Things You'll Notice At Games After Working In Sports
- Nov 16, 2025
- 3 min read
Sporting events bring communities together and usually draw in a mix of fans ranging from die-hards, casuals, and people somewhere in between.
Before working in sports, I often overlooked certain aspects of attending games, as I was usually only focused on the game itself. However, I watch games differently after working 100+ gamedays between MLS, NWSL, college football and basketball. I felt inclined to write this in particular after I attended the Miami Heat game against my Cleveland Cavaliers this past Wednesday. By the way, the Cavs won with G-League stars Luke Travers and Nae’Qwan Tomlin getting significant minutes in the absence of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland. But me bragging about my Cavs is not the point of this article.
If you have worked in sports, you will likely spot the following things without even trying.
The number of items teams can monetize with Sponsorships
Behind broadcasting, sponsorships are usually the second-highest-grossing source of revenue for sports teams and events. In 2024 alone, US sports teams collectively earned $7.66 billion from sponsorships. Teams get creative with the things they can monetize and throw a sponsor’s name on. At an NBA game alone, you will see sponsors names on ribbon boards, video boards, on gate giveaway items, fan contests during TV breaks, premium lounges, arena names among other things. Madison Square Garden is the only arena in the NBA or NHL without sponsored naming rights.
Below is a spicey hat provided as a gate giveaway at the November 12th Miami Heat game. Can you guess the game sponsor now?
Sports with large international audiences like the NHL or soccer use virtual advertising technology to display different sponsors than what is shown in the actual arena or stadium.
The video below provides an interesting look into how different TV channels show different ribbonboard advertisements than what is displayed on the field during a Premier League match.
At NBA games, there will (almost) always be a halftime show
The NBA continually seeks ways to increase the entertainment value on their product. Halftime shows have become a major staple in the league with providing this entertainment to fans even if their home team is getting smacked.
Teams like the Detroit Pistons hold auditions annually to select talent for this coveted spot. Meanwhile, other organizations like the Indiana Pacers sell the halftime show as a group experience. Though, the Pacers won’t just take any Joe-Schmoe. Your performance has to be approved by their Game Operations Department.
Some performers like the beloved Christian and Scooby travel across the country to perform shows for several teams around the NBA and in College Basketball. And in the case of Christian and Scooby, this is for good reason. It is an insanely impressive act especially when you realize Christian got a literal Chihuahua to be trained as a circus dog.
The ticket sales table
This part may not be as exciting as the halftime show, however, ticket sales is an essential part of sports organizations. And with ALL American sports teams, you will see ticket tables somewhere in the concourse. Sometimes, they have them on multiple levels and sections of the stadium to really increase visibility.
In most cases, ticket sellers manning these tables are not there to accost you like timeshare sales reps in Vegas. Rather, they are there to have more face-to-face interaction with fans which provide them a better chance at closing season tickets or annual suites than blowing people up with cold calls. While in ticket sales, the phrase that got drilled in my head by management on gamedays was “take advantage." They said it so often that once, a manager in our pregame meeting said it six times in two sentences:
“You all need to make sure you take advantage of the fans that are here. If you don’t take advantage of the advantage of having fans here, you will never learn how to take advantage of the advantage of taking advantage.”
I’ll leave you with that. Make sure that not just in ticket sales but in life, you are taking advantage of the advantage of taking advantage.
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