Tracy Sandler On Being A Woman In The Male-Dominated Sports Industry

You think of sports fans and the image of frat boys, drinking beer, pounding fists and painting their faces in team colors is likely what's popped into your head in the past. But now, the rise of the female sports fan is fierce and just getting stronger.

A major force is Tracy Sandler, founder and CEO of Fangirl Sports Network, a site bringing together women who share their knowledge and passion for all things sports. Tracy explains how she made a thriving business out of her passion and why it's so important that women aren't intimidated of breaking into fields that have traditionally been male dominated!

I grew up with two brothers and a father who loved sports, so I've been watching and enjoying sports since I was a little girl. My first big memory was being at the opening 1988 World Series game when Kirk Gibson came up to bat in the bottom of the 9^th inning and pinch-hit a game-winning home run. He had been injured and I don't think anyone even expected him to get on base.

"It was truly one of the most amazing sports moments I have ever experienced. I get chills just thinking about it!"

-Tracy

Before launching Fangirl Sports Network, I worked at a political and philanthropic donor-advising firm. I have a background in politics as well, having been a Cabinet member in the Adrian Fenty administration when he was the Mayor of Washington, DC.

Well, I wrote for the sports section of The Michigan Daily while in college and worked at FOX Sports during and after my college years. After that, I started a blog for fun called The Trials and Tribulations of My Love/Hate Relationship with the San Francisco 49ers. I was writing about the team regularly and discovered how much I loved getting back into my sports roots. From Trials and Tribulations, I rebranded as “49ers Fangirl" and started creating weekly videos and a podcast, in addition to blog posts covering games and in-depth features on the players.

During the 2015 NFL season, which was the first for “49ers Fangirl," I thought it would be awesome if there was a Fangirl for every team in every professional sport. This would be a woman who was not only knowledgeable, passionate, and funny, but also someone who loved the more “girly" side of sports – recipes, looking and feeling good at the game, workouts that could be done during halftime, etc. And from there, Fangirl Sports Network was born.

I decided to expand with an additional NFL team during the 2016 season, and brought on the “Rams Fangirl" to cover the Los Angeles Rams. Last month we expanded into the NBA with the launched of the “Los Angeles Clippers Fangirl" and “Golden State Warriors Fangirl."

The thing about being a woman in this industry is that you can't make mistakes when it comes to your knowledge. It's absolutely crucial for me to be as knowledgeable and prepared as possible for every video, podcast, blog post, television appearance, etc. When it comes to any disrespectful comments from men in person or on social media, I do my best to let it roll off my back and ignore them. So, my best compliments are when people ask me when they're going to have a Fangirl for their team, because they love the content and what we are doing

A year from now, I'd like to have several NFL Fangirls, NBA Fangirls and at least a couple MLB Fangirls. But in the next three to five years, I would like to have a Fangirl for every team in the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL.

Tracy Sandler

I'm lucky to work with an amazing group of people who are motivated, organized, and efficient! My team is so diligent and work tirelessly to make sure everything is done on time and done the right way. Since I am not only the founder but a Fangirl myself, I tend to lead by example. My team watches me put in countless hours, not to mention my heart and soul, into Fangirl Sports Network, and they follow in suit. When building my company, I look for people who are self-motivated and excited about what we're doing at FGSN. It's not always easy for someone to commit when you need to be available nights and weekends due to game schedules, but I have a great group of people who understand the situation and love it!

My dad is absolutely my mentor. He is probably the hardest working person I know and when he commits, he's all in. He is loyal, smart, patient, and an amazing leader. He is also the most supportive person on the planet and I know he is always in my corner.

It's important to remember that we all have strengths and we all have weaknesses, and that's okay! Surround yourself with people who know the things you don't and learn from them. It's difficult not to feel protective of a new business, but it's important to listen to the people who have been there and who may know better. Constructive criticism only makes your business stronger. However, don't let negative thoughts or comments shake your confidence. Listen, evaluate, and then decide what is right for you and your business.

Don't allow negativity to get you down. People make comments to and about women that men don't have to deal with. It can be frustrating, hurtful, and even degrading, but remember, that's on those people. Keep your head up, keep working hard, and do your thing.

I've been a die-hard San Francisco 49ers fan since I was a little girl. To now be in a place where I have the respect and credibility to be in the press box during games, attending practices, interviewing players in the locker room, and having access to the field is a dream come true. Sometimes I literally pinch myself because I can't believe this is my life. The best sporting event I've attended was this past Super Bowl game in Houston. It was the best Super Bowl game that has ever—and will ever—be played, and to be in that stadium experiencing a part of history was absolutely incredible.

Tracy Sandler

My love of sports has always been my outlet. I've been incredibly lucky to attend some phenomenal sporting events over the years. But that is now also my job and frankly, that makes it even cooler! My office is the stadium, and I wouldn't want it any other way. Having this passion makes my every day exciting and interesting. Don't get me wrong, this business requires A LOT of work, but every time I walk into that Levi's Stadium press box, I can't help but think I'm the luckiest girl in the world.