We don't chase sponsors. We tried it one year, in 2017, to mixed results, then never again. We've never had any organized sales outreach or even a sales staff.
The reason might be summarized by the story of our connection with Mike's Beer Bar.
Mike Sukitch had been a subscriber to our site from the outset. He became an avid reader when he was regularly traveling the world, enjoying being able to follow his favorite teams from afar. And once he finally found terra firma back here and decided to invest in a restaurant on the North Shore -- right there on Federal Street across from PNC Park -- he reached out to us to see if we could help his business grow.
Well, through Mike's relentless work and obsessive organizational skills, it did grow. He opened a second place next door called North Shore Tavern. Business at both, despite taking brutal hits in the pandemic, is now right back to growing again. They've both become destinations, actually, partly because of the 80 rotating taps and 500-plus beers at Mike's, partly because of the unrivaled steak-on-a-stone experience at North Shore Tavern, and partly because -- we hope -- we did our small part along the way.
DALI KOVACEVIC / DKPS
Mike Sukitch, flanked by assistant managers Jess Moore and Allie Barker at Mike's Beer Bar, North Shore.
All this time later, Mike's so much more than a sponsor or even a partner. He's a friend. And that, too, has become part of these stories for us. Which also is why we don't actively pursue others. That doesn't mean we wouldn't happily take others. Just that we're much more eager to forge alliances with people who already know what we're about, who might already feel that we can be trusted to do right by them.
As of this week, Mike's Beer Bar will take that to a new level by becoming the sponsor of all of our Steelers coverage.
We're floored by this commitment, and we're prepared, in turn, to ramp up what we deliver. And we don't have to wonder if our readers will follow suit, given the feedback we've long received from those who love both places. Like Dan Ross just yesterday reaching out that they're planning on visiting this very afternoon while in town to see Pitt volleyball.
In a lot of ways, Mike's been a reflection of what we've done, starting at the same time, trying to make it work on a stretch where others failed, doing so, so, so much on his own to will it into happening.
You'll be very glad you stopped there.
HQ/SHOP OPENS IN 27 DAYS!
Our new Downtown HQ/shop has a grand opening date of Friday, April 29 and, to remind, your attendance is mandatory!
Which is to say, we purposely chose a day on which both the Penguins and Pirates have home games -- vs. Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena and vs. Padres at PNC Park -- to try to make it convenient for as many of you as possible to stop and see us beforehand. We'll be open that day beginning at 11 a.m., and all of us who are available -- myself included -- will be there to welcome you right up until those events start.
Hence ... mandatory!
Circle it on the calendar!
Make that plan now, whether it's just to see us or to make it a doubleheader and catch some hockey or baseball!
No, for real, we've already heard from a bunch of people who'll come down and walk through our doors, and we'll be grateful for each. And of course, yeah, we'll be just as nice if someone comes the next day or next week or next month.
Maybe.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
I flew back yesterday from a week of covering the Pirates in Florida, and I had all kinds of pleasant surprises awaiting at 224 Fifth Avenue, not least of which was this element that was placed upon the back wall:
DEJAN KOVACEVIC / DKPS
All of that lettering's raised, too, including on that custom circular logo off to the left. And if the 'COVERAGE THAT CONNECTS' signage looks familiar, it should: Those same 20 letters were up on the wall at our old Highmark Stadium location, and we were obviously able to preserve them for a second life.
Off to the right, by the way, those steel panels are the beginning of the Building Bricks wall dedicated to our readers who've contributed to the construction. The blue ones had a printing flaw, so they were sent back for repairs, but those will all be up and ready for the opening.
I'd love to show you more, but She Who Is Boss insists I'm already showing too much and quashing the overall wow factor, so hey.
We're getting there.
RECORD LISTENERS
We just completed our biggest month ever for unique listeners since launching DKPS Podcasts: 61,675 in March!
For some context, that's roughly triple the amount we had in March of 2021!
This is the main number we track on this specific front. The downloads are the focal point for most, but a unique listener is exactly what it sounds like: It's the number of different people who listened. So even if someone listens to all three of my Daily Shots and then Ramon Foster, they still count as one. And that's key for us to know, because it illustrates real growth.
Thanks so, so much to everyone who's with us on this. It's transformed the company. Really has.
WE GO EVERYWHERE
• I'm back from Bradenton, and Alex Stumpf's returned there to finish it out. He and I will both fly to St. Louis for the franchise's 136th season opener April 7. After that, I'll make the Milwaukee trip -- as always -- and he'll do Chicago.
• Dave Molinari will be back in Manhattan this Thursday for yet another Penguins-Rangers game. Taylor Haase will make the next trip, to Long Island, next week.
BACK TO BUSINESS
• Our page views for the past week were 470,479. Our most-read original piece was my column from Bradenton on Bryan Reynolds' status with the Pirates, at 9,045. Broken down by team, articles on the Penguins brought 23.8% of our traffic, the Steelers 17.8%, the Pirates 17.7%, Penn State 1.5%, Pitt 1.4%.
• Our podcast downloads for the past week were 248,920.
• Our YouTube video views for the past week were 88,158.
• Our company social media accounts are at 44,022 followers on Twitter, 37,638 on Facebook, 14,549 on Instagram, 12,407 on YouTube.
• Our merchandise is all available at the online DKPS Shop.
• We make mistakes. If you see one, email: Typos@DKPittsburghSports.com
• Anything you need, including lost/forgotten passwords, email: Help@DKPittsburghSports.com