Feb 28, 2018
Baseball Genius Jesse Cole, Shows How He Is Changing Baseball Forever
My guest today, on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots free podcast interview is a man who is bold, crazy, inspired, committed and having the time of his life. He is the owner of two baseball teams that are quite frankly doing things a bit differently, and the world is taking note – Big Time He is the founder of Fans First Entertainment, which operates the Gastonia Grizzlies and the Savannah Bananas, and also a keynote speaker, and host of the Business Done Differently Podcast. Which is a boring way of telling you what he does, to be honest. He has taken a countries passion for baseball and turned it on its head, by creating an experience not just about what is happening (or is not happening on the pitch) but what is happening everywhere. He joined the industry in 2008 as General Manager of the Gastonia Grizzlies. It was here that he started providing a circus-like atmosphere at his ballparks. From dancing players, Grandma Beauty Pageants, and Flatulence Fun Nights to porta-john giveaways and garbage can nachos, he has tried it all The “show” worked and the Grizzlies began breaking attendance records annually. In 2014, he bought the Grizzlies and started Fans First Entertainment with his then-fiancé and Grizzlies Director of Fun, Emily. In 2015, the two of them then started a new Coastal Plain League team in Savannah, GA. It was announced on February 25, 2016 that the team would be named the Savannah Bananas. From there, the team quickly became a hit all over the country, in part thanks to coverage from national media outlets, including ESPN, CNN, and Good Morning America. Merchandise sold to all 50 states and 6 countries. In the first year, the team sold out 18 of 25 games and broke the attendance record for both Grayson Stadium and the Coastal Plain League. To top it off, the Bananas won the Coastal Plain League Championship. As he says he “I am just getting started”. His teams are continually reinventing as they look to change the baseball industry and the entertainment experience for fans. So how has he managed to stand firm against a world of conformity and create something new and exciting? And did he ever have the huge doubts that a new way should not be his way in future? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Jesse Cole Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Jesse Cole such as: How he managed to break down not only the barriers around him but also the barriers in his own mind, which allowed him to do the unthinkable What he did to grow his team, and find the right people that bought in his vision of where he wanted to head. Why Jesse can see clearly that although the timing wasnt perfect when he joined the Grizzlies, in fact it was in fact the perfect time. The truth that anyone who starts something can see. and lastly…. Why he connected with Barack Obama and offered an internship at the Baseball ground, much to the amusement of himself and his team.