Transforming Baseball into an Entertainment Business with Syracuse Mets General Manager Jason Smorol

This week Ryan sits down with Jason Smorol, the General Manager of the Syracuse Mets. Jason is no stranger to minor league sports having worked for the Watertown Indians, Staten Island Yankees, Batavia Muckdogs, and Auburn Doubledays before taking over GM responsibilities for the Syracuse Chiefs in 2013. But to limit Jason to a list of teams is to miss out on the magic that he brings to sports. Jason has used the world of competition to build bridges in the communities he resides in. Since 2013, Jason has transformed Historic NBT Bank Stadium and the baseball season into a welcoming environment for countless fans of all backgrounds, provide business opportunities for local restauranteurs, raise awareness for hundreds of not-for-profits, and provide entertainment in all forms to the greater Syracuse community. His leadership is a successful demonstration as to how to turn a business into a community hub. In this conversation, Jason talks about growing up in North Syracuse and his time at Bishop Grimes. He shares college stories from his studies at SUNY Fredonia and the United States Sports Academy as well as his time teaching Sports Management at SUNY Cortland. He shares his approach to sales citing examples from the industry of Minor League Baseball and Hilti USA. Additionally, he shares his Syracuse Mets management approach sheds light into a leadership style that encourages the best out of everyone. It’s a great conversation about the value of hard work, passion, and welcoming ideas from all avenues. To learn more about Jason Smorol and his work with the Syracuse Mets, visit www.SyracuseMets.com or find them on social media @SyracuseMets. For more information on the Meditations with Ryan Zlomek podcast, find The World of Ryan Zlomek on Facebook, @RyanZlomek on Instagram, BlueSky and Tiktok, or email [email protected].