Blog #2

While Wednesday morning was supposed to be the start of Hawken Projects, mine did not start until 6:35 pm. The time for the first pitch of the Akron Rubberducks vs the Erie Seawolves. Akron came in on a four-game win streak, and I was very excited for my first time at Canal Park. The start of my project was delayed because I had the sectional tournament for tennis. From there, I drove to the game to meet my mentor, Ken Babby, the owner of the Rubberducks along with Jim Pfander, the general manager. We met to plan out my project and decide what exactly I would be working on. I then went with Mr. Babby to the Champions Club, an exclusive restaurant for select ticket holders, to get food. He was very curious to hear my input as someone at a game for the first time. We then sat right behind home plate to watch the game. He left me on my own after a bit to explore. I talked to a family about their experience at the games as well as someone who worked there. They recommended the street corn, so I went to try it. Canal Park is known for some of its great food. The Rubberducks lost the game, but I still had a lot of fun. Friday I went to the stadium to meet with David Burke, the VP of Sales and Operations. He gave me a tour of the stadium showing me the event spaces, press box, and suites. I learned that what they do is entertainment. They only can control what is off the field, so the results of the game don’t affect the staff. I also met Brian Lobban, the manager of corporate sponsorships and special events, who I will be working with soon. After my time at the ballpark, I went to a local restaurant to try Jojo’s. I had never heard of them before, but apparently, they are an Akron specialty. They are breaded and fried potato wedges. I am excited about next week when I will have more meetings and work time planned.



Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 15, 2022 at 7:15 PM

    Talk about a good first day! I think that the introduction to the "entertainment" staff is fascinating - there is so much of an industry built around the in-house experience (regardless of the wins or losses) and I know that they are very careful in how they craft those experiences. To me, it almost feels like the next generation of sports marketing - creating an almost Disney-like (fan-centered) experience with the cameras, the contests, the better food, the music, etc. I'm curious to see what connections you identify about how the coaching and entertainment staffs interact. Neither can survive alone, yet their focuses must be wildly different (especially as we emerge from Covid). Thanks for the great details in your 2nd posting.

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