The Sportsbiz Weekly Buzz is a collection of articles curated by Sports Networker’s Online Marketing Coordinator – Steve Richards 

Sports Business

Baseball, Not Football, Has the Super Salaries

“Welker makes $2.5 million a year. That’s a great haul until you consider what a worker bee like Welker would make in a baseball uniform. There always has been a crazy salary disparity between America’s pastime (baseball) and America’s obsession (pro football). But it has become so insane that Indianapolis police should be on alert this week. NFL players need to buy drums, stop showering and pitch tents outside Lucas Oil Stadium. It’s time to Occupy the Super Bowl. The can’t-miss slogan: ‘We Are the 100 Percent That Makes Less Than Vernon Wells!’”

Palace of Auburn Hills May Eliminate Half of It’s Luxury Suite Suites

“After 11 home games this season, the struggling Pistons (4-18) are averaging 12,619 fans a game, worst in the 30-team National Basketball Association.”

Sports Networking

10 Pro Tips for Writers Using Social Media

“We recently covered 10 inspiring social networks for writers that can help you extend your influence and develop your content. But what about the mainstream networks? How do you successfully raise your profile and gain a following? Six well-known authors and writers, who are experts in this type of personal branding, share their methods and suggestions on how to use social media to push yourself forward in the writing industry. Whether you’ve been using social media for a while or you’re just starting out, you might learn something new.”

Managing Your Personal Brand Via Online Presence and Reputation

An interesting and fun graphic look at how you can boast and manage your person brand in four easy-to-follow bullet points.

Sports Marketing

Lucas Oil Gets Brand Boost From Super Bowl Venue

“Any company with its name attached to the Super Bowl is about to score one of its biggest marketing bounces of the year. And none will realize a bigger victory than California-based Lucas Oil Co.”

The Super Bowl’s Real ROI

“Each year, it seems the Super Bowl gets further hyped and inflated. Witness the 7,200 fans who paid $25 just to observe Super Bowl XLVI’s Media Day on Jan. 31—an event for which NFL Network provided “nearly five hours of coverage,” to cite USA Today. Through Sunday, host city Indianapolis expects to receive up to 150,000 celebrities, corporate executives, and well-to-do football fans, with an estimated economic impact of $150 million, according to the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Assn.”

Sports Sponsorship

Engaging Audiences Through Sports Sponsorship

“A brand will enter the world of sponsorship with an objective; typically – and in the most part historically – to raise awareness. Now however, sponsorship has the ability to deliver so much more; to enhance the reputation of a brand and bring positive association to the values and core DNA which defines that brand. This potential brings with it the importance to define ‘why’ – why a brand has associated itself with a specific event or initiative.”

It’s A Shame Nesbitt Has To Go Outside Canada for Key Sponsor

“When speed skater Christine Nesbitt competed at the world sprint championships last weekend, one of her more prominent sponsors was a Dutch telecom company, Galaxy Group.

You can see them displayed here over her heart and on her left shoulder.”

Sports Sales

Luxury Suites Rule In Professional Sports Revenue

“All 137 luxury suites at Lucas Oil Stadium were sold out months before the opening kick-off for Super Bowl XLVI, according to stadium officials in Indianapolis. With a minimum reported price of $80,000 per box, that kind of money has turned luxury-suite revenue into one of the most dominant forces in sports, analysts say.” - Makes you wonder if the Pistons best move is cutting their luxury suites in half to add a restaurant.

Why More Pro Athletes are Scoring Franchises After Sports Fame

“Jamal Mashburn had everything an athlete could dream of. During his 12 years in the NBA in the 1990s and early 2000s, ‘Monster Mash’ was instrumental in turning around the Dallas Mavericks; he also set several scoring records and was even selected for the All-Star Game while playing for the New Orleans Hornets. But despite all that success, he couldn’t stop thinking about briefcases.”

Sports Social Media

Super Bowl XLVI Just Became America’s Most Tweeted Sporting Event

“Super Bowl XLVI just became America’s most tweeted sporting event after the game between the New England Patriots and New York Giants hit a record average of 12,233 tweets per second (TPS), according to Twitter.”

Wolves Control Their Own Message With Twitter

“[Kevin] Love had chosen to announce the extension via Twitter, a move that’s become more popular among athletes in recent years but is still far from the norm. In 2010, Kevin Durant announced his extension with Oklahoma City on Twitter, and C.C. Sabathia tweeted to inform the world that he’d signed a new contract with the Yankees in October. Shaquille O’Neal even announced his retirement last June via the social media site.”

Sports Media

NBC Only Good, Not Super

“NBC didn’t have a bad Super Bowl. Not by any measurement. But it could have – and should have – been better. The networks all do such a good job of covering major events like Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVI that our expectations are high. Some at the network level might say too high, but I don’t think so in this case.”

U.S. Shuts 16 Sports Piracy Websites Pre-Super Bowl

“Three days before Super Bowl XLVI, U.S. prosecutors said they seized 16 websites that illegally streamed live sports and pay-per-view events over the Internet, and charged a Michigan man with running nine of those websites.”

Sports Technology

ESPN: “Mobile is the Primary Way We Reach an Audience”

“After revolutionizing the way people receive their sports information with the 24-hour network ESPN and its sister stations, Michael Bayle, VP and general manager of ESPN mobile, seeks to change it all over again.  In a keynote address at the MediaPost’s Mobile Insider Summit in Key Largo, Florida, Bayle detailed how it now considers mobile the ‘first screen,’ as almost 150,000 people access its mobile offerings at any given time.  According to Bayle, mobile is the most effective way to reach an audience “from an international standpoint.”

How The Super Bowl Is Going High Tech in 2012

“Football isn’t a high-tech sport, though many great football video games have been made for those of us not built for the real thing. This year, however, the Superbowl is going high-tech. Advertisers are tapping into social media to help promote their ads and products. And the NFL is streaming the game live for the first time ever. Even the security at Superbowl XLVI is high-tech.”

Sports Jobs

More Sports, More Tourism, More Jobs?

“The Olympic Trials of 2008 in Eugene brought $28 million in local spending to the economy, so can that amount be multiplied? A local sports tourism group in Lane County wants to give that idea a running start.”

Athletics Outfielder Michael Taylor Has An Offseason Job

“This is pretty neat.  Not as neat as the fact that Richie Hebner used to work as a grave digger in the offseason, but neat in the sense that ballplayers never actually work real jobs anymore, so it’s cool to see one who does.” - The real story is told in the linked video.

Sports Events

Eli Manning Has Taught Us To Never Underestimate His Talents Again

“I still can’t get over that throw from Eli Manning to Mario Manningham. As much as I respect the catch (it will be the greatest of Manningham’s career, no matter how long he plays), I am in awe of the throw. How did Manning make that throw? Why make that throw? Why did he pick the target of the guy with a corner in coverage and a safety flying over to crush Manningham? The 38-yard throw — which began an 88-yard, Super Bowl-winning touchdown drive that Bill Belichick will see in his nightmares — is just one more reason to never, ever question how good Eli Manning is. He will have some crappy games the rest of his career, because two or three times a year he stinks. But I ask you: What quarterback alive do you want with the ball in his hands in the last two minutes of a big game? Thought so. Eli Manning.” - Note that Peter King, possibly the best and most respected NFL analyst around, wrote the Eli Manning ballad you just read. Safe to say the younger Manning proved something Sunday night.

Stanley Banishes PGA Tour Ghosts With First Win

“One week ago, Kyle Stanley was reduced to tears after a heartbreaking collapse saw him surrender a seven-shot lead in final round of the Farmers Insurance Open. On Sunday, the American was once again in tears. But this time they were tears of joy after Stanley benefited from a similarly dramatic meltdown from Spencer Levin to seal a one-stroke win at the Waste Management Open in Phoenix, Arizona.”

Is there anything we missed this week in the world of sports business? Let us know your thoughts about the Sportsbiz Weekly Buzz in the comments below and please feel free to share this article with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

About Lewis Howes

Web | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | More Posts (187)

The Sportsbiz Weekly Buzz is a collection of articles curated by Sports Networker’s Online Marketing Coordinator – Steve Richards  

Sports Business

IMG Worldwide Squashes Rumors of Being Up For Sale

“I immediately contacted Jim Gallagher, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at IMG Worldwide.  Gallagher quickly put the rumor to bed.  ”There aren’t ANY conversations going on with Lagardère, or any other company or individual for that matter, regarding a purchase of IMG,” said Gallagher.”

