{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F3b200226-e8bc-46c6-8960-a140d00e44b5","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"<iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px;\" title=\"Craig Amazeen: Creating Sports Content for the Next Generation of Sports Fans\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allow=\"clipboard-write\" seamless src=\"http://player.captivate.fm/episode/3b200226-e8bc-46c6-8960-a140d00e44b5\"></iframe>","title":"Craig Amazeen: Creating Sports Content for the Next Generation of Sports Fans","description":"Craig Amazeen is the CEO of Fan Rag Sports Network and has over 20 years experience in the sports industry with the Sacramento Kings, Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Coyotes and scout.com. During our interview we talk about creating a workplace culture, keys to success for people starting out in sports and new content styles and methods.<br />\r\nHi everybody I\u2019m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nMy boss the CEO of Work in Sports is a guy named John Mellor \u2013 I\u2019ve you\u2019ve been listening long enough to the podcast you\u2019ve probably heard me mention him in prior episodes.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nBefore launching WorkinSports back in 2000 John worked at the Phoenix Coyotes for four years as the Manager of Website Business Development. He was young, starting his career in the sports industry, and surrounded by other young people making their way in the industry.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nYou\u2019ve actually met many of them.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nRemember <a href=\"https://www.workinsports.com/blog/the-wonderful-world-of-sports-public-relations-work-in-sports-podcast-e044/\">Jeff Altstadter, Director of Public Relations with the USGA</a>? Episode 44<br />\r\n<br />\r\nWhat about <a href=\"https://www.workinsports.com/blog/behind-the-scenes-working-at-the-nhl-work-in-sports-podcast-e029/\">Chris Wojcik, Director of Event Communication and Player Relations for the NHL</a>? Episode 29<br />\r\n<br />\r\nThat\u2019s the thing about working in sports \u2013 once you venture into the game, you don\u2019t really leave. You may move up and move around\u2026but most people stay in the biz.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nI can say the same thing \u2013 when I started at CNN Sports, I began my career with 100 other young excited sports crazed people \u2013 and we\u2019re all still friends in the industry 20 years later. These friends of mine now run sports networks, like Brad Como the VP of programming at SportsNet New York, Kevin Miller, VP of content at NBC Sports Boston, Mike Shiffman VP of content strategy at ESPN.<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\n<br />\r\nHere\u2019s the deal, this isn\u2019t meant to say \"look who I know\", this is meant to show you the sports world, while huge in revenue generation, is in reality a small, connected, world. A web of people who can play seven degrees of Kevin Bacon with each other.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nWhen you first break in, that first gig will begin to form the myriad of relationships you\u2019ll carry through your career. You\u2019ll have a common bond that won\u2019t be broken \u2013 and from friends I talk to in other industries, that fact is unique to the sports industry.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nWhich bridges us back to today\u2019s guest \u2013 Craig Amazeen is currently the CEO for Fan Rag Sports Network, but has also worked as the Director of Broadcasting for the Arizona Cardinals, SVP of Digital, Content, Broadcasting and Brand Management for the Sacramento Kings\u2026and\u2026drum roll please\u2026 started his career as a Broadcast Manager with the Phoenix Coyotes\u2026you guessed it, with my CEO John Mellor.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nIt\u2019s a small sports world people. We\u2019ve got a lot to dig into so let\u2019s get to it\u2026here\u2019s Craig Amazeen CEO of Fan Rag Sports Network\u2026<br />\r\nQuestions for Fan Rag Sports Network CEO Craig Amazeen<br />\r\n1: So I\u2019m doing a little prep for this interview, looking through your bio, and outside of the really impressive array of sports brands you have worked for, one thing really stands out to me \u2013 you use the word culture a great deal in describing your roles. You talk about establishing culture, building culture \u2013 in your experience, why is culture so important in the workplace, and what makes a good culture?<br />\r\n<br />\r\n2: You\u2019ve held major executive roles with the Sacramento Kings, Arizona Cardinals, Scout.com and now Fan Rag sports network \u2013 your background is on the creative side, you\u2019ve always been connected to the art of storytelling \u2013 how hard has it been to be in a more managerial, budgetary role or was that just a natural progression for you?<br />\r\n","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/fd25ef3e-2130-4faf-9d8b-d528c5d03f3c/wispod-cover.png"}