ST. LOUIS – Two familiar faces around the Capitol are back together and starting a new venture called First Rule Sports, which will focus on advocating and marketing sports and sport technology.
Led by Travis Brown and former lobbying partner Kent Gaines, First Rule Sports will focus on developing sport technology, and further advocating policy.
Brown also says the company will help to facilitate an enhanced fan experience in many different sports experiences.
“We’re trying to fit the technology spaces that make new things in both B-to-B opportunities in sports entertainment but also B-to-C in e-commerce opportunities available,” Brown said. “You’re going to see this here this month with the 49ers hosting the Super Bowl. The NFL is looking at ways to streamline and make electronic your parking, your ticketing, and even food and beverage delivery into your seat or your location.”
Gaines traveled to Florida in 2015 working for the Gateway Group, a St. Louis-based government relations firm, where he made contacts that led to the creation of the endeavor. One of the first projects First Rule Sports will take on will be the first sanctioned broadcast of professional boxing from Cuba.
“Between May and October, I drove 20,000 miles across Florida,” Gaines said. “It’s been wonderful. I’ve always had a lot of respect for Travis. He’s probably one of the smartest individuals I know. I called him last March and was ready for a change and he said, ‘I need you to clear your head, and move to Tallahassee.’ I said, ‘Well, I understand the first one, but…’ He said that they wanted to open a government relations office down in Florida, and he said, ‘I want to put you down there.’ It was a no brainer.”
Gaines started lobbying in Florida for nationally-based Pelopidas clients, including VenueNext, which was founded by the same founders of the San Francisco 49ers, which boasts many consumer-based technology advancements. VenueNext’s app delivers venue information, from bathroom and food lines, as well as food delivery, while promoting an overall more efficient stadium experience based on analytics. The app increased revenue 25-30% in the first year of use.
“Given my history with the Chiefs, it was a given and something natural for me to do,” Gaines said.
The development has led to new policy barriers, which Gaines said would be alleviated by the full-service First Rule Sports.
First Rule Sports will launch soon, having already started meetings, including with Golden Boy Promotions, a group led by Oscar De La Hoya.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
