Angela Jones Lewis and Sara Lucas walk through what goes into planning for making Premier League Fan Fests happen, why they’re proud for Tampa Bay to host this year’s edition, and how the fans power it all.<\/p>\n
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Video Transcript<\/p>\n
How much planning goes into a PL Fan Fest?<\/p>\n
How much planning goes into a PL Fan Fest?<\/p>\n
The first step is figuring out the city, and then once we get the city down, we have to go find the perfect venue of the city.<\/p>\n
The first step is figuring out the city, and then once we get the city down, we have to go find the perfect venue of the city.<\/p>\n
Yeah, which takes a lot more work than you would think, but we all We send a team out to the ground, and they take a look and see what’s the most ideal location for an iconic skyline or the biggest, you know, communal hubs, whatever we, whatever we think is the best fit for the market.<\/p>\n
Yeah, which takes a lot more work than you would think, but we all We send a team out to the ground, and they take a look and see what’s the most ideal location for an iconic skyline or the biggest, you know, communal hubs, whatever we, whatever we think is the best fit for the market.<\/p>\n
What’s your specific job for this specific, Premier League Fan Fest?<\/p>\n
What’s your specific job for this specific, Premier League Fan Fest?<\/p>\n
Great question.<\/p>\n
Great question.<\/p>\n
I’m an associate producer, but I, I am more- Jack of all trades jack of all trades.<\/p>\n
I’m an associate producer, but I, I am more- Jack of all trades jack of all trades.<\/p>\n
Yeah, I lead more operations, so I came here on day one, spiked out with, flags and stakes and, spray paint where everything’s gonna go based on measurements from distance from the streets.<\/p>\n
Yeah, I lead more operations, so I came here on day one, spiked out with, flags and stakes and, spray paint where everything’s gonna go based on measurements from distance from the streets.<\/p>\n
and then yeah, a lot of, bringing all the vendors in is my, is my specialty.<\/p>\n
and then yeah, a lot of, bringing all the vendors in is my, is my specialty.<\/p>\n
And I work a lot with the, like, sponsors, partners, clubs.<\/p>\n
And I work a lot with the, like, sponsors, partners, clubs.<\/p>\n
with our partners Peacock, we did the Peacock Pub over there.<\/p>\n
with our partners Peacock, we did the Peacock Pub over there.<\/p>\n
So I work, with them in advance to see what they wanna bring to the event and how they can, make their activations happen.<\/p>\n
So I work, with them in advance to see what they wanna bring to the event and how they can, make their activations happen.<\/p>\n
Florida arguably has the best soccer fans in the States.<\/p>\n
Florida arguably has the best soccer fans in the States.<\/p>\n
so what do you think of the connection between the Fan Fest and the Florida fans?<\/p>\n
so what do you think of the connection between the Fan Fest and the Florida fans?<\/p>\n
We’re pretty used to pressure with events.<\/p>\n
We’re pretty used to pressure with events.<\/p>\n
All events are high pressure.<\/p>\n
All events are high pressure.<\/p>\n
I’m from Florida, so I’m biased, but I think, like, there’s so much, culture here.<\/p>\n
I’m from Florida, so I’m biased, but I think, like, there’s so much, culture here.<\/p>\n
There’s lots of Brits that are expats that have come here.<\/p>\n
There’s lots of Brits that are expats that have come here.<\/p>\n
There’s lots of Latin, influence here, and both are massive, massive soccer fans or football fans.<\/p>\n
There’s lots of Latin, influence here, and both are massive, massive soccer fans or football fans.<\/p>\n
There It is high pressure, but for this one especially, there are fans that travel from all over the country, and some people come in from out of the country.<\/p>\n
There It is high pressure, but for this one especially, there are fans that travel from all over the country, and some people come in from out of the country.<\/p>\n
So it’s, it is a lot of pressure, but it’s also really rewarding to see everyone come and be part of this, this communal, you know, communal fan fest.<\/p>\n
So it’s, it is a lot of pressure, but it’s also really rewarding to see everyone come and be part of this, this communal, you know, communal fan fest.<\/p>\n
