After our second-ever @thefirefighters headliner weekend in Salem, VA, I’m reflecting on what it really takes to build a show from scratch. A new team, new cast, new city—it’s a massive undertaking. But building the show is just step one. What matters most is what happens *after*—the review, the notes, the obsession with getting better.
Every detail counts. The sound cues, the blocking, the contestant selection and how we educate them, the pacing, the transitions, the player-fan moments, even the exact words we use to launch a bit. That’s where the magic is made—or lost.
We will never settle for something “fine.” In our organization, *fine* is the “F-bomb.” We’re on a mission to create the Greatest Show in Sports—and that means chasing greatness in everything we do. We’re not there yet, not even close. But the pursuit? That’s what drives us.
From just two shows, I wrote down over 55 ways we can improve. That fires me up. You learn by doing—and we will do, test, and fail more than anyone else. That’s how we grow.
I’m incredibly proud of our team. @joelzim1 went from intern to running the show. @marshall.shill5, a former pitcher, is now on mic from start to finish. We added a new announcer in Luc, a brand-new Calendar Crew, a new mascot in @bothebeaver, our first-ever bat dog @chiefthebatdog, live music with @thesavfireline, and an all-new entertainment team filled with rookies performing at an elite level.
We’re just getting started. But we’re fueled by the care, energy, and support of our fans. Seeing sold-out crowds in a brand-new market? It means more than you know.
