch.

592
00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:34,840
Speaker 1: So for sure, Yeah, well, I'm super excited to come

593
00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:38,480
Speaker 1: check out a game, do a little you know, craft beer,

594
00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:42,000
Speaker 1: pub crawl, get out in the sun, rent a bike,

595
00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:44,600
Speaker 1: ride my way to the stadium, maybe, depending on how

596
00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:48,240
Speaker 1: many more craft years happen, walk home. But Jen, thanks

597
00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:51,120
Speaker 1: so much for helping us understand the launch of this team.

598
00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:53,560
Speaker 1: We're getting really excited, and God speed and good luck

599
00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:55,640
Speaker 1: to you over the last couple of months as you

600
00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:57,160
Speaker 1: try to bring everything together.

601
00:31:57,320 --> 00:31:58,120
Speaker 3: Thank you so much.

602
00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:02,560
Speaker 2: Thanks again to Jen for taking the time. We got

603
00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:03,400
Speaker 2: to take another break.

604
00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:06,720
Speaker 1: When we return, watch what Happens when you Mix sports

605
00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:12,640
Speaker 1: and cocktails.

606
00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:14,640
Speaker 2: Welcome back, slaicays.

607
00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:16,200
Speaker 1: We love that you're listening, but we want you to

608
00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:17,959
Speaker 1: get in the game every day too, So here's our

609
00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:20,800
Speaker 1: good game play of the day. Follow the Denver Summit

610
00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:23,640
Speaker 1: on social media. We'll link to the team's instagram in

611
00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:25,960
Speaker 1: the show notes. And we always love to hear from you,

612
00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:28,480
Speaker 1: so hit us up on email good game at wondermedianetwork

613
00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:30,880
Speaker 1: dot com or leave us a voicemail at eight seven

614
00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:34,560
Speaker 1: two two oh four fifty seventy and don't forget to subscribe,

615
00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:35,480
Speaker 1: rate and review.

616
00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:36,360
Speaker 2: It's easy.

617
00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:41,280
Speaker 1: Watch women athletes tending Bravos bar rating ten out of

618
00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:45,640
Speaker 1: ten positive outcomes of corporate synergy review. On Monday Night,

619
00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:50,120
Speaker 1: Olympic speed skater Britney Bow and Paralympic Nordic skier Danny Aravich,

620
00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:53,400
Speaker 1: where the celebrity bartenders for Bravos watch what Happens Live

621
00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:56,640
Speaker 1: as NBC Universal Networks start their push to promote the

622
00:32:56,640 --> 00:33:00,120
Speaker 1: Winter Olympics and Paralympics Next February, the duo rock the

623
00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:03,280
Speaker 1: Bravo Red Carpet posed with below decks Joe Bradley and

624
00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:06,320
Speaker 1: Captain Sandy and even got Andy Cohen too, ditches blazer

625
00:33:06,320 --> 00:33:08,920
Speaker 1: and button down in favor of a US Olympic team sweater.

626
00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:09,800
Speaker 2: Bravo.

627
00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:13,560
Speaker 1: Now it's your turn, y'all rate and review. Thanks for listening,

628
00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:17,120
Speaker 1: See you tomorrow. Good Game, Jen, Good Game, Denver, Summit

629
00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:20,760
Speaker 1: h you players calling for athletes to have ovaries in

630
00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:24,800
Speaker 1: order to compete. Listen to Rose evilyis podcast tested, read

631
00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:31,720
Speaker 1: a in biology book, Don't Be Soaping Basic. Good Game

632
00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:34,360
Speaker 1: with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in

633
00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:37,400
Speaker 1: partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find

634
00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:39,800
Speaker 1: us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or.

635
00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:41,120
Speaker 2: Wherever you get your podcasts.

636
00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:44,760
Speaker 1: Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are alex Azie,

637
00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:48,720
Speaker 1: Grace Lynch, Taylor Williamson and Lucy Jones. Our executive producers

638
00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:52,160
Speaker 1: are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder.

639
00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:55,840
Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rudder, Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer.

640
00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:59,720
Speaker 1: Production assistants from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah

641
00:33:59,720 --> 00:33:59,920
Speaker 1: Spain