From Athletic Business
Review by Heather Holston in KIN 332 (section 1)
The article “Men’s College Basketball Program Facing Attendance Declines” is about the current problem facing ticket sales in college basketball programs across America. The article states that the NCAA Division 1 basketball teams had a decline by 47 fans last season. One in five programs have seen a 20% attendance drop or more over the past four seasons. Half of the programs affected were in the Pac 12. The article list three problems that could contribute to the problem. One is the effect of the NBA being close to major colleges. The article states that more fans want to spend money on NBA games than college. Second is technology making it easier for people to stay at home and watch the games. Their saying students can watch games on the phone or ipads. Third, when it comes to basketball, viewers are more interested in the post season. Fans don’t want to watch every game because it takes time. The article had a lack of the sports marketing that the basketball venues were trying to do. In the article, it states that Duke University had declines but wasn’t going to buy into the cheesy promotions during the games. However, Bobinski states that enhancing the experience or non-conference scheduling can help reverse the decline. I believe that Bobinski is right. If the colleges want to get more students and alumni in the stands, enhancing the experience in the stadiums will help. It might be easier to watch it on tv with today’s technology but it’s not the same. If the stadiums had more in house promotions or more advertisement within the community, more people would come. The Duke reporter said they don’t play the canned pop music or any of those things before a game. It seemed to me that in the article, the colleges gave up when trying to compete with the NBA or get fans in. True the NBA may have bigger stars and more excitement, but nothing is more exciting that rooting for your own college with your friends on a Friday night. Even if that does entail cheesy promotions and canned music.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
"NFL Teams Turn To Social Media To Connect With Fans"
From Forbes
Review by Amber Bolen in KIN 332 (section 1)
In today’s world, technology surrounds our daily lives. Most of everything we do involves the use of technology in some sort of way. In the article, “NFL Teams Turn to Social Media to Connect with Fans,” it explains the NFL’s efforts to make sure that all fans can access team information and news. These features will benefit many different people depending on their lifestyle.
Review by Amber Bolen in KIN 332 (section 1)
In today’s world, technology surrounds our daily lives. Most of everything we do involves the use of technology in some sort of way. In the article, “NFL Teams Turn to Social Media to Connect with Fans,” it explains the NFL’s efforts to make sure that all fans can access team information and news. These features will benefit many different people depending on their lifestyle.
The NFL teamed up with Buddy Media which gave the insight to the NFL of what fans wanted in terms of social media and mobile technology. Every single NFL team now has a mobile site that everyone can access on their phone to make browsing faster and easy. And most, not all, teams have their own mobile app that someone with a smart phone can download and track their favorite team.
Specifically, the New England Patriots have created an app that allows you check news, keep live updates of the game, and even watch highlights from a previous game. Not only do the Patriots have this app but they have an app that is free for users with premium seats to download and see on demand instant replays from many different camera angles and a feed of NFL’s Redzone channel so that they can see what is happening across the league.
Specifically, the New England Patriots have created an app that allows you check news, keep live updates of the game, and even watch highlights from a previous game. Not only do the Patriots have this app but they have an app that is free for users with premium seats to download and see on demand instant replays from many different camera angles and a feed of NFL’s Redzone channel so that they can see what is happening across the league.
I loved this article simply because it showed me where media was going in the future. I like the NFL but I’m more into college athletics and if this continues to grow into college sports it would definitely make me more interested. Even though most games are played on Sundays, some people still work and giving those type of people who cannot catch games go to an app and access updates and even go back and watch highlights of the game from their phone. The only thing that I do not like is how people with premium seats are the only ones who can get that app for free. Some people have just enough money to buy the cheapest tickets/season tickets. It is not fair to limit one group of people to this app.
"Tanzania’s ‘tentacles’ reach Seattle"
From SportsBusiness Journal
Review by Peter Brosnan in KIN 332 (section 2)
Tanzania, a relatively small East African country that holds a relatively big population of about 43,000, has recently brought attention to itself through advertising in Major League Soccer and the English Premier League. In July, the Seattle Sounders FC signed a one-year partnership with the Tanzanian Tourism Board, making it the third consecutive year that they’ve done so. The relationship between those two areas of the world started about two years ago, when Sounders assistant coach and head scout Kurt Schmid visited Tanzania to scout players and search for talent. Since then, Tanzanian tourism has been advertised through scoreboard messages, LED panels on the sideline, and two large murals on either end of CenturyLink Field, where the Sounders, Seahawks, and University of Washington football team play. The Tanzanian Tourism Board also has a deal with the English Premier League, advertising in the stadiums of six small clubs. They chose a six-team deal as opposed to a single deal with a powerhouse like Manchester United, expecting the former deal to produce a bigger market. It is way too early to come up with any substantial results from this partnership, but according to the Tourism Board, they’ve been hearing from many tour operators in the Pacific Northwest already.
As hard as it may be for me to grasp this concept, the country of Tanzania is itself a product. There are natural wonders there that most people have never gotten the chance to see, and giving people that chance is a way to seriously boost its’ economy. That being said, I believe there are few better ways to advertise a product than through sports, so I believe that this is a smart partnership for both sides. The Sounders have opened up a pipeline with Africa, increasing the possibility of bringing international players over to play in Seattle. Not only that, but Tanzania is now advertising in a market that they haven’t reached before, which should have positive long-term effects on their tourism and overall economy. Soccer is an international sport. In fact, it is without a doubt the most popular sport throughout the world. With the growth of globalization and social media it has become even more popular in recent years, and the Tanzanian Tourism Board has utilized that in order to try and sell its product.
"Does Nike’s ‘Greatness’ Ad Exploit Fat People?"
The article takes a look at various people’s reaction of seeing the new ‘Greatness’ ad from Nike featuring Nathan Sorrell an overweight 12 year old boy. Many people found that the ad was refreshing, inspiring, and amazing something Nike would normally not do; whereas others may have found the ad to be unclear or another way to combat myths. In my opinion I believe the Nike’s ‘Greatness’ ad focuses on the everyday person trying to achieve greatness whether its through running to loose weight, wheelchair racing, or playing soccer.
According to the article Dr. David Katz Editor-in-chief of the journal Childhood Obesity found the ad ambivalent because he was uneasy with the message that Nathan is chasing greatness by running. I do not think Dr. David Katz took in the idea that making the choice to become healthier by running that Nathan was making the choice to be greater. I also found that the ad helps people focus on their obstacles and how finding one’s greatness through their obstacles can bring pleasure into one’s life. Also Dr. Katz did not realize that greatness does not come over night but it is something that one has to work at everyday. So for millions of Americans to see Nathan in the early stages of his greatness is inspiring.
Based on the article other people believed that the ad is attacking the myths or notions that obese and overweight people are lazy, live for junk food, and are lacking in willpower or self-discipline. I found myself agreeing that the commercial does fight the pre-conceived notion that obese/overweight children are not trying to fight against obesity or being overweight because it seems people are very quick to generalize one form of demographic based on a few. Rochman further expresses my opinion by stating that, “ by featuring and overweight boy in their ad ( in a respectful manner), Nike challenges the stereotype that overweight youth are inactive, and shows that body size has nothing to do with a person’s ambition or ability to push themselves to achieve their goals. America has put greatness on a petiole that it is something that is allotted to a few people and everyone else has to stand by and watch others achieve it. I believe Nike is stating is that greatness is not given to certain individuals but greatness is simply having the guts to make a choice to become greater than who or what we are in essence it is centered around respect.
Monday, September 10, 2012
"How being open, honest and professional can build a brand"
From SportsBusiness Journal
Review by Philip Pierce in KIN 501
Ryan Richeal’s article How being open, honest, and professional can build a brand summarized the success former Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey accomplished with Fenway Park and Boston Fans.
Guided by his personal values, Yawkey focused on the team and not individual players. Moreover, Yawkey knew the importance of connecting with Boston’s fanatics and made it a priority to build that relationship.
Richeal’s article combats some of the most obvious reasons a brand could falter such as the team’s recent poor performance and unfortunate traits of social evolution. “People are more transient, attention spans are shorter,” Richeal writes, “expectations are higher and more immediate.” (Richeal, 2012.) Despite the obstacles, Richeal urges “any company should start by recognizing the value of reputation.”
The Red Sox traded Babe Ruth but have always seen the value in their employees. The Red Sox disposed of Roger Clemens in his prime but will always embrace the community. And most recently, the Sox unloaded Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Josh Beckett to the Dodgers while staying true to Red Sox Nation – the fans.
Richeal highlights those three crucial pieces (employees, community, and fans) as a foundation to creating and maintaining a reputation that will build a brand. “Encouraging employees to be socially responsible allows them to benefit from better teamwork and greater work satisfaction,” Richeal writes. Furthermore, social responsibility extends beyond the Green Monster out into the community. “A truly successful effort will link prosperity between the team, its employees and the community to result in the long-term emotional bond of the team,” he adds.
Yawkey’s idea of a social conscience is reflected in Boston’s Customer Relationship Management strategy and has given them a marketing advantage over other teams. “All organizations should realize that the health of a community is interwoven with the health of a team”. (Richeal, 2012)
I could not agree more with Ryan Richeal’s ideas for building a successful brand. It seems like many brands in turmoil, the organizations or athletes that fill recent news headlines are in a branding nightmare because they forgot one of the three: openness, honesty, or professionalism. In addition, I think Richeal hit the bull’s-eye focusing his article on three central components of sport brands: employees, community, and fans. Richeal is right, times are changing. Some teams respond by spending more money but I agree with Ryan, invest in more time, effort and thought.
People are the backbone of sport teams. The more teams can connect with their people, the more fanatics will emerge, and the backbone to the business will be strong. In Tom Yawkey’s case, a Nation will be formed. “Teams don’t have the luxury of building on decades of tradition any longer,” Richeal added, “but, as Yawkey taught, stay true to the brand, and love and respect the customer. The team will be rewarded with a stellar reputation and a fan connection that is stronger and more enduring than the average business-consumer relationship and less influenced by the cycles of on-field performance and off-field competition.”
Review by Philip Pierce in KIN 501
Ryan Richeal’s article How being open, honest, and professional can build a brand summarized the success former Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey accomplished with Fenway Park and Boston Fans.
Guided by his personal values, Yawkey focused on the team and not individual players. Moreover, Yawkey knew the importance of connecting with Boston’s fanatics and made it a priority to build that relationship.
Richeal’s article combats some of the most obvious reasons a brand could falter such as the team’s recent poor performance and unfortunate traits of social evolution. “People are more transient, attention spans are shorter,” Richeal writes, “expectations are higher and more immediate.” (Richeal, 2012.) Despite the obstacles, Richeal urges “any company should start by recognizing the value of reputation.”
The Red Sox traded Babe Ruth but have always seen the value in their employees. The Red Sox disposed of Roger Clemens in his prime but will always embrace the community. And most recently, the Sox unloaded Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Josh Beckett to the Dodgers while staying true to Red Sox Nation – the fans.
Richeal highlights those three crucial pieces (employees, community, and fans) as a foundation to creating and maintaining a reputation that will build a brand. “Encouraging employees to be socially responsible allows them to benefit from better teamwork and greater work satisfaction,” Richeal writes. Furthermore, social responsibility extends beyond the Green Monster out into the community. “A truly successful effort will link prosperity between the team, its employees and the community to result in the long-term emotional bond of the team,” he adds.