Nationals’ Negotiations With MASN Will Have Huge Impact on Franchise

“Television contracts and the money generated from media rights fees have become a crucial factor in how baseball teams are run. Along with ticket sales, they are a team’s primary form of income, and in recent years the fees across sports have skyrocketed. The Lerners have never had a say on their arrangement with MASN. Until now.”

Sports Networking

Sports Business Career Conference During The NFL Combine

“Participants will gain insight into careers in sports through presentations by successful sports executives, including GM’s, front office executives, Scouts, Sports Agents, player personnel, and well known media currently working in football. This event includes networking, information on breaking into the sports industry and advice on advancing your sports business career. College credit available for attending. ”

5 Tips to Turn Your Personal Profile Into A Professional Place

“Recently, Facebook introduced a few new features that will help someone who wants to use their personal profile for personal branding purposes. If you want to use the world’s most popular social network to promote what you do professionally, here are a few tips to get you started. ”

Sports Marketing

Marketer’s Best Best For Super Bowl? New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

“Game would have drama of rematch, fans who travel and the No. 1 TV market…When it comes Super Bowl participants, the best matchup for marketers doesn’t necessarily involve X’s and O’s, but rather dollars and cents.” NOTE: This article was written Thursday. The rich get richer.

2012 Super Bowl advertisers unveil a brand new, 40-year-old game plan

“Volkswagen will be airing a 60-second spot. So will their sister brand, Audi. Hyundai’s running a :60 just before the kickoff, on the assumption that that’s when they’ll have more of viewers’ undivided attention. (Of course, the fact that they’ll be paying only $200,000 to $4 million just before the game instead of around $6+ million during it may have had something to do with it.)”

Sports Sponsorship

Sports Sponsorship Moves Into The Fast Lane

“The cash it generated from sport sponsorship will soon overtake ticket sales, however brands now need to form commercial relationships and strategic partnerships on the basis of shared objectives rather than awareness.”

Sports Sponsorship Gets Its Own Indaba

“In recognition of the high power of sports sponsorship and marketing, the first fully focused Sports Sponsorship Indaba will take place on Friday, 27 January 2012, at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset, Cape Town. A main topic of discussion will be Government’s plan to ban alcohol marketing that will have an adverse effect on sports sponsorships such as the J&B Met.

Sports Sales

Liverpool’s Performance Didn’t Warrant Price, Adidas CEO Says

“Liverpool, which is also a five-time European champion, has replaced Adidas with a club record, 6-year, 25 million pound ($38.3 million) contract with Warrior Sports, a subsidiary of New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. The accord, Warrior’s first major soccer contract, begins next season and is worth almost double the current agreement with Adidas.”

Tiger Woods is Still Golf’s Biggest Draw

“‘He is a giant of the sport,’ says Giles Morgan, head of sponsorship at HSBC, as record crowds are expected at the National Course for Tiger Woods’ debut in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship…Around 40,000 people attended last year’s tournament, and the organizers are hoping to double that tally this time. While the Woods Effect may have different characteristics to its pre-2009 vintage, it is still a force.”

Sports Social Media

Four Action Sports Channels Hit YouTube

“During the past few months, most of the anticipatory hype has been lavished upon Tony Hawk’s Ride Channel, its producers now tasked with rolling out 22 shows. Teaming up with some of ‘the best people in the skate industry,’ Hawk says the channel will cover the gamut, from trick tips and tour clips to music and art.”

StatSmack Provides Legitimate Breakthrough in Sports Social Media

“StatSheet has launched something simple, and simply ingenious, to the sports social media public. Called StatSmack, and available online, through App Store and Android Market, the service allows sports fans to select their favorite team and an opponent from drop-down boxes, and access statistics that will make their tweets more relevant, edgier, and cutting.”

Sports Media

Lesley Visser Embraces Role As Sports Media Trailblazer

“Visser was the first woman on an NFL beat, the first woman to cover the NFL from the sidelines, the first to cover a World Series, the first woman to cover a Final Four as well as the first woman inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

WSCR Changed The Landscape of Sports – For Better and Worse

“When WSCR first flipped the switch, five years after WFAN launched in New York in 1987, nobody could have anticipated how sports talk radio would transform coverage of the local teams and beyond. Sports talk radio stations, now numbering more than 500 in the country, gave sports fans a voice they never had before, often giving players, coaches and team executives a headache they never had before.”

Sports Technology

A Fantasy App Store? CBS Sports To Launch “First Open Platform” For Fantasy Sports

“Depending on your familiarity, it might come as a surprise that fantasy sports is a huge business. In fact, according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association via Ad Week, its total market impact is upwards of $2 billion, with direct revenues spent on fantasy sports products and services at over $800 million…Yes, fantasy sports are much beloved not only by regular ole sports fans, but by data and numbers geeks, who eagerly ply sports with every known statistical algorithm or formula to get the best teams.”

Nike FuelBand Motivates People to Make It Count

“Nike has introduced its FuelBand, a wristband that measures a user’s daily physical activity by acting as a calorie-counter, clock or a pedometer. It’s designed for anyone who wants to be more active and measures movement to motivate people.”

Sports Jobs

UT Students to Gain Work Experience At Super Bowl XLVI

“A group of University of Tennessee, Knoxville, students and one faculty member will help prepare special events and conduct other behind-the-scenes work at this year’s NFL Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Indiana.”

McGarry: An Intern Is Born

“Not that it’s some stunning upset that life has more twists than a ballpark pretzel. But raise your hand if you’ve ever heard this one: One week you are home eating Thanksgiving dinner with the family. The next you are tossing footballs with Carson Palmer as part of your job. Meet John McGarry.”

Sports Events

Olympics to create ‘record’ wireless spectrum demand

“The London Olympic and Paralympic Games are likely to require up to 20,000 separate wireless frequency assignments, according to the communications regulator Ofcom.”

The Zone Defense Has Found Its Place In The NBA

“During the Western Conference finals two seasons ago, then-Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson derided, in his unique way, the Phoenix Suns’ use of the zone defense. Suns coach Alvin Gentry played along. ‘If we have to play our girlie zone, as somebody said, we’ll play our girlie zone,” he said. “We’re going to do whatever we have to do to win.’”

Is there anything we missed this week in the world of sports business? Let us know your thoughts about the Sportsbiz Weekly Buzz in the comments below and please feel free to share this article with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

About Lewis Howes

Web | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | More Posts (187)

The Sportsbiz Weekly Buzz is a collection of articles curated by Sports Networker’s Online Marketing Coordinator – Steve Richards 

Sports Business

Bankruptcy is ‘Wreckage’ From Years Of Drinking By Steinberg, The Real-life Jerry Maguire

“Leigh Steinberg calls them ‘checkout days,’ when he would drink vodka from morning until night, often straight from the bottle. Divorced and living alone for the first time, he’d drink while sitting on his balcony overlooking Newport Bay or while in bed, sometimes half-conscious.”

Snider Honored By Sports Business Journal

“Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider was today named to the Class of 2012 of Champions: Pioneers & Innovators in Sports Business, an award from the Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal recognizing the architects and builders of sports.”

Sports Networking

Why Optimism is A Brand’s Best Friend

“How you choose to share about your challenge and difficulty defines your brand communication style. When you focus on the process you are going through and solutions, it has a better purpose and appeal. Several of my friends have dealt with health and career issues this year that they had no control over. Their poise, dignity and fear helped me and gave me tremendous respect for what they were going through and how they communicated it. They maintained a realistic, honest optimism about it all each and every day that I so appreciated.”

90% Of Us Should Come Out Of Our Shell

“Of a group of 8, you’ll have one or two loud people who dominate the conversation while the rest don’t talk nearly as much. The give-and-take among the entire group could be better but there’s too much of a constant stream of interaction between those select few. So the rest of the group shuts up and probably can’t wait to move away from the circle to get away from these constant talkers, if not leave the party altogether.”

Sports Marketing

Runner Sells Shoulder Ad Space For $11K

“Olympic athlete Nick Symmonds is the number one 800-meter runner in the country—and 6th in the world—but he had something else up his sleeve; he offered ad space on his shoulder to the highest bidder.”

Bwin Ordered To Halt Portugese Sports Advertising

“In Portugal, many local sports clubs and associations, as well as tournaments, have sponsorship deals with online gambling firms, as in some cases it’s the only way for them to generate the revenues they need to fund their activities. Bwin’s sponsorship deal of the Portuguese League Cup is worth a sizable €4 million, which means the tournament could potentially be in jeopardy if its main source funding was suddenly interrupted.”

