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Follow on Google News | Interview with Gregory Tanner, Founder of Pro Rugby Agency USA and Author of "The Business of Rugby"Pro Rugby Agency answers questions about the viability of rugby as a professional sport, the sports popularity in the United States, and where it grows from today.
By: Pro Rugby Agency professional sport, the sports popularity in the United States, and where it grows from today. Taking his business experience to get into the business of professional rugby, Greg Tanner talks with Evrybit about Pro Rugby Agency, his book, and the “wild west of rugby”. Evrybit: Welcome Greg, and thanks for taking the time to sit down for this interview. Let’s start with telling us why your focus is in sports and more specifically rugby. Tanner: I spent the last four years looking at rugby and whether or not there is an opportunity to make money in or around the sport. Around 2012, I concluded that it was the time to get involved and start laying ground work for what will be a breakout sport in the United States. Evrybit: It’s quite a change from running Aspen Capital Fund, focusing on Hispanic markets and early stage funding. What is your biggest challenge? Tanner: It’s actually not much different. Surprisingly, there are a lot of common business challenges and problems that need to be solved. But looking at opportunities, applying a proven methodology, and selling is applied the same way. There is a lot less risk and it’s a lot more fun, the rugby people are great to work, and when it comes down to it – as much of a cliché it is very much a personal relationship business. Evrybit: So there is a viable business in the sport of rugby? Is it professional in the United States? Tanner: The professional game is coming in 2016. There are many professional leagues throughout Europe, and the southern hemisphere. There is a very high level of competition across America the most successful to date is the Pacific Rugby Premiership, we have seen the rise of the American Rugby Premiership and now the “PRO League”. There is plenty of rugby in America. But, I see that rugby will need to take a page from history and grow organically and use the best practices that we see in the successful professional leagues, even learn from Major League Soccer, who nearly failed trying to follow the NFL model. Evrybit: So how does Pro Rugby Agency play a part if rugby isn’t professional? Tanner: Just because it isn’t professional doesn’t mean there isn’t money in the sport. There is tons of money spent on and around rugby. Consider 900 college teams and 700 clubs here, competitions, tournaments, entertainment, hospitality, gear, travel, etc. It’s a big sport where brands are very excited to be associated with and are seeking ways to get involved. That’s the problem we solve we help the athletes, teams, leagues, events create revenue and we help brands get involved with mature and commercially viable mediums. We are a selling function of marketing. We constantly sell rugby to everybody. Evrybit: Why don’t we see it broadcast on television or even radio? Tanner: That is another challenge we help our clients with, building strategic maturity. Just as any other business you must be mature in all aspects of business to be attractive commercially. Rugby is good and playing the game and competing, but not so well at the other business operations, for instance they know how to market but they really need to market and sell. All parts of the business of rugby need to work at the mature level of the competition. Evrybit: Is this what your book is about? Tanner: “The Business of Rugby” is a very light version of this. We talk about what I feel is obvious for everyone in professional rugby or has been around professional rugby. I really wrote it based on what I think what American entrepreneurs do wrong to rugby, which is try to go too big too fast and turn it in to an NFL. The NFL didn’t get to where it is today in a decade it’s been built on 50 years of growth and maturity. To learn more about Pro Rugby Agency visit http://professionalrugby.agency To talk to an agent email agent@professionalrugby.agency To reach Gregory Tanner email greg.tanner@ Download The Business of Rugby at TheBusinessOfRugby.com For More Information: Gregory Tanner Pro Rugby Agency Contact Samantha@professionalrugby.agency or greg.tanner@ 3773 Cherry Creek North Drive 575 Denver, CO 80209 970‐300‐2659 http://professionalrugby.agency End
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