How many PL Fan Fests have you worked on so far?<\/p>\n
How many PL Fan Fests have you worked on so far?<\/p>\n
We both started at the same time.<\/p>\n
We both started at the same time.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Is this number 6?<\/p>\n
Is this number 6?<\/p>\n
6 or 7.<\/p>\n
6 or 7.<\/p>\n
My- 6 or 7, yeah.<\/p>\n
My- 6 or 7, yeah.<\/p>\n
Oh.<\/p>\n
Oh.<\/p>\n
So what’s your, what’s your favorite one so far?<\/p>\n
So what’s your, what’s your favorite one so far?<\/p>\n
Mine, I think, was LA.<\/p>\n
Mine, I think, was LA.<\/p>\n
you know, LA is three hours behind even Florida, so eight hours behind UK time.<\/p>\n
you know, LA is three hours behind even Florida, so eight hours behind UK time.<\/p>\n
So our event started at 3:00 AM, and the fans were going wild.<\/p>\n
So our event started at 3:00 AM, and the fans were going wild.<\/p>\n
It rained the entire time.<\/p>\n
It rained the entire time.<\/p>\n
The energy was still crazy.<\/p>\n
The energy was still crazy.<\/p>\n
No one cared that it was raining.<\/p>\n
No one cared that it was raining.<\/p>\n
There were babies there at 3:00 AM.<\/p>\n
There were babies there at 3:00 AM.<\/p>\n
It was wild.<\/p>\n
It was wild.<\/p>\n
Like, nothing can stop it.<\/p>\n
Like, nothing can stop it.<\/p>\n
Yeah, fan interaction, I mean, just the dedication for people that show up sometimes at midnight the night before, like, before the queues even open.<\/p>\n
Yeah, fan interaction, I mean, just the dedication for people that show up sometimes at midnight the night before, like, before the queues even open.<\/p>\n
We let them know, “Hey, you can get some more sleep and come back if you want to,” and they are so dedicated that they want to be there be- you know, five hours before doors open.<\/p>\n
We let them know, “Hey, you can get some more sleep and come back if you want to,” and they are so dedicated that they want to be there be- you know, five hours before doors open.<\/p>\n
So that’s, that’s just really cool for us to even see.<\/p>\n
So that’s, that’s just really cool for us to even see.<\/p>\n
It’s very rewarding.<\/p>\n
It’s very rewarding.<\/p>\n
For the fans who haven’t attended a PL Fan Fest before, what do you suggest about it?<\/p>\n
For the fans who haven’t attended a PL Fan Fest before, what do you suggest about it?<\/p>\n
What’s the best parts of it for the future, PL Fan Fests?<\/p>\n
What’s the best parts of it for the future, PL Fan Fests?<\/p>\n
Every time it’s a little bit different.<\/p>\n
Every time it’s a little bit different.<\/p>\n
We have new sponsors, new activations, but the energy is what you can look forward to the most.<\/p>\n
We have new sponsors, new activations, but the energy is what you can look forward to the most.<\/p>\n
People act as if they are live watching the games, which is really neat to witness.<\/p>\n
People act as if they are live watching the games, which is really neat to witness.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
Come in all of your sports gear, and just engage with the crowd as much as possible.<\/p>\n
Come in all of your sports gear, and just engage with the crowd as much as possible.<\/p>\n
That’s the best part, and all the talent on the NBC broadcast.<\/p>\n
That’s the best part, and all the talent on the NBC broadcast.<\/p>\n
Yeah, it’s so fun.<\/p>\n
Yeah, it’s so fun.<\/p>\n
I mean, for a free event, for fans to have access to some of their favorite, you know, soccer, football legends, and to be able to meet with them first, and there’s not many places that you can do that for free.<\/p>\n
I mean, for a free event, for fans to have access to some of their favorite, you know, soccer, football legends, and to be able to meet with them first, and there’s not many places that you can do that for free.<\/p>\n
If you can’t be here for this one, come to the next one, I guess, is my, my thing.<\/p>\n
If you can’t be here for this one, come to the next one, I guess, is my, my thing.<\/p>\n
You can’t miss them.<\/p>\n
You can’t miss them.<\/p>\n
They’re a lot, a lot of fun.<\/p>\n
They’re a lot, a lot of fun.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
That’s perfect.<\/p>\n
That’s perfect.<\/p>\n
Thank you so much.<\/p>\n
Thank you so much.<\/p>\n
Of course.<\/p>\n
Of course.<\/p>\n