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In this episode of the Athletic Business Podcast, Andy talks with Don Barnum, the head of DLR Group’s global Sports studio. In a wide-ranging discussion on the future of stadium and arena design, Don offers insights on how the pandemic, as well as spectator preferences are changing the way architects, operators and fans think about and interact with the sports venues that host our favorite pastimes.  For more information about the AB Athletic Showcase, please visit: https://www.athleticbusiness.com/architectural-showcase.html For more information about AB's past and upcoming virtual workshops, please visit: https://athleticbusiness.weebly.com/workshops.html Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Stitcher — or follow along on SoundCloud.

Today's episode features a conversation with Pete Simon of the Prairie Athletic Club — a local health club near AB headquarters in Madison, Wis.Simon shares how his club has been coping with the pandemic and striving to create the safest environment possible for members, all while dealing with state and local restrictions. Thanks to this week's sponsor, Synexis. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. 

Check out the audio of this virtual workshop hosted by Ruby Newell-Legner and featuring guest speakers Justin Caron, Shawn DeRosa and Megan Pleli, as we discuss returning to aquatics facilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.This episode features audio from our virtual workshop series — you can check out on-demand sessions on a variety of topics here, and stay up to date on forthcoming sessions by visiting athleticbusiness.com/webinarThanks to our sponsor, Synexis.More on our Guest Speakers:Justin Caron | Principal, Aquatic Design Group, Carlsbad, Calif.Shawn DeRosa, JD | Owner, DeRosa Aquatic Consulting, OrlandoMegan Pleli, M.S., RN | Aquatic Program Administrator, Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Rec District

As a championship field hockey coach, Karen Weaver saw firsthand the benefits that come with collegiate sports participation. With the pandemic forcing schools to make difficult budgetary decisions, including the cutting of non-revenue sports, Weaver, a former athletics administrator and current faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania, has focused her regular contributions to Forbes on the severe challenges suddenly facing athletic departments. Weaver joined AB senior editor Paul Steinbach on The Athletic Business Podcast to discuss the financial future of college athletics. Thanks to our sponsor, Synexis. 

Brent Darden, interim president and CEO of the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, joins us to talk about how IHRSA is helping members navigate the pandemic. Between research, outreach and advocacy, the association has its sights set on helping clubs to reopen and serve their members. Thanks to our sponsor, Synexis. Links: IHRSA 

As racial issues have come to the forefront of the national consciousness, NIRSA — Leaders in Collegiate Recreation are launching the 21 Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge. We're talking with NIRSA director of advocacy and strategic partnerships Erin O'Sullivan about the program, and the role collegiate rec professionals can play in advancing racial equity on campus. Links:NIRSA21 Day Racial Equity Habit Building ChallengeEddie Moore, Jr. 

Justin Caron of the Aquatic Design Group speaks with us on the special considerations aquatics facilities must keep in mind as they prepare to reopen. Sponsored by Colorado Time Systems. If you liked the show, please take a moment to give it a rating or review, or share it with a colleague. You can follow along on SoundCloud, or subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Stitcher.  

This week, we're speaking to Rachel Gutter, president of the WELL Building Institute about the work her team is doing to help prepare sports facilities to reopen in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's an optimistic episode!Links: https://www.wellcertified.com/health-safetyAB's 2020 Architectural Showcase online: https://www.athleticbusiness.com/architectural-showcase.htmlIf you liked the show, please take a moment to give it a rating or review, or share it with a colleague. You can follow along on SoundCloud, or subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Stitcher.

Adam Bastjan of architecture firm Kahler Slater breaks down considerations for reopening campus recreation centers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more, read Adam's piece titled "The Importance of Collegiate Recreation in Post-COVID Education" on athleticbusiness.com.If you liked the show, please take a moment to give it a rating or review, or share it with a colleague. You can follow along on SoundCloud, or subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Stitcher.

While businesses throughout our industries are coping with COVID-19 in different ways, collegiate recreation centers are once again being called on to provide emergency facilities to help communities cope. One such facility is the University of New Hampshire's Hamel Recreation Center, where Stacey Hall is running an effort to convert the facility from student recreation to overflow hospital support. Listen in for how UNH is handling the situation, and how collegiate recreation can prepare for a public health crisis.  

