Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>On this episode of "The Fan Experience Blueprint," host Connor Smith sits down with multimedia sports journalist Justin Evans. The host of the "Athletes of Aurora" series and co-host of "Bears Talk Today" on Aurora Community Television has spent years building a versatile media footprint across the Chicago sports scene.
Justin reflects on his professional journey, from his early days working the fan experience at Super Bowl LIII as a Morehouse College freshman to editing social media content for the PGA TOUR’s Korn Ferry communications team and assisting in the field with Bally Sports Southeast. He also shares what it was like stepping right onto the grass at Rate Field to interview Chicago White Sox rookie pitcher Noah Schultz.
We dive into his real-world experiences managing social media for the Chicago Snowballs, including the fun of navigating quick two-hour game limits, "reverse baseball" rules and setting up post-game autograph sessions on the field. Justin also shares a great look at audience psychology, explaining why building a deeply loyal core audience matters infinitely more than chasing temporary internet trends.
Justin's website and personal portfolio: https://justintevans1999.wixsite.com/my-site-2
Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-evans-b95b2a174
Connect with Justin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justin_evans1105/
Connect with Connor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-smith-0719
Connect with Connor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connornicholas19/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>On this episode of "The Fan Experience Blueprint," host Connor Smith sits down with multimedia sports journalist Justin Evans. The host of the "Athletes of Aurora" series and co-host of "Bears Talk Today" on Aurora Community Television has spent years building a versatile media footprint across the Chicago sports scene.
Justin reflects on his professional journey, from his early days working the fan experience at Super Bowl LIII as a Morehouse College freshman to editing social media content for the PGA TOUR’s Korn Ferry communications team and assisting in the field with Bally Sports Southeast. He also shares what it was like stepping right onto the grass at Rate Field to interview Chicago White Sox rookie pitcher Noah Schultz.
We dive into his real-world experiences managing social media for the Chicago Snowballs, including the fun of navigating quick two-hour game limits, "reverse baseball" rules and setting up post-game autograph sessions on the field. Justin also shares a great look at audience psychology, explaining why building a deeply loyal core audience matters infinitely more than chasing temporary internet trends.
Justin's website and personal portfolio: https://justintevans1999.wixsite.com/my-site-2
Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-evans-b95b2a174
Connect with Justin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justin_evans1105/
Connect with Connor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-smith-0719
Connect with Connor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connornicholas19/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>On this episode of "The Fan Experience Blueprint," host Connor Smith sits down with veteran public address announcer and sports broadcaster Chris Dubiel. Heading into his 10th season as the PA voice of the AHL's Chicago Wolves, Chris has spent a decade behind the microphone across the local hockey landscape — including fill-in work for Blackhawks games at the United Center and the USHL's Chicago Steel.
Chris pulls back the curtain on how he built his foundation in broadcasting and PA announcing, including early reps at high school football and minor league baseball games. He shares what it was like finding his footing with the Joliet Slammers and explains how running a smooth game night-script is exactly like executing a football offense where everyone has to hit their marks.
We talk about how to properly modulate your vocal energy so you enhance the arena experience instead of overpowering it, the importance of precise name pronunciations and working milestone events like the Calder Cup Finals and his first regular-season Blackhawks game in April 2022. Chris also breaks down the absolute chaos of handling 16,000 screaming kids on a school-day field trip game.
Chris' website and personal portfolio: https://cdubiel.com
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-dubiel-9b103738
Connect with Chris on X: https://x.com/c_dubiel44?lang=en
Connect with Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c_dubiel44/
Connect with Connor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-smith-0719
Connect with Connor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connornicholas19/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>On this episode of "The Fan Experience Blueprint," host Connor Smith sits down with veteran public address announcer and sports broadcaster Chris Dubiel. Heading into his 10th season as the PA voice of the AHL's Chicago Wolves, Chris has spent a decade behind the microphone across the local hockey landscape — including fill-in work for Blackhawks games at the United Center and the USHL's Chicago Steel.
Chris pulls back the curtain on how he built his foundation in broadcasting and PA announcing, including early reps at high school football and minor league baseball games. He shares what it was like finding his footing with the Joliet Slammers and explains how running a smooth game night-script is exactly like executing a football offense where everyone has to hit their marks.
We talk about how to properly modulate your vocal energy so you enhance the arena experience instead of overpowering it, the importance of precise name pronunciations and working milestone events like the Calder Cup Finals and his first regular-season Blackhawks game in April 2022. Chris also breaks down the absolute chaos of handling 16,000 screaming kids on a school-day field trip game.
