What I Like.... With AHL President & CEO Dave Andrews

Andrews Says Pride In Performance Is Most Important Attribute In Employees

In our continuing series, SportsBusiness Daily/SportsBusiness Journal asks top sports personalities for their thoughts, ideas, aspirations and likes. Today, American Hockey League President & CEO DAVE ANDREWS.

What I like in an insight: Pride in performance is the most important attribute in any employee.

An influential person in my career: ABIGAIL HOFFMAN, former Director General of Sport Canada and a legendary Canadian Olympian, and GLEN SATHER, the President and GM of the New York Rangers (formerly of the Edmonton Oilers).

An out-of-the-box idea: The NHL Winter Classic is without question the most successful out of the box idea in sports marketing in recent years.

A timeless idea: Lead by example.
 
A business deal: The AHL expansion to absorb the International Hockey League in 2001 was perhaps the most significant business deal in the 74-year history of our league. It was a major change in the professional hockey landscape and has proven to be a significant benefit to our league, our players, our NHL partners, and all other stakeholders.

A sports facility: Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, and the Bell Centre in Montreal.

A sports event: Despite being a Canadian who knows virtually nothing about basketball, I find the NCAA tournament compelling.

A strategy: Play to your strengths, and above all build trust in your brand.

A hire: JOHN MCDONOUGH as President of the Chicago Blackhawks.
 
A brand: The Olympic Games.

A trend: The continuing need to find innovative approaches to market spectator sport to the next generation of fans in a cluttered and fragmented technological lanscape.

A pro league or team business initiative: TEAMBO at the NBA has been a template for all of us in championing data collection and best practice sharing.

A story that bears watching: Concussions in contact sport and how leagues, teams, and athletes respond to the issue.

An idea or invention I wish I had thought of: The BlackBerry.

A fantasy job: I was thinking about quarterback of the Patriots, but at 5'8" and my advanced age I guess that would be unrealistic.

What I like about my job: I have had the unbelievable good fortune to work in the sport that has been my passion as a player, a coach, a general manager, and for the past 16 years as the President of the AHL. Every day brings a new challenge and as a group we take joy in our victories and always find a way to smile about the setbacks.

Sports: The one-on-one battles that define the outcome of every team competition.

Sports business: The business is full of people who are achievers.

Sports media: MIKE EMRICK, the voice of the NHL on NBC.

Sports technology: Real-time scoring and HD television.

Competing: Competition is what tests our skills, our will, and drives performance. Life would be pretty bland without it.

The future (or direction) of sports business: The future is in greater interactivity for our fan bases, bringing them ever closer to the competition.

Sports fans: Loyalty.

What I would like to change: Reduce the focus on short-term gain in business and politics at the expense of building long-term value.

Change in what I do: Remember to make the most of every day both personally and professionally. Take less of the good things in life for granted.

Andrews Says He Would Like To See Wimbledon

See: Wimbledon.

See more of in sports: Respect for opponents and the game.

See more of in sports business: Vision and a commitment to providing value for stakeholders.

See less of in sports: Less focus on "me" in team sports.

See less of in sports business: Media spin.

Eliminate: Unrealistic adult expectations and pressure on kids in youth sport.

What I don't like in general: Today's air travel.

Pet peeve: Bad drivers and bad pedestrians (perhaps I need to be more
patient).

In sports: I dislike people who take joy in lopsided victories over inferior competition.

In business: People in power who are condescending to others.

About sports fans: Fans who ruin the experience for kids and families at games.

What I like in people: I like to be around people with a zest for life and a great sense of humor.

That would surprise those who know me: That I have run two half marathons recently.

Above all else: Make time for family and friends and keep active in sports.

About myself: Whatever influence I have had in raising three great kids to adulthood.

Heroes: TERRY FOX.

Players: WES WELKER.

Teams: Team Canada Hockey.

City: Vancouver.

Possession: Our vacation home in Nova Scotia.

Memento: Stanley Cup and Calder Cup rings.

Time of year (because): Summer in Nova Scotia and the chance to sail, golf, and spend time with family and friends.

Music: Blues, Country, Rock, Alternative.

Books: "The Tipping Point," "Gods and Generals," "The Home Game," "Wind, Whales, and Whiskey."

Authors: MALCOLM GLADWELL, MICHAEL SHAARA, JEFF SHAARA, ROY MACGREGOR, MITCH ALBOM, SILVER DONALD CAMERON.

Magazines: Macleans (Canada), SportsBusiness Journal, The Hockey News, SAIL.

Web sites: TSN.ca, NHL.com, ESPN.com, TheAHL.com, NYTimes.com.

Gadgets: Garmin marine GPS.

Chores: That's what kids are for.

Hobbies: Sailing, Running, Racketball.

Movies: "Anchorman," "The Departed," "In Bruges."

TV: "The Office."

Concerts: JAMES TAYLOR, VIENNA TENG.

Artist: CHRISTOPHER GOREY.

Food: Fresh caught fish grilled onboard.

Dessert: Anything chocolate.

Drink: Propellor Pale Ale -- Nova Scotia's finest.

Scent: The salt air of Atlantic Canada.

Cars: BMW/Subaru.

Aftershave: Not something I use.

Singer: DAVE MATTHEWS, JACK JOHNSON.

Quote: "Last season we couldn't win at home and we were losing on the road.
My failure was that I couldn't think of any place else to play" -- former NHL coach HARRY NEALE.