Website: The Quest for 31
Interview with: Hans Steiniger
What is your background and qualifications?
I am an avid NFL Super fan that has been captivated from an early age by the product that plays out in NFL stadiums across the nation on Sundays. I started a journey in 2006 to challenge myself to attend a game in every NFL stadium. I realized early on that the NFL experience takes regional ces from the area around the team. Each NFL city through local food, climate, and culture has made their impression on the NFL frachise that calls the city its home. My Quest is about experiencing what it’s like to be a fan of every franchise in the league. To that end, I show up in each city for the weekend, I try to hit local hotspots and then on gameday I tailgate with local fans, wear a home team jersey, attend the game, and then write a review about my experience.
What does your website do?
My website began as a place to collect all the links and internet research tools that i’ve used to setup my trips around the league. I then figured out that if these tools were useful to me, they would probably be useful to other NFL fans that wanted to make a similar journey. So I include stadium directions, local weather, NFL ticket links, Fan forums, mileage charts, NFl schedules, and ticket prices. Anything an NFL fan would want to setup their trip or check out the area before heading into enemy territory.
How do you generate revenue? If through ads, what ad network do you use? Some ticket Sales, but I’ve developed one of the web’s best underground fantasy football cheatsheet. That helps alot.
How have your marketed your site?
I try.
Are you profitable?
Not really.
What type(s) of technology do you use?
Very simple for the website I’m running Microspft FrontPage. But my vehicle, is filled with technologies to help make the long roadtrips easier. I’ve built an audio mixer that allows me to stream multiple audio sources (either at the same time of separately) to play on the speaker system in the truck. I have my ipod streaming bluetooth audio. I have a DVD player, CB radio, and my cell phone. I also use a GPS unit everywhere I go to find each stadium and restaurant.
What is your favorite feature on your website?
I enjoy reading the reviews. Helps me remeber some of the crazy things I’ve done as part of the Quest for 31. I’ve been on the Star at the 50 yard line in texas Stadium, ran go routes in the endzone down on the field at the Edward Jones Dome, and hung out on the Priate ship in Tampa. I’ve also tailgated with some of the League’s best. I hung out with Pinto Ron, the guy that cooks all of his food on garden tools on the hood of his ford Pinto (Buffalo, NY). I broke bread with Wayne Vandevort, the Bruce Wayne of Tailgating. I met up with the commissioner of Tailgating Joe Cahn and Jay the Tailgate guy.
Any Bold Predictions for Sports and Technology in the future?
I’m looking forward to the days when the NFL will place a small sensor in the valve stem of the football. the sensor will calculate the exact dimensions of the ball and use these dimensions to determine Touchdowns and boundary limits, assess penalties, determine wether or not acatch wat made. It will take us into the huddle so we can hear what the players are saying. Basically eliminate all human error in the game. Technology will also continue to revolutionize tailgating. With our satellite packages and flatscreens that seem to bring our homes out to the parking lot with us, the trend will continue in terms of entertainment, cooking, and creature comforts.