Chris' website and personal portfolio: https://cdubiel.com
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-dubiel-9b103738
Connect with Chris on X: https://x.com/c_dubiel44?lang=en
Connect with Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c_dubiel44/
Connect with Connor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-smith-0719
Connect with Connor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connornicholas19/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>On this episode of "The Fan Experience Blueprint," host Connor Smith sits down with PA announcer and music director Brady Holzmiller. Brady pulls back the curtain on how he broke into the sports industry as a teenager and learned to handle massive crowds early on.
He shares the exact afternoon at Fenway Park that changed everything for him, showing how watching a crowd react to a stadium anthem revealed his true path. We talk about how to create your own opportunities, song selection at games and what it takes to run a show for 20,000 screaming fans.
A current sophomore at Springfield College, Brady is a PA announcer for the University of Massachusetts and is one of two in-game DJs for the American Hockey League's Hartford Wolf Pack. He was also the DJ for the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball National Championship.
Connect with Connor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-smith-0719/
Connect with Brady on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brady-holzmiller-b74ab6281
Connect with Connor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connornicholas19/
Connect with Brady on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bholzzz/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>On this episode of "The Fan Experience Blueprint," host Connor Smith sits down with PA announcer and music director Brady Holzmiller. Brady pulls back the curtain on how he broke into the sports industry as a teenager and learned to handle massive crowds early on.
He shares the exact afternoon at Fenway Park that changed everything for him, showing how watching a crowd react to a stadium anthem revealed his true path. We talk about how to create your own opportunities, song selection at games and what it takes to run a show for 20,000 screaming fans.
A current sophomore at Springfield College, Brady is a PA announcer for the University of Massachusetts and is one of two in-game DJs for the American Hockey League's Hartford Wolf Pack. He was also the DJ for the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball National Championship.
Connect with Connor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-smith-0719/
Connect with Brady on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brady-holzmiller-b74ab6281
Connect with Connor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connornicholas19/
Connect with Brady on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bholzzz/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>On this episode of "The Fan Experience Blueprint," host Connor Smith sits down with freelance game operations producer and motion graphics animator Caleb Bouchy. Caleb breaks down his industry trajectory, starting from his childhood roots in the Arena Football League to working as a student production assistant with the Pac-12 Network at Arizona State University.
Caleb also pulls back the curtain on what it takes to design, animate and execute live in-arena video packages, scorebugs, crowd prompts and full-screen takeovers for major sports franchises, including the Phoenix Suns, Washington Capitals and Arizona Coyotes.
We dive deep into his unique creative process, including how to protect your creative freedom, how to infuse pop culture into stadium entertainment and the mechanical reality of running different venue boards. Caleb also shares a raw look at navigating a sudden NHL team relocation and the reality of building your own independent business.
Connect with Connor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-smith-0719/
Connect with Caleb on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-bouchy/
Caleb's personal website and portfolio: https://calebbouchy.wixsite.com/my-site
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>On this episode of "The Fan Experience Blueprint," host Connor Smith sits down with freelance game operations producer and motion graphics animator Caleb Bouchy. Caleb breaks down his industry trajectory, starting from his childhood roots in the Arena Football League to working as a student production assistant with the Pac-12 Network at Arizona State University.
Caleb also pulls back the curtain on what it takes to design, animate and execute live in-arena video packages, scorebugs, crowd prompts and full-screen takeovers for major sports franchises, including the Phoenix Suns, Washington Capitals and Arizona Coyotes.
We dive deep into his unique creative process, including how to protect your creative freedom, how to infuse pop culture into stadium entertainment and the mechanical reality of running different venue boards. Caleb also shares a raw look at navigating a sudden NHL team relocation and the reality of building your own independent business.
Connect with Connor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-smith-0719/
Connect with Caleb on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-bouchy/
Caleb's personal website and portfolio: https://calebbouchy.wixsite.com/my-site
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>On our premiere episode, host Connor Smith sits down with professional sports journalist Zain Bando to talk about live sports from a fan-first perspective. Fresh off a wild Cubs walk-off win at Wrigley Field, Zain shares his take on the timeless magic of a day at the ballpark, the crazy high-energy crowd inside of a UFC fight night and the real-world challenges of navigating massive venues.
Zain pulls back the curtain on how teams can do a much better job with disability awareness and why true inclusivity always starts with speaking up and taking action.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>On our premiere episode, host Connor Smith sits down with professional sports journalist Zain Bando to talk about live sports from a fan-first perspective. Fresh off a wild Cubs walk-off win at Wrigley Field, Zain shares his take on the timeless magic of a day at the ballpark, the crazy high-energy crowd inside of a UFC fight night and the real-world challenges of navigating massive venues.
Zain pulls back the curtain on how teams can do a much better job with disability awareness and why true inclusivity always starts with speaking up and taking action.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>