Sports Sponsorship

McDonalds Commits to IOC Until 2020

“As expected, McDonald’s has extended its global sponsorship agreement with the International Olympic Committee until 2020. No precise financial details were immediately available but the deal will certainly be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Duracell Powermat To Help Power New-look MSG

“As well as in-arena signage and digital exposure, the partnership will see Duracell Powermat wireless charging systems placed throughout the famous MSG, which is currently undergoing a major multi-million dollar transformation.”

Sports Ticket Sales

FCC May End Sports Blackout Rule

“The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday issued a formal request for public comment on a proposal to end its sports blackout rule. The rule, first adopted in 1975, prohibits cable and satellite providers from carrying a sports event if the game is blacked out on local broadcast television stations.”

Selig Confident the Dodgers Will Be Sold By April 30

“Terms of the settlement between MLB and team owner Frank McCourt filed last month stated that McCourt must sell the Dodgers and the stadium within that time frame. ‘I’m confident it will be completed by then,’ Selig told reporters at a fundraiser hosted by Beverly Hills businessman Dennis Gilbert, who is among the potential bidders for the Dodgers.”

Sports Social Media

Christian Laettner and YouTube Sports Therapy

“Among the many joyous distractions provided by YouTube, which John Seabrook writes about this week in the magazine, is its rich back catalog of sports footage. The site has done much to change the way that sports fans interact with the past; our happiest vicarious moments no longer live fuzzily in the mind, or in the yarns spun by old-timers about the greatness of some leather-helmeted football player from the thirties. Nor does anyone need to dig through collections of dusty VHS tapes to find a few lost gems. Instead, our favorite plays can be called up on demand, to great time-wasting and spirit-lifting effect.”

Social Media Contracts The New Frontier For Sponsors

“THE RAPID growth of social media means it is now possible for millions of people across the globe to communicate directly and instantaneously with their heroes. This has created new opportunities in sponsorship.”

Sports Media

NFL’s Most Indespesable Broadcasting Talents

“This is not a list of the best or most talented announcers or production people, but which people each network could least afford to lose and why. We each drafted a Top 10 list without consulting each other and our results are below. (Last week when I posed this question on Twitter, Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Mike Mayock received the most votes.) Feel free to disagree with our lists, as I know you will.”

Kevin Johnson, David Robinson, Doris Burke Among NCAA Silver Anniversary Award Winners

“[Kevin] Johnson, who played at the University of California and starred in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns, was rewarded Friday for his on- and off-the-court exploits as a Silver Anniversary award winner. The award recognizes distinguished individuals on the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of their collegiate athletics careers. Other Silver Anniversary honorees were Sean Payton, David Robinson, Tim Brown, Doris Burke and Amy Perko.”

Sports Technology

Quicken Loans Arena Becomes First Sports Venue to Introduce “Wireless Touchscreen Concierge” Using SmartTouch Technology

“With just a touch of a fingertip, Quicken Loans Arena (“The Q”) suite holders are entering a new dimension of service excellence.  In partnership with ARAMARK, the arena’s exclusive food and beverage provider, The Q is introducing SmartTouchtechnology using Apple’s iPad into its 92 luxury suites to deliver guests a richer hospitality experience utilizing 100 percent wireless touch screens.  Convenience has never been so cool.”

PS3 Gets Some College Sports Apps

“It’s only been about 30 hours since we saw an all-Southeastern Conference national championship game, but the SEC isn’t content with just owning the college football world; they also want your game console.”

Sports Jobs

Win “The Ultimate Sports Social Media Job” With Xfinity

“Comcast’s Xfinity Service is launching a contest to hire an individual who will serve as the new voice of Xfinity in the sports social media space and go behind-the-scenes at some of the biggest nationwide sporting events in 2012, sharing exclusive insights and updates with fans.”

Sports Broadcaster Finds Online Audience

“Jon Wekkin is a sports broadcaster whose play-by-play accounts of Twin Cities high school and college sports aren’t carried on any TV channel, cable network or radio station. Instead, Wekkin and a team of professional announcers broadcast games at www.mnsportsnetwork.com where the menu includes live and archived hockey, football and basketball games, plus a smattering of wrestling and volleyball. Hundreds of viewers watch for free on nights when the website broadcasts multiple games simultaneously, most produced by a company crew on site.”

Sports Events

Brooklyn Awaits Nets, But Their Destination As A Team Is Unclear

“The question of where the Nets are headed as an organization and as a basketball team leads only to a host of potential destinations that range from exhilaration to dread, with an occasional detour into comic relief. Technically, and temporarily, the Nets are in Newark, on their way to a new home next season in downtown Brooklyn. By all other practical means of appraisal, their dateline should be limbo.”

Nadal Unmasks Rift With Federer

A good preview to the Australian Open built around the recent news of tennis’ two most recognizable figures being at odds.

Is there anything we missed this week in the world of sports business? Let us know your thoughts about the Sportsbiz Weekly Buzz in the comments below and please feel free to share this article with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

About Lewis Howes

Web | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | More Posts (187)

The Sportsbiz Weekly buzz is a collection of articles curated by Sports Networker’s Online Marketing Coordinator – Steve Richards 

Sports Business

Mets, in Hiring Financial Firm, Insist It’s Not About Bankruptcy

“CRG Partners lists as its special talents financial advisory work, restructuring and reorganization, and turnaround management — polite descriptions of services needed by companies in distress. The firm’s Web site names a long list of clients, from Kmart to Popeyes Chicken to Sunbeam Products. As of this week, the firm’s client list formally includes the New York Mets.”

2012 – Business In Sports Will See Also-rans, Surprises

“This year’s only labor negotiation will be in the NHL, with the current CBA expiring on Sept. 15. There is way too much at stake for either side to even think about playing chicken, but a work stoppage is still a real possibility. With former MLBPA executive director Don Fehr now leading the NHLPA, owners won’t be able to dictate to the players as they did in the last negotiation.”

Sports Networking

How Diverse Are Women’s College Sports?

“Recently, the NCAA published the most recent school-year’s participation data, which includes breakdowns by sex, race, sport, division, and conference. Because this data set goes back to the 1999-2000 school year, I decided to use it to look for trends in racial diversity in women’s college athletics over the last decade. Several hours and few Excel spreadsheets later, I have the some questions and answers to report”

Sports Leagues Should Embrace Active “Employees” on Twitter

“The best brands invite engagement. They showcase authenticity and reply to criticism, instead of deleting it. They also harness the power of their most credible marketers – their employees. Because of social media, employees now have personal brands of their own and can be quite influential. When you think of the personal brands of professional athletes – ‘Employees’ and their leagues/teams – ‘Companies’, the influence is exponential.”

Sports Marketing

Digital Advertisements Sell Out For the Super Bowl

“Corporations have capitalized on NBC Sports’ decision to live-stream the NFL’s Super Bowl. Advertising packages are sold out for the live streaming broadcast of the Feb. 5 game, NBC Sports spokesman Chris McCloskey told the International Business Times Wednesday. Although the value of an advertising package wasn’t released, there were reports that the package prices ranged from six figures to the low sevens.”

Northwestern Mutual joins March Madness with sports marketing sponsorship

“A new advertising campaign featuring Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. will be unveiled during this year’s men’s Division I NCAA basketball tournament, kicking off the first national sports marketing sponsorship in company history.”

Sports Sponsorship

Growing Company Publicity Through Sports Sponsorship

“The usage of sporting activities intended for marketing has been employed for over one decade and it also has attained recognition because of the development in interest in the many types of sports activities and games. Entrepreneurs took the nice thing about the uniqueness of sporting activities. This is the sole enjoyment in which regardless of number of instances that you get back you can never foresee the results.”

The Relationship Between an Athlete and Your Brand

“Athletes and sports brands are like rhythm and melody. One rarely exists without the other. The symbiosis between the two creates a working relationship where one can benefit from the other and vice versa. It is important for owners of sports brand names to be aware of the relationship of their product and its ambassador.”

Sports Ticket Sales

LSU and Alabama ride money train to title matchup

“Two of the most profitable football programs in the country will ensure another BCS streak continues: National titles staying in the hands of mega-moneymakers.”

Lucky Few To Get 100m Final Tickets After Synchronized Swimming Was Overbooked By 10,000

“Around 200 people who thought their only experience of the London 2012 Olympic Games would be minor heats of synchronized swimming have received an unexpected upgrade to the men’s 100m final following an embarrassing ticketing mistake.”

