The Rundown: The Ultimate Podcast for Sports Event Presentation Inside NHL Game Presentation: Elevating League Events
Mar 2, 2026
John Bochiaro, Group VP of Game Presentation and Entertainment for the NHL with 20+ years elevating marquee hockey events. He discusses designing Winter Classic, Stadium Series, and All-Star Weekend. Short takes cover balancing league branding with club storytelling, measuring event success, tech pilots like AR and ice projection, and practical priorities for clubs on tight budgets.
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Success Is Measured By Iterative Improvement
- Measure success by continuous improvement: each event should be better than the last, informed by surveys and post-mortems.
- Rapidly apply lessons from feedback between consecutive events to evolve production elements.
Negotiate With Broadcasts And Hockey Ops
- Collaborate with broadcast, hockey operations, clubs, and partners; negotiate coverage and timing rather than imposing game presentation alone.
- Hold regular meetings with rights holders and Hockey Ops to align priorities and timing.
Balance League Branding With Club Traditions
- Preserve NHL branding across league events while allowing host clubs to inject traditions like PA announcers and localized moments.
- Use a dedicated league show team and standardized graphics/style guides to maintain consistent event identity.