Yawkey’s idea of a social conscience is reflected in Boston’s Customer Relationship Management strategy and has given them a marketing advantage over other teams. “All organizations should realize that the health of a community is interwoven with the health of a team”. (Richeal, 2012)
I could not agree more with Ryan Richeal’s ideas for building a successful brand. It seems like many brands in turmoil, the organizations or athletes that fill recent news headlines are in a branding nightmare because they forgot one of the three: openness, honesty, or professionalism. In addition, I think Richeal hit the bull’s-eye focusing his article on three central components of sport brands: employees, community, and fans. Richeal is right, times are changing. Some teams respond by spending more money but I agree with Ryan, invest in more time, effort and thought.
People are the backbone of sport teams. The more teams can connect with their people, the more fanatics will emerge, and the backbone to the business will be strong. In Tom Yawkey’s case, a Nation will be formed. “Teams don’t have the luxury of building on decades of tradition any longer,” Richeal added, “but, as Yawkey taught, stay true to the brand, and love and respect the customer. The team will be rewarded with a stellar reputation and a fan connection that is stronger and more enduring than the average business-consumer relationship and less influenced by the cycles of on-field performance and off-field competition.”
Friday, September 7, 2012
JMU Sport and Recreation Management Practium/Internship Information
Attention all JMU sport and recreation management students!
Please be aware of the meeting dates for spring practicums and internships. This semester and next, there will be separate meetings for KIN students and SRM students. Any KIN student that attended a spring meeting will not need to attend again. The meeting for SRM students is mandatory, even if the student attended a spring session.
Also note that this is the last time KIN students can attend a meeting to be eligible for KIN 472. The last KIN 472 will be this spring; the last KIN 482 will be next summer. Individual meetings will not take place this semester.
Please click one of the links below for meeting dates and times:
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
"Cowboys sell ‘experiences’ on LivingSocial"
From SportsBusiness Journal
Review by Pat Amerena in KIN 332 (section 2)
In an attempt to be the first of its kind and pave the way for a new marketing idea, the Dallas Cowboys have announced they are teaming up with LivingSocial to provide Cowboy “experiences.” The Dallas Cowboys have chosen LivingSocial because it is a website that has over 60 million users and considers itself one of the best ways to connect people with their local businesses and neighborhoods. LivingSocial is a company that offers its users a variety of opportunities including escapes, experiences, events, adventures and the Dallas Cowboys want to be a part of it. The two parties came to a multi-year deal that will include over a dozen different experiences. These experiences will include opportunities such as access to the Cowboys’ war room on draft day, a chance to try out for the cheerleading team, attending a cheerleaders’ photo shoot, shadowing a team reporter, appearing in Dallas’ official team photo or even attend training camp 101. The goal for the Cowboys is to create new and unique experience for both new and old patrons that can’t be found anywhere else. The Cowboys will be the first team in the NFL to offer deals as comprehensive and all-access as these but there will be limitations. Each experience will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and will be limited to a certain number of tickets. Some of the events will even be tailored to a specific group of fans, such as female only opportunities. By completing this deal the Dallas Cowboys may be well on their way to starting a million dollar idea or opening a can of worms.
In my opinion there could be two outcomes that come with this new marketing plan. It either becomes one of the most popular assets in sports marketing or it becomes a dangerous and uncontrollable ploy to maintain and create new fans. It can become the most popular thing in sports marketing if it is not abused. Fans are always looking for new ways to experience what their idols and heroes do every day so experiences like these will give them the chance to do so. For now it starts as access to the stadiums, fields and meeting the cheerleaders all while at a reasonable price. If it remains at experiences just like these and for the price they currently are it is all fine and well. However, if demand and greed play a role in this the prices could soar and the demand may cause much larger issues. This is where the other second outcome comes into play and how it could have a powerful impact on the sport marketing world. People will pay for these types of “experiences” and many fans would be willing to pay a lot of money for something they know only a few people have a chance at taking part in. By doing so it could end up alienating the true fans that don’t have the opportunity to afford it or the new fan who doesn’t want to pay the price for it. Well then suppose one team offers an experience that everyone wants to try, will other organizations then try and top this to make bigger bucks? Then there can be the point where it becomes too much of a problem for the athletes themselves. Suppose owners start asking players to play catch with a fan that paid for the opportunity to. Does the athlete then get a portion of the profits? Do agents then get part of it too? My point is this, marketing tools like this have all the ability to be successful and be a great tool for professional sports teams but they can also be a never ending attempt to “One up” the next guy. When you give a fan a peak at the inner workings of the organization are they going to ask to see the whole thing? Well then if they are willing to pay for the whole experience are you going to give them the option to? It can be a never ending revolving door of questions, answers and money for a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s a matter of seeing if more good comes than evil, or vice versa.
Review by Pat Amerena in KIN 332 (section 2)
In an attempt to be the first of its kind and pave the way for a new marketing idea, the Dallas Cowboys have announced they are teaming up with LivingSocial to provide Cowboy “experiences.” The Dallas Cowboys have chosen LivingSocial because it is a website that has over 60 million users and considers itself one of the best ways to connect people with their local businesses and neighborhoods. LivingSocial is a company that offers its users a variety of opportunities including escapes, experiences, events, adventures and the Dallas Cowboys want to be a part of it. The two parties came to a multi-year deal that will include over a dozen different experiences. These experiences will include opportunities such as access to the Cowboys’ war room on draft day, a chance to try out for the cheerleading team, attending a cheerleaders’ photo shoot, shadowing a team reporter, appearing in Dallas’ official team photo or even attend training camp 101. The goal for the Cowboys is to create new and unique experience for both new and old patrons that can’t be found anywhere else. The Cowboys will be the first team in the NFL to offer deals as comprehensive and all-access as these but there will be limitations. Each experience will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and will be limited to a certain number of tickets. Some of the events will even be tailored to a specific group of fans, such as female only opportunities. By completing this deal the Dallas Cowboys may be well on their way to starting a million dollar idea or opening a can of worms.
In my opinion there could be two outcomes that come with this new marketing plan. It either becomes one of the most popular assets in sports marketing or it becomes a dangerous and uncontrollable ploy to maintain and create new fans. It can become the most popular thing in sports marketing if it is not abused. Fans are always looking for new ways to experience what their idols and heroes do every day so experiences like these will give them the chance to do so. For now it starts as access to the stadiums, fields and meeting the cheerleaders all while at a reasonable price. If it remains at experiences just like these and for the price they currently are it is all fine and well. However, if demand and greed play a role in this the prices could soar and the demand may cause much larger issues. This is where the other second outcome comes into play and how it could have a powerful impact on the sport marketing world. People will pay for these types of “experiences” and many fans would be willing to pay a lot of money for something they know only a few people have a chance at taking part in. By doing so it could end up alienating the true fans that don’t have the opportunity to afford it or the new fan who doesn’t want to pay the price for it. Well then suppose one team offers an experience that everyone wants to try, will other organizations then try and top this to make bigger bucks? Then there can be the point where it becomes too much of a problem for the athletes themselves. Suppose owners start asking players to play catch with a fan that paid for the opportunity to. Does the athlete then get a portion of the profits? Do agents then get part of it too? My point is this, marketing tools like this have all the ability to be successful and be a great tool for professional sports teams but they can also be a never ending attempt to “One up” the next guy. When you give a fan a peak at the inner workings of the organization are they going to ask to see the whole thing? Well then if they are willing to pay for the whole experience are you going to give them the option to? It can be a never ending revolving door of questions, answers and money for a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s a matter of seeing if more good comes than evil, or vice versa.
"FoxSports.com charging back into fantasy football"
From SportsBusiness Journal
Review by Henry Bronez in SRM 334
Fantasy Football in the past several years has become a large social network among young men, who commit large amounts of time, effort and in many cases money into fantasy sport leagues and teams. Draft days have evolved into large event that sees friends traveling and rearranging schedules in order to come together to draft teams for the new season. As fantasy sports have gained popularity and the market grows ever larger, businesses and corporations are vying amongst themselves to gain dominance in the adolescent market.
FoxSports.com used to host fantasy football, but in 2005, a year that saw many fantasy football leagues change from fee based to free, the site suffered several technical and organizational difficulties, which left it far behind its competition as fantasy sport’s popularity started to take off. The site is now attempting to re-enter the market and become a major player in the fantasy football market, in which a few large companies such as Yahoo, CBS Sports, ESPN and the NFL currently control the majority of the market.
Fox sports has been aggressively campaigning its re-entrance into fantasy sports, largely on the Fox Television networks and its affiliates as well through social media to attract consumer attention. Television ads have been running during Major League Baseball games that Fox broadcasts and also during the National Football League’s preseason. Two main competitors, Yahoo and ESPN have strong footholds already and successful leagues with loyal user bases, which will hinder Fox gaining ground in the market. ESPN also possess a media network that is on par with Fox media in order to advertise and promote the leagues that it already has in existence to try to maintain dominance.
This article pertains to us studying the media because the fantasy football market has blown up in popularity in the past few years and transformed from a leisurely pastime into a competitive quasi-sport. There are a variety of leagues, free or fee-based, some just for fun and others that are highly competitive with large ticket prizes such as Super Bowl tickets or cash. Even though the market is dominated by a few significant players Fox media controls one of the largest and widespread media networks in the country and has ties to other large corporations and leagues through which it can advertise its new fantasy leagues. Fox Sports is unquestionably behind in gaining a foothold in the fantasy football market, however it has business relationships and large enough media reach that in a few years there is a possibility that Fox may be one of the big players fantasy sports.
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Review by Ryan Oliphant in SRM 334
FoxSports.com is attempting an aggressive re-entry into the fantasy football market after setbacks and technical failures in 2005 which saw many consumers go to competing outlets. Fox’s new fantasy football program is being supported by WhatIfSports.com and the company has a goal of eventually being in the top three of the market. To do this Fox has to compete with other leading companies such as Yahoo Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports and NFL.com. Like most of these other key competitors FoxSports.com new fantasy program will be free to use. To be a major player in the market Fox will have to use its extensive reach, particularly through TV baseball coverage and NFL game day coverage to attract and obtain new players for their game.
FoxSports.com will have a difficult time making a splash right away in the market even through their extensive coverage of the NFL and baseball on TV. The company will most likely be in fifth place in the fantasy football market in the short term as the other companies are more familiar to people and have a well established product. To be in the top three of this competitive industry FoxSports.com will have to have appealing ads on TV throughout popular sporting events. FoxSports.com will also have to have an easy to use system for the game and some distinguishable features that make their product different.
This current issue/topic is related to this course because the game of fantasy football has become a huge part of sports media and communication over the past five years. There are now TV shows just on fantasy football, as well as magazines and radio stations that just talk about the game. There are apps for smart phones that can give updates and scores to people playing and even during the NFL games fans can see updates for their fantasy player’s flash in the bottom of the screen with the scores of the different games around the league.
Monday, September 3, 2012
"Over the years, ‘Hard Knocks’ has provided players with 15 minutes of fame"
From The Palm Beach Post
Review by Jen Nelson in SRM 334
The new hit TV serious, “Hard Knocks” has been around since 2001, and recently just had the serious premier featuring the Miami Dolphins. The show is a “docu-drama”, consisting of a sports documentary following the teams training camp, along with drama to capture viewer’s attention. For our presentation, we decided to focus on what we believe is the main issue: is there too much media coverage?