Sports Social Media

Urban Meyer Bans Twitter for Ohio State Football Players, Sparking a Debate on…Twitter

“Newly hired Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer is banning his players from using Twitter, according to Rob Oller of the Columbus Dispatch. ‘Urban Meyer bans Twitter for #Buckeyes players. Scarlet & Gray Matter, however, remains safely outside the #OhioState clutches.,’ Oller tweeted. The news sparked a bit of a debate, on Twitter of all places, among members of the media. CNBC’s sports business reporter Darren Rovell claims Meyers players will miss out on important ‘life skills not taught in the classroom’”

High school basketball video shows power of social media (VIDEO)

“Michael Christenson of Yakima said he was only trying to illustrate a point to a small group of Highland High School students and parents about the need for better basketball officials. To his surprise and dismay, however, the video he uploaded of several hard fouls during the Cowiche school’s boys game at Connell on Dec. 22 has gone viral, collecting more than 25,000 hits since the video was posted on YouTube on Dec. 28.”

Sports Media

Former Red Sox PR Pro Tells All

“Former Boston Red Sox PR pro Doug Bailey has penned a 4,400-word tell-all piece for Boston Magazine, an inside account that will no doubt roil his former clients and agency colleagues. But the piece is a valuable behind-the-scenes look at sports PR, in addition to a treasure trove for Sox fanatics.”

Turner Sports PR Veteran Pomeroy Tips Off Atlanta Shop

“Longtime Turner Sports veteran Jeff Pomeroy has left the programmer to open his own public relations shop.
Based in Atlanta, JDP Communications’ initial client roster comprises A & M Holding Group (AMHG), the owners and operators of Sadekar World Golf; All-American Games, the owners and producers of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl; and the Kenny Smith Entertainment Group. Additional clients are expected to be announced at a later date.”

Sports Technology

New Deal Will Bring WatchESPN App to Comcast Xfinity Subscribers

“We can now add Comcast TV subscribers to the list of TV providers with access to the WatchESPN family of mobile apps. Comcast and Disney (parent of ESPN) announced an agreement that (among a lot of other things) will open the door for Comcast Xfinity customers to access ESPN content on their iPhone, iPad and Android devices with the WatchESPN app.”

Football Failing to Use Technology on Offer

“Soccer is a business enterprise like no other. We are into the early weeks of a new soccer season and there have already been a volume of suspect and poor refereeing decisions. Today we are able to evaluate the incidents from multiple cameras; there are no longer grey areas for for spectators. The cameras reveal everything. We can watch matches on our televisions, our I-phones, our I-pads and other devices. There is no hiding place for on-field officials when they get things wrong.”

Sports Jobs

Sports Jobs “A Drug” for Top Executives

“The Miami Dolphins may have chauffeured a prospective coach and president in by chopper. But the team could probably have just handed the pair some cab chits. Where extravagant enticements are dangled before prospective titans in the “real” business world, major league sports organizations need only hang out a help-wanted sign to lure elite candidates.”

Notre Dame Announces Major Staff Shakeup

“On the eve of the Champs Sports Bowl, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly pronounced himself genuinely “excited” that he would be keep his coaching staff in place for 2012. Five days later, that’s not even close to the reality”

Sports Events

How the BCS Killed the Orange Bowl

“The Orange Bowl was once among the premier games in all of college football, but the BCS has squeezed all the life out of the Miami showdown.” – Great article, particularly after how bad this year’s Orange Bowl was. Disregard the prediction however; Samuel got the team right but no one could have predicted that score.

NHL’s Winter Classic: Its uniqueness fails to come across on TV

“The outdoor game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park has a compelling finish. But as a showcase experience, the Classic falls short.”

Is there anything we missed this week in the world of sports business? Let us know your thoughts about the Sportsbiz Weekly Buzz in the comments below and please feel free to share this article with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

About Lewis Howes

Web | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | More Posts (187)

The Sportsbiz Weekly Buzz is a collection of articles curated by Sports Networker’s Online Marketing Coordinator – Steve Richards 

Sports Business

From Albert Pujols to LeBron James – Are Top Athletes Overpaid?

“But what, exactly, is the assertion behind “overpaid?” Most who say it simply mean that “athletes make too much money,” an understandable opinion. Eight-and-nine-figure paydays for top athletes may be too much for some of our comfort, but as far as being paid more than they’re due … most aren’t.”

Let’s Start Paying College Athletes

“With Emmert’s backing, the N.C.A.A.’s board of directors, composed of college and university presidents agreed to make it permissible for Division I schools to pay their athletes a $2,000 stipend. When I saw Emmert in November, shortly after the new rule went into effect, I told him that the stipend struck me as a form of payment to the players. He visibly stiffened. “If we move toward a pay-for-play model — if we were to convert our student athletes to employees of the university — that would be the death of college athletics,” Emmert retorted. “Then they are subcontractors. Why would you even want them to be students? Why would you care about their graduation rates? Why would you care about their behavior?” No, he insisted, the extra $2,000 was an effort to increase the value of the scholarships, which some studies estimate falls on average about $3,500 short of the full cost of attending college annually.”

Sports Networking

Top 5 Women’s Sports Events of 2011

“2011 was an intense year for women in sports. While we’re looking forward to more excitement in 2012 (including the Olympics!), let’s also take a look back on this year’s top five most memorable moments in women’s athletics, good and bad.”

What LeBron James Can Teach Us About Personal Branding

“The NBA season tipped off on Christmas day, which meant a return to the spotlight for LeBron James and the Miami Heat. As you probably know, LeBron James generated controversy–not to mention numerous headlines–last season with his decision to publicly jilt the Cleveland Cavaliers in favor of the Miami Heat. In the process, LeBron’s personal brand evolved substantially from a fan favorite, to a villain, to a gradually “rehabbed” image this off-season. There are a number of lessons that are relevant to business owners seeking to build a strong personal brand in 2012. Below are three of the most important.”

Sports Marketing

Loving the Online Era of Sports Marketing

“This week I have been telling you a little more about myself. Now comes the revelation of something that has been the cornerstone of many relationships throughout my life and has already been passed on to the next generation as well. I am a New York Giants fan. I bleed blue during the NFL season.  And while I can’t be at the game I can live many things I could never experience during the years of the pre-social media era. I “like” the Giants on Facebook and I was given this picture today through an update which got me pretty excited.”

Ducks New Uniforms Steal From Disney’s Day

At the Happiest Place on Earth, several hundred Oregon football fans had more than one reason to cheer Tuesday. Early Tuesday morning, Nike unveiled the newest — and, according to the company, the best — set of uniforms for the trend-setting Ducks, who will wear dark ‘Pro Combat’ gear for the Rose Bowl.”

Sports Sponsorship

The Reason Why Sports Sponsorship and Marketing has Started to Become Popular in Asia

“Asia has no doubt now become a marketing and advertising playground for worldwide brands and businesses to grow their market over and above common reach. Many companies have acknowledged that sports provide an amazing possibility to be changed into an influential and profitable marketing strategy for virtually any brand’s growth plus it absolutely outshines classic merchandising efforts by reaching a mass which far outnumbers the ones from other channels. ”

AirAsia Extends Sponsorship Deal with 1Malaysia Racing Team

“AirAsia Bhd is maintaining its presence in the Formula One racing scene and this has seen it extending its sponsorship agreement with 1Malaysia Racing Team Sdn Bhd (Caterham F1) for another year, starting Jan 1, 2012.”

Sports Ticket Sales

News Flash: College Football is Run By Corporate America

“To fully understand the corporate greed of college football, just take a look at the names of the 35 bowl games that are currently being contested. Every single one of them has a corporate sponsor in its name. Even the self-described “Granddaddy of Them All,” the Rose Bowl, has a sponsor — The Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio. But that doesn’t even compare to some of the other corporations who will put their names on bowl games this holiday season.”

2,000 Students Expected at Music City Bowl

“Piling a bunch of people in a car and going to a famous destination is how a lot of great tales begin. For Mississippi State University students and recent graduates, bowl games represent the perfect excuse for that classic college road trip story. The Bulldogs program qualifying for back-to-back postseason berths has given college students two straight trips to experience another valuable memory of not only the finale of a college football season but also what is possibly the final trip of their academic careers.”

Sports Social Media

The 2011 Sports Social Media Superstars

“There’s no question that sports and social media are indelibly intertwined. Of course, you could say that for social media and just about anything in society these days. But while Facebook, Twitter and various other platforms have been around for a few years, 2011 seemed to be the tipping point. Beyond Twitter spats and among an ever-updating array of trending topics, social media has become a go-to source for breaking news as well as a forum where fans can celebrate, commiserate or connect with players and fellow and opposing fans. With all that in mind, @Page2 looks back at the biggest sports and social media moments of 2011.”

