Future of Sports Marketing

Technology is advancing and leaving modern day accessories become obsolete more every day. With the latest mobile devices people are able to access limitless information and entertainment by a touch of the screen. Many sports oraganizations are keeping up with the movement and developing applications for their fans to access on the phone. These applications allow the fan to obtain post game reports, trading news and rumors, statistics, apparel, and ticketing. By creating these applications fans are not required to use a computer to have access to their favorite teams news and information. Also phone users are able to access their social networking sites where the same information is obtainable for individuals without the applications. As technology continues to advance so will the ability for sports markets to attract their target market.

Some phones have the ability to provide X-Ray photographs

Here is a link to a Los Angeles Lakers Forum Application:  http://www.clublakers.com/announces/new-club-lakers-iphone-app-t115083-20.html

Getting Dropped By Sponsors

Micheal Phelps is a classic example of how personal life of a sports superstar can effect their business life. Phelps was discovered to be a marijuana user when a photo was released of him smoking out of a cannabis pipe. After the release of the photo Phelps was suspended from any racing action, and dropped by a few sponsors but kept by many as well. Kelloggs a cereal company whose target market is children dropped their sponsorship with Phelps to dispatch any connection between them and the "weed smoker." But individuals such as Speedo kept the endorsement because their target market was not children who are incorruptible by what their "heroes" are involved in. Similar situation was when Tiger Woods was discovered of having multiple affairs with numerous women. Because of the image these athletes have anything done wrong could be seen as a cancer to the endorcing company. With a tarnished image the company feels that they will be included with supporting the athletes wrong doings. Many companies have dropped enforcement contracts due to unrelated actions by the athletes and will continue to do so if the feel their company will be effected or their name tanished by the outcome.

Honda Center Partnership Opportunities

When it comes to the signage of a stadium or event, from the perspective of the sponsor its an opportunity to promote your company and getting your name out. Also additional promotions such as half court shots or eating contests hosted by the company help with advertising. From a generic view the signage becomes a chance to advertise and promote your company as mush as the company wants depending on sponsorship agreements. Downsides or over-commercialization comes when the company has displayed their name too much and are no longer to obtain the interest of their consumers by their once entertaining gimmicks and promotions. Also including media coverage with too many advertising pitches in commercials on television or radio.Even though promoting your name is a great opportunity for the company, over doing it could be less effective and costly.


















Honda Center- Home of the Mighty Ducks

What sponsors really want

Most sports teams collegiate and professional have some sort of sponsor for their teams. But these sponsorships are not just handed out by companies, many of these businesses have strict policies and guidelines for the teams. For example, Adolph Coors Company has a few requirements for teams such as; national media coverage, sponsored teams must be leaders in their sport, and previous of any sponsorships teams are required to rank highly on beer drinker index surveys, and scoring highly on sports calculus scale. Also for sponsored events they require that the event cost is less than 1,000 to be considered for funding. Companies such as FedEx believe in spending the appropriate amount of money to sponsor a team rather than a good amount. Their goals for sponsorships are drive revenue, providing opportunity to entertain customers, sales platform for developing relationships, create benefits for employees, and drive the brand. As a sponsor they are more focused on achieving objectives than the price or cost of the sponsorship. But when it comes down to both companies they are looking for a high revenue, popular event that is likely televised and the teams fan base will appeal to their company's target market.

2012 London Olympic Sponsors

The Olympic Games are a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition. The Games are currently held every two years, with summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating, although they occur every four years within their respective seasonal games. These magnificent event would not be possible without the efforts and contributions from their growing list of fifty (50) sponsors. Most of the contributors are family oriented companies such as McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Visa, and General Electric along with many others. Other companies such as Holiday Inn and Ticket Master are offering their help with the operations handled outside from the Olympic committee like rooming and admittance to the events. Certain companies like Visa have endorsement rights to the Olympics, so rival credit businesses such as Master Card or Discover are unable to advertise with the Olympics. This years games will be held in London, England starting July 27th and finishing on August 12th.
For additional Sponsorship information visit: http://www.london2012.com/about-us/the-people-delivering-the-games/london-2012-olympic-games-partners.php

Social networking is becoming social marketing?

