Behind the Scenes of the Spud Kings & Chuckers w/ Paul Henderson | Ep 30

Join us on The Success Blueprint Podcast for Episode 30 as we sit down with Paul Henderson, Executive Vice President of the Idaho Spud Kings and an 18-year veteran of the Idaho Falls Chuckers. From his humble beginnings as a college intern at Melaleuca Field to helping launch and grow one of the most passionate junior hockey fanbases in Southeast Idaho, Paul's story is a masterclass in community-driven sports management.In this conversation, Paul pulls back the curtain on what makes the Spud Kings a sell-out success in a non-traditional hockey market — from leveraging existing baseball relationships and corporate sponsorships to tapping into the energy of a passionate local community. He also shares the real challenges of running two sports organizations simultaneously, the grind of managing overlapping seasons, and why finding the right people through the intern pipeline has been the secret to building a winning front-office culture.Paul reflects on the Spud Kings' remarkable journey from a 0-16 start in their inaugural season to becoming champions, and what that championship means for the city of Idaho Falls. He also highlights how the new arena is transforming the entertainment landscape in Southeast Idaho — bringing world-class concerts and events to a community that once had to drive to Salt Lake City or Boise for a big show.Whether you are a sports fan, an aspiring sports business professional, or someone who loves a great community success story, this episode is packed with genuine insight and inspiration.0:00 Introduction — Meet Paul Henderson0:31 Paul's 18-Year Journey with the Idaho Falls Chuckers1:22 Role as Executive VP of the Idaho Spud Kings1:56 Why the Spud Kings Took Off in a Non-Hockey Market3:35 Fighting in Hockey — The Rules Explained4:38 The Real Secret Behind the Spud Kings' Success6:26 Building a Winning Staff Through the Intern Pipeline9:04 The Biggest Day-to-Day Challenges in Sports Management9:58 The Most Rewarding Moments Working in Community Sports11:57 Managing the Transition Between Hockey and Baseball Seasons12:42 From 0-16 to Champions — The Spud Kings' Journey14:56 How to Get Tickets & What's Coming Up for the Spud Kings15:53 How the New Arena is Changing Entertainment in Idaho Falls17:07 Closing Thoughts & FarewellSuccessBlueprintPodcast #SuccessBlueprint #PaulHenderson #IdahoSpudKings #SpudKings #IdahoFallsChuckers #Chuckers #IdahoFalls #SoutheastIdaho #IdahoSports #LocalSports #CommunitySportsConnect with us! We would love to hear from you! Website: https://www.eastidahohouses.com/connectFollow Us: Instagram: https://instagram.com/griderpetersonrealestateFacebook: https://facebook.com/GriderPetersonYoutube: https://youtube.com/@GriderandPetersonRealEstateTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@griderpetersonrealestateX: https://x.com/GriderPetersonListen to The Success Blueprint: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-success-blueprint-with-the-grider-and-peterson-team/id1831318703Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriderandPetersonRealEstateAmazon: https://music.amazon.com.mx/podcasts/911c1355-b2c4-4289-b739-15c8e0cac3d8/the-success-blueprint-with-the-grider-and-peterson-teamSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TMqrct5zfUm2AOluyfjPa?si=416134195c944700