By Lauryn Luderman 

Stacy McGranor, the director of customer experience strategy for the San Jose Sharks, is the newest addition to the Sports & Society initiatives advisory board. 

Despite her passion for hockey and sports in general, it wasn’t until she and a friend got field passes to the Rose Bowl her senior year that she decided sports was the field she wanted a career in. 

“I had no idea that working in sports was actually a thing that you could do,” McGranor said. “Just the feeling of — the emotions is evoked.” 

From there, McGranor worked in inside sales for the Tampa Bay Rays before becoming a marketing manager for the Sharks. While in this position, McGranor realized how important the fan aspect of a game is, so she pitched an idea for a new job. 

McGranor decided to take an online business psychology program through Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio, which credited her to understanding fans' psyche and what they’re expecting at a Sharks game, McGranor said. 

“I did a couple of audition projects, a brand study, and a couple of other things for my boss, and that combined with my degree, I was able to — they created the position for me a few years ago, and it’s been magical,” McGranor said. 

One of the biggest projects McGranor led for the Sharks was during the COVID-19 pandemic, when fans were unable to bring in any bags to the games, which fans were not happy about. Shortly after, the bag restriction became limited to 5” x 8” clutches, which they still were not happy with

With McGranor’s help, she and her team did research and took a plan to the NHL. Now the SAP Center at San Jose allows any bag that can fit underneath the fan’s seat. 

“It’s been great this year,” McGranor said. “It’s been so much better, so we don’t have people screaming at us that the policy’s [are bad]. Because it was pretty restrictive, and I can understand how it would negatively impact the experience.” 

She said it was a change that was truly "fan-driven,” and they’ve seen a lot of positive feedback. 
With the help of Brooke O’Leary, director of development and social and behavioral sciences at Ohio State, as well as part of alumni outreach, and Dr. Nicole Kraft, McGranor was sold from the beginning on getting involved in SSI. 

Upon hearing about the research and events SSI is involved in, McGranor said it felt like the next “natural fit” and a way for her to help the next generation of young adults wanting to work in sports. And despite the miles between Columbus and herself, she said she’s willing to help digitally in any way and travels back home a few times a year. 

McGranor already has ideas for the initiative. She said she and Kraft are already coordinating a “fan experience” conversation on March 16, 2024 when the Sharks come to town to play the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

McGranor said she is most excited for the unique opportunity to bring attention to the connectedness of sports, culture and society in the U.S. She said she believes there is potential for groups like SSI to make change for a better world. 

“That’s the thing for me that still gives me goosebumps and still gives me all the motivation to come into work,” McGranor said. “I can’t wait to be a part of the SSI board to be among people who agree with that, believe it and are going to be part of what creates that.”