Steve Pastorino on the sports transformation of Las Vegas

There's a system here that works, if you think about what we've gone through in the US with the prohibition and then legalization of alcohol, the prohibition and now the gradual legalization of sports betting and the same with cannabis. Nevada if anything is what you see is what you get. I feel like there's no hypocrisy here.

Steve Pastorino on the issues of sports betting and cannabis use in the US

Growing up with a US diplomat father, Steve Patorino spent his childhood in five different countries that enabled him to see and play different sports depending on where he was in. The young Steve loved to watch and play soccer when he was out of the United States while he was a baseball junkie when he gets back home. His passion for these two sports went on until he finished his education and has taken him to amazing places.

Steve worked in the Major League Soccer with the Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake. He was the first General Manager at Real Salt Lake who had basically built the franchise from ground up. He spent four years helping the US men and women qualify to the London Olympics in team Handball.

After a decade with MLS, Steve moved to Las Vegas to join another sport he loved which is baseball. He joined the Oakland Athletics, a team that plays in the Major League Baseball. Steve eventually found his way back to soccer joining the Las Vegas Lights FC where he is now the Vice President for Corporate Partnership.

• Connect with Steve Pastorino on Twitter @StevePastorino and LinkedIn
• Learn more about Las Vegas Lights FC on Twitter @LVlightsFC, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube  and LinkedIn
• Some Sports Geek episodes you might be interested in:
  • Colin Kelly from LAFC on building a fan base from scratch
  • Ron Seaver on growth of National Sports Forum

3:56 Steve Pastorino on how he got into the sports business

7:54 When did the Las Vegas Lights FC started and what is their position in the United Soccer League

9:52 Steve on their efforts in building their fan base and getting the cheeks in the seats

12:08 How Las Vegas is transforming into a sports town

15:03 Steve on engaging the local community from a corporate partnerships point of view

17:37 How the Lights FC is tackling the issues on sports betting and cannabis use

21:40 How sports betting is changing the landscape of sports business in the US

27:15 What people can expect in a Las Vegas Lights FC game

31:04 Steve on running and implementing wild and wacky ideas from Lights FC partners

34:32 How did the pitches and case studies presented at the National Sports Forum innovation series influence the Lights marketing and digital efforts

39:08 Sports Geek Closing Five

Awesome fan support for the LV Lights FC

Their infamous llama, Dolly with Coach Eric Wynalda

Truly a lit tailgating party