Ep. 160: The Great Ryan Meetup at MOA

What happens when hundreds of people who all share the same first name gather in one place? You get one of the most unique events Mall of America has ever hosted.    This week, we're joined by Ryan Fisher, Chief Communications Officer for Ryan Meetup, the nationwide community that brings together people named Ryan through fun events and local chapters across the country. Alongside Mall of America's Meri, we take you behind the scenes of the partnership that brought the unforgettable "Ryde the Ryan Coaster" event to life.    By the time this episode airs, hundreds of Ryans will have packed Nickelodeon Universe in an attempt to set a world record for the most people with the same name to consecutively ride a roller coaster, before heading to Target Field for the Ryan Baseball Classic. We talk about how this wonderfully quirky idea became reality, the planning that went into hosting it, what guests experienced throughout the day, and why a community built around a single name has captured the imagination of people across the country.    Along the way, you'll hear the story behind Ryan Meetup, why their famous motto is "No Bryans Allowed," some of the funniest moments from past gatherings, and why this may be one of the most memorable events ever held at Mall of America.    1:45 How the Ryan Meetup began with a simple flyer and a QR code  7:00 The “No Brians Allowed” rule for Ryan Meetups  8:30 The annual Ryan holidays for all Ryans to celebrate  9:15 How Ryan Meetup landed at Mall of America to set a new record  12:45 Setting a roller coaster record at MOA, meet in the ‘Rytunda’ and leave as friends  18:30 Ryans traveled from as far as Hawaii for the Ryan Meetup  21:15 What’s next for Ryan Meetup….    Visit: www.mallofamerica.com/events  Visit: https://www.ryanmeetup.com/     Guests: Ryan Cousins, Co-Founder and Creative Director and Ryan Fisher, Chief Communications Officer for Ryan Meetup    Hosts: Jill Renslow, Meri Ryan    Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.