WEBVTT 1 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:31.079 Time for another soccer down here, one v one and 2 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:35.799 for this one we head to new Haven. New Haven 3 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:41.240 United FC is in the NPSL and they ain't wasting 4 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:41.719 no time. 5 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:43.799 They're coming in for the twenty twenty five season. 6 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:48.000 New Haven United FC's club president Jason Price hanging out 7 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:50.840 with us here for a one v one. Jason, thanks 8 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:53.320 for dropping by, Congratulations. 9 00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:54.799 Thank you very much, Thanks for having me. I'm excited 10 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:55.960 to talk about what we're up. 11 00:00:55.920 --> 00:01:00.600 To, going back to the beginning of this idea, the 12 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:03.079 genesis of the whole thing. How far back are we 13 00:01:03.159 --> 00:01:06.840 talking And you know, was it guys sitting at a 14 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:10.120 table with an idea and yeah, hey, let's do that 15 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:12.079 and then it goes off. But how far back are 16 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:15.959 we talking about the idea of having new Haven United 17 00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:18.480 as a franchise and then in the NPSL. 18 00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:19.079 Yeah. 19 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:23.120 So for me, it was a gradual process over maybe 20 00:01:23.239 --> 00:01:27.840 maybe six years or so. And you know, I got 21 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:30.760 involved in soccer through youth youth soccer, and you know, 22 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:31.799 a group of kids. 23 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:32.480 That I knew really well. 24 00:01:32.519 --> 00:01:34.439 And you know, I support a lot of things in 25 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:37.799 the community. One of the things I support is youth soccer. 26 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:41.120 And I have a friend who owns a USL team 27 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:44.000 that's nearby. He wanted to start an academy. I knew 28 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:46.719 of a group of young boys at that time, you 29 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:50.040 fourteen that you know, we're right for kind of helping 30 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:53.200 him build an academy within a professional organization. But you know, 31 00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:55.879 the idea was building from the bottom up fourteen and 32 00:01:56.120 --> 00:01:59.079 the fifteen's after, and then from the top, from the 33 00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:02.359 bottom to the top. And what actually ended up happening 34 00:02:02.359 --> 00:02:07.959 in that process is this was right during COVID and 35 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:12.199 once they started playing games, they realized they were starting 36 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:14.599 with no fans, which means, you know, most of these 37 00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:16.599 teams are kind of losing money, just like a lot 38 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:19.800 of other you know, professional teams during that period. So 39 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:23.960 there wasn't really a budget to starting the academy while 40 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:27.080 you're trying to keep the engine running for at that time, 41 00:02:27.159 --> 00:02:30.800 what was like a startup USL team. So because I 42 00:02:30.919 --> 00:02:32.840 was sort of you know, the catalysts were getting some 43 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:35.560 of these families together and you know, kind of bringing 44 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:37.479 these sort of mls next kids at that time, it 45 00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:40.000 was a da together to kind of grow and maybe 46 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:40.919 have a pathway. 47 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:41.400 To the pros. 48 00:02:41.960 --> 00:02:44.120 I said, all right, well, if we can't pay to 49 00:02:44.120 --> 00:02:46.120 get the right kind of coaches in here. We can't 50 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:49.919 pay to the capitol to have a lot of the 51 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:51.560 resources you would need to really build it. 52 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:53.080 I'll put some of my money into. 53 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:55.800 It, and I literally put on you know, the jersey 54 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:58.319 and the swag and the badge, and you know, I 55 00:02:58.360 --> 00:02:58.840 was there. 56 00:02:58.680 --> 00:02:59.639 Sort of like a manager. 57 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:02.680 And what ended up happening is I learned a lot 58 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:05.280 about youth soccer, learned a lot about you know, kind 59 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:08.560 of the youth player and the pathway. But most importantly, 60 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:11.039 I just fell in love with with soccer, you know, 61 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:15.680 in general, both domestically and internationally. So as these kids 62 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:19.719 began to progress and grow, they started playing in the UPSL. 63 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:22.360 So they were playing you know, against men fairly early, 64 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:24.000 and you know, I. 65 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:27.199 Was funding that. And then I lived in New Haven. 