SPEAKER_00 0:00

I love interacting with the community at large. And so I see these networking opportunities as a great uh way to meet those that are the movers and shakers within the community. And um yeah, it's led to great success.

SPEAKER_01 0:19

All right, welcome to another episode of Connections That Matter, where we tell the stories of Northern Colorado's best networkers and the connections that they've made that's helped them get to where they are. Today we have a super special guest, Aaron Stenson, sales manager of the Windsor Main Event on the show. Aaron, welcome to the show.

SPEAKER_00 0:36

Andrew Johnson, happy to be here. Thanks for having me. Really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 0:39

Well, Aaron and I have uh bonded uh for our son's love of Legos, um, our love of networking events. Um, but some people maybe haven't um visited main events since you're now the main events. Give us a little bit of uh how we got here to where you're at.

SPEAKER_00 0:56

Yeah. So, like you said, I'm the sales manager of the main event in northern Colorado, the Windsor location. There's a couple throughout Colorado, but that's the one uh that we'll call mine. And so uh yeah, uh putting on great events for people, creating memorable experiences from large corporate outings to small birthday parties. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:17

Well, uh when I was a kid, having a birthday party at somewhere like the main event would be I'd be the coolest kid on the block. But um let's just let's start there because the events that happen at main event are like you said, the super small thing, one family that's having a get together, too. Uh you do very large things over there as well. So talk about kind of the scale from the smallest to the largest stuff that you've seen.

SPEAKER_00 1:41

Yeah. Well, like you mentioned with our our kids. Uh you know, my my son thinks Dad's job's pretty cool right now. Uh we do have his birthday party coming up just in a few weeks that uh will be hosted there. So he's really excited for that. And uh yeah, a lot of things for the little ones, but I say it's for adults of all ages. So uh if it's not that little birthday party, it can be a corporate event uh that can run out the full facility, which we do pretty consistently throughout the year, especially in our holiday season, which is kind of our peak volume. But uh, we can host up to 1,400 people in the center. So yeah, from the 10-person birthday party all the way up to a full center buyout.

SPEAKER_01 2:22

Well, when we talk about networking, a lot of people go to networking events and they're in various different venues and locations. Uh, a lot of people have been to a networking event at somebody's office or at a hotel ballroom where there's a conference room of some kind, but a networking event and main event is a little bit of a different experience. And a lot of that is your vision, Aaron, of what you're trying to create there. So uh if somebody's looking to add a layer of fun or um spice things up or uh make it more interesting, what kind of things do you do to make it a memorable event?

SPEAKER_00 2:54

Yeah, well, I mean, it's it's a it's a great question. And I guess the answer is kind of only limited by someone's imagination of what they want to do there. Obviously, there's uh great activities that we have there that we offer um to people that are coming through from bowling to laser tag to the large arcade and all of all of that. But um really we've we've gone over the top with doing uh at the last networking uh event that you held there. We were doing uh a great game on all the screens and the eagle's nest. Um so it can really be customized. We've had people bring in golf simulators, bounce houses, uh again, lots of different things that can be added to really make that person's vision come to life. But specifically on the networking side, I just think it's uh a really cool opportunity. Uh obviously, it's been great working with you on those. Uh, but it's really been fun to kind of get people outside of the normal networking venue that they might be used to in that hotel ballroom. Uh, get people together to not only discuss business, but also to go play some games, roll the ball a little bit, watch uh, you know, a pretty exciting Broncos game that we got to last year during that one. So that that's kind of the fun of it is to get people to a place where they're comfortable to have some of those meaningful conversations.

SPEAKER_01 4:16

Yeah, I think I I just love when people meet each other in a networking event, and and it might be like a chance conversation, but they hit it off and then it leads to a business deal, then it leads to a bigger and better business deal. And it's like then at some point they can never imagine doing business without that that connection. Um, but without something that like grabs your memory, uh makes it memorable, then it's sometimes it's just another event that could be there. Um, and networking is as I from when I've talked to you, Aaron, has always been a big priority of how you're growing your business or booking appointments or also uh promoting the center as well. So does that come from you? Is that come from your general manager? Um, or is that corporate culture, or how does that work?

SPEAKER_00 5:01

Yeah, I think that networking and who you're interacting with is important to any business, but certainly uh ours is not an exception to that. So um yeah, I think that there's definitely a corporate push for that, but that's something that I've always had success with as well. Um, I love interacting with the community at large, and so I see these networking opportunities as a great uh way to meet those that are the movers and shakers within the community, and um, yeah, it's led to a great success. Obviously, yeah. Uh we've been able to see your networking grow significantly. I think the first one that I attended was 30 people, and now you've got well over a hundred members. So love seeing uh that upward trajectory there. And then we also facilitate other networking opportunities at our center. Um, definitely something we lean into. Um, we also have other partnerships that we have going on that aren't networking specifically, but uh like the Colorado Eagles, we're partners of them and uh they hold uh some great meet the players outings and some other things like that that are really community engagement, but also a great way to again uh network with different individuals in different capacities.

