In Shy’s Corner: A Chat with Jason Wexler

The Memphis Grizzlies have become an integral part of Memphis, both for the city itself and for Grizzlies fans. Jason Wexler, President of Business Operations for the Memphis Grizzlies is in part, responsible for this success.

Jason Wexler was promoted to President of Business Operations by Memphis Grizzlies controlling owner Robert Pera last summer. Since 2013, Wexler was the Grizzlies Chief Operating Officer. Now he is responsible for all aspects of the business including, ticket sales and service, arena operations, corporate partnerships, marketing communications and broadcast, community investment and general operations.

First and foremost, I would like to thank Jason for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. And also a big thank you to Jason Wallace, Grizzlies Director of Communications for all his hard work in helping me with this interview. In this edition of Shy’s Corner, Mr. Wexler answers a few questions for us.

 

1) The Grizzlies are said to be one of the most charitable teams in the NBA. And the team seems as if it’s taken on the identity of the city. Why is it important for the organization to give back to the community?

Jason: We are fortunate that our players really are good guys who have cultivated a culture of giving back to the community within the team, and simultaneously the organization has operated with the same principles. The team and organization working together with the support of ownership with the shared principle of being truly impactful magnifies what we are able to accomplish. It is important to us because as the only professional sports team in the market we recognize that we have an out-sized voice and presence in the City and we want to be sure to have a positive impact — and because it is the right thing to do.

2) What would you say has been the biggest challenge you have faced so far as President of Business Operations?

Jason: The biggest challenge is balancing the timing and implementation of longer range strategic initiatives with the daily needs of the organization in trying to generate revenue and put on a great game or event.  There is a great deal we want to accomplish as an organization in the coming months and years, but we want to do so while excelling for our fans and guests each and every game out.

3) The Grizzlies have some of the best marketing campaigns I have ever seen. Believe Memphis is pure gold. Tell me how the marketing strategies come to fruition?

Jason: We have a very smart and creative internal marketing department that we supplement with an outside agency for certain facets of campaign creation and execution. Organizationally, we are very aware of the Grizzlies culture and brand that has emerged and grown in recent years, and we want to make sure we both give it room to breathe organically and fuel to sustain and grow it when appropriate.

4) What does a typical work day looks like for you?

Jason: Part of the fun of the job is that there really isn’t a typical day. There are certainly plenty of meetings and more than plenty of emails, but each day inevitably brings something unexpected and different. One of the more unique aspects is that the typical work week fades out and morphs into game/no game, homestand/road trip, season/offseason — there isn’t much of a sense of this is Wednesday so a certain thing has to happen today.

5) The Grizzlies have expanded it’s regional broadcast in the past two season, are there plans to expand it even further?

Jason: Our TV footprint is in seven states and ranges from the Gulf Coast to Peoria, all of Tennessee and Kentucky and west past Little Rock.  We will always look to grow our TV footprint, but also to strengthen our presence within it.  It is a long term project where we are starting to see signs of incremental success.

6) Will you reiterate to the citizens of Memphis why this organization is so special and important to the city. And why the Grizzlies should get more support from the community.

Jason: When it comes to the unique relationship that the Grizzlies have with the City of Memphis in comparison to other professional sports franchises, it comes down to the concepts of Access and Impact. Particularly compared to most fans of most pro sports teams, Grizzlies fans have greater access to the team — access to games, access to insight about the team, access to understanding the players and coaches as individuals, and access to a diverse and welcoming fanbase. And compared to most pro sports team, the Grizzlies have a greater impact on its City —  impact on the city’s identity, impact on the awareness of the city nationally and internationally, and impact on the City’s growth and future potential. The broad access and atypical impact have accelerated the connection between the team and City in recent years and I think that is the source of the sense of specialness.

 

Last night was Wrestling Night at the Grindhouse and it was a very successful marketing strategy. Memphis is synonymous with wrestling and combining it with Grizzlies basketball was genius! It was a sell out game and the Grizzlies pulled off the victory. Wrestling legends Jerry The King Lawler and The Nature Boy, Ric Flair were in attendance.

One of our first fans thru with a championship belt pose. Big cheer when doors opened — 2 hours until tip! #gogrizz pic.twitter.com/nVI7ZvzwR1

— Jason Wexler (@MainStMemphis) January 31, 2015

GrizzNation is appreciative of the commitment the Grizzlies organization have shown to the fans and to the city of Memphis. Grind on Grizzlies, grind on!