The article we found provided us with positive and negative impacts of player publicity. Although some players enjoy the constant media attention, other would prefer to stay out of the limelight. Our article was entitled, Over the years, ‘Hard Knocks’ has provided players with 15 minutes of fame by Hal Habib. Aside from the Miami Dolphins, 6 other teams have been featured on “Hard Knocks” and racking up a total of 7 sports Emmys. Player Dwayne Missouri from the Baltimore Ravens said, “I enjoyed the opportunity and I’m thankful for it…I think it kept my name on a lot of peoples mouths for a long period of time.” On the other hand, he also encountered a negative experience with the media when they caught him throwing up many times throughout a game. Since the camera is essentially rolling at all times, players are now seeing what coaches say about them behind closed doors, because really the doors are now open.
Other positive aspects include players learning from their mistakes, and having the chance to watch other teams closely. From a fan based perspective, tickets sales have generally increased for all the teams who were on the show.
The article also has a lot of information discussing the negative aspects that may come about from the show. Having the media there constantly is a huge invasion of players privacy, especially if they are going into places off limits to gain more drama for TV viewers. It can also cause the team to loose focus and often times many events are aired that the players wouldn’t intend for the world to see.
My opinion of the show, is that it’s unique in which its essentially the first sports reality show. This will give fans the capability to learn more about their player’s both positively and negatively. For teams such as the Miami Dolphins, who over the past few years haven’t been doing well, now have the chance to earn back a positive reputation. In regards to the media, I know the public loves scandal, however, there are certain boundaries I think the media shouldn’t cross. I think they should put more of an emphasis on the time training camp, rather than focusing on digging up dirt on athletes personal lives.
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We chose to do our presentation on the HBO miniseries, Hard Knocks, because it is a good representation of how communication and media relations has evolved in sports. Many years ago, teams in the NFL were getting little to no media coverage. Tex Schramm for instance, begged the media to cover the Dallas Cowboys. He was forced to write and publish his own stories to send to newspaper companies. Today, NFL teams and players may now be getting too much coverage in the media. The article that we read discusses the positive and negative impacts the show may have on a player’s career.
The article, “Over the years, ‘Hard Knocks’ has provided players with 15 minutes of fame”, was found through SportsBusiness Journal Daily and was written by Hal Habib of The Palm Beach Post. Former NFL players, Dwayne Missouri and Todd Lowber discuss their experiences from being on the show. For Missouri, who was a seventh-round draft pick for the Baltimore Ravens when they were featured on the show in 2001, it was a chance to make a name for himself in the NFL. He admitted that it would have been much harder to focus during practice if he didn’t have cameras and microphones following him constantly. Another thing the show did for Missouri was teach him how to step it up in practice. The show features many coaches’ meetings and discussions with one another where they are very blunt about players. Missouri was able to hear what the coaches were saying about him and the way he played, without them speaking to him directly. After the night the episode aired, he was inspired to work harder in practice and fix the mistakes the coaches had brought up.
Lowber had a similar outlook on the show’s ability to increase awareness of players in the league. Lowber explains that if a player featured on the show gets released and another coach in the NFL that had been closely watching him throughout camp liked what he saw, the player would be more likely to get signed with that new team. Essentially this means that players are “trying out” for all of the teams in the league when being featured on the show, not just the one that they are training with. The criticism that Lowber heard from coaches while watching the show did not have a positive effect on him like I did on Missouri however. He heard coaches say he looked lost while playing, and did not like that upon showing up for practice the following day, he already knew what the coaches thought about him.
It is interesting how the show seems to have slightly changed the game. Players who may not have ever been noticed before get to shine while on camera in the show. Players are also able to learn what coaches are saying about them behind closed doors. Other things that happen throughout the training camp with the team that typically no one would ever know about are suddenly broadcasted for the entire world to see. On an episode from this seasons Hard Knocks, a Dolphin’s player admitted to another that he had been taking acting lessons to learn how to “not look tired on camera”. The show completely changes the experience for NFL teams and players going through training camp. Instead of focusing solely on their play, they are now becoming actors of a show. If I were a coach, I don’t think it is something that I would want my team to be a part of, but as a fan and sports communicator, Hard Knocks makes for great entertainment.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Student Profile of Alan Daniel in the Masters Program
JMU Sport & Recreation Leadership Masters Program students enrolled in KIN 501 (Marketing) during the Fall 2012 semester were required to create a Student Profile. Inspired by the Apple iPhone 4S/Siri commercials, here is Alan Daniel's take on the assignment.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Volunteer Opportunity at Shenandoah Valley United Soccer
Shenandoah Valley United Soccer is looking for Volunteer Soccer Coaches! SVU Recreational Program exists for the dual purposes of enabling children in the local community to enjoy a healthy and safe, organized physical activity, and to obtain at least a modest soccer education.The Recreational League is open to ages 4–18, regardless ofability.
Please consider serving as a Recreation coach for SVU. The fall season runs from September through November. Teams have one practice and one game per week. This is a great opportunity to get involved in the community and meet some great people. Interested individuals can log onto www.shenvalleysoccer.com to register as a coach or contact SVU Recreation Administrator, Mandy Adkins, for more information. Mandy can be reached at 540-820-1390 or svurecreation@gmail.com.
Please consider serving as a Recreation coach for SVU. The fall season runs from September through November. Teams have one practice and one game per week. This is a great opportunity to get involved in the community and meet some great people. Interested individuals can log onto www.shenvalleysoccer.com to register as a coach or contact SVU Recreation Administrator, Mandy Adkins, for more information. Mandy can be reached at 540-820-1390 or svurecreation@gmail.com.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Research: "The use of biographical baseball films to teach family studies concepts"
Ryan Gerrity ('14) teamed up with Jacki Fitzpatrick, Associate Professor at Texas Tech University, to write "The use of biographical baseball films to teach family studies concepts" for the National Council on Family Relations. It was published in the Summer 2012 edition of NCFR Report.Friday, June 8, 2012
Corporate Hospitality Intern - Washington Redskins (Ashburn, VA)
Qualifications:
· Excellent communication skills required, both written and verbal
· Superior telephone manner and etiquette are necessary.
· Above average computer skills including Excel are required.
· Superior customer service skills are a plus
· Proven experience to appropriately work with and around confidential information is necessary
· Ability to work independently or as part of a team and ability to take direction is a must.
All internship candidates must be eligible to receive college credits. A proof of credit letter from your College or University is required. If you wish to become a part of this dynamic, fast-paced organization and you meet the requirements listed above, please apply online (Note: Fall interns must be available at least 30 hours a week and home game days.)
To Apply:
If you wish to become a part of this dynamic, fast-paced organization and you meet the requirements listed above, please apply by submitting a cover letter and resume to Nick Daly (dalyn@redskins.com) or Erin Parker (parkere@redskins.com).
Monday, April 16, 2012
"Packers Catching Flak Over New ADA-based Ticket Policy"
From Athletic Business
Review by Brad Newell in KIN 435 (section 1)
"Packers Catching Flak Over New ADA-based Ticket Policy" written by Paul Steinbach is an article that brings awareness to an issue regarding the ticket sales policy change of the Green Bay Packers. With the new Packers policy Green Bay will no longer sell single game tickets to people with disabilities. The main issue is that a previous handicap friendly policy is being changed and blamed on new regulations imposed by Americans with Disabilities Act which states that people with disabilities need to be treated in the same way of those without regarding sales. The Packers claim to interpret this as saying that their previous policy is in conflict with the ADA regulation thus forcing them to change their policy. The claim that this is in violation of the regulations by being unfair in favor of those who are handicap thus not being equal.
In my opinion, the Packers are using the new ADA regulation as a opportunity to change their policy. Knowing that handicap individuals wouldn't be happy with the change they blamed the change on ADA regulations. But, I don't see an ethical issue with this change. People with disabilities can still purchase single game tickets online that are being resold by handicap season ticket holders just like non-handicap people. The only issue could be that there are not enough handicap seats.
There could be a negative marketing and sales impact caused by people who believe the policy change is unethical. If a group of people feels strongly enough about the ethics of the change they could boycott Packers games and shine negative publicity on the organization. Boycotts and public opinions can have a big impact on how a company does business. For example in the 1970's Nestles made some questionable ethical decisions and caused a boycott that effected profits enough that forced the company to make business changes. And on the other side of the spectrum many companies make donations that shine positive light on the company and act as a marketing strategy to bring in new customers.
Regulations can also have a huge impact on companies. Companies spend millions of dollars to stay within state and national safety, health, and ethical regulations. While many regulations are necessary some believe that others force unnecessary spending that could be used to produce better products and more profits.
---
Review by Adam Broughman in KIN 435 (section 1)
This article is about the Packers and their new ticketing policy regarding people with disabilities. Since there has been some changes made to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Packers had to change their ticket policies to coincide with the new regulations. According to the article, ticket sales have to be the same for people with or without disabilities. Since the Packers don’t personally sell single game tickets to able-bodied fans, they also have to withhold single game tickets for disabled people as well. If disabled people want to purchase tickets to a game and not go through a secondary market, they have to buy season tickets, which carry a hefty price tag.
While this may sound like it will hurt ticket sales, representatives from the Packers feel that they will sell all of the tickets reserved for disabled people. I feel like this is a lofty goal and that it will be harder to sell the tickets than they think. While the Packers are abiding within the confines of the law, I feel like they are in a moral grey area. The purpose of the ADA is to help people with disabilities, but I feel like these new changes have hindered them. I think that buying single game tickets would be more cost efficient for disabled people and would allow them to come out to more games. With this new policy in place, I feel like less disabled people will be able to come out to the games. I think this new policy will not only anger disabled fans, but their families as well. It will now be more difficult to obtain tickets for disabled people and that might also keep able-bodied fans with disabled family members from coming out to games. Overall, I think this change will affect ticket sales in a negative way.
Review by Brad Newell in KIN 435 (section 1)
"Packers Catching Flak Over New ADA-based Ticket Policy" written by Paul Steinbach is an article that brings awareness to an issue regarding the ticket sales policy change of the Green Bay Packers. With the new Packers policy Green Bay will no longer sell single game tickets to people with disabilities. The main issue is that a previous handicap friendly policy is being changed and blamed on new regulations imposed by Americans with Disabilities Act which states that people with disabilities need to be treated in the same way of those without regarding sales. The Packers claim to interpret this as saying that their previous policy is in conflict with the ADA regulation thus forcing them to change their policy. The claim that this is in violation of the regulations by being unfair in favor of those who are handicap thus not being equal.
In my opinion, the Packers are using the new ADA regulation as a opportunity to change their policy. Knowing that handicap individuals wouldn't be happy with the change they blamed the change on ADA regulations. But, I don't see an ethical issue with this change. People with disabilities can still purchase single game tickets online that are being resold by handicap season ticket holders just like non-handicap people. The only issue could be that there are not enough handicap seats.
There could be a negative marketing and sales impact caused by people who believe the policy change is unethical. If a group of people feels strongly enough about the ethics of the change they could boycott Packers games and shine negative publicity on the organization. Boycotts and public opinions can have a big impact on how a company does business. For example in the 1970's Nestles made some questionable ethical decisions and caused a boycott that effected profits enough that forced the company to make business changes. And on the other side of the spectrum many companies make donations that shine positive light on the company and act as a marketing strategy to bring in new customers.