2011 Belonged to Twitter. So Does the Future of Sports Media

“Every morning starts the same way for me, I roll over and check Twitter on my iPhone. I check Twitter before I check my email, my text messages, or even get out of bed. My wife has even threatened to start her own Twitter account to remind me to take out the trash. I read all the news from the 170 or so people I follow and then I read every single thing y’all send my way. Put simply, I’m addicted to Twitter. Twitter is a media game-changer, the Cam Newton of Internet companies, and I’m going to tell you why”

Sports Media

Top Sports Media News Items of 2011

“It’s tradition that news organizations look at the top stories of the year as December winds down.  Why should we be any different?  Here are what we consider the top sports media news stories for 2011.”

Fox Sports Media Group EVP Doug Sellars Dies at 50

“Toronto native Sellars, who joined Fox Sports in 2000, was instrumental in the formation of Fox’s Speed (previously the Speed Channel). Since August, when he was promoted to his most recent position, Sellars had overseen studio and event production for Fox Sports Media Group’s numerous channels and entities, including Fox Sports, Speed, Fox Deportes, Fuel TV and FoxSports.com. He also served as an adviser to the Big Ten Network.”

Sports Technology

Mark Cuban is Dead Wrong About Smartphones at Sports Games

“A couple of days ago, Dallas Mavericks owner and all-around smart guy Mark Cuban blogged a passionate post about how he didn’t want smartphones at basketball games because he believes that every time you’re looking down at your device is a moment where he has failed to do his job of entertaining you. While I respect Cuban and this argument, I believe it is dead wrong and that smart teams will embrace mobile technology to enhance the sports-going experience in multiple ways.”

Game On: HD Streaming Site FilmOn Debuts NCAA Basketball, Football Channels

“FilmOn, the premium-content internet streaming site that met controversy earlier this year over lawsuits involving CBS, CNET, and copyright, is expanding its line up, adding two new sports channels for NCAA Basketball and NCAA Football. FilmOn says it will be offering the content in partnership with XOS Digital, a company that provides digital asset management services to college sports organizations.”

Sports Jobs

More Than 800 Unpaid Interns Hired at Arts and Sports Groups in Two Years

“Research by the Labour MP Luciana Berger shows that in the last two years 884 unpaid interns were employed by 34 organisations funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Some 467 were employed in 2010, dropping slightly to 417 in 2011.”

Jordan Juenemann Thrilled to Land Internship in Athletics

“Jordan Juenemann will be spending more time than usual in Allen Fieldhouse second semester.’I’ll be a working man — 8 (a.m.) to 3 (p.m.) until we practice, wearing a suit and tie,’ Juenemann, Kansas University’s 6-foot-3 senior walk-on basketball guard, said proudly. The exercise-science major, who minored in business the past four years at KU, has landed a 15-hour internship with KU’s Williams Fund to complete his undergraduate academic responsibilities.”

Sports Events

These 11 Figures Made Biggest NHL News in 2011

“There are dozens of headliners in the NHL every year, but many create stories that become big for a day, maybe two before they’re forgotten. There are those, however, that create headlines that are so big and newsworthy that their stories live on for days, weeks, months and in some cases even years. In 2011, there was no shortage of players, coaches, and executives that made news that shocked and rocked the hockey world. We’ve narrowed the list down to the 11 biggest newsmakers of the year.”

London 2012: Does Olympic Success Fill A Nation With Pride?

“As 2012 begins, the BBC has revealed the findings of a poll which asked people around the world about the influence of Olympic success on their national pride. Nearly half of those questioned in the UK said performance mattered ‘only a little’ whilst the majority of people in developing and middle-income countries said they got the greatest lift from Olympic achievement. BBC 2012 asked members of the public in London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Dumfries, Wrexham and Belfast for their views.”

Is there anything we missed this week in the world of sports business? Let us know your thoughts about the Sportsbiz Weekly Buzz in the comments below and please feel free to share this article with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

About Lewis Howes

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The Sportsbiz Weekly Buzz is a collection of articles curated by Sports Networker’s Online Marketing Coordinator – Steve Richards

Sports Business

50 Most Influential People in Sports Business

“Media moves as well as labor harmony (or the lack thereof) shake up our annual list of the executives who set the agenda for North American sports.”

With Jose Reyes on Miami Marlins, Queens Economy Could Take Hit

“Come April, Jose Reyes will probably be the first home batter at the new Miami Marlins ballpark, ushering in a promising age for an up-and-coming team. But what of the team and borough he leaves behind?”

Sports Networking

Three Ways to Dominate Your Market Without Spending a Fortune

“It is important for business owners to find something that makes them stand out in their market — to differentiate themselves from their competition. And that is where personal branding comes into play. Personal branding is a proven method by which business owners can separate themselves from the rest of their market. A strong personal brand positions the business owner as an expert in his or her field — allowing him to attract more business without slashing prices.”

49ers Host Women in Sports Forum (VIDEO)

“The 49ers organization hosted a Women in Sports Forum to encourage the growth of women in sports-related careers.”

Sports Marketing

Under Armour Fashioning Sports Marketing Battle to Continue Assault on Nike, Adidas

“In the world of collegiate and professional sports, it’s usually difficult to take a 15-year-old very seriously. But athletic performance apparel and footwear company Under Armour, founded in 1996, has played the game tough in going up against the likes of Nike and Adidas.”

Red Sox Gear Up Marketing Pitch for Fenway’s 100th Anniversary

“Red Sox fans devastated by the September disaster might go so far as to make a New Year’s resolution to never give another nickel of their hard-earned money to that team — but they’ll have a hard time keeping that promise. In 2012, the bunting will adorn Fenway Park not just for Opening Day, but for the ballpark’s 100th anniversary, and diehard fans will find themselves tempted with hundreds of ways to spend cash on centennial souvenirs.”

Sports Sponsorship

Sponsorship to Take Over As Biggest Sports Industry Segment by 2014

“A new report examining the global sports market over the five years to 2015 predicts that sponsorship will show a compound annual growth rate of 5.3 percent between 2011 and 2015, in spite of the difficult prevailing economic circumstances.”

Mercury Insurance Shares Secrets of Sports Sponsorship Success

“Tonight you can see the Los Angeles Kings aim to repeat their Saturday victory over the Minnesota Wild when the team faces the arch rival Anaheim Ducks at STAPLES Center.  For an encore, you can see the Kings compete against the Ducks in Anaheim tomorrow night.  While you are there, you can also see how successful sports sponsorships work and find ways to benefit your own business.”

Sports Ticket Sales

Buy Madison Square Garden Shares and Own 4 Sports Teams

“It’s a sale like this past week’s ownership stake in the Green Bay Packers that reminds me of how unique an investment in Madison Square Garden (MSG) is. The company is publicly traded and, unlike the Green Bay Packers shares, rises and falls with the success of the teams it owns and how much money it earns in a year. It is the dream of any sports fan to own a professional sports team. While almost all sports fans never make it to the front office or full ownership stake, they have the option to participate in owning shares of publicly traded Madison Square Garden.”

NBA Reaching Out to Fans with Special Ticket Offers

“The Philadelphia 76ers reduced ticket fees by as much as 61%. For 13 home games in January, mezzanine tickets are $17.76 or less, with no online fees if bought through the team’s website. Before the lockout, the 76ers reduced ticket prices on nearly 9,000 seats. The club plans to send its season-ticket booklets within two weeks.”

Sports Social Media

Watch That Tweet! NCAA Colleges Wrestle with Social Media Recruiting Rules

“If a college sports fan makes a plea for a player via Facebook or Twitter, does that constitute a violation of N.C.A.A. rules? That’s one of the questions at the heart of an academic paper by Victor Broccoli, a 2010 graduate of Tulane University Law School and lawyer in Rutherfordton, N.C. In a paper titled “Policing the Digital Wild West: N.C.A.A. Recruiting Regulations in the Age of Facebook and Twitter,” Broccoli argues that the N.C.A.A. faces difficulties when it comes to recruiting regulations and social networking.”

NFL Stars: The Secrets to Their Facebook Success

“You won’t see Jeff Weiner prowling NFL sidelines while barking orders into a headset, and he’s never won a Super Bowl or coach of the year award. But Weiner, 28, does play a crucial coaching role for NFL players by helping them leverage social media to market themselves and connect with fans. His clients are known for engaging especially well with supporters, and stars like James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley of the Pittsburgh Steelers rank among the most popular NFL players on Facebook.”

