Owen Scannell is Founder and CEO of Premier Rugby Sevens. He started the league in 2020 and completed its third season in 2023. We talk about how he came up and developed the project, how important community is in building a sports league, how branding is important for the fans and more.
00:00 - Open
01:00 - Introduction to Owen Scannell
01:37 - How Owen started Premier Rugby Sevens and how Collegiate Rugby Sevens helped new viewers understand the sport.
07:00 - Premier Rugby Sevens Clip from Pittsburgh Tournament
08:50 - When Owen thought he had a viable new sport in the U.S.
12:15 - Growing PR7s with partners were incremental
14:10 - How he’s built the league with a strong team of people who understand rugby.
19:20 - Objectives on game day for PR7s.
24:00 - PR7s community involvement to grow the sport.
33:00 - PR7s bringing in international players to help with the rugby culture in the U.S.
38:10 - Star players in PR7s and how they can help contribute to building the new league.
41:35 - Getting buy-in from the sports television networks when the product is very new.
44:48 - How to get sponsors for a new sports league.
46:50 - What went into the naming of franchises that help develop the PR7s brand.
53:35 - Why Franchises are under the PR7s umbrella.
55:55 - What PR7s future looks like.
58:20 - PR7s website plus Don’s visit to England for rugby
1:00:00 - Wrap up