Regulations can also have a huge impact on companies. Companies spend millions of dollars to stay within state and national safety, health, and ethical regulations. While many regulations are necessary some believe that others force unnecessary spending that could be used to produce better products and more profits.
---
Review by Adam Broughman in KIN 435 (section 1)
This article is about the Packers and their new ticketing policy regarding people with disabilities. Since there has been some changes made to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Packers had to change their ticket policies to coincide with the new regulations. According to the article, ticket sales have to be the same for people with or without disabilities. Since the Packers don’t personally sell single game tickets to able-bodied fans, they also have to withhold single game tickets for disabled people as well. If disabled people want to purchase tickets to a game and not go through a secondary market, they have to buy season tickets, which carry a hefty price tag.
While this may sound like it will hurt ticket sales, representatives from the Packers feel that they will sell all of the tickets reserved for disabled people. I feel like this is a lofty goal and that it will be harder to sell the tickets than they think. While the Packers are abiding within the confines of the law, I feel like they are in a moral grey area. The purpose of the ADA is to help people with disabilities, but I feel like these new changes have hindered them. I think that buying single game tickets would be more cost efficient for disabled people and would allow them to come out to more games. With this new policy in place, I feel like less disabled people will be able to come out to the games. I think this new policy will not only anger disabled fans, but their families as well. It will now be more difficult to obtain tickets for disabled people and that might also keep able-bodied fans with disabled family members from coming out to games. Overall, I think this change will affect ticket sales in a negative way.
"Gatorade announces multi-year partnership with Cam Newton"
From Sports Business Digest
Review by Michael Prince in KIN 435 (section 2)
Gatorade just signed a multi-year partnership with Carolina Panther Cam Newton. Cam joins Peyton Manning and Eli Manning as the only other players represented by Gatorade in the NFL. Newton will appear in television advertisements and also print and digital. He will also be going to the Gatorade Sports Science Institute to work with them on figuring out ways to improve performance out on the field.
This is a huge deal for Cam Newton as he will only be a second year player this upcoming season. Gatorade said, “Cam has proven himself as a naturally gifted athlete with a promising NFL career.” This goes to show how much of an impact Newton had throughout his first season. Gatorade hasn’t signed any other players other than the Manning brother’s so this interesting to see. Cam is very marketable as he is a great player and has a great personality as he is a fan favorite everywhere he goes. He also has proven he is a winner at every level he plays at. Having Cam Newton attached to Gatorade will be a big impact on people that drink sports drinks. People are going to want to be like Cam and do the same things he does. I expect sales for Gatorade to increase as I see them putting his face all over the bottles or on all sorts of advertisements.
This deal can only benefit Gatorade as Cam Newton seems to be the ideal athlete to represent Gatorade along with Peyton and Eli Manning. I’m already a fan of Gatorade and I will continue to keep drinking Gatorade. It will be up to Gatorade to appeal to people that don’t drink Gatorade. This deal will help both parties and I see a great relationship between Cam Newton and Gatorade in the future.
Review by Michael Prince in KIN 435 (section 2)
Gatorade just signed a multi-year partnership with Carolina Panther Cam Newton. Cam joins Peyton Manning and Eli Manning as the only other players represented by Gatorade in the NFL. Newton will appear in television advertisements and also print and digital. He will also be going to the Gatorade Sports Science Institute to work with them on figuring out ways to improve performance out on the field.
This is a huge deal for Cam Newton as he will only be a second year player this upcoming season. Gatorade said, “Cam has proven himself as a naturally gifted athlete with a promising NFL career.” This goes to show how much of an impact Newton had throughout his first season. Gatorade hasn’t signed any other players other than the Manning brother’s so this interesting to see. Cam is very marketable as he is a great player and has a great personality as he is a fan favorite everywhere he goes. He also has proven he is a winner at every level he plays at. Having Cam Newton attached to Gatorade will be a big impact on people that drink sports drinks. People are going to want to be like Cam and do the same things he does. I expect sales for Gatorade to increase as I see them putting his face all over the bottles or on all sorts of advertisements.
This deal can only benefit Gatorade as Cam Newton seems to be the ideal athlete to represent Gatorade along with Peyton and Eli Manning. I’m already a fan of Gatorade and I will continue to keep drinking Gatorade. It will be up to Gatorade to appeal to people that don’t drink Gatorade. This deal will help both parties and I see a great relationship between Cam Newton and Gatorade in the future.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
New York Red Bulls Career Fair
NEW
YORK RED BULLS CAREER FAIR
Date: Saturday April 14
Time: 12:00-3:00 PM
Location: Red Bull Arena Harrison, NJ
Career Fair attendees will have the opportunity to meet with representatives in the fields of public relations, sales and business development, marketing, broadcasting, finance, journalism, advertising, sports medicine and more. Information will be given regarding full, part-time, seasonal positions, internships and volunteer opportunities.
For more information, click here.
Time: 12:00-3:00 PM
Location: Red Bull Arena Harrison, NJ
Career Fair attendees will have the opportunity to meet with representatives in the fields of public relations, sales and business development, marketing, broadcasting, finance, journalism, advertising, sports medicine and more. Information will be given regarding full, part-time, seasonal positions, internships and volunteer opportunities.
For more information, click here.
"The Tiger Woods Television Effect"
From the University of Kansas Journalism
Review by Chad Mozingo in KIN 435 (section 2)
Review by Chad Mozingo in KIN 435 (section 2)
The article that I have chosen to review is “The Tiger Woods Television Effect.” This article was particularly interesting for me because it shows the impact that one single player can have in a sport. It shows the importance of Tiger Woods in the game of golf and how he personally impacts the number of viewers watching golf. It gives key statistics, for instance when he is in the field for a tournament viewership increases approximately 30 to 50 percent. This is astounding to be when thinking about the amount of money that is spent during golf tournaments for advertisements and sponsorships that if he isn’t playing nearly half of the viewers may not be tuning in to see the advertisements. Financially commercials, tickets, and anything to do with the tournament has to decrease in monetary value due to the attendance of one person. The article also had charts showing the viewership in majors since Tiger Woods and how they have increased. When Tiger is in contention to win a tournament on the final day it is the most watch sport. There are other statements in the article showing how he personally has evolved and changed the game of golf himself not just from a marketing standpoint. Because of him personally changing the game and raising the bar of excellence for golfers it has made it more entertaining to watch and play for everyone.
Friday, April 6, 2012
"Is March Madness Marketing’s Next Super Bowl?"
From The Street
Review by James Hemphill in KIN 435 (section 2)
The gold standard for television advertising in sporting events has been the Super Bowl, but the NCAA Tournament has made over $5.2 billion in television advertising from 275 sponsors over the course of the past decade. The 2011 NCAA Tournament garnered $738 million with only 78 sponsors. The key ingredient for the NCAA Tournament to generate nearly three quarters of a billion dollars is passion. Collegiate fans are the most passionate of all sports fans and they are comprised of mostly individuals ranging from ages 18 to 34.
CBS and Turner Sports have capitalized on the growing opportunities to make a profit from the NCAA Tournament. They signed a deal to televise the tournament for $10 billion through the year 2024. Both CBS and Turner Sports realized that the tournament is the second most profitable sporting event behind the NFL Playoffs and continues to prosper. A thirty second television spot for the NCAA Tournament Final costs roughly $1.2 million. The key ingredient for advertisers is the fact that the NCAA Tournament last three weeks and gives them more face time with their potential consumers.
The three main sponsors of the NCAA Tournament are AT&T, Coca-Cola, and Capital One. They each spend millions of dollars to have their companies all over television commercials, but none of them pay as much as General Motors for advertising during the tournament. Backed by their corporate sponsor Buick, GM spends $57.9 million on advertising for the NCAA Tournament. In terms of public sentiment, the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament ranks second in major sporting events behind only the Major League Baseball World Series. This signifies the importance of the Final Four to not only people associated with the specific universities participating in the two national semifinal games but also collegiate basketball fans across the United States.
The downside of the NCAA Tournament is that the awareness and avidity of the event is only half of the Super Bowl. While the Super Bowl has the potential to reach 86.6 million individuals through marketing, the Final Four only has 43.8 million potential customers. However, this has helped smaller companies such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Southwest Airlines, State Farm Insurance, and UPS devise marketing campaigns to promote their products during NCAA Tournament games.
The marketing and sales implications of this article are that the NCAA Tournament is one of the largest sporting events in the United States and there are opportunities for many different types of sponsors to become involved during the tournament. Although it doesn’t reach as many customers as the Super Bowl, the NCAA Tournament allows for smaller companies to advertise their product or service to potential customers. It is likely that the NCAA Tournament will continue to grow because of its popularity and it should continue to rake in large sums of money from sponsors. With the NCAA Tournament concluding this past Monday, it will be intriguing to view how successful corporate sponsors and other sponsored companies were with generating sales.
Review by James Hemphill in KIN 435 (section 2)
The gold standard for television advertising in sporting events has been the Super Bowl, but the NCAA Tournament has made over $5.2 billion in television advertising from 275 sponsors over the course of the past decade. The 2011 NCAA Tournament garnered $738 million with only 78 sponsors. The key ingredient for the NCAA Tournament to generate nearly three quarters of a billion dollars is passion. Collegiate fans are the most passionate of all sports fans and they are comprised of mostly individuals ranging from ages 18 to 34.
CBS and Turner Sports have capitalized on the growing opportunities to make a profit from the NCAA Tournament. They signed a deal to televise the tournament for $10 billion through the year 2024. Both CBS and Turner Sports realized that the tournament is the second most profitable sporting event behind the NFL Playoffs and continues to prosper. A thirty second television spot for the NCAA Tournament Final costs roughly $1.2 million. The key ingredient for advertisers is the fact that the NCAA Tournament last three weeks and gives them more face time with their potential consumers.
The three main sponsors of the NCAA Tournament are AT&T, Coca-Cola, and Capital One. They each spend millions of dollars to have their companies all over television commercials, but none of them pay as much as General Motors for advertising during the tournament. Backed by their corporate sponsor Buick, GM spends $57.9 million on advertising for the NCAA Tournament. In terms of public sentiment, the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament ranks second in major sporting events behind only the Major League Baseball World Series. This signifies the importance of the Final Four to not only people associated with the specific universities participating in the two national semifinal games but also collegiate basketball fans across the United States.
The downside of the NCAA Tournament is that the awareness and avidity of the event is only half of the Super Bowl. While the Super Bowl has the potential to reach 86.6 million individuals through marketing, the Final Four only has 43.8 million potential customers. However, this has helped smaller companies such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Southwest Airlines, State Farm Insurance, and UPS devise marketing campaigns to promote their products during NCAA Tournament games.
The marketing and sales implications of this article are that the NCAA Tournament is one of the largest sporting events in the United States and there are opportunities for many different types of sponsors to become involved during the tournament. Although it doesn’t reach as many customers as the Super Bowl, the NCAA Tournament allows for smaller companies to advertise their product or service to potential customers. It is likely that the NCAA Tournament will continue to grow because of its popularity and it should continue to rake in large sums of money from sponsors. With the NCAA Tournament concluding this past Monday, it will be intriguing to view how successful corporate sponsors and other sponsored companies were with generating sales.