Sports Media

Networks Jostle for Tebow Sweepstakes

“The network lobbied hard behind the scenes to keep next Sunday’s Broncos- Patriots clash as a late game in its Sunday doubleheader after NBC made a strong pitch to broadcast the contest as part of its Sunday night ‘flex’ schedule. This upcoming CBS broadcast, with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, will be seen by 70 percent of the country.”

Dodgers Can Sell Media Rights to Help Exit Bankruptcy

“A bankruptcy judge says he will approve a process for the Los Angeles Dodgers to sell media rights for future games as part of the team’s plan to exit bankruptcy. The plan calls for the Dodgers to receive initial bids by January 13 and complete the sale by April 30.”

Death of the Sports Interview

A bonus link for our loyal followers! This article has been getting a lot of publicity this week and for good reason – It is a must read for anyone in or interested in the sports media field.

Sports Technology

Investors Pump $1.75 million Into Bypass Lane’s Mobile “Beer-Me” Application

“The Austin-based company announced today that it has raised $1.75 million in new venture capital with funds earmarked primarily for building a sales organization. Investors include former Minnesota Vikings owner Red McCombs, Wasserman Media Group chairman and CEO Casey Wasserman and business managers for bicyclist Lance Armstrong. The nine-person company selected the investors on the basis of their connections to the sporting world, and expects to be able to draw upon their expertise to better penetrate the live sporting market.”

Stereobank Seeks 3D Sports Footage

“Having recently passed a 1000+ clip milestone, Co-Founder of S3D stock footage company Stereobank Benjamin Carlu, tells 3D Focus the company would welcome more S3D sports footage from contributors with the London Olympics 2012 fast approaching.”

Sports Jobs

Seeking Edge, MLB Clubs Invest in Front Office Talent

“The likely upcoming nine-figure contracts for free agent first basemen Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder still drive wins and losses, fan interest and TV ratings. But don’t overlook the increasing value of facts, figures and other data — and the people who interpret them.”

MBA Program in Sports Mangement – What You Need to Know

“Sports management is a lucrative career option that has not experienced any slowdown even during the recent economic crunch. This can be one of the best fields for those interested in business and sports. Equipped with an MBA in Sports Management you will open up innumerable career options in sports related fields…What You Need To Know Before Enrolling into An MBA In Sports Management Program”

Sports Events

NFL Teams with Disney for Super Bowl XLVI

“The league’s working with Walt Disney Co.’s Disney Institute on a “Fans First” initiative to train the 20,000 executives and employees who’ll work Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, says Frank Supovitz, senior vice president of events.”

Big East Expansion: The NCAA Needs to Examine the State of Conferences

“The expansion is going to create a conference that spans coast to coast, something that basically defeats the purpose of a conference anyway.”

Is there anything we missed this week in the world of sports business? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and please feel free to share this article with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

About Lewis Howes

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Photo courtesy of www.pitch.com

In the wake of seeing what a lockout can do to a league, Major League Baseball has decided to peacefully and quietly get their Collective Bargaining Agreement done and guarantee baseball to it’s fans through 2016. While some things in the agreement seem superficial, like a “no tobacco tin in the back pocket while on the field” rule (no offense Raul Ibanez), there are also some important things to come out of this CBA. One of those is a new MLB social media policy that will be subject to all players.

While the policy has not been released to the public, as is the standard for the MLB, there is a policy in place for managers and executives that was released earlier this year. After looking at that policy the Twitterverse can only hope the new one for the players contains more than six “donts”, as Wendy Thurm at SB Nation writes.

What the new MLB social media policy means going forward

While a simple list consisting of not displaying disparaging content or not using the nickname of any MLB entity as a Twitter handle may seem obvious at the surface, the new MLB social media policy should be considered very dangerous for Bud Selig and friends as a brand. Major League Baseball constantly fails in the social media world where the other big sport leagues succeed, mainly on YouTube and Twitter.

There is no better example than in this year’s World Series, widely considered one of the best in the last decade, when Joe Buck brought baseball fans a nostalgic moment by remembering his father, Jack. After David Freese’s dramatic game 6 walk-off home run Joe simply stated, “We will see you tomorrow night,” emulating his father after Kirby Puckett did the same in 1991 . How well did the MLB handle that? The mashup videos of Joe and Jack’s calls were taken down by the next morning for absolutely no one to enjoy. In contrast, the NBA has an official YouTube page where they post game clips, commercials and videos. They also let fans post what they have missed without the thought of taking it down 4 hours later.

MLB Social Media Policy – The Twitter Effect

An extension of the failure to communicate with fans by the MLB occurs on Twitter, where they have a million fewer followers than the NFL and 1.5 million fewer supporters than the NBA. This will certainly not be helped if they use the same policy in place now on the players and hinder the creative minds of players like Logan Morrison or the humanitarian efforts of players like Cole Hamels. Social media is quickly becoming the way to meet celebrities (the mention tweet is the the new autograph!) and if the MLB social media policy falls behind it’s big sport competitors it won’t belong before they find themselves behind in every other fan-following area as well.

What are your thoughts about the new MLB social media policy? Comment below to get the discussion started!

About Steve Richards

Steve is a recent graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Sports Journalism from the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism. He is currently working as a marketing and PR intern for Sports Networker.

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6 Inside Ticket Sales Managers walk into an Arena…

Ok, it sounds like the great start to a joke, but in essence this piece is more about how those managers got into their coveted sports jobs.

I often get asked how I got my foot in the door in professional sports and the answer is usually a bit longer than expected.   Like many of those  whom I’ve crossed paths with, the opportunity that helped launch my sports career was being a part of an Inside Sales Department with the Chicago White Sox.  If you are looking for a book on the topic, check out Mark Washo’s Break Into Sports  (or find him on Twitter @BreakintoSports).  I’ve recommended this book to college grads looking to get into sports for a while.

As so many sports executives get their start in ticket sales, I figured I’d round up a few Inside Sales Managers around professional sports jobs and knock out a few simple questions to learn more about this revenue generating niche.  The group has over thirty plus years of combined experience in professional sports and includes;  Cody Haynes (Houston Rockets, NBA), Eric McKenzie (Cleveland Indians, MLB), Jude LaRose (Chicago Fire, MLS), Derek Iversen (Colorado Avalanche, NHL & Denver Nuggets, NBA), Travis Apple (Pittsburgh Pirates, MLB) and Jake Reynolds (Washington Capitals, NHL & Washington Wizards, NBA).

Insiders on Sports Jobs

1. Did you begin your sports career in an Inside Sales Environment and/or how did you ascend to your management role?

Jake R.-  Yes, I began my career in Inside Sales with the Indiana Pacers. I spent 4 months in Inside Sales before moving into a senior sales role. After a year with the Pacers, I spent two years in New York with the Giants where my first year was focused on selling PSL’s in preparation of opening their new stadium and in my second year, I transitioned over and focused on selling suites. I have now been with Monumental Sports and Entertainment for just over a year overseeing the Inside Sales group for the Wizards, Mystics and our partnership with Georgetown Basketball.

Cody H.-   I started off in Inside Sales with the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL right out of college.  I was then promoted to Group Sales with Phoenix.  I then accepted a position as a Season Ticket Sales Executive with the Houston Rockets.  After 1.5 seasons as a sales rep I was then promoted to Inside Sales Supervisor.

Travis A. -  I started in Inside Sales in June 2007 with the Atlanta Hawks, Thrashers, and Phillips Arena.  From November 2007 to July 2008, I was in New Season Ticket Sales, and from August 2008 to September 2009, I was in Premium Seating with the Hawks/Thrashers.  Throughout my time in New Season Ticket Sales and Premium, I also held a manager in training position where I helped with training sessions, appointments, interviews, and other duties that the IS Manager needed help with.  In October 2009, I took over the Inside Sales position with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Derek I.-I began working for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment’s as a Summer Sales Associate intern for the Denver Nuggets after graduating from college.  I was brought on as an Inside Sales Representative for the Nuggets and Avalanche, and from there moved on to an Account Executive role with the Denver Nuggets.  After two years as an AE, I was promoted to Manager of Inside Sales for the Nuggets and Avalanche.  In addition to managing the Inside Sales Department, this year I was also given the opportunity to manage the sales and service department for KSE’s NLL team, the Colorado Mammoth.

Eric M. -Yes, I started with the Phoenix Suns Inside Sales department immediately after finishing college. I then spent 3 years working in group sales with the Arizona Diamondbacks before accepting my first management opportunity in San Antonio with the Spurs. Most recently, I have relocated to Cleveland, OH to accept a new position with the Cleveland Indians.

