LEARFIELD’s Post

There are so many great life lessons we can learn from sports, and the Detroit Lions represent one of those stories this football season. As a lifelong fan, I'm used to disappointment, but this weekend, Detroit is in the conference championship! Looking back three years ago when the Detroit Lions hired head coach Dan Campbell, his press conference about biting kneecaps made many in the sports media dismiss him as a meathead. But after last year's 9-8 season and the HBO series "Hard Knocks," we learned that Dan Campbell is not only tough and gritty, but he's also incredibly smart and cerebral. He has turned the team into an image of him. They have a clear identity. Watching Dan Campbell, I learned a great lesson that I have to relearn from time to time: first impressions are often wrong. We have to keep an open mind and give people time to show us who they really are. The front office of the Lions did their homework and found the right guy in Dan Campbell, along with an outstanding general manager in Brad Holmes. Together, they've built a culture of all grit, where everyone is buying in and embracing the mentality. This is not just about sports, but rather a fantastic case study in developing the right organizational culture. The Lions have shown that success comes from finding the right people, not necessarily the most talented ones. As an example, sports media personalities, questioned the Lions grabbing Jamyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta in the first round of last year’s draft. They thought they were reaching. In the case of Gibbs, they didn’t even think he was the best running back. Fast forward to today, both of these guys are impact players. It is clear that the Lions have become a first rate organization. From ownership to the last player on the depth chart, everyone is in full alignment, and everyone in the organization is playing a role in this success. As a football fan, I'm excited for what's to come, and as a lifelong Lions fan, I'm proud to see the team succeed. Go Lions! #detroitlions #allgrit

GMA Consulting Founding Partner & Managing Director Josh Swissman, MBA was featured in a recent article discussing Las Vegas' transformation into a premier sports destination. In "Sin City to Sports Heaven: Las Vegas as an Athletic Destination" by Jess Marquez of Global Gaming Business, Josh highlights the factors that have cemented Vegas as a top choice for major sporting events. From the city's unique hospitality infrastructure to its unparalleled ability to host major events like the Super Bowl and the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Josh explains why Las Vegas stands out as a sports hub. As Josh puts it, "Las Vegas continues to execute events on a scale and at a level of quality that no other destination can rival." This success is reflected in Vegas' ability to attract record-breaking attendance for teams like the Aces and the Golden Knights, as well as generate significant economic impact from special events. Read the full article to learn more about how Las Vegas has become a top-tier sports city: https://lnkd.in/ei2T9rJ3 #SportsBusiness #LasVegas #SportsDestination #GMAConsulting #Leadership #Hospitality

It was a small gesture monetarily in the grand scheme of things... ...maybe $300 each for maybe 50 people at max but it was priceless... ...in reinforcing how Coach Mufet McGraw created a team culture. Everyone had a role and everyone needed to do their role to the best of their abilities for us to achieve our team goals. In 2001, I was on the staff of the Notre Dame Women's Basketball team that won the national championship. My newly created role was responsible for increasing attendance and fan engagement for women's basketball. It was an amazing opportunity that I took personally. We built a movement for women's basketball at the University of Notre Dame. Attendance reached Top 6 in the nation and the fans continue to strongly support the team today with top ranking attendance. Growing the Notre Dame fan base is something I'm incredibly proud of still. So much so, that we're season ticket holders travelling from the Chicago area to attend! I didn't score a point for the IRISH. Neither did all the other team support such as coaches, athletic trainers, male practice players, student managers, sports information directors, etc. but we all received a National Championship ring. (see pics in carousel below) It takes a collective effort to win a National Championship. The power of a true team will always beat a couple strong individuals. I have never felt this more than with this 2001 team. As we move throughout our careers, let us never forget the power of teams. 𝐖𝐄 > 𝐌𝐄. It's easy to forget all the work, little and big decisions along the way, and all the contributors over the years that lead to big wins. I'm thankful for my years at Notre Dame learning from some of the best. It was 5 years but will have a lifetime impact. ☘ Guess what, we all have impacts on our teams and colleagues in the business world too! What gestures show appreciation in your world? --- Would love your FOLLOW (Dr. Heather Maxwell) and a 🔔 ring above if you're interested in posts about #insights, #brandbuilding, and leading a #wellplayedlife #sports #sportsbiz #sportsmarketing #leadership

Ever heard of a drive-through for sports bets?  Only at the soon-to-close Tropicana Las Vegas! ♠ As the Trop turns off its lights one last time tomorrow, I’m thrown back to my UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hospitality days, where the drive-through sports book often offered lessons richer than my college courses.  Who knew placing bets in your car could teach you about leadership lessons? ♣ Adaptability:  The Trop showed us how to innovate, reminding us that sometimes, the best opportunities come when you least expect it (like winning a bet in your PJs).  ♦ Risk Management: Early lessons in not putting all your eggs in one betting basket taught me the importance of calculated risks, a principle I carry into my professional life. ♥ Embrace Change:  The closing of this iconic venue marks an end but also signals new beginnings. It’s a reminder to welcome change, even when it’s bittersweet. The Trop wasn’t just a casino, it was a classroom teaching us to adapt, manage risks, and always be ready for life’s next roll of the dice. #TropicanaLasVegas #LeadershipLessons #UNLV #Adaptability #Change #Raiders. Tagging some great leaders who've held critical roles at Trop: Michael Downs, Gavin Mealiffe, greg marlier, Donna Marcou, Kenneth Ratigan, Hector Mon, Mary Ross, Kathy Dyke, CPCE, Valerie Moon