Friday, March 30, 2012
"Trade to Jets Launches Tim Tebow Into Marketing Stratosphere"
From Forbes
Review by Chad Byers in Kin 435 (section 1)
Jeff Bercovici’s article in Forbes discusses the benefits Tim Tebow will enjoy from a marketing perspective following his trade to the New York Jets. Forbes discusses the new opportunities that the New York market presents to Tebow. “Tebow-mania” was already at an unbelievable level in Denver but the author shares some of the benefits he will gain from being in the biggest media market in the nation.
Tim Tebow already enjoys endorsements from Nike, Jockey, and EA sports racking in 1-2 million dollars a year. Bercovici informs the readers that Tebow can increase this number drastically almost with regional sponsorships. He states that there are several opportunities to break the million dollar mark with companies that only advertise within the New York and New Jersey area. One of the most obvious facts that determine his strength in endorsement will be his performance. If Tem Tebow can become a starter and succeed in this role it is projected that he will easily top the 10 million dollars a year annually in endorsements. While there is much dispute between the Tebow fanatics and his “haters;” there is a database that compiles statistics on consumer’s perceptions of different celebrity endorsers. Tim was at the top of many of these categories on par with Larry David and Ricky Gervais. Bercovici states, “Tebow is near the top of the chart on a variety of measures, including trust, influence and trend-setting power.” This is why every company wants his face on their product.
I personally find this article completely accurate. Tebow has proven that he has what it takes to win in the NFL and his work ethic will mend the negatives in his playing style. Some people call him phony but Tebow believes what he says all the way to the core; and that is why he is an extremely marketable athlete. I do find that a lot of the attention Tebow gains is from the media pushing him in the spotlight because of his unique way of living his life. His market strength will increase because he is now in New York but the longevity of these deals will depend on his success. New York loves a winner and forgets about a benchwarmer quicker than any other city, the sky is the limit for Tebow but it all rides on his shoulder.
----
Review by Josh Futter in KIN 435 (section 3)
The article we chose for our marketing presentation is “Trade to jets launches Tebow into marketing stratosphere” by Jeff Bercovici. This article talks about how Tim Tebow is going to a small market in Denver to a large market in New York City. It talks of the opportunities that present itself for Tim in his move to New York.
This article talks about the “what if’s” for Tim and the kind of money he could be looking at depending on the future he has in New York and the amount of playing time he receives with his new team. It states that Tim could be looking at and upwards of 10 million dollars in endorsements on top of the 1 to 2 million dollars he already receives from his sponsors EA Sports, Nike, and Jockey. This depends on playing time and how the Jets do as a team. The article also states that New York is one of the only, if not the only place where Tebow could get a local sponsorship totaling the 7 figures mark. It also states that Tebow could also get sponsorship deals while riding the bench.
According to the Davie Brown index which tracks consumer perception of around 2500 athletes Tim Tebow is at the top of this study using trust, influence, and trend setting power to measure where the athletes stand with the consumers. This comes with a middle of the road appeal score due to his love him or hate him nature with the fans.
Sports agent Eugene Lee says that If Tim Tebow can win a Super Bowl it can take him to level of stars such as Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. This article gives you a lot of “what if” situations but leaves a lot of what happens with Tim’s marketability up to him and his performance on the field. The article doesn’t give any real definitive marketing strategies that will be used or new sponsors Tim will have because of his move, leaving a lot up to the reader to figure out on their own.
Review by Chad Byers in Kin 435 (section 1)
Jeff Bercovici’s article in Forbes discusses the benefits Tim Tebow will enjoy from a marketing perspective following his trade to the New York Jets. Forbes discusses the new opportunities that the New York market presents to Tebow. “Tebow-mania” was already at an unbelievable level in Denver but the author shares some of the benefits he will gain from being in the biggest media market in the nation.
Tim Tebow already enjoys endorsements from Nike, Jockey, and EA sports racking in 1-2 million dollars a year. Bercovici informs the readers that Tebow can increase this number drastically almost with regional sponsorships. He states that there are several opportunities to break the million dollar mark with companies that only advertise within the New York and New Jersey area. One of the most obvious facts that determine his strength in endorsement will be his performance. If Tem Tebow can become a starter and succeed in this role it is projected that he will easily top the 10 million dollars a year annually in endorsements. While there is much dispute between the Tebow fanatics and his “haters;” there is a database that compiles statistics on consumer’s perceptions of different celebrity endorsers. Tim was at the top of many of these categories on par with Larry David and Ricky Gervais. Bercovici states, “Tebow is near the top of the chart on a variety of measures, including trust, influence and trend-setting power.” This is why every company wants his face on their product.
I personally find this article completely accurate. Tebow has proven that he has what it takes to win in the NFL and his work ethic will mend the negatives in his playing style. Some people call him phony but Tebow believes what he says all the way to the core; and that is why he is an extremely marketable athlete. I do find that a lot of the attention Tebow gains is from the media pushing him in the spotlight because of his unique way of living his life. His market strength will increase because he is now in New York but the longevity of these deals will depend on his success. New York loves a winner and forgets about a benchwarmer quicker than any other city, the sky is the limit for Tebow but it all rides on his shoulder.
----
Review by Josh Futter in KIN 435 (section 3)
The article we chose for our marketing presentation is “Trade to jets launches Tebow into marketing stratosphere” by Jeff Bercovici. This article talks about how Tim Tebow is going to a small market in Denver to a large market in New York City. It talks of the opportunities that present itself for Tim in his move to New York.
This article talks about the “what if’s” for Tim and the kind of money he could be looking at depending on the future he has in New York and the amount of playing time he receives with his new team. It states that Tim could be looking at and upwards of 10 million dollars in endorsements on top of the 1 to 2 million dollars he already receives from his sponsors EA Sports, Nike, and Jockey. This depends on playing time and how the Jets do as a team. The article also states that New York is one of the only, if not the only place where Tebow could get a local sponsorship totaling the 7 figures mark. It also states that Tebow could also get sponsorship deals while riding the bench.
According to the Davie Brown index which tracks consumer perception of around 2500 athletes Tim Tebow is at the top of this study using trust, influence, and trend setting power to measure where the athletes stand with the consumers. This comes with a middle of the road appeal score due to his love him or hate him nature with the fans.
Sports agent Eugene Lee says that If Tim Tebow can win a Super Bowl it can take him to level of stars such as Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. This article gives you a lot of “what if” situations but leaves a lot of what happens with Tim’s marketability up to him and his performance on the field. The article doesn’t give any real definitive marketing strategies that will be used or new sponsors Tim will have because of his move, leaving a lot up to the reader to figure out on their own.
Friday, March 23, 2012
"Gold Coast: Football club to farce"
From ESPNsoccernet
Review by Tyler Copan in KIN 435 (section 1)
The Gold Coast United is a soccer team that plays in the Australian A-League. The team was founded in 2009 by mining magnate Clive Palmer. At their inception, Palmer proclaimed that the team would fly through their inaugural year without a single loss; he was sorely mistaken. Gold Coast United, instead of winning all their games, quickly became the worst and most despicable team in the league. In their latest blunder, Palmer named one of the newest and youngest members of the team, 17-year-old Mitch Cooper, to be the team’s captain in their match against the Melbourne Heat. This action in itself is ridiculous because Cooper had only played a few games with the team and he had not been in any position to deserve the right to be called captain. The coach of the team, Miron Bleiberg, publicly spoke out against Palmer’s move which led to Palmer suspending Bleiberg for not supporting him. For any other team, this might not be such a big deal, however, Gold Coast United are not just any team. From constantly picking up star players for absurd amounts of money and then those same players not accomplishing anything to constantly having minimal fans and sponsorships at any of their matches, Gold Coast United seems to be going down the drain fast.
The marketing and sales implications of Clive Palmer’s actions are disastrous for both the Gold Coast United soccer team and the Australian A-League in general. This is bad for Gold Coast United because the actions of their immature owner cause them to be constantly losing fans and other potential consumers of their products and services. Also, since no one is going to their games and they are constantly losing fans, nobody wants to become sponsors of the team and the sponsors that the team does have are probably going to move on to other teams relatively soon if they have not already. The actions of Gold Coast United and its owner Clive Palmer are disastrous for the entire Australian A-League because the sports industry in Australia is extremely competitive and, if Gold Coast United is constantly losing fans and sponsors because of their ridiculous actions, that makes the entire league look bad and could cause potential revenue producers to move on to other sports like Australian Rules Football. In conclusion, Gold Coast United and billionaire owner Clive Palmer seem to be taking actions that lead them down a road that ends in dissolution of the team and maybe even of the league.
---
Review by Katie Gebauer in KIN 435 (section 1)
The article Gold Coast: Football Club to Farce explains how another incident by the Gold Coast’s coach Palmer has turned them into a joke. The billionaire, Clive Palmer, funds the Gold Coast team that began in 2009, because like other teams they are struggling with a lack of crowds and lack of sponsorships. Palmer told coach Miron Bleiberg that he was to make the 17-year-old new comer, Mitch Cooper captain for the game against Melbourne Heart. To me it seems that Palmer was trying to achieve new fans by making a young player captain because it showed that he supports youth. Supporting youth could get parents to take their kids to the games, could get young kids to follow the team and players a little more because of their ability to relate to Cooper, and being that Cooper was expected to be very good it could create hype around him which would help out ticket sales and sponsorships. This fact is proven because the first thing I noticed about the article was that Hyatt was the sponsor that Cooper wears on his uniform. What company wouldn’t want to advertise and or sponsor a team or player that is getting that much hype?
The part that Palmer misunderstood about what he did was the affect is would have on the fans. The fans take the game, and the role of captain, very seriously. It is given to someone who shows teamwork and leadership, many fans viewed giving Cooper the role of captain as a joke and a slap in the face to the hard work and effort that the players put into the game. I believe Coach Bleiberg understood this, which is why he assured fans that his role as captain was just a ceremonial gesture. Palmer then came back and suspended Bleiberg because he saw that statement as undermining what he had planned. Being that most of the fans didn’t agree with Cooper becoming captain, the fact that the coach was suspended angered them even more.
Basically this article sums up how this is just one of many instances that Palmer is tarnishing his teams reputation through bad decisions, and how that tarnished reputation may soon lead to the end of this team.
Review by Tyler Copan in KIN 435 (section 1)
The Gold Coast United is a soccer team that plays in the Australian A-League. The team was founded in 2009 by mining magnate Clive Palmer. At their inception, Palmer proclaimed that the team would fly through their inaugural year without a single loss; he was sorely mistaken. Gold Coast United, instead of winning all their games, quickly became the worst and most despicable team in the league. In their latest blunder, Palmer named one of the newest and youngest members of the team, 17-year-old Mitch Cooper, to be the team’s captain in their match against the Melbourne Heat. This action in itself is ridiculous because Cooper had only played a few games with the team and he had not been in any position to deserve the right to be called captain. The coach of the team, Miron Bleiberg, publicly spoke out against Palmer’s move which led to Palmer suspending Bleiberg for not supporting him. For any other team, this might not be such a big deal, however, Gold Coast United are not just any team. From constantly picking up star players for absurd amounts of money and then those same players not accomplishing anything to constantly having minimal fans and sponsorships at any of their matches, Gold Coast United seems to be going down the drain fast.
