Those who work in Game Ops.
When people find out I work in sports, the automatic assumption is I grew up playing them. I apparently have a look about me that, when the truth comes out, shocks a lot of people.
I did not play sports as a kid. Sure I tried, but I got hit in the shin with the baseball when playing T-Ball, my cleats were too small in soccer, I was too uncoordinated for dance, not really a ton of flexibility or spatial awareness for gymnastics… I was pretty good at skating, I mean I skipped level 3 but it didn’t last. In high school, I attempted to play Rugby, but mom reminded me I would snap like a twig, and really... at 14, I wasn’t about to discover some unhidden talent. So, suffice it to say, my experience with sports has been two things:
1. Dressing up as my high school mascot (which for the record is a hot, sweaty and gross job)
2. THEATRE SPORTS! Yeah, I was a drama nerd. We know we what are, we own it. I will always look for and run into the spotlight. I’m an entertainer, it’s in my blood.
So how did I end up working in sports? Well, it’s a long story, and while this is my own blog and I don’t tire of my own stories, I’m hoping you’ll stay with me to the end, so I’ll skip the long version. The main point…is that sports provides a melting pot for all walks of life. No one cares what you do, what kind of car you drive, what neighbourhood you live in, what colour your skin is (unless you painted it the opposing team’s colours)…none of it matters. In sports…If you’re in the same venue as me, and we’re rooting for the same team, we’re friends.
I’m like a mother hen with my friends, I’m the one who plans the events for everyone to get together, I make sure people feel welcome, comfortable and at home. How does this translate? In sports, I work in game day operations or events (depending on whether I’m with a team or the league office) – but it’s my job to provide the space to bring people together.
There is a feeling, I can’t quite describe, when you hear everyone erupt with cheers, or sing/chant in unison (Oh, Canada anyone)? It wells up in me. It literally gives me butterflies of excitement and I want to cry because I need to get it out somehow. One of my favourite moments was with the Kingston Frontenacs back on January 28, 2017. We hosted a night honouring The Tragically Hip (for those who are in the dark on this one, the Hip are from KTown). We invited the band, they hung out in the suite, the players wore a special Hip Jersey that had their song lyrics all over it, and in the third period we did a sing along. Now, in a regular game, no, there is no way I would dare to have a break that is just (essentially) karaoke. But for this game, something grabbed me, and I felt like it would take off. I didn’t have full support at the time, but I was passionate about this one and I’m so glad it was green lit. It was a moment that gave me those butterflies. We had it all planned out, the host would get two fans to sing along to lyrics on the screen, camera pan out, mic down, and … WOW. The whole stadium, in unison (and I’m pretty sure on key) singing the chorus to, obviously, Ahead By A Century. Honestly, when that moment happened, it was like the whole arena was hugging The Hip. We don’t get this for the national anthem (not everyone wants to sing Oh Canada, some want to respectfully listen, and that’s cool), but in Kingston, dare I say, this is a civic pride? The breaks in the OHL are short and sweet, but the refs gave it a second too, they let the fans sing it out, and you just had to feel it. It was an energy, or in today’s trendy words “It was a total vibe.”
Game Ops, or Game Presentation, it’s a tough act. You aren’t responsible for the literal score on the board, but you are responsible for the scoreboard (now much more commonly known as videoboards or jumbotrons). You are responsible for what’s happening off the ice, off the turf, off the pitch and in between the whistles. You can’t control if your team wins or loses (but I’ll tell ya, if I could, I’d have a winning team!) So the job of Game Ops people is to ensure you have the best night, even when your team gets absolutely annihilated. Did you hear a great song? Was there a hilarious moment on the videoboard? Did the mascot come to your section or heck… the most simplest way to engage: did you get a free t-shirt that is so big for you, it will only ever end up seeing the darkness of your bedroom? That’s Game Ops, people.
COVID has been hard on these staffers. Now, I don’t want to alienate anyone, because every cog in the wheel matters, but Game Ops people are the first to be scrutinized and usually the last to be congratulated. Their success isn’t always quantifiable. With Partnership sales there are numbers, with ticket sales, there are bums in seats, with PR & Outreach there are likes, follows and analytics, but with Game Ops… there’s … sentiment. How do you accurately measure opinion? The naysayers or grumpy cats are always the loudest and the first to take to social media. The supportive ones or the people who enjoyed themselves, they don’t go out of their way to talk about the good, because, that’s the way it should be, and while I agree – I’ll ask all fans, here and now… when you have a good time at a game
PLEASE TALK ABOUT IT!
The person writing the script needs to hear it. The people trying to pump you up, can always use that positive reinforcement, heck the person sitting directing the videoboard, or switching the camera angle, or the person who edited a video two weeks ago, or the person who designed the graphics – often go unsung.
Game Operations take a talented individual. Someone who can manage and plan but also throw their script out the window because things changed yet still deliver on all ‘sold assets’. If you don’t work in Game Ops, you have no idea the pressure these people are under – because the right people for this role, don’t let you know they are under the pressure. They keep it together, composed and focused.
Ok, tangent over. So, to hiring managers… As I mentioned earlier, COVID has not been kind to those who work in Game Operations (myself included), so at the risk of standing on a soap box, here’s what I think you should know while evaluating those resumes:
The Game Ops People are:
the first to show up
the last to leave
the most adaptable
quick learners
born with ambition & don’t need incentive to perform (but hey, if you can put a bit of financial gain in front of them, it never hurts)
inclined to say yes, you may need to remind them it’s OK to say “my plate is full” or to ask for help
some of the most resilient people you will meet
your biggest champions
never the ones to say “that’s someone else’s job” - they figure it out & get it done
Their skill sets? They manage budgets, they manage people, they manage time, they manage fans (and complaints) – they are easy to teach! I ask you, if a resume of a sports person comes across your desk, understand that who you’re hiring isn’t always something that can be captured in a cover letter and resume. If I’ve learned anything in my career thus far, how you do a job is just as important as what you know coming into the job. You can teach the skills, you can’t teach personality.
I started this post, thinking about all the things I miss this year with not having a Grey Cup in Regina, and I didn’t even touch on it. I’ll save that for another post; I think this one is more important.
With that, please stay healthy, physically distant and socially close.
-me.