Mass Exodus in Miami

​​On June 9th, 2013, the Miami Heat were down five to the San Antonio Spurs with less than 30 seconds to play in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. At that moment, a mass exodus began. Waves of Miami fans made their way to the exits, not wanting to witness the finishing seconds of a loss. All of sudden, perhaps motivated by those who had lost hope, the Heat created a miniature miracle and tied the game, sending it to overtime. The scene outside the arena went from dejection, to excitement, to fury in two blinks of an eye. As with many arenas and venues, there exists a no re-entry policy. Holding steadfast, the arena crew did not allow those who had left to return to their seats. Throngs of Heat fans huddled against the arena's glass doors, trying to catch a glimpse of the comeback; others sprinted through the surrounding area, trying to find a television. Others shrugged and accepted the decision they made.

These fans experienced the one thing that we as sports and entertainment lovers hope to avoid at all costs. It is the reason we go to great lengths trying to secure a ticket, no matter the price or location. It is a significant driving force behind a fan's decision making process. It is a fear that pushes each of us to change our plans, procrastinate on homework, and even travel an obscene number of miles. It is the fear of missing out, or FOMO.

FOMO - The Fear of Missing Out

Crazy things happen in sports. There have been too many half-court shots, walk-off home runs, and desperation "Hail Mary's" to conclude otherwise. When our team has a chance, we never take "no" for an answer until the final horn sounds. We hold out hope that our team will be the next Texas A&M to overcome a double-digit deficit in less than 45 seconds. We intently watch every pitch as the next swing could blast one out of the ballpark like Scott Podsednik's Game 2 winner in the 2005 World Series, enshrining him as one of the most unlikely heroes. We never change the channel because a fear inside us reminds us that once we do, something absolutely ridiculous will happen. We fear that we will miss the next defining moment in the history of sports. FOMO runs deep in our veins and separates the casual fan from the die-hard.
FOMO & The Drake Relays So how does FOMO relate to the Drake Relays? In my opinion, I do not believe people realize how significant the Drake Relays as an event truly is. Perhaps it is the slow winter thaw causing FOMO to lay dormant among Des Moines and other Central Iowa residents, but I want to offer three points on why the Drake Relays is one event no one should miss.
1.) Rio de JaneiroThe Drake Relays in many respects is the kick-off party for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Many United States athletes cite the Drake Relays as the official start to the outdoor track & field season. And, not only is it the start of the season, it matches up the best in the world as a preview of what is to come in South America later this year. Aside from the Olympic trials and Olympic Games themselves, there is no better opportunity to witness Olympians going head to head than at the Drake Relays. Event records, U.S. records, and even World records have the potential to be broken. You have the opportunity to see history without traveling halfway across the world.
2.) Lolo Jones2016 very well could be Lolo's last bid at the Summer Olympic games. Of course, this is pure speculation, but with a recent string of injuries, it is reasonable to think that the sun is inching closer to the horizon. The Des Moines, IA native is planning to kickoff her bid on The Blue Oval once again. We've witnessed several Olympic stars emerge from Central Iowa and it is our duty to support them, especially when they return home. You have the opportunity to see a hometown kid return to her roots and start her trek towards the top.
3.) Bucket ListThe Drake Relays is America's Athletic Classic. It is known worldwide as one of the premier track and field events. More often than not, the Drake Relays will emerge in conversation with someone you meet outside of Des Moines. You sense their excitement for the perennial event, yet you, a 30-year Iowa resident, have never attended yourself. Some of the world's best athletes converge upon your hometown city each year, and you have never set foot in Drake Stadium. One of the world's historic track and field events and you have never seen The Blue Oval. In my opinion, the Drake Relays should be alongside the Iowa State Fair in the book "1,000 Places to See in the United States & Canada Before You Die". There is a reason it is in its 107th running. You have the opportunity to come see for yourself and cross it off your bucket list.
Best Prescription for FOMO?Dive in. Purchase tickets. Attend the Drake Relays. You may find yourself going back and forth saying "there's always next year" or "I'll hold off until the next game". Yet, the reality is, every game, event, concert, etc. is unique. No two experiences are the same. This is idea of uniqueness is from what FOMO is derived. Take advantage of the opportunities available to you. I assure you that the investment you put towards a ticket will pay dividends in memories that will last a lifetime. Wayne Gretzky once said "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take". I'll leave you with this...
"You miss 100% of the moments you don't experience."If you're in need of a prescription, let me know. Great seats still remain, but not for long. Don't miss your chance to see some of the world's best athletes right here in Des Moines!
Call 515-271-4949 or email me at thomas.florian@drake.edu.