The marketing and sales implications of Clive Palmer’s actions are disastrous for both the Gold Coast United soccer team and the Australian A-League in general. This is bad for Gold Coast United because the actions of their immature owner cause them to be constantly losing fans and other potential consumers of their products and services. Also, since no one is going to their games and they are constantly losing fans, nobody wants to become sponsors of the team and the sponsors that the team does have are probably going to move on to other teams relatively soon if they have not already. The actions of Gold Coast United and its owner Clive Palmer are disastrous for the entire Australian A-League because the sports industry in Australia is extremely competitive and, if Gold Coast United is constantly losing fans and sponsors because of their ridiculous actions, that makes the entire league look bad and could cause potential revenue producers to move on to other sports like Australian Rules Football. In conclusion, Gold Coast United and billionaire owner Clive Palmer seem to be taking actions that lead them down a road that ends in dissolution of the team and maybe even of the league.
---
Review by Katie Gebauer in KIN 435 (section 1)
The article Gold Coast: Football Club to Farce explains how another incident by the Gold Coast’s coach Palmer has turned them into a joke. The billionaire, Clive Palmer, funds the Gold Coast team that began in 2009, because like other teams they are struggling with a lack of crowds and lack of sponsorships. Palmer told coach Miron Bleiberg that he was to make the 17-year-old new comer, Mitch Cooper captain for the game against Melbourne Heart. To me it seems that Palmer was trying to achieve new fans by making a young player captain because it showed that he supports youth. Supporting youth could get parents to take their kids to the games, could get young kids to follow the team and players a little more because of their ability to relate to Cooper, and being that Cooper was expected to be very good it could create hype around him which would help out ticket sales and sponsorships. This fact is proven because the first thing I noticed about the article was that Hyatt was the sponsor that Cooper wears on his uniform. What company wouldn’t want to advertise and or sponsor a team or player that is getting that much hype?
The part that Palmer misunderstood about what he did was the affect is would have on the fans. The fans take the game, and the role of captain, very seriously. It is given to someone who shows teamwork and leadership, many fans viewed giving Cooper the role of captain as a joke and a slap in the face to the hard work and effort that the players put into the game. I believe Coach Bleiberg understood this, which is why he assured fans that his role as captain was just a ceremonial gesture. Palmer then came back and suspended Bleiberg because he saw that statement as undermining what he had planned. Being that most of the fans didn’t agree with Cooper becoming captain, the fact that the coach was suspended angered them even more.
Basically this article sums up how this is just one of many instances that Palmer is tarnishing his teams reputation through bad decisions, and how that tarnished reputation may soon lead to the end of this team.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
"Marketing moguls, potential sponsors await Patrick's NASCAR punch"
From the Daytona Beach News-Journal
Review by Rick Reardon in KIN 435 (section 2)
In this article the author, Skylar Swisher, discusses the opportunity that is currently in front of Danica Patrick. Danica Patrick won the pole position for the Daytona 500 this past Friday. She is turning all sorts of heads because she is only the third woman to race the Daytona 500, and the first to win the pole there. The author stresses that if she could pull off the upset and win the Sunday at Daytona 500 this Sunday, the marketing opportunities are endless for her. Danica is already extremely well known, 68% of Americans know her by her name or face. This shows that she is already a well known house hold name, and winning this race could only bolster that. She is even very popular amongst avid NASCAR fans, 87% of Americans said that they are hoping that Danica does well in the race, and 80% said that she is good for the support. So across the board she has positive support from all fans already, a win could only help that stat. If Danica would win the race it could attract all sorts of non traditional sponsors to NASCAR, and especially to Patrick. Swisher gives some examples of what kind of non traditional sponsors she could attract. He says that she could attract sponsors everywhere from lotion, all the way to wine. Danica Patrick, could cause sponsors to go away from the traditional blue-collar and automotive products and start sponsoring mass retailers. This is a great opportunity for the sport of NASCAR as well as Danica herself. She could really help improve the sport as well as her own image.
Review by Rick Reardon in KIN 435 (section 2)
In this article the author, Skylar Swisher, discusses the opportunity that is currently in front of Danica Patrick. Danica Patrick won the pole position for the Daytona 500 this past Friday. She is turning all sorts of heads because she is only the third woman to race the Daytona 500, and the first to win the pole there. The author stresses that if she could pull off the upset and win the Sunday at Daytona 500 this Sunday, the marketing opportunities are endless for her. Danica is already extremely well known, 68% of Americans know her by her name or face. This shows that she is already a well known house hold name, and winning this race could only bolster that. She is even very popular amongst avid NASCAR fans, 87% of Americans said that they are hoping that Danica does well in the race, and 80% said that she is good for the support. So across the board she has positive support from all fans already, a win could only help that stat. If Danica would win the race it could attract all sorts of non traditional sponsors to NASCAR, and especially to Patrick. Swisher gives some examples of what kind of non traditional sponsors she could attract. He says that she could attract sponsors everywhere from lotion, all the way to wine. Danica Patrick, could cause sponsors to go away from the traditional blue-collar and automotive products and start sponsoring mass retailers. This is a great opportunity for the sport of NASCAR as well as Danica herself. She could really help improve the sport as well as her own image.
Monday, March 19, 2012
"Hints of a Comeback as Woods Secures Deals"
From the New York Times
Review by Chad Mozingo in KIN 435 (section 2)
The article that I have chosen to do a presentation on is “Hints of a Comeback as Woods Secures Deals.” This article was found the in the New York Times on November 24, 2011. The basic over view of the article is about Tiger Woods’s sponsorship’s and how they have changed. It describes the collapse of Tiger Woods image and what impact that had on his endorsement deals. Also, the article described the magnitude of collateral damage that the infidelities had on his annual income through sponsorships. Also since the media exposure of his infidelities and its negative impact on the images of Tiger on people the article also described decline of his quality of play. The two combined has made it tough for him to pick up new sponsors and regain his excessive monetary situation that he once had.
Throughout the article it constantly explains marketing concepts such as the marketability of Tiger before and has the infidelities. It shows the ways in which athletes can be paid such as stock grants into companies and the large amounts of money that they can be worth. It also hints at the athlete side of the situation such as how Tiger will not just side with anyone as a partner because if he partners with a poor company it may bring down his image which is ultimately worth the majority of the money.
Friday, March 16, 2012
"The Lines Between Social Media And Sports Continue To Blur"
Review by Josh Ruffner in KIN 435 (section 1)
This article is about how sports teams are starting to implement social media into their marketing campaigns. They are really trying to increase interaction between fans, players, and the teams. Social media usage has become a huge asset to our daily lives. The one that is talked about within this article is Twitter.
The Philadelphia Wings decided to have a special jersey night with the players donning their twitter handles on the backs of their jerseys. The idea behind this was to create an interaction between the fans and players. The jerseys were later raffled off for a charity event. Social media is starting to become widely used in sports marketing. It is easier to engage the fans through social media because everybody is using it. I personally think this was a great idea for the Philadelphia Wings as it increases interaction between the players and fans. I think that Twitter could have a huge future in the marketing of sports. By following teams on Twitter fans are always up-to-date about what is going on with their favorite teams. Since the Wings were the first team to implement this idea, I think others will surely give it a try. I also think this may benefit the smaller leagues because they can become more connected with their fan base through social media usage. I am not really sure how this will factor into the four major sports as many people are already connected with their favorite teams through some sort of social media channel.
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Review by Peter Billups in KIN 435 (section 1)
A recent article in Forbes Magazine titled, “The Lines Between Social Media and Sports Continue To Blur,” addresses the February 12th National League Lacrosse game in which the Philadelphia Wings wore jerseys with the players Twitter handles on them. This marks the first time a North American Professional Sports team has done such a promotion. This promotion was genius; the team and league received a great amount of free exposure due to the jerseys. The NLL and Philadelphia Wings received more airtime on SportsCenter and other news channels channels across the country as well as articles in many magazines including the one in Forbes Magazine. Not mentioned in the article was the fact that after the game the jerseys were auctioned off, with proceeds going to support the American Cancer Society. Obviously, the intent of having these jerseys made, worn once and auctioned off was to provide a unique marketing experience for the Philadelphia Wings and provide an opportunity for fans to engage with the athletes via Twitter.
I thoroughly enjoyed this article. It raises many questions and encourages any sport business professional to consider the future of social media relating to sports. Steve Olenski, a freelance advertising and marketing writer/blogger concludes the article with the question, is “the use of Twitter handles and jerseys, a one time thing? Or do you think this is only the beginning?” I believe that this is only the beginning but the use of Twitter handles on team jerseys will not immediately be duplicated by other professional teams.
The sports purest would be against Twitter jerseys and right now I think management would be against it as well. This practice puts emphasis on the individual players. Why promote fan focus on the individual athletes instead of the team? Many players leave in free agency and those players can easily take fans with them through the use of today’s technology which makes keeping track of your favorite players a click away. The article focuses on the merchandise sales and makes the reader believe that Twitter jerseys could sell and lead to more Twitter gear. I believe that this is not the case, despite the fact that the line between social media and sports is becoming less clear. Fans value tradition and Twitter handles on jerseys is a deviation from tradition. One possibility is first to present Twitter handles in the programs and on the jumbotrons, more or less testing the response. The NLL and the Wings received positive results from the promotion since they found a new way to get publicity and had the positive image of helping those in need. Twitter reaches millions of people, especially those that economically support online marketing. It is inevitable that Twitter is used by major sports programs; but to add Twitter names on jerseys further divides athlete with team.
"Nationals limiting group sales to boost Take Back the Park campaign"
From the Washington Post
Review by Kristen Rauch in KIN 435 (section 2)
Looking at the crowd in Nationals Stadium on Opening Day two years ago, one would have thought they were at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Phillies fans flooded the capital in 2010, which is why the Washington Nationals have launched a promotion campaign called “Take Back the Park” for this season’s series against the Phillies in May. Andrew Feffer, the Nationals’ COO, claims that this year is “a different day,” as the campaign aims to get the majority of seats filled with Washington fans.
The Take Back the Park promotion offers a special presale of single-game tickets available only to those who live in DC, Maryland, or Virginia. The presale opened at 7:00 am on Friday, February 3rd, and will continue until a yet-to-be-specified date. During this time, Nationals season-ticket holders and residents of the DMV area are encouraged to register for the offer, although eligibility for presale does not guarantee availability of those tickets; tickets are subject to a first-come, first-served basis. Along with this promotion, Feffer has made an appeal to local fans that “filling the park is not only about the Nationals and Phillies, but rather a civic issue.” He hopes the community will band together and take advantage of this opportunity to reclaim what is theirs: Nationals Park.
What does Take Back the Park mean for Phillies fans? They will not be able to purchase tickets to the series until the conclusion of the promotion, and even then, the group tickets they do buy will be at a non-discount rate. This has upset many of the Philadelphia tour operators who generate their income by grouping bus tickets to Nationals Park with tickets to the games. Feffer wants to make sure that Nationals fans get the opportunity to get a ticket to the game before Phillies fans, but once the promotion is over the remaining single-game tickets will go on sale to anyone.
