PROFESSIONAL
What I Like …
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Mangione and Barclays Center welcomed the arena’s 1 millionth visitor on Feb. 1.
Photo by: ADAM PANTOZZI / BROOKLYN NETS
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■ An insight: It’s all about relationship building, both personally and professionally. The world is too small.
■ An influential person in my career: My mom, who let me turn down a pharmaceutical job making $35,000, plus commission, for a ticket sales job paying $12,000, plus commission (and no benefits), to live out my dream of working in sports.
■ A timeless idea: Handwritten thank-you notes. Email is an easy way out.
■ A business deal: Disney buying the “Star Wars” franchise.
■ A sports event: The Super Bowl. It’s a national holiday and turns non-sports fans into sports fans for a day.
■ A strategy: Good process equals good results. This has been ingrained in me by Brett Yormark.
FRED MANGIONE
Executive vice president / CMO
Brooklyn Nets / Barclays Center
■ What I do: I oversee the sales and marketing for both the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, including ticket and suite sales.
■ Where I'm from: I grew up in Jefferson Township, N.J., and I currently reside in Glen Rock, N.J.
■ Where I Went to School: Centenary College — B.S. in business administration and minor in marketing.
■ My First Job: As a 13-year-old I [was] a paper boy for the New Jersey Herald. Occasionally, I would make $3 a day in tips!
■ A hire: Adam Silver as NBA commissioner.
■ A brand: American Express is always thinking of ways to take care of its consumers like no other. You feel empowered about being a member.
■ An innovation: Paperless ticketing.
■ A pro league or team business initiative: The NBA considering selling jersey sponsorship.
■ A story that bears watching: AEG sale.
■ An idea or invention I wish I had thought of: StubHub.
What I Like about …
■ My job: Working with the top people in the industry. In life, it all starts with good people.
■ Sports: Competition and team effort needed to hit a common goal.
■ Sports business: The passion you need to survive it.
■ Sports technology: Cisco StadiumVision Mobile. Live video in-arena is the next wave.
■ Sports fans: The time they give coming to our arenas. Nothing is more precious than people’s time.
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NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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■ Competing: Brings out the best in all of us and keeps us fresh.
■ The future of sports business: Analytics … analytics …
What I’d Like To …
■ Change: Electronic Christmas cards.
■ Change in what I do: Listen more.
■ See: Harder work from entry-level hires.
■ See more of in sports: Players staying with one team for their entire careers.
■ See more of in sports business: Loyalty.
■ See less of in sports: Short cuts.
■ See less of in sports business: Short cuts.
■ See different: Treating people the way you wish to be treated. Old proverb that still stands the test of time.
PERSONAL
What I Like …
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Photo by: NBAE / GETTY IMAGES
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■ That would surprise those who know me: I want to teach sports management in my next endeavor.
■ Players: Don Mattingly, Michael Jordan, Jason Kidd.
■ City: Las Vegas.
■ Possession: My mom’s high school ring. She passed away as a young woman of breast cancer, and I use it as an inspiration before a big meeting or before important events with my family.
■ Memento: Chairback from the recently torn-down Yankee Stadium.
■ Music: U2, Coldplay, Pearl Jam, Jay-Z.
■ Book: “Steve Jobs,” by Walter Isaacson.
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Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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■ Author: Michael Lewis.
■ Websites: LinkedIn, CBS Sports, HoopsHype.
■ iPad apps: “Temple Run” (my kids love it), StubHub.
■ Chores: Recycling center and fold laundry.
■ Hobbies: Softball, fantasy sports.
■ Trip: Bahamas with family over All-Star Weekend.
■ Movies: “Star Wars,” “It’s Complicated,” “Casino.”
■ TV: “Two and a Half Men,” “Seinfeld,” “The Sopranos” (I still watch whenever it’s on).
■ Artist: My 9-year-old daughter. She has more artistic talent in her pinky than I have overall.
■ Food: Anything my wife cooks. She is an amazing chef.
■ Dessert: Cookie dough ice cream.
■ Drink: Amstel Light.
■ Scent: Michelle Perfume (my wife’s scent).
■ Vacation spots: Jersey Shore; Rehobeth Beach, Del.
■ Quote: “If winning isn’t everything, why do they keep score?” Vince Lombardi.
