31 Mar John J. Clendening & Jeff Baum, Clients First | The Jeff Crilley Show
With nine World Cup matches headed to North Texas and an estimated $2.1 billion economic impact, host Jeff Crilley sits down with John J. Clendening and Jeff Baum of Clients First Marketing & Communications to talk strategy for local businesses. The duo, who have led global marketing and communications teams for seven Fortune 500 companies, are launching “Team DFW,” a grassroots effort to help bars, restaurants, and retail centers turn global soccer traffic into long-term customers. They outline three practical campaigns—pre‑Cup themed weeks, retail pop‑ups, and organized watch parties—supported by PR, influencer outreach, and digital follow-up marketing. The conversation makes a clear case: while only a fraction of the projected 3.8 million visitors will attend matches in person, most will be looking for places to gather. For small business owners with TVs and table space, that gap represents real opportunity.
Key Topics
- the economic impact of the 2026 World Cup in DFW
- Team DFW and its grassroots marketing model
- pre-World Cup country-themed restaurant weeks
- retail pop-ups tied to international teams
- organizing World Cup watch parties
- using local influencers to drive foot traffic
- turning event visitors into long-term customers through digital marketing
Episode Timestamps
- 00:00 – World Cup projected to generate $2.1 billion for DFW
- 02:30 – DFW to host nine matches, including a semifinal
- 03:06 – Introducing Team DFW and the grassroots strategy
- 12:04 – From Fortune 500 leadership to launching Clients First
- 21:00 – Inside their podcast, On the Offense
- 23:20 – Campaign #1: Country-themed restaurant weeks before the Cup
- 25:00 – Campaign #2 and #3: Retail pop-ups and watch parties
- 28:40 – Using PR, influencers, and digital marketing to extend the impact
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