66 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:30.039 This team wasn't really based out of New Haven, And 67 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:32.639 because I do a lot in the community, I started 68 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:35.199 to think about, you know, not only the game that 69 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:38.159 I was beginning to love, but also started thinking about, 70 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:41.919 you know, how can an amateur pro am team really 71 00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:44.639 impact community, and how could you connect you know, the 72 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:47.439 love of the game and the passion for the game 73 00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:51.800 with the fans and the citizens of New Haven who 74 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:55.159 loved soccer, and you know, to be honest, this was 75 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:56.960 an entry level where I could get involved and do 76 00:03:57.080 --> 00:04:00.159 all of those things, you know, follow my passion, my hobby, 77 00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:04.520 support you know, the upcoming player, and also entertain and 78 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:08.599 delight the New Hyme community. So that's really the longest 79 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:10.159 short of high guy from point A to point B. 80 00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:15.840 Why the NPSL, Because today there's an alphabet soup. You've 81 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:17.439 got a bunch of different leagues doing a bunch of 82 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:20.560 different things in a bunch of different directions. What was 83 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:24.240 it about the NPSL that locked you into them as 84 00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:25.240 the league of choice? 85 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:29.360 So it has it has all the components I think 86 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:32.800 for somebody who you know, wants to achieve a few things. 87 00:04:32.839 --> 00:04:36.199 You know, one is to build you know, a franchise 88 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:41.199 for a community. The quality of play is high. A 89 00:04:41.240 --> 00:04:43.800 lot of research on looking at the us L two 90 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:48.199 versus n PSL, and you know, I sort of looked 91 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:50.639 at the quality of the player, the quality of the competition, 92 00:04:52.519 --> 00:04:57.040 you know, the the leaite management gms and where a 93 00:04:57.079 --> 00:04:59.879 lot of those players ended up after you know, having 94 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:02.959 in a summer with the team, and you know, it's 95 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:05.560 almost equivalent if you look at the players that are 96 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:08.439 drafted out of the NPSLS for the D one players 97 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:12.360 in the us L two players. And so we decided 98 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:15.680 to go in PSL only because you know, it was 99 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:19.839 the best bit within the ecosystem in and around Behavin. 100 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:23.160 So we have a couple of USL two teams to 101 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:25.560 the north of us one that's not too far away. 102 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:26.920 And then a couple that are kind of the New 103 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:27.439 York area. 104 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:31.879 So MPSL checked all the boxes agatively allows us to 105 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:34.040 do what we want to do in the community. And 106 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:37.279 you know, I should say, even though we're not USL too, 107 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:40.519 we want to be a compliment to the community in ecosystem. 108 00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:43.000 So maybe you know we're not playing them directly in 109 00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:46.319 lead competition, but you know, I know those owners and 110 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:48.600 those managers and you know a lot of players that 111 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:50.720 play there, and so you know, the end of the day, 112 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:51.600 we don't own players. 113 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:53.079 There needs to be fluidy. 114 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:56.079 The more teams are playing at that level, my opinion 115 00:05:56.120 --> 00:05:59.240 is the better. And you know, we want to be 116 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:01.639 a compliment to the ecosystem. And you know, whether we're 117 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:09.560 USL two INPSL UPSL, you know we feel that we're poison. 118 00:06:09.639 --> 00:06:14.360 We're in position to you know, show up, show up 119 00:06:14.360 --> 00:06:14.839 the right way. 120 00:06:16.360 --> 00:06:19.879 And the runway that you have is very short, because. 121 00:06:19.639 --> 00:06:20.600 Very very short. 122 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:23.800 You know, it's like seasons coming up just around the corner, 123 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:29.000 and you know what is it like? How frantic is 124 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:32.360 it to get everything in line so you can hit 125 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:36.040 the ground running at full song knowing that it might 126 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:38.160 be you know, it's two months away for having a 127 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:40.160 product on the field, but there's a lot of the 128 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:43.199 infrastructure stuff and the stuff that folks don't see on 129 00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:45.360 a game day that you've got to get in line 130 00:06:45.399 --> 00:06:48.120 so you can be ready for twenty five. How how 131 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:51.600 are things there on this very very short runway with 132 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:53.720 a very large plane trying to take off? 133 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:57.120 Yeah, so so John's that's a very stude question. You're 134 00:06:57.160 --> 00:06:59.000 right about all that. It's a short runway and there's 135 00:06:59.000 --> 00:06:59.439 a lot to do. 136 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:02.560 Quite honestly, I don't think I would be able to 137 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:06.360 pull this off in the city that that I'm not, 138 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:08.120 you know, if I wasn't from that city, and if 139 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:11.079 I didn't you know, no particular stakeholders in this market 140 00:07:11.079 --> 00:07:14.959 that can help me solve some of the issues that 141 00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:16.480 we need to solve in order to get ready to 142 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:19.360 compete and. 143 00:07:19.399 --> 00:07:22.920 So you know, you know this, but maybe some others 144 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:24.360 don't know it. I mean, you know, you have set 145 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:26.639 set up a legal entity, right, boring stuff. 