With the Pacers in the NBA Finals, I sat down with Mike Nichols, Chief of Sponsorship Strategy and Activation for Group 1001, the parent company of Gainbridge.

We dive into Group 1001’s extensive sponsorships, including the Indianapolis 500, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, various NASCAR and IndyCar teams, and women's sporting events. Nichols shares the benefits of sponsoring high-profile events and venues, elaborates on Gainbridge’s business model, and discusses the impact of sponsorship on community engagement and brand visibility.

We also touch on Nichols’ personal experiences and impressions of Indiana and his transition from event organization to brand activation.

The conversation wraps with recommendations for Pacers watch parties, local engagements, and favorite spots in both Indiana and Daytona Beach.

You are going to learn about:

• Gainbridge’s sports sponsorship strategy and commitment to Indiana

• 3 best NBA Finals watch parties in downtown Indy

• What Gainbridge does!

Thank you to our partner:
Hard Truth Bourbon & BBQ Fest

Check out these great clips from the show:
00:28 Top Watch Parties for Game 4
01:35 Guest Introduction: Mike Nichols, Group 1001
02:27 Nichols' Background and Career Shift
03:22 Sponsorship Strategy and Gainbridge Overview
04:10 Diverse Sponsorship Portfolio
09:08 Impact of Sponsorships and Brand Visibility
13:22 IndyCar and NASCAR Sponsorships
20:09 Fever's National TV Exposure
20:41 Sponsorship Dynamics in Sports
21:00 Hypotheticals and Sponsorship Deals
21:26 Impact of Caitlin Clark on Sponsorships
24:20 Midwest Experiences and Indy 500
26:52 Indy 500: Personal Stories and Experiences
30:57 Gainbridge’s Community Engagement
33:38 Nichols’ Favorite Local Spots
37:53 Upcoming Interview with OKC Mayor David Holt