Front & Center: Bill Chapin Seahawks and Sounders
My dear friend Bill Chapin has been working in sports for quite a few years now, including the last four and half years with the Seattle Seahawks & Seattle Sounders FC as the Director of Marketing and Partnership Development. In addition to the NFL, Bill has also held leadership positions with the Mighty (Anaheim) Ducks in the NHL and the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA as well as stints in minor league baseball. Today we feature our regular weekly question and answer session with an industry executive.
1. Tell us about your responsibilities:
I proactively engage local and national companies and advertising agencies to develop marketing partnerships with the Seattle Seahawks and Sounders FC. In addition, I oversee the strategic direction of our digital media properties including Seahawks.com, Sounders FC.com and Qwest Field.com. I am fortunate to be called to lead strategic discussions on brand innovation, brand discovery and brand research.
2. My first job in sports….:
Sales Representative or as it was referred to at the time “Marketing Representative”. I had the privlege to sell season tickets, partial packages and group tickets on a commission only basis for the Los Angeles Clippers Basketball Team. Many of the foundational work of sales, can be attributed to my time with the Clippers.
3. Best Advice I ever Received:
Be passionate about what you do
4. What sports moment I am most fond of telling others
Standing on the top of Qwest Field at the 12TH MAN flag pole looking over 67,000 fans during the NFC Championship game preparing for our owner Paul Allen to raise the 12TH MAN Flag.
5. Areas of Growth in our Business
Digital Media and the associated ancillary technology. This medium is the future of telling our story and communicating its message. Content is KING.
6. The Biggest Challenges Facing Our Business Today
Making professional sports affordable to all consumers so as to be experienced in person.
7. How is your organization doing business differently these days?
The Seattle Seahawks have diversified their portfolio by adding another professional team into its family of companies and infrastuture. With the start of the 2009 MLS season, Seattle Sounders FC will provide fans in the Pacific Northwest to ability to see world class soccer at affordable prices.
8. How has the Business Changed in the past 5 years
Digital Media. No where has the change in sports been more noticeable than on the world wide web. The advent of websites empowers fans to create channels and portals of information, statistics, dialogue and discussion about all sports mediums on team, network, and discussion sites all over the globe. Fans can be fans half way across the world and follow their teams with rabid avidity.
9. What qualities have you always looked for when recruiting senior leadership positions?
Each league has it’s challenges, its strenghths and weaknesses. I have had the privledge in working in all 5 major leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS).
The most important element of working for each particular team in each league is to tap into the passion of the fans that are following your team. You must undertand and embrace the passion for the game before you can espouse the qualties that make the game great.
10. Any advice for others?
Understand that following your passion for your life’s work is central to contentment in one’s business career.
Anything else to share…..Working with a team of colleagues that are all rowing in the same direction is a highlight of teamwork. I hope that all receive the opportunity to working with dynamic and diverse teams that create “passion enriched” organizations.
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Bill is the first football executive to be featured in the Top 10 Topics with since John Drum was selected right after the 2009 Super Bowl (see link under people on right rail).
Thank you for this article on Mr. Chapin. I have known Bill for several years and can definitely attest to his ability to practice what he preaches. He has been passionate about his involvement with sports and has always been ready to expand his horizons, no matter what sport. He has certainly come a long way from his days selling tickets for the Clippers, and, even before that, as an employee of the minor league baseball team, The Cucamonga Quakes. He is a humble yet driven man, and the Seahawks / Sounders should certainly be proud to have him as a member of their teams.
Mr. Seely,
Perhaps you can help me. I am following my passion and experience in Marketing and non-traditional revenue. I have found it very difficult to contact Mr. Chapin. He seems like a very open person and would be willing to spend a few minutes with someone who is trying to pursue his same type of passions. I will be visiting my family in Seattle this fall. I am looking to take my career to the next level and I bring many qualities to the table that I think (if not now, then in the future) the Seahawks/Sounder organization could benefit from. The rub – how do you get someone your marketing package, your resume – when this is probably the last thing he has on his mind? I feel very silly for even asking – but I gal has got to try when it is her dream…right? Any thing you could do or advice you could give would be greatly appreciated in this matter. joannafinley@gmail.com
Thank you for sharing your comments, it is great to see good people recognized in the professional world and by personal friends. @Rick Seely