Jon Willey was hired by MLB team Pittsburgh Pirates in April 2021 to change the direction of the organization’s content output. He explains how working with Adorama Business Solutions is helping him achieve his goals.
See how the Pittsburgh Pirates upped their content game with Jon Willey, VP, Creative & Content, Pittsburgh Pirates.
What does your work at the Pirates involve?
I oversee an in-house team of 16 that’s responsible for all the photography, design and video that promotes the team and our community. I also oversee the in-game show, everything that goes on the scoreboard and LED for all 81 games. As a team we also cover many other events like Spring Training and our work with corporate partners like PNC Bank, telling amazing community stories about the work that we’re doing together. We’re building content series and doing a lot on social, too.
Ultimately we’re trying to push fan engagement, audience growth and drive brand affinity. We’re very lucky in Pittsburgh that everybody grew up here. They’re lifelong fans to the core. But we still need to excite them, provide them with world-class experiences, and keep them coming back to games because of the great time they have here.
How are you helping to change things?
The first thing I did was hire a lot of great talent to build our team. We’re also supporting the team by investing in new technology, making sure we have everything we need to produce the highest quality output.
I want us to be agile and nimble for the day-to-day work we do, but also have our eyes on creating in-depth content series that people care about. It’s about consistency too. Previously we had the social team using different cameras to the production or content teams. I want to bring it all together so we have the same look and feel across everything we put out.
What have you bought through Adorama to help you get there?
So far we’ve bought Sony FX3 storytelling cameras and a bunch of lenses, screens and boom mics to go with those. The real advantage is that it’s a small rig that you can put it in a small backpack. One of the first things we did with the FX3s was send a crew down to our Bradenton Spring Training facility in Florida to capture our Get Better at Baseball camp. Being able to take high-end videography and tell great stories with a small hardware footprint is a huge thing for us.
We’ve also got new GoPro cameras that we’ve set up around the arena to capture the current renovation. They’re perfect because they can handle the winter in Pittsburgh. Our Executive Producer can control them remotely via the app — and doesn’t have to be climbing up on the scoreboard to get them going. In the near future, we’re looking to upgrade our still photography equipment as well with the addition of new Canon bodies and long lens glass.
Sample of Kit Supplied by Adorama
Sony FX3 Full-Frame Cinema Line Camera + E-Mount Lens
Atomos Shinobi 5.2” Touchscreen HD HDR Photo and Video Monitor
Sony ECM-VG1 Electret Condenser Microphone
SmallRig Full Camera Cage with Cable Clamp for Sony FX3 Cinema Camera
What’s the experience of working with Adorama Business Solutions been like?
In a word, seamless. I love being able to ask any questions that we have and getting answers fast. I get easy access to the best pricing and the best equipment that’s in stock now. Then there’s the amazing shipping support. I get almost daily reminder emails about where are orders are. We move at such a fast pace that we have to be able to know where that equipment is. I can ask our producer – what do you need? – and we can get it, even while a shoot is in progress. It used to take three or four weeks to get a delivery of new gear. Now with Adorama on board as a partner, we can get what we need in two days. We can also get new rigs shipped out quickly if something doesn’t quite fit. Knowing that kind of thing is taken care of within the craziness of my day is invaluable to me.
“I’ve worked with Adorama a long time – from my first jobs in sports photography through to a startup I founded and now the Pirates. I keep coming back because they provide perfect B2B support and a dedicated rep that’s totally focussed on pro sports. You get specialist knowledge, insight, fast shipping and a B2B site that’s really easy to use. I recommend Adorama to other sports organizations without hesitation.”
— With Jon Willey, VP, Creative & Content, Pittsburgh Pirates
Creative Christmas
Soon after upgrading their gear, Jon and his team were inspired to create a unique holiday season video message for fans.
The centerpiece was a gingerbread house depiction of PNC Park that took 150 hours to build. Producer Niara Collins shot the amazing edible creation using one of the Pirates’ new Sony FX3 cameras – delivering stunning results.
About Adorama Business Solutions
As your organization plans for technology upgrades, Adorama Business Solutions can be your solutions partner. With an experienced Technical Services team and dedicated account management, your organization can receive expert guidance from decision making, through to installation, training and post-purchase support.
Adorama Business Solutions is a technology solutions partner that offers a range of product categories with consultative Account Managers that get you the right equipment for your requirements and budget. With an in-house Technical Services division, even if you are not quite sure of the exact products you need, Adorama Business Solutions will help you build brand-agnostic solutions to achieve your goals.
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