Jon Schaeffer is the Director of New Media for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. He is responsible for the innovative urinal gaming system at Coca-Cola Park, which combines games that improve bathroom cleanliness while allowing marketing efforts to reach consumers. The effort also aims to promote messages of screening for prostate cancer to bathroom users. Schaeffer is also a broadcaster for the IronPigs radio play-by-play.

Mr. Schaeffer talked about the unique challenges of innovation in minor league baseball: baseball is baseball, so the core product cannot be changed, and furthermore, the goal of minor league ball isn’t even winning baseball games, it’s about an affordable, family-friendly experience. He talked about how in the IronPigs organization, innovation is about coming up with a lot of new ideas and hoping to come up with a big success, like his free funeral giveaway or the urinal games. The culture he helps build to cultivate this innovation relies on openness, and everyone’s understanding that all ideas should be shared, whether they appear to be good or bad, because all are welcome. Original Airdate: 4/15/2014

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