Jude L. -  Yes, I did begin my sports career in an Inside Sales environment. After a seasonal position with the National Pro Fastpitch’s Chicago Bandits – from which I hold fond memories – I was hired as an Inside Sales Representative for the defending Arena Football League Champion Chicago Rush.  I cut my teeth with that club and worked alongside and for some really talented people.  I feel rather fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from some great sports business minds during a time that we were having such success on and off of the field.  After three months on the job as an ISR, I was promoted to an Account Executive role, selling the full suite of ticket products.  From there, I was promoted to Senior Account Executive/Youth Football Coordinator.  My duties remained largely the same, with the additional responsibility of becoming a student of the Chicagoland Youth Football landscape.  We booked local area teams for pregame and halftime scrimmages with a ticket requirement tie-in and recognized the importance of youth development and participation as evidenced by our commitment to appearing at youth football year end banquet and award ceremonies.  After three years with the Rush, I moved on to the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves as a Senior Account Executive.  My responsibilities remained largely in line those of an Account Executive who is responsible for selling season and group tickets.  Since I can remember, I have always enjoyed leading and imparting any piece of information I had to share. The role of an Inside Sales Manager is one that has greatly appealed to me since the days I first recognized how much I enjoyed sales and acknowledged that I was developing my own sales philosophy through picking and choosing from the better sales minds of the world.

2. When did you realize you wanted a career in the sports industry?

Jake R.-  When I was in high school. I was fortunate enough to have a family member in the industry, so I was around it enough to know this was the business for me.

Cody H. –   I knew I wanted to work in sports upon graduation of high school.

Derek I. -  I went to my first ever NBA game in 2004, which happened to be Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Lakers and Pistons.  Feeling the electricity in the arena that night when the Pistons won the NBA Championship was the moment I knew my dream was to work in pro sports.  When I was a junior at the University of Wyoming, KSE’s former VP Paul Andrews spoke to the College of Business about internship opportunities.  Following my junior year I applied for a sales internship and was not hired, but I was fortunate enough to earn an opportunity after graduation.

Eric M. -  As many sport-minded college students, I knew that I wanted to work in sports, but had always thought that it would be on the more attractive side (player or public relations, game ops, etc.). However, I visited Phoenix in February of my Junior year of college and met with one of their Group Sales Account Executives and fell in love with the business side of sports. Since then, it has always been my passion to work on the business side of sports.

Jude L. – If you played sports as a child and grew up with the sports teams of the ‘80’s and ‘90’s, it was difficult, at least for me, to watch the movie Jerry Maguire and not want a career in this industry.

Travis A. -  I always knew I wanted to do something in sports and through an internship experience at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway, I began to sell trackside banners and fell in love with the sales end of the business.  Throughout my senior year of college, I was applying for Ticket Sales jobs because that is where I wanted to be.

3. What is the most difficult part in managing an Inside Sales Staff?

Cody H. –  I would say keeping them motivated and not making their job seem boring.  Also, keeping the office fun and relaxed while still maintaining a serious, professional atmosphere knowing that we have aggressive goals to reach.   There are down times especially in the offseason where there is no excitement of the season.  They have to rely on self-motivation and a lot on myself to make their job fun.

Travis A. -  I think the most difficult part in managing an Inside Sales Staff is not having enough time in the day to make phone calls/go on appointments/ect. with 18 reps on a consistent basis.  I realized I have to give the reps the tools to succeed and they will have to implement them on a consistent basis.

Derek I. -  The most challenging part is motivating 10 different individuals with 10 different personalities that may be different from my own.  The things that drive me may be different from my staff, so getting to know what buttons to push takes some time.

Eric M. -  I think the most difficult part is also one of the most rewarding. When managing a successful Inside Sales Department you will consistently be promoting reps into Sr. level sales roles within your own organization, or perhaps, other organizations. It’s so exciting to see a rep that has given their absolute best over a 10-12 month program and finally get that “call up” to the Sr. staff. However, those constant promotions keep the Inside Sales Manager very busy with year-round recruiting, training and coaching of new reps in order to keep the pipeline full of future stars.

Jude L. -  I wish I could provide a better answer to this question, but with just a little bit less than a month under my belt, I feel I don’t have enough of a sample size to give a fair response.

Jake R. -  I have a large staff of 18 reps, so making sure I am able to spend quality time with each of them and help them get better every day.

4. What do you find the most rewarding about your role with your team?

Eric M. – The most rewarding part of my role is in getting to work with hungry, energetic and positive professionals. Surrounding yourself with those types of people will always challenge you to bring your best, to keep a positive attitude, and to always look for ways to improve yourself.

Travis A. -  The most rewarding part of my job is seeing an Inside Sales Representative go through IS and then land a full-time job and become a #1 rep in another department or with another team.  It’s always great to get calls from other managers saying I am so glad I hired “person”, do you have anyone else just like them that I could hire?

Cody H. -  I really enjoy when someone I went through the interview process with and hired is very successful within the sports industry.  It makes me proud to see them get promoted within the industry and grow as an individual and professional.

Derek I. - Being able to offer someone their first opportunity to begin a career in sports, and watching them grow as a salesperson and a business professional is very rewarding.  There is a major sense of satisfaction in watching that light bulb turn on, and watching the progression of talented employees.

Jake R. -  Being able to mentor and coach young, talented people and watch them to take that next step in their career.

Jude L. -  I would take great pride in knowing I had a hand in helping young sports professionals realize and actualize their dreams.

5. What is the most unique sales contest you’ve set up or been a part of?

Derek I. - My favorite contest to run is our Fantasy Sales Contest in the fall.  Each representative owns a fantasy team, and every week they select a colleague to be their starter.  Teams earn points based on their own performance as well as their starter for the week.  Weekly prizes are up for grabs, as well as grand prizes for the top three teams at the end of the contest.  It is fun to see individual competition combine with an element of teamwork in the department.

Jake R. -  Deal or No Deal. I had 30 envelopes posted on the wall of my office that contained prizes ranging from a $5 Dunkin Donuts gift card to a bonus day off to an iPod touch. The sales rep that had the most revenue for that day picked envelope and was then given an offer from the bank(myself). The rep then decided whether to risk what was in the envelope or take an offer they were sure of. It was a great contest that engaged the reps on a daily basis became very competitive and helped drive a tremendous amount of revenue.

Cody H. –  2 really stand out to me.  The first is an individual contest where each rep starts of with an $1,000 bonus.  Each day that the rep doesn’t sell $100 is taken away.  Money is a huge motivator on our floor as you would imagine.  The second is a team contest based on the game of poker.  Each team gets a card when they make a sale that qualifies.  They can either pull from the stack or steal a card from another team.  We printed oversized cards and placed them on the wall.  Poker rules apply to determine the winner.  This game really got our floor’s competitive juices flowing.  The winning team wins a cash price.  We have also given away trips and cruises as well.

Travis A. -  Trip to Barnsley – Each individual had a goal to hit for FSE’s and Revenue and when they hit the goal, they were able to get on a bus to Barnsley Gardens which is a resort where you could golf, enjoy outdoor activities, etc.

Eric M. – From my experiences, any contest that includes a beach or Vegas has always been well received. However, there have been 2 others that have stood out from my experiences:

1. My favorite as a rep was one in Phoenix where we were asked to submit the 10 things we would most want to have in this world if we had $1 million. Management then took one item from each person’s list and rolled out a contest where the winner got to pick one thing on the list, and they didn’t have to pick the item they originally chose if they saw something better. The winner ended up taking a 4 night cruise for 2 out of San Diego.

2. My favorite in management was a contest where reps earned ping pong balls for different hustle and revenue components. At the end of each week we would pull winners from the “lottery” of ping pong balls for gift cards. At the end of the contest we chose winners for the large grand prizes. Included were courtside seats for a game, a resort/spa/golf package for a 3-day weekend, and a cruise.

Jude L. -  At the Rush, we had a sales contest which was centered around the World Series.  The season ticket pricing levels and number of units sold helped determine our point system which was modeled off of the elements of baseball play i.e. home run, triple, bunt, double play.  Our Ticket Manager sent out a press release before the contest commenced.  It set the stage and gave everyone a laugh.  As each sale came in, the ticket staff would receive an e-mail in the form of a play-by play describing what the rep just sold: “And Dooley sits on a curveball and goes yard with three full seasons in the yellow.”  We had our fun with it.

Qualities Sports Jobs Candidates Should Have

6. What are six adjectives that describe candidates you look for?

Jake R. – Passionate, competitive, intellectual curiosity, coachable, driven and Confident

Cody H. – Self-motivated, Creative, Passionate, Well-spoken, Positive, and Caring/Team player (Everyone within the organization helps each other.  At the Rockets, we have a “One Team” mentality.)