Deion Sanders: A Trailblazer Worthy of Sportsman of the Year! Alright, let's talk about Coach Prime – Deion Sanders over at Colorado University. This guy is not your typical coach; he's a game-changer, and Sportsman of the Year material, no doubt. So, why does he deserve this big-time award? First off, Sanders brought the heat to Colorado Football. Seriously, just saying his name got people tuning in from all over. He turned this local thing into a national sensation. The dude's got charisma for days. Yeah, I know, he's got a bold and loud way about him. Some folks aren't into it, but let's be real, he's just being himself. In a sports world filled with clichés and sugar-coated talk, Sanders is refreshingly honest. You might not agree with everything he says, but you can't deny he keeps it real. What really seals the deal is the success he's bringing to the table. Sanders is flipping the script on coaching, doing things his way, and guess what? It's working. Colorado University is hitting heights nobody saw coming in such a short time. The guy is rewriting the playbook on what a winning college football program looks like. But hold up, it's not just about the game with Sanders. He's not just a coach; he's a teacher and a father figure. The impact he's having on his players goes beyond touchdowns and tackles. He's shaping these kids into not just better players but better people. That's the kind of stuff that lasts. So, Sportsman of the Year isn't just about the wins and trophies; it's about changing the game. Deion Sanders is doing just that. He's shaking up college football, getting us all hyped, and making us rethink what success really looks like. Here's to Coach Prime – the Sportsman of the Year we didn't know we needed. #coachprime #coloradofootball #deonsanders #nfl #foxsports

Please see the article that was posted on the Drew University website featuring the Sports Business courses that I teach at the University. #DrewU

A new media sports history project idea. Pick a jersey number between 00 and 99. Connect it with one of the most famous/well known/notorious athletes in Southern California. Now what’s his or her unique story connected to that number? What gives them the star power, achievement, longevity and a good story. Quirkiness and individuality help. What made them uniquely SoCal? No. 32: Magic Johnson, Sandy Koufax, Bill Walton, O.J. Simpson, Jonathan Quick … No. 34: Fernando Valenzuela, Shaquille O’Neal, Bo Jackson … Did you know UCLA has no idea what number Jackie Robinson wore during his only year playing baseball as a Bruin? Neither does UCLA. Numbers are magic and mystery. Superstition and supercilious. They give cheering for laundry uniformity, comfort and individuality amidst conformity. We are open to contributions, debates, nominations, essays, pushback, humiliation, condemnation, acclamation and accumulation. Even adoration. We've got plenty of ideas how to spark this storytelling. Here's the starting point:

Exploring the Intersection of Sports and Technology. Do you work in the #Sports industry? Either at a sports organization, a sports team or a sports and technology company? We hope the below short playbook helps open the conversation about sports organizations being successful on LinkedIn. At Lyndon Consulting, we partner with organizations in the sports industry all over the world in helping them understand how to use LinkedIn and it's product as a powerful asset to success in branding, marketing, recruiting and sales. We've all enjoyed the incredible global sporting events in across the last few months with the Copa America, the Euros, Wimbledon and many more. It's an exciting time for sports on LinkedIn. Let's talk! #sports #leadership #sportsonlinkedin

What can leaders learn from the 16 greatest sports teams of all time? For his book, The Captain Class, Sports journalist Sam Walker extensively studied nearly every sports team in history and identified the 16 most dominant. This included legendary teams such as the 1949-50 New York Yankees, the 1956-69 Boston Celtics and the 1996-99 US Women's soccer team. Walker's goal was to answer one question: what was the one thing these teams had in common that sparked greatness? His intense study yielded a clear answer: the quality of their captains. This blog article shares exactly what qualities the greatest captains have.

Last month, I attended a 70th anniversary celebration for Sports Illustrated, attended by over 180 attendees including many who traveled to New York City. The experience felt like a high school reunion and there were so many hugs, laughs, smiles and tears. Having read an article about the changing landscape in Chicago Sports TV, I pondered, will I be attending a similar event in the not to distant future for NBC Sports Chicago after its 20 years of broadcasting Chicago Sports. Despite the challenges in the Regional Sports Network business, it appears my former RSN will likely go the way of its predecessor, Fox Sports Net Chicago and cease operations given the value of network to distributors without live sports means a drastic reduction in affiliate fees, alongside a significant decrease in advertising. From a business perspective, I'd love to learn how this new network was able to keep the Chicago Blackhawks who likely had options to join the Chicago Cubs on Marquee Sports Network. With a few exceptions, the most successful RSNs have spring summer + fall/winter programming of the four major pro sports (e.g. YES Network has Brooklyn Nets in addition to New York Yankees, compared to MSG Networks has New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils). And what carriage deal can this network expect from Comcast, the managing partner of NBC Sports Chicago, and number one distributor in the region? #sportsbiz #chicagosports #bulls #blackhawks, #cubs, #whitesox #OTT #sportstv