146 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:28.160 You have to you know, you have to be insured, 147 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.839 you have to find a venue, you have to get 148 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:33.079 your you know, your badge and your graphic design and 149 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:34.959 your brand identity together. 150 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:35.360 And so. 151 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:39.680 You know, I'm in other businesses and I have other 152 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:42.240 businesses that have some of those components that could help me, 153 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:45.040 you know, kind of sprint to the finish line. But 154 00:07:45.079 --> 00:07:47.439 I think at the end of the day, you know, 155 00:07:47.639 --> 00:07:51.240 we have the foundation of something and playing the long 156 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:54.079 term game that will help us, you know, kind of 157 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:56.360 check the boxes in you know, a few different areas. 158 00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:58.279 So one is, you know, we want to build a 159 00:07:58.319 --> 00:07:58.759 culture in. 160 00:07:58.759 --> 00:08:03.079 The community this team, and we want the community to 161 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:05.079 know that this is for them. And on game day 162 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:07.160 we're trying to entertain them and they should have a 163 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:10.560 good time through and by watching you know, a strong 164 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:11.600 band brand of football. 165 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:14.560 That's the first thing. The second thing is. 166 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:18.720 You know, you want to have a group of young 167 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:22.759 men that are you know, of the level and can 168 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:24.680 compete and you know, by no means do I think 169 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:26.319 you know you end up at the top of the 170 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:28.519 league in your first year. But you know, we definitely 171 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:30.240 want to be as competitive as we can be, and 172 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:33.919 so we we have that in place, and then I 173 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:36.480 think the last thing that we want to do is, 174 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:40.720 you know, we want to really push and champion the 175 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:43.440 game of soccer and do it the right way because 176 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:47.879 you know, I think that we're in a very very 177 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:52.559 interesting time in the you know, the competitive soccer landscape 178 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:55.799 amidst all of the alphabet suit you know, MLS, USO 179 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:59.600 pso that you know, you can show that there's a 180 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:03.639 commune unity that's engaged in the game, you know, far 181 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:07.519 beyond what you know, people who haven't really been initiated 182 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:09.360 to the soccer community understand. 183 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:11.720 So there's a whole lot of storytelling, a whole. 184 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:15.080 Lot of branding, a whole lot of partnerships that can happen, 185 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:18.360 you know, through what I think is a beautiful game. 186 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:20.679 So you know, if we can nail those three things 187 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:25.919 in year one, including the game day experience, then that's 188 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:29.200 a foundation for building, you know, trying things, breaking things, 189 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:32.480 and trying to fix it. But we're really focused on, 190 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:35.759 you know, making sure that our houses in order feel 191 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:38.279 the competitive team. And then we have a great game 192 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:40.720 day experience and then you know, we'll build from there. 193 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:42.440 So we have that. It's been a lot, but we 194 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:42.720 have in. 195 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:47.120 Place when it comes to the to do list that 196 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:49.639 we talk about here over the next sixty days or so. 197 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:54.440 Could be in a you know, it could be in 198 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:57.919 a shared Google doc someplace on a computer that everybody 199 00:09:57.960 --> 00:10:00.919 dives into. Could be on your phone, could be on 200 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:03.360 a legal pad, could be on a ring binder that's 201 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:05.279 hidden in your office someplace. Or it could be on 202 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:08.200 one of those big eight foot by ten foot long 203 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:11.000 white dry erase boards. It's got a bunch of different 204 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:13.919 colors and lines and everything. Where is it? 205 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:14.879 Man? 206 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:16.840 What do you think the next thing that you can 207 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:20.480 cross off of that to do list is as you're 208 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:21.879 on this runway. 