SPEAKER_01 6:16

Yeah, well, let's get into that because uh uh I go to the Eagles games, we see the you know the main event there, and then uh I I follow you on social media and I see there's events there. So, how do you set up partnerships like that where it's clearly an alliance and uh there's a lot of back and forth?

SPEAKER_00 6:33

Yeah, well, I I would say uh, you know, typically the structure of that is always something that is handled on a one-on-one basis. The Eagles is probably the biggest partnership that we have, but we have lots of other ones with smaller organizations that we're still supporting and helping. But I think the the main part of it is setting it up in a way that everyone wins. So that's that's the goal, is uh with that Eagles one specifically. Uh, we all jumped on board that fan train. We rode it hard this last season, and uh we'll be excited to jump on on board and uh do that again this next season as their playoffs. So we're cut a little bit short of where we wanted in the championship, but uh great team um that they had and uh excited to support them again again next year. Um I would say that uh really when it comes to setting up those partnerships, uh just contact me. Happy to talk through um any of those details and make sure, like I said, it's set up that it will be successful for your organization uh while also making sure that we're well represented at main event.

SPEAKER_01 7:38

Yeah. Well, give some advice to the entrepreneurs who love to network because some people just attend events and other people throw on their own events. I've seen a wide variety of things. I saw the realities for children at a big event with you. And um, even you worked with Sammy, did like a women's uh in construction kind of stuff. So somebody comes to you with a vision of what they do or the group of people that they want to uh bring together. Um, what tips do you have for them from all the networking you've seen to make their their event a success?

SPEAKER_00 8:08

Yeah. Uh well again, I I would talk to them about their specific goals and then cater something to that. Um but in general, I would say um put yourself in in that, you know, business owner or that person that's attending uh the event's shoes. Uh try to think about what are gonna be the details that matter to them uh as far as facilitating uh that space where they can have good conversations you know, uh about that. You know, what's are what are those things that you can include that kind of take off that maybe edge or some of the trepidation that comes with networking for some people, where it's not like you and it's second nature and it's what you do for your business. Um so having some good food, having some fun and games around, all of those things typically uh lend to you know some some good connections being made and maybe some more natural conversation overall that leads to some good business long term.

SPEAKER_01 9:03

Yeah, well, I would say uh, you know, somebody who runs a lot of events, it's absolutely awesome to have stuff at Made Event. And one thing that you do, Aaron, that um I don't get from every venue that I attend is you do a lot of the little things. Uh so you make it really easy to just pop up the event. Um, I I show up, you've already, I don't know if it's you doing the artwork on the whiteboard or if you got somebody on your side.

SPEAKER_00 9:24

I won't I won't take credit for all of them.

SPEAKER_01 9:26

The really good times that the artwork was there, it was it was Aaron. Um, but also just like there's a check-in table with a trash can. So if they're putting name tags, there's a trash can there, the water's already ready. Like it's there's a lot of things that go on behind the scenes. So uh if you if you're giving any advice to like other restaurants or other uh venues that are like, hey, I would love to be a place that is a community gathering space or a place that we could host more events. Um, what advice would you give them um if they were wanting to attract more people the way you have?

SPEAKER_00 9:57

Sure. Um I think you know, the luxury of us doing business together on a repeat basis is obviously we get to learn over time and really dial in what your needs are, and hopefully we've established that at this point. But um I would say that communication is always really important for any type of event planning. Um, you know, uh the the benefit of main event and being there is you will get an event planner that's working with you on that. But for some people, you know, it's just their bosses tasking them with, hey, you're gonna go out and create this. So as well as you can um, you know, uh provide that vision to who you're working with, that venue, um, and then being very detail-oriented with with writing all that stuff down, making sure that the team um that's operating and executing it understands that vision uh as well. Um, all of those things come together, hopefully, in a really successful event. Cool.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

Well, I you do you do a lot of things in house, a lot of things that most menus can't do, like bowling and laser tags. If you're looking for uh some good laser tag pointers, you should uh hit up Aaron for some strategy sessions on that. I have played a lot. But you you mentioned like the bounce house and uh other different events, other people who bring stuff in. Um how do you collaborate with the outside vendors that are working in, whether it's planners, um if somebody has like a wedding planner, I've heard you've done like bachelor-bachelorette parties, those kind of things, or bounce house. Uh any any tips to set up those relationships?

SPEAKER_00 11:28

Yeah, well, uh come to me. I'm part of a great networking group, so I can definitely uh help uh recommend some some great local people. Um, but beyond that, um I would say that um really just taking the time to um you know discuss what your needs are, uh bringing those to us. Uh that way we can uh make sure that everything is prepared uh on our side when the event is taking place. Um a lot of these vendors, there's so many people that do great, amazing things that we don't have the capacity to, um, but florists, uh things of that nature that just might be an upgrade to an event that you have going on, like bring those requests or that vision to us. We can for sure uh advise you on someone that we would recommend. Or if you have someone that you want to bring in, of course, we're happy to work with those individuals. Yeah. And again, just all comes down to communication and making sure that those things are lined up in advance for it to go flawlessly day of your celebration.

