• Loading stock data...
Sunday, June 22, 2025

Big Town or Small, It’s a Really Tough Call

This post is a part of our new partnership with Generation Y Digital! Check them out on Twitter at @genydig!


By: Kyle Benzion, @KylonialKyle

One of the biggest adjustments for me between my first and second job has undoubtedly been adjusting to the market size. There are always going to be challenges working in media, but ultimately you want a large amount of people to see your product, become enticed by the product, and attend sporting events. Below, I will lay out the good, and bad aspects of working in a small market, or large market. For professionals entering the industry, it is certainly important to weigh the type of audience that you will have to figure out if that is the best fit for you.

Small Markets

For me, I began working in TV Market #106, Lincoln, Nebraska. This was a perfect place for me to start my career. I thoroughly enjoyed the University of Nebraska fan base. It was incredible. No matter what we produced on social media, fans engaged, shared posts, and came to games of all types. When I say “came to games,” I mean it. Sure, Nebraska has over 350 straight football sellouts dating back to 1962, but there have also been over 200 regular season volleyball sellouts. For virtually any sport, there is unbelievable support that is rarely seen anywhere else in college athletics. That support transferred over to the internet as well. Blog posts, Vines, produced videos, GIFs, you name it, they all typically do well. The support at Nebraska made my job incredibly entertaining.

Large Markets

Once, I arrived at George Washington University in Washington D.C. (TV Market #9), I realized that it would take a different strategy to succeed. There is undeniably much more of a challenge in Washington D.C. to have students, alumni, and the general public attend sporting events. For example, there are 6 professional sporting teams in the immediate area, along with nightly concerts, other college events, and a heavy interest in politics. One of my first eye opening moments was when I was unable to understand why student attendance for a basketball game was low. Ultimately the reason was because many students were at home watching a Republican National Debate. This never would have even crossed my mind in Lincoln, Nebraska. Working in a large city brings an exciting challenge for every single home sporting event to try to find a way to draw people to the game.

Finally

If you are just entering the industry and trying to decide what type of location you want to work in, it is important to understand the positives and negatives of each. While working in a large market can certainly be an exciting challenge, it can also bring frustration. Working in a small market is unquestionably rewarding when you look up in the seats, though it may not present you with challenges that would be faced elsewhere. My hope is that everyone in the media industry in athletics has a chance to work in both a small and large market at some point in their career. No place is perfect, but it is vital to get multiple experiences that breed unique challenges.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Storytelling in the 21st Century

Patty Hubbard is hoping to redefine how athletes build their brands. Patty Hubbard,…

Twitter Moments for Everyone

This post is a part of our new partnership with Generation Y…

Life Lessons Learned On The Path to My Dream Job

This post is a part of our new partnership with Generation Y…

These Tweets Do Reflect Your Employer

This post is a part of our new partnership with Generation Y…

Featured Today

Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park
June 14, 2025

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.

What Rolapp’s NFL Exit Means—and the Top Candidates to Replace Him

NFL media boss Brian Rolapp leaves; the league hunts for his replacement.
May 23, 2025

New LPGA Commissioner: Women’s Golf ‘Really Hard’ to Find on TV

Former PGA of America COO Craig Kessler will lead the tour.
Gabby Thomas
exclusive
June 12, 2025

Grand Slam Track Cancels Los Angeles Meet As $30 Million Track Start-Up..

Sources close to Grand Slam insist money is not an issue.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Ted Leonsis unpacks basketball’s global rise, media rights, and portfolio ownership.
Donald Trump, Nick Saban
May 22, 2025

Proposed Trump College Sports Commission May Never Happen

The White House is not sure of its plans.
May 15, 2025

PGA Championship Tees Off With Free Food, Record Hospitality Sales

General admission includes unlimited food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Allyson Felix
May 1, 2025

Allyson Felix on Olympic Pay, Nike, and Track’s Big-Money Era

Felix talked to FOS about her push to help Olympic parents and more.
Jordon Hudson
April 30, 2025

Bill Belichick Accuses CBS of ‘Selectively’ Editing Awkward Girlfriend Clip

The North Carolina coach cited his “professional” relationship with Jordon Hudson.