I’m heading to New York City this weekend with a few good friends this weekend. I haven’t been to NYC since early November to attend the Asian Leadership Summit. And, this will be my first weekend there in nearly a year.
I used to work at least one day a week in our AOL office NY for over 3 1/2 years. I went there for staff meetings as well as to meet regularly with my primary accounts — the NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR, NHL, Sports Illustrated, etc. Sometimes the trip would be two days but normally it was back and forth onthe same day.
But, things have changed over the past few years … we longer have the strategic sports partnerships with the leagues (mostly due to our change in business model). Also, with a keen eye on expenses, business travel has been reduced dramatically.
NYC is definitely one of my favorite cities in the world … other fave’s are Tokyo (where I grew up), Paris, Hong Kong and Montreal. I used to fly there regularly but I’ve become much more of an Amtrak Acela user the past couple of years. It takes 2 hours, 45 minutes vs a 45-minute flight but you don’t have to deal w/ airport security … plus the flights delays and the cab ride from LaGuardia to mid-town.
NYC is electric … and, there’s always so many things to do. One of my closest friends and his family live there as well as a number of other great friends. So, I am looking forward to the visit this weekend (and some NY pizza, too)!
Washington, DC has been regarded as the most powerful city in the world while NYC has been regarded as the financial center. But, times are changing, especially with the Wall Street firms needing desperate financial assistance from the gov’t.
I feel fortunate to live and work in a wonderful city while also being located a short distance from one of the greatest cities in the world. But, I’ll never be a Yankees fan — especially with all the crazy money they throw each year at free agents. Go Nationals!!! 🙂
Jimmy's Blog 
February 16, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Yes, Jimmy, NY is electric. And it’s packed with people. And many of those people love the Yankees. That’s why the Yankees can AFFORD to throw money at their players. In effect, they are reinvesting in their business, rather than having the owners just pocket the profits. Maybe if the Nationals had a bigger, or more loyal, fanbase, and/or if their owners were willing to invest more in their own business, they’d have better players and a better team.
But don’t get me started on A-Rod. The Yankees never should have acquired him, and they should never have let him back in the fold after he left to try to get more money elsewhere on the advice of his agent Scott Boras. Now they’re stuck with him for what, 9 years. But we Yankee fans have been through a lifetime of hating the dumb decisions made by the owners. It’s not investing in the players that we don’t like. It’s investing in the wrong players rather than in the farm system that has yielded the best TEAM talent over the years–guys like Jeter, Posada, Williams, Chamberlain…
Oh, and next time you come to NY you’d better let me know!
February 16, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Agree with all of your points, Mike. I blogged about Yanks’ free-agent spending last month. I don’t blame the Yanks for spending $423 mm … they’re playing within the rules. I don’t MLB’s business model … I much prefer the team salary cap, a la NFL, NBA, etc.
Would love to catch up with you soon. I didn’t know where you’re living. I’ll email in advance of my next trip there.