In the weeks since our last episode, the coronavirus pandemic has turned the world upside-down, and the athletics, fitness and recreation industries were not left untouched.In this episode, Andy and Jason talk about how they and the AB team is dealing with the outbreak — and ask listeners and readers to share their strategies for how to do the same. Things are weird right now, but we'll get through this — together.Email your stories to editors@athleticbusiness.com. Also, if you're inspired, record a voice memo on your phone and email those recordings to us — be sure to give your name and where you're listening from.Links:Subscribe to AB TodayArchitectural Showcase loginMarch M(ab)ness

On this episode we're talking about ballpark design with Populous principal and lead architect Mike Sabatini. We discuss trends for both spectators and players, how design can influence facility operations, his firm's latest ballpark project and much more.If you liked the show, please take a moment to give it a rating or review, or share it with a colleague. You can follow along on SoundCloud, or subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Stitcher.

We're working on fresh episodes of The Athletic Business Podcast, but this week on the show we're re-broadcasting our conversation with Forward Madison FC. In this episode of The Athletic Business Podcast, we talk to Kuba Krzyzostaniak and Jason Klein of Forward Madison FC — the USL League One soccer team — about their successes using social media to launch a new brand. Regardless of your industry, the conversation is illuminating for those wanted to build a brand on social media from the ground up. Our great thanks to Kuba and Jason for joining us on this episode.Be sure to rate/review/subscribe to The Athletic Business Podcast on your platform of choice!  

Students coming late, leaving early or not showing up at all. Adults content to watch games from the comfort of their own homes. College football has an attendance problem. With fan attrition vexing even the most successful programs in the country, what can administrators do now and in the future to bring more people through the turnstiles on game day?  Navigate Research founder and CEO AJ Maestas joins AB senior editor Paul Steinbach on this episode of The Athletic Business Podcast to share some ideas.Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Stitcher and never miss an episode.

Esports represents a huge opportunity for athletics and recreation programs, but industry professionals may still be unsure about how to approach the esports phenomenon. On this episode of The Athletic Business Podcast, we speak with Lee Sterrett, associate principal with Perkins and Will, who gave a talk on esports at the recent AB Show.  In this conversation, we define esports, discuss what makes it an attractive program, break down basic facility needs, and attempt to demystify esports as a concept so you can better determine whether deploying esports may be right for your program.  If you liked the show, please take a moment to give it a rating or review, or share it with a colleague. You can follow along on SoundCloud, or subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Stitcher.  Links: Perkins and Will Denver Athletic Business feature: Software and Facilities Considerations for Campuses Starting Esports Programs College Rec Survey AB Today newsletter sign-up

On this episode of The Athletic Business Podcast, we talk to Thad Ide, senior vice president of research and development with Riddell. With the focus on safety in football more intense than ever, helmet manufacturers are focused on improving their products. In this discussion, Ide shares what Ridell’s been working on, from gathering data that can help craft a better helmet to developing a platform designed to generate an individual player’s impact profile. We also discuss changes in technique and practice that can help reduce the number of head impacts.If you liked the show, please take a moment to give it a rating or review, or share it with a colleague. You can follow along on SoundCloud, or subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Stitcher. 

Welcome back! Thanks for staying subscribed to the feed as we took some time off for Thanksgiving. On today’s episode, we speak with T.J. Peele, former director of university recreation at the University of West Georgia, and current director of business development for college and university Health Fitness Corp. T.J. talks about his experience in rec, trends on campus and how his current work helps recreation departments thrive. Links:Health Fitness website

In this episode of The Athletic Business Podcast, we talk to Kuba Krzyzostaniak and Jason Klein of Forward Madison FC — the USL League One soccer team — about their successes using social media to launch a new brand. We talk about some of their most successful campaigns, building a brand from the grassroots and best practices for engaging on social media, regardless of your industry. Our great thanks to Kuba and Jason for joining us on this episode.Be sure to rate/review/subscribe to The Athletic Business Podcast on your platform of choice!Links:Forward Madison FC FacebookForward Madison FC Twitter Forward Madison FC Instagram

In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Karissa Niehoff, executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) about the state of high school athletics. Topics include reserving Friday nights for high school football, participation numbers for high school sports, sportsmanship and officiating, the NFHS Network and more. Links: -National Federation of State High School Associations-The Parent Seat-Participation Statistics

With the annual AB Show right around the corner, Andy and Jason welcome Athletic Business marketing director Kate Rampone to the studio to talk about what to expect from this year's event.If you're joining us in Orlando next month, or just curious to hear more about the event, give this one a listen. You can learn more about AB Show at www.abshow.com