In my opinion, this promotion plan has potential for short-term success. I think that Take Back the Park will get local Nats fans to become more aware of the rivalry with the Phillies, and realizing that this opponent has really “taken away” their stadium, competitiveness will set in and Washington fans will want to reclaim what is theirs. In the long-run, however, attendance ratios at Nationals-Phillies games will really depend on whether or not the Nats win. The new promotion idea will excite the people of Washington for the first series, but if the Nationals are not winning it will have a negative effect on the number of DMV residents who take advantage of the presale and attend future games. Furthermore, limiting group ticket sales may anger Phillies fans, potentially resulting in poorer sportsmanship from those that do end up getting seats in the stadium.
"Peyton Manning nears decision on his next team"
From Los Angeles Times
Review by Michael Smith in KIN 435 (section 2)
Almost all football fans know that the NFL opens up the free agencies today March 13th, 2012. However many people are speculating over Peyton Manning’s free agency. Right now Manning has the headline of the “hot topic” within the NFL. Many players have been released due to an expired contract or teams no longer have the interest or money to sign them. In Peyton Manning’s case, both problems are present, but not for the reasons you might think. Peyton Manning was released by the Indianapolis Colts because they didn’t want nor could not pay him the $28 million dollar bonus he “deserved”.
When the Indianapolis Colts and owner Jim Irsay decided to part ways with quarterback Peyton Manning on March 7, 2012, Irsay insisted that the $28 million bonus and additional $7.4 million for Manning's 2012 salary he was due to receive on March 8 had no effect on the decision. Petyon Manning is 35-years-old and is a four-time MVP quarterback. Manning previously underwent surgery to surgically fuse his neck and is coming off a season where he didn't play a single game. While Peyton Manning's impact on the field is undeniable after witnessing the Colts' 2-14 record without him, his impact on the Indianapolis Colts ticket sales is equally amazing. Without Peyton Manning last season the Colts ticket sales dropped by 90% from the previous season and the average ticket price dropped by almost 60%. Peyton Manning's impact both on and off the field to the Colts' organization this past year is undeniable.
When Peyton Manning signed his last Colts contract on July 30, 2011, the contract was for 5 years and $90 million, an average of $18 million a year. While Jim Irsay, the Colts General Manager, wanted to make him the highest-paid player in NFL history, Manning chose to accept less money in order to free up the Colts front office to be able to sign other players. "Whether I deserve to be the highest-paid player over the next five years is irrelevant," Manning said. "I would rather them use that money and keep the players they want to keep and get other players".
Peyton Manning is gone now, and it remains to be seen what the economic impact his absence will have on Colts' ticket sales moving forward. The places that he might end up being a quarterback for the rest of his career are endless. Every team wants his ability, leadership and big name. The fight for Peyton is ongoing but many prospective teams are supposed to be nearing a decision by the end of this week.
Review by Michael Smith in KIN 435 (section 2)
Almost all football fans know that the NFL opens up the free agencies today March 13th, 2012. However many people are speculating over Peyton Manning’s free agency. Right now Manning has the headline of the “hot topic” within the NFL. Many players have been released due to an expired contract or teams no longer have the interest or money to sign them. In Peyton Manning’s case, both problems are present, but not for the reasons you might think. Peyton Manning was released by the Indianapolis Colts because they didn’t want nor could not pay him the $28 million dollar bonus he “deserved”.
When the Indianapolis Colts and owner Jim Irsay decided to part ways with quarterback Peyton Manning on March 7, 2012, Irsay insisted that the $28 million bonus and additional $7.4 million for Manning's 2012 salary he was due to receive on March 8 had no effect on the decision. Petyon Manning is 35-years-old and is a four-time MVP quarterback. Manning previously underwent surgery to surgically fuse his neck and is coming off a season where he didn't play a single game. While Peyton Manning's impact on the field is undeniable after witnessing the Colts' 2-14 record without him, his impact on the Indianapolis Colts ticket sales is equally amazing. Without Peyton Manning last season the Colts ticket sales dropped by 90% from the previous season and the average ticket price dropped by almost 60%. Peyton Manning's impact both on and off the field to the Colts' organization this past year is undeniable.
When Peyton Manning signed his last Colts contract on July 30, 2011, the contract was for 5 years and $90 million, an average of $18 million a year. While Jim Irsay, the Colts General Manager, wanted to make him the highest-paid player in NFL history, Manning chose to accept less money in order to free up the Colts front office to be able to sign other players. "Whether I deserve to be the highest-paid player over the next five years is irrelevant," Manning said. "I would rather them use that money and keep the players they want to keep and get other players".
Peyton Manning is gone now, and it remains to be seen what the economic impact his absence will have on Colts' ticket sales moving forward. The places that he might end up being a quarterback for the rest of his career are endless. Every team wants his ability, leadership and big name. The fight for Peyton is ongoing but many prospective teams are supposed to be nearing a decision by the end of this week.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Richmond Flying Squirrels Game Day Internship
This position is open to
students looking for credit or experience in minor league baseball. Throughout this internship students will
experience all facets of Minor League Baseball including ticketing, promotions,
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Quality candidates must be creative minded, possess solid communications
skills and be able to work on multiple projects simultaneously. Individual must
work successfully in a team environment
and most of all be able to have FUNN!
Click here for more details.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
"Under Armour Signs Groundbreaking Deal With Tough Mudder"
From Forbes
Review by Joe Gochenour in KIN 435 (section 1)
In this article, Under Armour signed a two-year deal worth 2-3 million dollars with Tough Mudder to be the official clothing company as well as advertising throughout their events. This sponsorship gives Under Armour exclusive rights to all apparel and footwear for this hot company that is on the rise.
Tough Mudder was created in 2010 by Harvard graduate Will Dean, and has grown consistently into 2011 and is expected to have continued growth into the future. In 2010, they started the event with 3 races total and brought in a total of 3 million dollars. Following up 2010, in 2010 they brought in 16 million dollars and are expecting to continue by adding new markets into 2012 and expanding.
One of the biggest drawing points for Tough Mudder is there contribution to the Wounded Warrior Project. In 2010, they raised 482 thousand dollars towards this charity. Many people associate this event with the WWP that draws many new competitors as well as veterans who see their entry fee going to a good cause. Forbes has Tough Mudder as one of the top upcoming businesses to watch for.
This new partnership that was created is certainly a win-win situation for both companies. The Tough Mudder is an intense event that takes training and dedication to do. Under Armour saw this opportunity to expand and reach a market in training gear for those looking to rise to this challenge. If you look at Under Armour’s website, they have multiple specialized pages dedicated to Tough Mudder. They offer all types of apparel and footwear for those training, competing, as well as spectators and on-lookers.
Under Armour has created a unique marketing advantage by joining with Tough Mudder being the exclusive provider for this event. Tough Mudder has grown from three races, fifteen races and is planning on thirty-two events in 2012. As this event continues with growth, more Tough Mudder and workout enthusiasts will be looking to Under Armour as their go-to for their fitness needs.
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Tough Mudder is one of the hottest growing companies in the world that holds endurance races over obstacle courses. Forbes magazine has names Tough Mudder one of the top “Names you need to know” for up and coming businesses. Tough Mudder started out in 2010 with only three events, and in 2011 grew to 15 events. In 2012, Tough Mudder expects to hold 32 endurance events, mostly in the United States. Event participation may reach close to 500,000 and Tough Mudder’s revenue is expected to be around 25 million dollars in 2012. With the tremendous success of Tough Mudder, they signed a two to three million dollar agreement with Under Armour, to represent the first endurance event sponsorships. This deal gives Under Armour the exclusive rights to be the only apparel and footwear provider for the Tough Mudder events.
Under Armour and Tough Mudder have agreed to do a promotion for the endurance events, in which Under Armour will provide a variety of different gear for participants, spectators, and those training for Tough Mudder events. This promotion will provide many opportunities for both companies. Under Armour will benefit from this deal because these events will create new areas for Under Armour to sell their product, they will have an opportunity for those around the endurances events to become familiar with their product, and they will have a chance to gain new customers. Tough Mudder will benefit from this deal because they will now be sponsored by a well-established company that will nicely compliment Tough Mudder and help expand interest in the endurance events.
I think that Tough Mudder made an excellent marketing decision to sign a deal with Under Armour. This deal is a win-win situation for both companies because they complement each other well and will help define what image a customer considers when they see or hear Under Armour and Tough Mudder. This deal will help increase interest and participation with endurance events, and also help Under Armour gain a higher market share in sporting apparel and footwear. I think in the future when a customer considers Under Armour, they will think about extreme endurance and team work and Under Armour will be proud of that image.
"Bobsled and skeleton team hope success attracts new sponsors to fill the void"
From The Canadian Press
Review by James Hemphill in KIN 435 (section 2)
The Canadian bobsled and skeleton teams are going to lose their main corporate sponsor after this season. VISA, which has been their sponsor for twenty years, is looking for other opportunities and will not continue their partnership with the Canadian national team. It is a significant loss to the team because VISA generated roughly $350,000 annually to the team. That is around twenty percent of the program’s annual budget of between $3 million and $4 million. The national organization is also preparing for a budget reduction for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
In order to combat these financial difficulties, two of the top athletes, Melissa Hollingsworth and Jon Montgomery, are considering placing their faces on billboards in order to attempt to sway new sponsors. Hollingsworth is even open to putting a “For Sale” sign on any part of her uniform or her sled. The two athletes have a billboard campaign with the slogan “Give us a push. Gravity will do the rest”. However, this campaign has not been very successful because Olympic marketing is tied into the London Games later this year.
Own the Podium has helped the top athletes in bobsled and skeleton receive $2.3 million, but this does not benefit the younger athletes develop the program through innovation and equipment experimentation. With the lack of sponsorship, developmental programs might be cut and there may be increases in individual fees for athletes. Olympic athletes have to pay both a $336 national team membership fee and a $4,600 fee for bobsled or $3,600 fee for skeleton. The main technique to help keep the program running, membership costs stable, and the acquirement of sponsors is by continuing to win this winter and in the future.
Sponsorships are important in any sport, but especially in Olympic sports such as bobsled and skeleton. Without their VISA sponsorship, the Canadian bobsled and skeleton team simply does not have the funding to continue to finance their international program. Hopefully, once the 2012 Summer Games in London are completed, the team will have the opportunity to gain a major sponsor for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. The key for the Canadian national team is continuing to triumph as they did in the 2010 Winter Games. In Vancouver, they won four Olympic medals including two gold medals. Sponsors want to align themselves with winners because more people tune in to watch the gold medal contending programs and those programs usually sell more merchandise. It is likely that the Canadian team will partner themselves with a sponsor before the 2014 Olympic Games, but that is still to be determined.
Review by James Hemphill in KIN 435 (section 2)
The Canadian bobsled and skeleton teams are going to lose their main corporate sponsor after this season. VISA, which has been their sponsor for twenty years, is looking for other opportunities and will not continue their partnership with the Canadian national team. It is a significant loss to the team because VISA generated roughly $350,000 annually to the team. That is around twenty percent of the program’s annual budget of between $3 million and $4 million. The national organization is also preparing for a budget reduction for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
In order to combat these financial difficulties, two of the top athletes, Melissa Hollingsworth and Jon Montgomery, are considering placing their faces on billboards in order to attempt to sway new sponsors. Hollingsworth is even open to putting a “For Sale” sign on any part of her uniform or her sled. The two athletes have a billboard campaign with the slogan “Give us a push. Gravity will do the rest”. However, this campaign has not been very successful because Olympic marketing is tied into the London Games later this year.