SPEAKER_01 12:34

Yeah, when you're a pro, I'm sure you can work with anybody, but you talk about that level of communication. It's nice when that's reciprocated and you have somebody who's in communication with you, uh making your job easier so that so that the client ultimately that their event is is absolutely because there's nothing that's a back and forth. Anyone you want to highlight or shout out or give acknowledge to that is a great communicator on on with you and with the their clients?

SPEAKER_00 12:59

Yeah, I mean, I mean, there's tons. I I've been in the business long enough that I I don't want to leave anyone out. You're right. Um I I will say that like you know, one that I would call out that we've been working with forever is the Hawk Company. They're local, they're across uh I-25 from us. But the cool thing about them is they use us throughout the year uh for for tons of different events, and we've had the uh honor to host a lot of their holiday parties and stuff like that in the past. But they also do things of just getting little team teams out there. Um, and again, it just speaks to uh the adaptability of um kind of our business and the way that we can mold into uh fit you know any of their needs. Um but again, that's been really fun. We're we're planning out another summer picnic for their whole team and stuff to come out. So uh again, doesn't matter really the the event size, um we can really pretty much pull off anything uh within the capacity of our center.

SPEAKER_01 13:58

Very cool. And and so if you're not familiar, main event, very centrally located uh right off uh crossroads next to I-25. Um, but you you you are a gathering place for a lot of people in northern Colorado. I mean, you get uh people come in from Fort Collins, level. What is really kind of the sphere that you pull pull in from?

SPEAKER_00 14:18

Yeah, who whoever uh selected the location definitely uh did us justice, and I'm grateful to them. But um certainly, you know, we're located in Windsor, so we'll pull from there. But so many other uh we're we're right in the middle, so we get we're located a close drive from uh Greeley, Johnstown, Loveland, Fort Collins, Wellington, uh Severance. You know, we can we can pull from everywhere, so um that is really you know a great thing for us in in our location, and we love we I think we've even had some people drive out to to Wyoming from Wyoming for our events there. So yeah, it's a it's a great spot, and we love being the place that people can gather for those meaningful celebrations.

SPEAKER_01 14:59

Yeah. Well, I remember I I walked into the the event and I was like, I'm trying to host these events, and the the space is just not big enough. Aaron, I need a bigger space, and you're like, well, let me show you the eagle's nest. Or there's a lot of different spaces out there, but I I guess that's one thing. Maybe I should have done it sooner, is because main events is it's a big building, uh, it's you know, there's multiple locations that uh I I as a local business owner might not feel I could I could build a relationship with somebody inside, but you made it so easy where I came in, talked to you, you were my main point of contact. So if somebody else is looking for the similar kind of relationship or to host, I know you're already planning for like holiday season, uh to get get your dates booked now and stuff like that. But how do they get a hold of you? How do they contact you? How do they start the process of creating their own event?

SPEAKER_00 15:48

Yeah, absolutely. Anyone is welcome to walk in anytime. Uh, you know, I'm there most days, uh, but would love to build a relationship with that person just as we did. Um, like you said, I don't want there to be any trepidation to feel like you have to have 1,400 people and rent out the full facility to come check us out. I mean, whether it's just getting you in for your kids' birthday party to see what it's like, or come in, get some bowling uh going, try it out first. Um, I I love seeing the events that do come back year after year and seeing how they grow. And maybe it's just a small event room to start out, but maybe five years down the road, they're renting out the full facility. So uh come in, check us out. Uh would love to talk with you. Just ask for me, uh, or you can certainly call us. Uh our line's 970-663-6363. Uh so give us a ring, um, or you can certainly email me and maybe we can link in some information uh in the podcast.

SPEAKER_01 16:48

Yeah, we'll absolutely put it in the show notes there. But Aaron, thanks so much for coming on the show. Thanks for being a great host for a lot of the the networking that I'm doing in Northern Colorado. You know, these the entrepreneurs, the successes are coming, building relationships, having generating referrals. It's happening in your building because of the relationship that you and I have made uh in that. So uh I appreciate that and uh look forward to having you promote more people in Northern Colorado.

SPEAKER_00 17:15

Hey, I appreciate you so much. It's truly been an honor, and uh thank you. Very appreciate it. Right on here, thanks.

SPEAKER_01 17:21

Awesome. Hey all, thanks for watching. I love networking and building relationships with other Northern Colorado business leaders. So if you want to come meet some of these podcast guests, meet me, or meet some other amazing entrepreneurs in Northern Colorado, I would love to have you attend one of our next events. Uh go in the podcast description. There's a way so that you can see our upcoming schedule. And maybe uh you could be a future podcast guest as well. Thanks.