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!