Derek I. – Confident, Enthusiastic, Articulate, Personable, Dedicated, Desire

Jude L. – Aggressive.  Positive.  Personable. Open. Energetic. Hungry.

Eric M. - Positive, honest, hard-working, ambitious, aggressive, persistent and humble (I know, that’s 7) 

Travis A. – Work Ethic, Competitive, Coach ability, Confident, Commitment and  Passion

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About Tyler Johnson

Tyler Johnson is an innovative thinker inspired by the likes of Bill Veeck, Jon Spoelstra, Pat Williams & Brooks Boyer. Currently working for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment as a Group Sales Account Executive for the Denver Nuggets. Prior he worked as the New Business Development Executive with the Chicago White Sox. Tyler has also worked directly with the inventor and creator of Arena football and also for Mike Ditka’s former Chicago AFL franchise. As a former collegiate athlete and business sensed individual Tyler ventured to combine his passions to get into the business side of sports.

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On November 1, 2010 the San Francisco Giants defeated the Texas Rangers and were subsequently crowned “World Champs” by the media and the online world. On June 17, 2010 the Los Angeles Lakers celebrated a game seven victory over the Boston Celtics, adding another “World Champions” banner to the Staples Center rafters. On February 6, 2011, along with being the most watched TV program in his

history, the NFL celebrated new Superbowl Champions: The Green Bay Packers. I immediately drove to Green Bay to find the headline of the Green Bay Gazette display: “World Champs”. However, following their win over the Philadelphia Flyers on June 9, 2010, the Chicago Blackhawks raised a banner that read: “2010 Stanley Cup Champions”.

I’ve lived in three different countries, visited 13 in total and have attended many professional sports games – Which got me wondering – when should your favorite team call themselves World Champs and when should they simply enjoy being named the Champs of their perspective league?

The Golden Rule: If another country in the world has a professional league for your sport, you CAN’T call yourself World Champs!

But Reuven, American sports are the best in the world. Isn’t that enough? No. The big 4 (MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA) may have the best players in the world, the most resources, the highest TV ratings, and the most sponsorship dollars, but that alone can’t justify crowning yourself World Champs. If that was the case, the miracle on ice wouldn’t have happened because the Russians were the best in the world – so why did we waste our time and effort playing them? because miracles happen, and the only way American teams will ALWAYS be better than other teams is if they never get a chance to play them.

Still not buying it? the current NBA champions are the LA Lakers. The current Euroleague champion is Barcelona. Clearly the Spanish club wouldn’t stand a chance vs the flashy Lakers…. right? wrong! on October 7th, 2010, Barcelona defeated the Lakers with a score of 92 – 88. Basketball is the #2 most popular sport in the world! The NBA is going global by the minute! Give the world a chance, champs!

But Reuven, Baseball is an American sport, and we are the best league. Isn’t that enough? No. You wouldn’t say that Americans have the best apple pie in the world and no apple pie from another country would ever trump it, would you? (If you would, call me and ill perform a blind taste test for you). Have you ever visited Japan and witnessed their obsession with Baseball? Do you know that Cuba won the most “Baseball World Cups”? – Baseball has become a popular sport on a global level, and just because the MLB champion is supposed to beat any other team, that may not always be the case. (If it was, we would crown the Yankees “World Champions” every single year)

But Reuven, what about the NFL? Are they World Champions? Yes! I think it’s okay to call the Superbowl winner “World Champions”. While many countries are intrigued by the concept of American Football, the NFL remains the major fully developed league. Countries like Switzerland, Russia, Israel are all getting their toes wet with club teams and amateur leagues but clearly they would not be ready for even an exhibition game. What about the CFL? I wouldn’t mind seeing something done between the Superbowl winner and the champion of the Canadian Football League – so I will leave you with this question: Am I breaking the Golden Rule by calling the Packers “World Champs”? or is the NFL so much more developed than any other league that it’s ok to crown them champs?

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About Reuven Fridmar

Reuven is a fourth year student at Marquette University, earning degrees in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. He hopes to create sports marketing initiatives that drive value while focusing on charitable causes. Reuven lived in three countries and visited 13 total. He prides himself on being fluent in Hebrew, Russian, and English. People and idea lover. Connect with Reuven on Twitter @ReuvenFridmar

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Even for the modest fan, few sports teams that resonate in your mind stronger than the Chicago Cubs. You don’t have to be a baseball fan to know that the Cubs are an iconic brand (Trust me, I’m from Milwaukee).

I recently had the opportunity to listen to Wally Hayward, the Cubs’ Chief Sales and Marketing Executive who was brought on by new owner Tom Ricketts to solve this burning question: how can a historic team make changes that will respect the character of the ballpark while providing new growth opportunities?

The answer to that question is outlined in these three main goals of the Cubs:

1) Build a Championship Team

I found it interesting when Hayward said that the Cubs want all of their employees to be the best at their prospective jobs. Yes, that means they strive to have the best security desk personnel, office assistant, and janitor in all of sports. Why? Because being the best is part of the unique culture the new ownership has. “This job was lucrative to me because the family culture has the brand’s best interest in mind for the long run” said Hayward.

The Cubs did not produce a winning product on the field this past season. However, with more money invested in player development, the organization seeks to win the NL Central next year. To accomplish that, the Cubs are putting their focus on the youth rather than big league players. The team built an academy in the Dominican Republic that serves as the gateway into the MLB for many of the young athletes living in that region. The key now is to win consistently over time.  One thing is for sure, the Chicago culture is not going to make it easy. In a city characterized by big expectations and tough media, the Cubs have their hands full.

2) Preserve Wrigley Field

If you have ever visited JerryWorld (the nickname given to Jerry Jones’ new Cowboys Stadium) you may have thought that bigger is better when it comes to screen size, number of sponsorships, clubs, and so on. In reality, while that strategy works wonders in Dallas, it would never fly in Chicago. Even a historic ballpark like Fenway Park has 67 sponsor signs around the stadium. Wrigley doesn’t have that freedom due to the iconic elements of the stadium (for example, the Ivy). In fact, the multiyear deal with Toyota that produced the 16 by 22 foot sign above the left center field bleachers was a strategic placement. Even though many were initially upset, the Cubs were very careful not to hinder the view of the rooftop stands on Waveland Avenue. Another big renovation project included the conversion of 6 suites into the PNC club. You can see how smart and strategic sponsorships like PNC and Toyota will help Wrigley move forward.

Not everything is done on a revenue maximizing focus. The Cubs have invested in renovations that have never been considered before by the Tribune ownership – like the neglected Women bathrooms. In fact, Hayward’s own office is a converted Women restroom, adding to the fact that the new ownership is willing to make sacrifices for the brand’s long term health.

Even with all the additions and renovations, many opportunities still exist for Wrigley. The creation of a merchandise store will prevent the lost revenue on licensing fees that are the result of not owning the stores currently. Let’s step out of the stadium for a moment. The impact of the Cubs on Chicago’s economy is $655 Million, so it’s in everybody’s interest to see the club succeed in the long term. Within a four block radius of Wrigley, you will find 64 bars and restaurants. If the Cubs can control the environment and the fan experience outside the ballpark, it will drive even more revenue within the park.

Remember the College game day held at Wrigley on November 20, 2010 (Yes, the one that could only be played using one end zone) – Did you know it was one of the highest rated in College game day history? Years from now, I can remind you that it wasn’t because people wanted to see Northwestern take on Illinois (neither team had a shot of winning the Big 10) – it was because the game was held at Wrigley, and there is power to holding events at iconic parks like Wrigley Field.

3) Find the right partner

We already saw how powerful the association with the Chicago Cubs can be. In June 2010, Muscle Milk announced a limited edition bottle with the Cubs logo and baseball stitching graphics on the bottle design. Furthermore, fans participated in a contest for the chance to throw the first pitch at a Cubs home game.

Another successful partnership was created with Scott’s when they unveiled “Wrigley Field Lawn Fertilizer” and “Wrigley Field Grass Seed Mix”, which contained formulas used at Wrigley Field. This smart move dramatically increased revenues for Scott’s and provided great visibility for the Cubs.

The Cubs will continue to integrate their brand with the right partner to achieve success in the future.

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About Reuven Fridmar

Reuven is a fourth year student at Marquette University, earning degrees in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. He hopes to create sports marketing initiatives that drive value while focusing on charitable causes. Reuven lived in three countries and visited 13 total. He prides himself on being fluent in Hebrew, Russian, and English. People and idea lover. Connect with Reuven on Twitter @ReuvenFridmar

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