Picture this.
The late afternoon sun starts its downward trek towards the horizon. Shadows of trees, buildings, and cars stretch into unrecognizable shapes. A warm spring breeze gently sways the blossoming tulips. Among the shadows sits a man, perched upon his porch. He dons a silver cap, flowing behind his ears. His face illustrates the passage of time. All of a sudden, a white truck with a blue eagle pauses. The man gracefully stands and saunters slowly to the end of his drive where a small black box with a waving red flag stands. As he opens the box, it creaks a song of tarnished glory. The man reaches inside to discover a plain white envelope, a blue logo near the top. The wrinkles on his face contract as a toothy grin persists, nostalgia setting in.
In a neighboring town, a young child slams the car door. Grass stains littering her uniform, she sprints towards the mailbox as mud cakes dislodge from her spikes. Through the suns's twilight a boisterous smile shines upon her face as she flings open the box in jubilee. The girl reaches inside to discover a plain white envelope, a blue logo near the top. The dimples on her face spring up as a beaming smile persists, excitement beyond any other. She calls to her family, "they're here, they're here!"
A student recently posed the question "what would Drake University look like if the Drake Relays never existed?" As a Drake alum turned athletics staff member, she felt that I could provide a strong perspective on the impact the Drake Relays has on the University and Des Moines community. I pondered my response and provided a structured answer tagging phrases like "economic impact", "community building", "unique reputation", and other buzzwords. To me, my answer made sense, but it was very much focused on the bigger picture. It did not take into account the impact the Drake Relays has on the lives of the fans.
Ironically, my sole focus as a professional is to serve each individual fan. My job is to ensure that each and every event is worth the price printed on the ticket. My job is to create the nostalgia and excitement in the two scenarios above. If the Drake Relays did not exist, the happiness, joy, and nostalgia experienced by fans across the world, both young and old, would be nothing but an idea.
A theme presents itself in every fan interaction my associates or I have leading up to the Drake Relays. Whether this is their 50th consecutive or first time attending America's Athletic Classic on the Blue Oval, the excitement in their voice is always the same. The Drake Relays connects fans past, present, and future across space and time. It is an event that marks reunions for some, others the official start of Spring in Iowa, and some just another time to celebrate the success of some of the world's best and greatest athletes.
During my years as an undergraduate at Drake University, I sang in the Drake Choir. Our director once told us a story of a previous choir that experienced an exceptional performance during their European tour. The following day, one of the choir members expressed his feelings in a phrase that, in my mind, is directly transferable to the Drake Relays. In response to the performance, he stated that "all hearts and minds were in the same place". 
And that is what makes the Drake Relays so special. And that is what makes me proud to work in athletics and be a part of something so special. To me, it is all about the people. The Drake Relays not only physically connects thousands of fans at Drake Stadium, but it spans history with those who have both competed and attended since the very first running in 1910. Experience it yourself and you will understand what I mean. The last weekend in April, come sun, rain, sleet, or snow, you will feel what others before you and those who will come after you feel. All hearts and minds will be in the same place.
Never become so absorbed in the magnitude of something so you forget about the individual fan. At the end of the day, your job is to provide an experience that every single attendee will cherish for the rest of his or her life. No matter whether its sports, musicals, concerts, or something in the experience industry, your goal should always be to create an atmosphere that brings every fan together. One that bridges past, present, and future.
All hearts and minds in the same place.