209 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:23.720 So it's everywhere. 210 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:27.879 So it's it's you know, text messages amongst the team, 211 00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:33.960 face to face meetings with whiteboards, you know Google Drive 212 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:37.919 that has all of the documents, and you know brand 213 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:40.120 identity and you know all of the material that we 214 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:42.399 need to collaborate and work together. I mean that we're 215 00:10:42.440 --> 00:10:44.600 using technology and that kind of stuff. I mean, so 216 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:48.960 you know those are all in improper places. I think 217 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:52.879 the next thing that we need to do is really 218 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:55.919 you know, work on our game day experience and really 219 00:10:55.960 --> 00:10:59.879 prepare for you know, what fans are going to see 220 00:11:00.039 --> 00:11:02.480 the day that they show up to restadium, which is 221 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:07.039 you know, a university place seats about fifteen hundred and 222 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:09.519 two thousand fans. 223 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:11.559 You know, it would be great if we could fill 224 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:12.159 that at some point. 225 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:13.799 You know, I don't expect to fill a day one, 226 00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:16.360 but you know, you wanted to light the fans and 227 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:18.759 give them something and give them an experience on day 228 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:21.559 one because you hope that you know they're entertaining, that 229 00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:24.080 they go and tell somebody else and you know you 230 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:28.039 have twenty percent more fans the next time. But you know, 231 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:31.279 having you know, you know, with an understanding of project 232 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:37.000 management or been an entrepreneur, you know, comfortable working in chaos. 233 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:39.840 We know, we know that there's a date, there's a 234 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:45.200 deadline to make sure that we can hit you know, 235 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:47.320 all the points that we need to hit. When somebody 236 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:48.799 walks out of their car and they begin to walk 237 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:50.600 up into the game, and where they sit and what 238 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:53.559 they see and what happens and who's announcing, and you know, 239 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:54.480 can they buy swag? 240 00:11:54.600 --> 00:11:56.919 So you know that's not a one thing. It's a 241 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:58.919 multiple thing. But I think, you know, in. 242 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:03.440 Terms of the you know, i'd say the one thing 243 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:05.200 that we need to nail is it's kind of like 244 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:07.759 our debut. You know, we're spending time on what that 245 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:11.279 experience looks like and making sure that we, you know, 246 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:14.120 have mitigans in place to assure that we don't have 247 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:16.080 any hiccups. 248 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:17.399 Lets gonna start playing. 249 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:21.120 What have you learned about yourself in this process? Knowing 250 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:26.840 that Okay, we're in we've found our league, and oh, 251 00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:29.399 you know what, we've got to launch and be ready 252 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:32.399 for the twenty five season in a conference that has 253 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:36.919 more first year clubs in it then it does clubs 254 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:38.919 with experience in it. I mean, it says a lot 255 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:41.000 about the NPSL and the desire for folks that want 256 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:43.080 to be in it where they're having to break things 257 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:45.759 up and you've got a lot of new first year 258 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:48.080 of partners in your conference. What have you learned about 259 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:49.559 yourself in this process? 260 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:53.399 You know, I'm a risk taker. You know, I'm comfortable 261 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:56.120 with it. You know, I've been in this position before, 262 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:58.240 like trying to race to get something done in a 263 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:03.159 short period of time. You know, you you don't always 264 00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:07.320 have the resources that you needed hand to do everything 265 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:09.320 as quickly as you want. And if we all had, 266 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:11.840 you know, a billion dollars, you just farm it all 267 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:15.200 out and it happens we don't. And you know, I 268 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:19.080 think what I'm learning is an extension of the kind 269 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:22.120 of leader I want to be, and that is, you know, 270 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:25.840 you have to pick the people that show up with 271 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:29.440 the same kind of energy, they have the same ethics 272 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:33.200 and have the same you know, goals. 