Meet Todd Bennett | Entrepreneur, Founder of Triple Threat Football
We had the good fortune of connecting with Todd Bennett and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Todd, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I created Triple Threat Football, I went back to what I was passionate about. I have always loved playing and watching sports. Football in particular was one of my favorites. However, my genetic makeup hindered any dreams of going pro, or getting more playing time than a high school bench warmer for that matter. So I wanted to find something that would still keep me in touch with the action.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
I founded Triple Threat Football to develop football skills and create another way to enjoy the game without the risk of major injury. We offer local football tournaments to showcase those skills and crown the ULTIMATE TRIPLE THREAT!
WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHERS, WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?Triple Threat Football is played on a 20yd x 20yd field with 3 positions. quarterback, receiver, and defender. Unlike traditional football that is played with a team of 11 players and a larger field, there are no first downs, touchdowns, or tackling. Instead, points are awarded for completions, receptions, deflections and interceptions. A play is dead when one of the mentioned is achieved or there is an incompletion. Each player gets five plays at each position. After the five plays, players rotate positions. The player with the most points after the 15 snaps is declared the winner and advances to the next round in our tournament.
HOW DID YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY BUSINESS-WISE? WAS IT EASY? IF NOWT , HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES? WHAT ARE THE LESSONS YOUV’E LEARNED ALONG THE WAY?
This idea came about when I was a kid. Often we would have enough kids in the neighborhood to play a full game of football. We often however, had at least 3 players. We would of course, take turns rotating positions and adding point values to it. Thus, 40 years later. Triple Threat Football was born.
As an entrepreneur, I have had many innovative ideas and projects in the past. One of my big hurdles was the funding to get them off of the ground. Like many entrepreneurs, I worked a regular job while working on my passion on my own time. While I found some success, I never felt I could afford to leave my full time job in the airline industry.
That all changed in 2020 with the COVID 19 pandemic. Airlines offered early retirement to cut labor cost. I decided to abandon my safety net and use some of my retirement to fund one of my ideas.
At first I suffered from shiny object syndrome, trying every internet marketing, stay at home business proposal that I could find. Again, I had limited success, but nothing close to what the originators of the business model achieved. That is when my wife suggested I stop following others and invest in one of my own ideas. But which one? I had notebooks full of ideas and concepts of various startup costs. After much prayer, God reminded me of my passion for sports and the game I played as a kid!
One thing I have learned is that if there is no playbook (franchise or tutorials from others that have done what you are trying to achieve) for what you are creating, estimate the time and cost and double it! You don’t know what you don’t know. So expect a steep learning curve and plan for mistakes and curveballs.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Being a sports fan I would say you would have to visit in mid to late February. All of the sports collide in February. Basketball is well into their season. The Phoenix Open is being played in Scottsdale, This year the Superbowl is in Glendale Arizona, which starts roughly 30 minutes after the Phoenix Open ends. Spring training starts the following week. and depending on the year, NASCAR is in town. And of course you cannot forget The Coyotes playing in an arena without a bad seat in the house!
While in town you have to visit THE KEG restaurant and Ocean Prime.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife Nicole Bennett, who taught me that it is okay to blaze my own path instead of following others and expecting the same results.
Website: https://TripleThreatFootball.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/triple_threat_fb/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TripleThreat_FB
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/triplethreatfb
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
