Meet Rob Johnson, Our Community Member of the Week

Name: Rob Johnson

Job: Chief Operating Officer

Company: Nerd Street Gamers

LinkedIn: Rob Johnson

In 140 characters or less, tell us who you are and how you got to where you are today.

I’m Rob, COO for Nerd Street Gamers, co-author of Millennial Reboot, & Philly enthusiast, with 15 years in traditional pro sports & gaming.

What’s one trend in media or marketing that you’re buying or selling?

Selling: The overpromotion of sports-specific mobile apps, especially in a stadium environment. The friction added by an app download is rarely worth the limited-use features or content.

Buying: No surprise, esports and you should too

How do you define engagement?

Engagement is the magic that happens when a customer or fan interacts with your brand on their terms, not yours.

What’s the project or campaign that you’re proudest of? Why?

Launching Xfinity Live! in the Philadelphia sports complex, and creating a place that has become a central part of the Philly sports experience for so many.

What are you working on right now? Any exciting future plans that you’re able to share?

The expansion of Nerd Street Gamers across the U.S. and bringing access to pro-level competitive gaming to more people. Follow us on social or at nerdstgamers.com for our latest news and to find a competitive gaming tournament near you.

As a connected fan, what’s the best piece of sports content that you have recently consumed?

My favorite sports content is by far RedZone Channel from NFL Network. Seven hours of commercial-free football with no break in action, viewable on any device that I have near me.

What’s been the biggest high and low of working in sports?

The biggest highs and lows, personally, I felt came with trying breaking into the sports industry. After that, the highs from helping produce such a memorable experience for customers outweigh the lows (which are typically how many hours are put in to make it so great).

What’s one element of the sports industry that you’d like to see change?

Broadly, the resistance to change from many of the long-established professional sports teams. If I had to pick on one element specifically with those teams it would be the copy/paste live game presentation seen in many pro sports organizations in the U.S.

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