By Tom Penn
CEO, San Diego FC
In today’s business environment, relationships move markets.
Technology is faster. Competition is sharper. Talent is more mobile. Decisions are more informed. And in a world where everyone has access to the same information, advantage comes down to connection.
That is why premium experiences matter more than ever.
For business owners and operators, hosting is not entertainment. It is strategy.
The most important deals rarely close in conference rooms. They move forward when trust is built. When people connect beyond email. In a shared environment where energy is shared, and memories are made.
Premium experiences create that space.
At San Diego FC, we see it every match day. Business leaders hosting clients. Executives bringing partners together. Founders introducing investors to their teams. These aren’t “nights out.” They are intentional moments designed to build relationships and advance business interests.
In a crowded marketplace, how you host reflects how you lead.
But premium experiences are not only about clients. They are equally powerful internally.
Employee satisfaction and retention are no longer soft metrics. They are financial ones. Replacing talent is expensive. Disengaged teams underperform. High attrition slows growth and erodes culture.
When leaders create shared experiences. When teams celebrate together, feel valued, and connect outside the office, morale rises. Loyalty deepens. Productivity improves.
Premium hosting is not about luxury. It is about leverage
It signals ambition. It creates memory. And memory drives loyalty.
As we begin our second Major League Soccer season, we invite San Diego’s business community to think differently about what match day can mean for your organization.
Not just a game.
A platform.
A business tool.
An opportunity to entertain like you mean business.