273 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:33.399 And that. 274 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:38.200 You know, I've learned that you know, I can't do everything, 275 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:40.639 and that you have to be able to count. You 276 00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:44.759 need to be able to count on individuals that have 277 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:50.159 the judgment, hustle and you know, the knowledge to get 278 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:50.600 things done. 279 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:53.240 And you know what, I spend a lot of time. 280 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:55.639 I spend a lot of time talking to a team. 281 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:59.799 About you know, we might have some arguments behind the 282 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:04.799 scene means they disagree, but we have a methodology for disagreeing. 283 00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:06.759 And then once we decide to do something, we go forward. 284 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:08.000 And you know, we go forward. 285 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:10.279 And if you need somebody something, you reach out and 286 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.960 the expectation that you hit your deadline. And I'm gonna 287 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:14.639 try to hit my deadline and call me out if 288 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:17.799 if I'm not hitting my deadline, and you know, I think, 289 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:20.519 just to sum up the question or my answer to 290 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:23.679 the question is just you know that I can lead 291 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:26.960 in chaos and you know, kind of staying even in 292 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:27.480 the process. 293 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:29.679 New Haven United f C. 294 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:32.600 Joining the NPSL, hanging out with his president Jason Price. 295 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:34.440 Here for a soccer down here one v one. Have 296 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:39.440 you always been someone that is better cramming for an 297 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:43.200 exam instead of having a long time and having a deadline? 298 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:45.480 Have you? Have you always been that way? 299 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:50.720 Bring to cramming for an exam to use that example. 300 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:55.080 But but but but I am okay, I'm okay with 301 00:14:55.159 --> 00:15:00.120 uncertainty and uh and risk and uh. You know, I 302 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:03.039 kind of fear of the unknown. So I'm comfortable in 303 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:04.639 those spaces. I like those spaces. 304 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:06.120 You know. 305 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:08.759 My background was in you know, projectquity asked at management. 306 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:10.200 I was working for an institution. 307 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:12.360 You know. 308 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:14.480 At one point I was working with a friend from 309 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:17.080 business school and he was kind of saying, hey, I'm 310 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:18.240 thinking about doing my own thing. 311 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:22.600 Ultimately I decided to join him. Went to my wife 312 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.279 and said. 313 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:26.799 Hey, you know, there might be a period where let's 314 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:28.559 do something. But you know, we may not make any 315 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:31.080 income for a little while, and you know. 316 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:31.720 And that's risky. 317 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:35.360 And we got into this sort of entrepreneurial endeavor that 318 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.879 was fairly successful. 319 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:38.720 But I actually enjoyed it. 320 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:41.440 You know, I enjoyed the chaos of you know, kind 321 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:44.080 of showing up trying to figure it out, and he 322 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:48.080 kind of gradually, you know, right sizing in the organization 323 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:52.080 and you know that process, you learned to count on 324 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:54.360 people and kind of back up and then you know, 325 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:56.159 you kind of go from boots on the ground to 326 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:57.480 a governors role. 327 00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:58.679 And so. 328 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:02.120 You know, I don't know if people call that cramming 329 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:04.200 or being good at cramming or you know, any of 330 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:06.159 those things, but you know, I'm very comfortable in it. 331 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:08.360 A lot of it is just wisdom having done it before. 332 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:11.759 And you know, this isn't to say that I'm perfect. 333 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:14.559 I've made any mistakes and business and in life. But 334 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:19.840 you know, I'll tell you one thing. You know, you're 335 00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:22.320 going through that sort of you know endeavor, you want 336 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:24.639 to be with people and an individuals who are like 337 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:27.440 minded and you know, see the world the same way. 338 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:30.360 So then have you always thought of yourself as a builder? 