Own the Podium has helped the top athletes in bobsled and skeleton receive $2.3 million, but this does not benefit the younger athletes develop the program through innovation and equipment experimentation. With the lack of sponsorship, developmental programs might be cut and there may be increases in individual fees for athletes. Olympic athletes have to pay both a $336 national team membership fee and a $4,600 fee for bobsled or $3,600 fee for skeleton. The main technique to help keep the program running, membership costs stable, and the acquirement of sponsors is by continuing to win this winter and in the future.
Sponsorships are important in any sport, but especially in Olympic sports such as bobsled and skeleton. Without their VISA sponsorship, the Canadian bobsled and skeleton team simply does not have the funding to continue to finance their international program. Hopefully, once the 2012 Summer Games in London are completed, the team will have the opportunity to gain a major sponsor for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. The key for the Canadian national team is continuing to triumph as they did in the 2010 Winter Games. In Vancouver, they won four Olympic medals including two gold medals. Sponsors want to align themselves with winners because more people tune in to watch the gold medal contending programs and those programs usually sell more merchandise. It is likely that the Canadian team will partner themselves with a sponsor before the 2014 Olympic Games, but that is still to be determined.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
"Nationals Fight Invasion of Phillies Fans with Ticket-Sale Restrictions"
From Athletic Business
Review by Tarik Hislop in KIN 435 (section 1)
In the article, “Nationals Fight Invasion of Phillies Fans with Ticket-Sales Restrictions,” National’s Chief Operating Officer Andy Feffer told the Post, "Forget you, Philly. This is our park, this is our town, these are our fans, and it's our time right now." His goal is to prevent the Philly Fans from taking over their ballpark. In doing so, Feffer and the Nationals Organization are selling single-game tickets only to people who live in the DMV area. This is one way of controlling the type of fans that attend the baseball game.
Feffer is really annoyed by Phillies fans, which he expresses in this quote. "We've heard it enough, we've seen it enough, and I don't like it any more than anyone else," he said. "We're trying to build a team here, and nothing irks me personally or the people here more than to see another team's fans - particularly Philly fans - in our ballpark, holding up signs. That's not the way it should be. And I think we've got an opportunity here to do something different." Andy Feffer wants to change the culture of the organization, and turn the Nationals Baseball Team into a winning program, which is very evident in his efforts to attract more of “their” fans.
I believe this strategy will work IF they actually convince fans to come out and support. Hopefully, an increase of fan support will give the Nationals something to play for and improve their record so their fan base can continue to increase. These are all things Andy Feffer and The National’s Organization are working towards.
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Review by Ryan Smith in KIN 435 (section 1)
I chose to read the article “Nationals Fight Invasion of Phillies Fans with Ticket Sales Restrictions." This article discusses how the Washington Nationals are fed up with the Phillies fans taking over their ballpark. The Nationals Chief Operating Officer is even quoted saying “forget you Philly. This is our ballpark, this is our town, these are our fans, and it’s our time right now.” It is easy to see how this problem arises because with the Phillies winning success and their devoted fan base, they don’t have a problem with traveling to see their baseball team play. Not to mention that driving from Philly to Washington isn’t all that bad of a drive.
So in a plan to “Take Back to Park” as the Nationals call it, they have strategized for the first series with the Phillies by only selling single-game tickets to Maryland, Washington, and Virginia residents. This ticket restriction will go on for the next month before opening ticketing sales up for everyone else to purchase. The Phillies organization basically laughed at this plan implemented by the Washington Nationals. They go on to mention that they (Phillies) have never experienced their park being taken over by another ball team because as long as you are winning games, you don’t have to worry about such a problem.
In conclusion, I believe that this plan that the Nationals has come up with is terrible. I think that it’s just a lousy excuse as for why they can’t get fans to come out to the games. Looking at the bigger picture this might be a good idea for the Washington Nationals but the real solution for this problem is simple, just win games and your fan base will naturally increase.
"FILA taps tennis star Jelena Jankovic for endorsement deal"
This article is about FILA’s decision to make an endorsement deal with Jelena Jankovic. She was born and raised inBelgrade, Serbia. Jankovic was the first Serbian player to win a Grand Slam title when she won the Wimbledon mixed doubles. She was ranked Number 1 until 2009 when she was defeated by Serena Williams. Also in 2009, she wasn’t re-signed by Reebok and had a previous contract with ANTA a Chinese-based sportswear company. Her playing style is mostly known for consistency and being able to effectively slide on any surface she plays on.
FILA is a brand that is internationally successful except in the US. Some of their sponsorships include players like Grant Hill, Jerry Stackhouse, and Barry Bonds. These players aren’t as popular as they were in the 80s and 90s, which probably had a huge effect on FILA’s marketing in the United States. All together FILA had, or has 23 tennis athletes as endorsements, but only two are American. This article begs the question that though Jankovic is a good player, what makes her so special that she could influence a lot of people to think about FILA or their products. I haven’t heard about FILA since I was a child, so I had no clue that it still existed. If my favorite player started wearing FILA apparel tomorrow, I can’t honestly say that I would start wearing it, but it would make me think twice before I just put the brand down as a whole.
FILA has reached out to Jankovic because she is a great player with a great attitude about her profession and her life. Currently she is out with an injury, so I wonder how that would damper their plans to market in commercials and during different tournaments. Nevertheless, FILA is continuing its trend of reaching out to athletes of different ethnicities to strengthen its brand as a whole.
"Cycling Sponsor Gets Warm and Fuzzy"
From Roadcycling.com
Review by Justin Thorpe in KIN 435 (section 2)
We all know that doping, which is known as the administration of drugs to enhance or inhibit sporting performances, is frowned upon in almost every sport. Cycling is one of the many sports in which doping is considered illegal for individuals to do. In the article, “Cycling Sponsor gets Warm and Fuzzy”, it talks about a cyclist named Contador who has been involved in doping scandals and has failed drug tests relating to using performance enhancing drugs. Although, Contador has been found guilty for using performance enhancing drugs his sponsors, Saxo Bank, has remained loyal to him and continue to sponsor him during his difficulties. Most sponsors are known to revoke their sponsorships from individuals who are involved in doping scandals or have failed drug tests relating to the issue, such as T-Mobile and Milram. T-Mobile and Milram pulled their sponsorship away from Floyd Landis Phonak immediately after he was involved in a doping scandal. Saxo Bank continued to sponsor Contador because they state that they “support their clients in their moments of success and also of difficulty, and this is equally valid for our riders”. Although Saxo Bank stated that they basically stay with their clients through the good and bad of their sport careers, it is believed that Saxo Bank continued to stay with Contador because of the money that he has and can bring to them. Everyone knows that the economy right now is not at its best and therefore I understand why Saxo Bank would continue to stay with Contador. He is a great cyclist who has won many cycling tours, such as recently having two stage wins in the Tour of San Luis in Argentina. Although the punishment of being involved in a doping scandal, in Germany, is a two year ban, I feel that Saxo Bank is smart by staying with Contador because they know that once Contador ban is completed he will be back cycling in full force and would be capable of winning tours and money to give to his sponsorship.
Friday, February 10, 2012
8th Annual Charlotte Bobcats Career Fair
The Charlotte Bobcats career fair will be held on Friday, March 30 from 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm at Time Warner Cable Arena. There is a $23 registration fee that accompanies this event as they work to bring some of the best companies in the region to their career fair. This event is beneficial for employers, potential employees, or internship seekers. The registration fee helps us ensure a high quality event for everyone and gives an opportunity for everyone to see firsthand the inner workings of the sports and entertainment industry.
Not only does the registration grant access to the career fair, but it includes a ticket to that evening’s game against the Denver Nuggets at 7:00 pm. This will give the participants interested in the sports industry an opportunity to see how an arena is transformed and how many different avenues there are to work in our industry.
There are three ways to register;
· Fill out the flyer in its entirety out and then email, fax, or mail in to Time Warner Cable Arena
· Call and register over the phone directly with a Bobcats Account Executive
· Register online and enter the Special Offer Code: CAREER
The Bobcats will also be updating www.bobcats.com/careerfair, with the latest vendors that will be present and current information on the career fair itself.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
"More Fans Can Look Forward to Affordability in 2012"
Article from Athletic Business
Review by Michael Prince in KIN 435 (section 2)
The article talked about how teams have been struggling to fill their stadiums. With the economy not being the best, teams have to find new ways to put people in the seats. The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off playoff appearances in two out of three years and still are having problems with attendance. Cincinnati will reduce prices for more than 14,500 seats in this upcoming 2012 season. They are pushing their youth movement to the fans telling them that they have a lot of talent and are looking to have a big turn out this season.
Not only are teams in the NFL having problems filling their seats but leagues such as the MLB, NBA and college level are rethinking their marketing strategies. Teams are beginning to reduce prices on certain seating to bring in more fans and money. I think this could work out well for the teams that do this. It only seems that the big name teams such as the Yankees, Red Sox, and the Patriots are consistently selling out each game. So the teams with the smaller market or the team is just not as good have to find something that can help bring in revenue. Normally you don’t see teams lowering ticket prices, but instead increasing them. In this case, teams are doing the opposite which goes against any basic marketing principle.
Time will only tell if this new marketing style will pay off. Marketers will have to do a good job of letting the public know of the price reductions through social media, television, flyers, etc. I think if the public knows that this is the new trend in sports they will be more prone to going to games. I know personally I will be going to more Orioles/Nationals games if they do some sort of price reduction on their seats. This article is just the start of more to come for other teams. I think as teams see how well reducing prices does for teams, you will start to see more and more teams begin to reduce prices. Overall, I believe that this will be beneficial for both the organizations and fans.
Review by Michael Prince in KIN 435 (section 2)
The article talked about how teams have been struggling to fill their stadiums. With the economy not being the best, teams have to find new ways to put people in the seats. The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off playoff appearances in two out of three years and still are having problems with attendance. Cincinnati will reduce prices for more than 14,500 seats in this upcoming 2012 season. They are pushing their youth movement to the fans telling them that they have a lot of talent and are looking to have a big turn out this season.
Not only are teams in the NFL having problems filling their seats but leagues such as the MLB, NBA and college level are rethinking their marketing strategies. Teams are beginning to reduce prices on certain seating to bring in more fans and money. I think this could work out well for the teams that do this. It only seems that the big name teams such as the Yankees, Red Sox, and the Patriots are consistently selling out each game. So the teams with the smaller market or the team is just not as good have to find something that can help bring in revenue. Normally you don’t see teams lowering ticket prices, but instead increasing them. In this case, teams are doing the opposite which goes against any basic marketing principle.
Time will only tell if this new marketing style will pay off. Marketers will have to do a good job of letting the public know of the price reductions through social media, television, flyers, etc. I think if the public knows that this is the new trend in sports they will be more prone to going to games. I know personally I will be going to more Orioles/Nationals games if they do some sort of price reduction on their seats. This article is just the start of more to come for other teams. I think as teams see how well reducing prices does for teams, you will start to see more and more teams begin to reduce prices. Overall, I believe that this will be beneficial for both the organizations and fans.
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