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Danny, Sr. Director, Ticketing & Experience at Premier Lacrosse League: Advize Career Interview
Danny's journey from journalism internships to a Senior Director role at the Premier Lacrosse League offers a dynamic example of career growth in the sports industry.
A pivotal sponsorship internship ignited a passion for the business side of sports, leading to a successful tenure with the Arizona Diamondbacks and then a challenging yet rewarding opportunity building a sports league from the ground up.
The role demands a strong work ethic, positive attitude, and adaptability, requiring balancing immediate event needs with long-term strategic planning for a 14-market season and a 25-person team.
The most fulfilling aspect is the impact on both employee growth and unforgettable fan experiences, although navigating a startup environment while simultaneously growing interest in a niche sport presents a unique challenge.
Entry-level positions in ticket sales and fan experience offer valuable pathways, with the key to success being openness to new experiences, strong work ethic, and a balance between professional ambition and personal well-being.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Danny Passovoy
Sr. Director, Ticketing & Experience
Premier Lacrosse League
University of Arizona
N/A
Creative Writing, Journalism
Sports
Sales and Client Management
None Applicable
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Career Path Of A Senior Director Ticketing And Experience At Premier Lacrosse League
Danny's career trajectory, beginning with journalism internships at the Arizona Daily Star and Fox Sports Radio, shifted to the business side of sports after a pivotal sponsorship internship at Red Bull Global Rally Cross, a "crazy" startup experience that revealed a passion for the industry. This led to a highly successful six-season tenure with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where they progressed through the ticket sales ranks before transitioning to the Premier Lacrosse League, embracing a risky but rewarding opportunity to "build a sports league from the ground up."
Main Responsibilities of a Senior Director Ticketing and Experience at Premier Lacrosse League
Danny, Senior Director of Ticketing & Experience at the Premier Lacrosse League, oversees ticket sales, operations, and fan experience for the league's 14-market season, managing a 25-person team across three divisions. A key aspect of their role is "elevating the experience" at each stadium, including managing "a big fan festival area" and other elements outside the game itself, ensuring both budget adherence and innovative, unique fan engagement.
A Day In The Life Of A Senior Director Events And Experience At Premier Lacrosse League
A senior director of ticketing and experience at the Premier Lacrosse League spends much of their time focused on the immediate needs of upcoming events, ensuring a "great experience on site," as illustrated by the upcoming Dallas event at the Star. However, success also requires effective time management to balance these short-term demands with long-term planning for the league's 14 event weekends, which means dedicating time to thinking "three weeks down the road, the event five weeks down the road".
Most Important Skills For A Senior Director, Ticketing And Experience At Premier Lacrosse League
Danny, a senior director at Premier Lacrosse League, emphasizes that while specific skills like budgeting and strategy become crucial later in one's career, initial success in a fast-paced environment like theirs hinges on "work ethic, consistency, positivity," and a "really positive" attitude. The ability to learn and adapt across various departments, as opposed to siloed expertise, also proved invaluable in their own career trajectory.
Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Director Ticketing and Experience at Premier Lacrosse League
Danny, Senior Director of Ticketing & Experience at Premier Lacrosse League, finds the greatest fulfillment in the "impact" their team makes, both internally by fostering employee growth and externally by shaping unforgettable fan experiences. This role's significance is underscored by its contribution to player salaries and league growth, as evidenced by consistent positive fan feedback that highlights the creation of "the best day of his life" moments.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Senior Director Ticketing And Experience At Premier Lacrosse League
Danny's biggest challenge as Senior Director, Ticketing & Experience at the Premier Lacrosse League is the dual nature of the role: navigating the demands of a startup environment—"everyone wearing all hats at all times"—while simultaneously growing interest in a niche sport like lacrosse; the opportunity lies in converting "fringe sports fans" by showcasing the game's inherent appeal.
Favorite Parts of Working in Sports as a Senior Director Ticketing and Experience
Danny's favorite aspect of the sports industry is the "really close community," fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among teams and leagues; this close-knit environment, combined with the unique format of the Premier Lacrosse League, allows for innovative approaches and recognition from peers, making it a rewarding, albeit demanding, career.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Sports Industry According To A Senior Director Of Ticketing At Premier Lacrosse League
Success in the sports industry, particularly in ticket sales, hinges on a powerful work ethic and relentless self-motivation; "it's purely determined by your work ethic," with the most successful individuals demonstrating "the hardest workers... the ones who come in earliest, stay latest".
What a Senior Director of Ticketing and Experience at Premier Lacrosse League Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Sports Industry
Danny, a senior director, learned the hard way that prioritizing career advancement above personal relationships led to feelings of loneliness and regret. The advice they offer is to strive for ambition, but to maintain a balance between professional aspirations and personal well-being, stating that "finding that balance is super important," because a strong personal life ultimately enhances work performance and overall happiness.
Entry-level positions for aspiring Ticketing and Experience Professionals
Danny, a Senior Director with almost 10 years of experience, recommends entry-level ticket sales as a "prove it ground," highlighting its ability to showcase work ethic and build relationships, ultimately leading to career growth beyond initial expectations; internships in fan experience, a newer area within their organization, also offer valuable ground-level opportunities.
Significant Career Lesson From A Senior Director Ticketing And Experience At Premier Lacrosse League
Danny's significant career lesson is to "be open to trying anything," a philosophy fostered by the Premier Lacrosse League's collaborative environment where everyone "wears a lot of hats." This willingness to help others, "raise [their] hand," and take on projects outside their scope has led to invaluable learning opportunities, broadened their skillset, and fostered valuable relationships.
College Experiences That Helped A Senior Director, Ticketing And Experience At Premier Lacrosse League Succeed
To prepare for a successful career, Danny recommends seeking diverse work experiences throughout college, emphasizing "accountability and reporting," even in entry-level roles to shorten the learning curve in future positions. The process of accumulating experiences, learning from various mentors, and developing their own unique management style by synthesizing "the good and bad" from past experiences proved invaluable to their career trajectory.
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