Social networking sites are used heavily by many of athletic teams target markets, ages 14 to 25. These site are even becoming popular and easy to use for individuals ages 30 and up. Sites such as MySpace, Lbibo Twitter, Zoppa, and the most used being Facebook. Sports Teams have begun to use these sites to promote events for their games, advertise apparel and tickets. Also athletes are able to communicate with their fans, friends, and family using these sites. These sites stand as a medium between the organizations and their consumers, giving them a chance to reach individuals who are unable to attend games or events. Also helping fans staying updated with current news of the organization such as trades, signings, injuries, and post game updates. Professional sports are not the only one doing this, many collegiate teams have their own accounts and update the site regularly.  The Big Ten especially has a Facebook and Twitter page. The opportunity's these pages offer extend the publicity and recognition that the teams and athletes are getting from their fans. As long these sites exist and there is a great success they will be continued to be used by athletes, sporting teams, and conferences.

THE GAME is to big for a name??

 When it comes to being sponsored its mainly a necessity for the professionals. When a collegiate team is sponsored by a company they will wear their apparel, but that's as far as it goes.  While professional teams have various sponsors for their games, arenas, and facilities. There are teams, both professional and collegiate, that will take on sponsors to obtain additional funding for their own purposes. Every year The Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines football teams play and this event is considered one of the greatest rivalry games in all of sports. But is has no specific name, only called The Game. Because of the prestigious tradition behind both of progams no name is needed to promote or endorse the event. Many companies would love to have rights to the event because of all the potential publicity but the tradition is more respected and the event is left alone. Similar situations with many collegiate arenas, such as the Big House, are unnamed and hold no sponsorships to preserve the history and tradition of the institution.

Is sport writing for marketing and promotions worth all of the trouble??

Sports writing is more than a post game report. Being able to connect to your audience is half the battle. A sports writer must be informational and entertaining. Sports writing and promotions should be short and sweet, able to catch the readers eyes right away. Also being able to promote and advertise is a key ingredient. Without proper knowledge in the two could lead to a unsuccessful promotional event. Promotions are also growing into the digital world, being able to use modern technology is a vital skill for these writers. Understanding and creating sponsorships or contracts falls into both sports writing and promotions. A sports writer has to be able to negotiate the best deal. As i said before its more than just reporting on a game, there is tons of behind the scenes work to be done such as; story articles, marketing promotions, blogging about the teams progress on and off the field, last being able to communicate with others and obtaining good deals.

Promotions done by minor league, professional, college, and high school teams

Many teams offer a variety of promotions to gain the interest of their consumers. Teams will offer half-court or three point shots, wildest fans, and eating contests for prizes to attract more of the target media. For example, a lot of professional teams will give fans prizes while attending on their birthday or performances at by popular music artist and performers. Sports promotions are more than just gimmicks, people are attracted to side entertainment away from the game, especially if the home teams success is not that admirable. Some individuals will attend events simply for the shows done by performers at half-time or in between innings depending on the popularity. Measuring the success of your promotions is done through ticket, apparel, concessions sales and if your fan base is growing. Also these promotions are a chance to show your consumer that you are also benefiting them and not just the organization.