339 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:35.120 Yeah, I mean more recently, I'm calling myself a builder, 340 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:37.759 you know, kind of in hindsight. But if I if 341 00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:39.759 I look at kind of my resume and you know, 342 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:42.320 kind of where I deviate from the path, it's usually 343 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:46.639 around you know, opportunities and ideas where there's some building involved, 344 00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:50.039 and I mean like building buildings brick and mortar, as 345 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:52.759 well as building institutions and organizations. 346 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:57.840 When it comes to your phone and communications, I know 347 00:16:57.879 --> 00:17:00.320 that you're looking for a specific kind of individual, both 348 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:03.480 on the field and off to represent New Haven the 349 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:07.240 way that you want it. Has either your phone or 350 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:10.400 your WhatsApp or your text messaging or your emails, have 351 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:12.440 they all blown up for folks that have wanted to 352 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:15.480 dive into help to be a part of this with you, Yeah, in. 353 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.359 A good way. 354 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:19.960 I mean most most of the people I know, you 355 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:22.279 know in and around this soccer community, and I'll call 356 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:24.680 it kind of like you know, fear for New York 357 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:27.680 up to Boston have you know, kind of reached out 358 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:32.160 and they're excited and you know the comments and emails 359 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:37.400 are full of which is you know, you know there's 360 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:40.440 folks from various kind of constituencies and stakeholders who you 361 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:44.240 know won't be involved from the fans and who remember 362 00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:46.519 Elm City, who you know, were kind of building off 363 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:48.400 of that legacy. So Elm City was in this town 364 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:52.200 and you know, don't forget about them because you know 365 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:54.480 they kind of paved the way and you know, they 366 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:56.359 were successful. So it gave me confidence that we could 367 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:59.039 be successful in this market. So they're kind of coming 368 00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:00.839 out of the woodworks and saying, hey, we're excited to 369 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:02.480 have another you know it's not hon City, but we're 370 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:04.839 excited to have another team. And you know, then you 371 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:07.039 have a sponsors who you know just want to see 372 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:10.440 a good brand of football soccer and you know, so 373 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:12.759 kind of raised their hands. We'll see if they actually 374 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:15.119 come through financially with you know, sponsorships. 375 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:15.559 I hope they do. 376 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:19.279 But you know, it's been really, really you know, pleasant 377 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.279 experience at this point. 378 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:24.119 New Haven United going into the North Atlantic Conference with 379 00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:25.880 American Soccer Club New York. 380 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:27.960 We caught up with them earlier this year. 381 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:31.279 Hertford City, who's been established in the NP they've made 382 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:33.640 deep runs in the playoffs in the past, New Haven, 383 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:35.400 New York Shockers, and Osner's FC. 384 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:37.960 We caught up with Osners as well. Have you had a. 385 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:40.880 Chance to gauge the competition in the conference and sit 386 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:44.039 there and say, yeah, okay, or have you guys compared 387 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:46.160 notes the first year the first year folks, have you 388 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:48.680 guys compared notes about where you are in the process 389 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.680 and help out each other. 390 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:53.720 So not yet, but but I'm open to it. 391 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:57.839 I know the teams. I think they're very, very good teams. 392 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:02.920 I think they all have like great reputation. I think, uh, 393 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:10.440 you know, my number one goal is to a symbol 394 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:14.440 a team that elevates the conference. Right, and that doesn't mean, 395 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:16.240 you know, when every game come in at the top 396 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:18.160 of the league at first, but you know, you want 397 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:23.000 to have a team that challenges your competition because I believe, 398 00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:27.000 you know, the league is as strong as their weakest link. 399 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:30.839 So you know, if there is an honor code, you know, 400 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:33.359 the real honor code is that we will go out 401 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:36.519