Bill Veeck, Promoting Extrodinar

 

Bill Veeck was known as a very unique and unorthodox promoter for baseball games. He once advertised mimes to reenact previous plays and offered free vasectomy for a lucky fan. In 1946, Veeck became the owner of a major league team, the Cleveland Indians. He immediately put the team's games on radio. Which would give a chance for fans who are unable to witness the game be able to listen live and have the ability to keep up with the teams progress. The Indians moved to Cleveland Municipal Stadium permanently a year later in 1947. That year he signed Larry Doby as the first African-American player in the American League. That gave a chance not as a marketing promotion, but a publicity stunt. This also gave other African-Americans a chance to play for other teams. As in Milwaukee, Veeck took a unique approach to promotions, hiring Max Patkin, the "Clown Prince of Baseball", as a coach. Patkin's appearance in the coaching box delighted their fans and infuriated the front office of the American League. 

Stars, Cash Cows, Question Marks, and Dogs.

Under Armour is an apparel company based in the United States, best known for its introduction of form-fitting, moisture-wicking clothing designed to be worn under sportswear. Since their start in 1996 Under Armour has become a successful company providing multiple styles of apparel. Their Stars are the cold gear and heat gear sportswear. Cash Cows would include a lot of their other sports wear and spandex gear. Question marks include their shoes and cleats and even sports equipments. Their apparel intended as casual clothing, such as t-shirts and hats are more of the Dogs of the company. After visiting Under Armours main site I was unable to identify how much of their company's profits are distributed through each category.

Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is one of the most notorious events in the world. A game that was televised in 25 countries this year. More than just a football game but also one of the largest business attractions, companies pay $3 million per advertisement shown during the Super Bowl. Even the cost to witness the game live was going for around $3,000 on stubhub. With the games colossal popularity it is a chance for companies to advertise and to have full attention of their target market. Besides all of the entertaining commercials of the Super Bowl, advertising is done through just saying a company's name after or before commercials or during game play, having images displayed in the stadium or on the field, and by providing additional commercial time to promote the NFL or various companies.

sell 10,000 tickets at $2.00 each or 1000 tickets at $20 each?

When it comes to selling tickets the price you can sell them for is all about the success of your athletic program. For example Ohio State mens basketball team charges $60 per ticket, even for infant children, they are also currently ranked #1 in the country, so the better your team the more you can charge for you tickets. As for The Ohio State Womens team they are good program, but for the game they played Michigan they only charged $15 for tickets. Now besides the success of the program the size of the athletic facility also must be put into consideration for ticket prices, you want to sell tickets at a good price to cordinate with the capacity of the facility. Last you have to consider the popularity of the event, if it is a big event such as a rival game or ranked game then the price for tickets could be more. But initally you want to sell tickets to fill your stadium and make the largest possible revenue you can. If you have a facility capable to fill 10,000 seats then you would like to charge a good price to fill the event. Now as for a 1,000 seats for $20, the event must be a popular and high rated event to be able to make your maximum profit.

Sports Blog Spots

Many sports teams involved in many different leagues of competition have bloggers who speak positively about their teams success. These are very helpful to fans and members or the organization to obtain knowledge and information about the success of business plans to the public. The person hired for this job would be in charge of posting recent events of the organizations sporting events. Also information on personnel changes with coaches and players would be posted by the blog. Most and all this is posted to keep everyone interested into their organization and keep interest up in the success and progress of the organization. Teams such as the Steelers could blog about their seasons success and making it to the Super Bowl. The Orlando Magic could blog about the team changing trade the made mid season to improve their teams success. Also teams are able to keep Sports stations and reporters like Espn are updated by blogs with injury, trade, retirements, and resignations news.

WHO AM I??

My name is Aace Johnson. I am from Sidney OH in Southwest OH not Australia. I attended Sidney High School and obtain 7 varsity letters in Football, Basketball, and Track. I played Defensive End and Offensive Tackle in football, Center and Forward in basketball, and in track i threw Shot and Discus also ran many relays such as; 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, and participated in Long Jump, 100m, 200m, 400m dashes. Currently I am a Red-shirt Junior at Tiffin University playing Defensive End. Also, after college i plan to coach at the high school or college level. I plan on coaching for a few years and try to advance towards an athletic director position. I have also considerd sports agent or administrative position.