Sports Business Digest » Football

Hispanic Sport Viewers are on the Rise

Travis_Schluter — Wed, 23 May 2012 05:15:01 +0000

Mainly known for its popularity around the world and different cultures, soccer has been the primary sport that Hispanic watch. However with growing populations of a younger generation Spanish speakers have migrated to Basketball, Football, and even Nascar. The number of Hispanic sport viewers is on the rise as a recent poll suggests that 73,000 Spanish speakers watched the Daytona 500, a 50% increase from 20011. 492,000 Hispanics tuned in to view the NFL draft in April, which was almost a 100% increase since 2008. A recent sports report shows that 6.9 million Hispanics viewed most if not all of March Madness this year. The average age was 39, which was significantly lower than African Americans at 44 and 48 years of age for whites. These Sports welcome new comers and are more than excited to have a new rising crowd. With an increase in Hispanic players and viewers ticket sales are at an all time high. The NBA has even started airing certain commercials that are directed toward Hispanic Culture. It really doesn’t matter what color your skin is, or what language you speak… sports are sports, and as human beings we love entertainment and the desire to win. It is encouraging to see so many different cultures coming together to enjoy a common love.

Dickerson lawsuit adds to NFL’s concussion woes

Emmett Jones — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:54:56 +0000

The NFL concussion lawsuits have just gone high-profile. Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson has joined together with 15 other retired NFL players to file suit against the league, alleging that the league was negligent regarding the care and instruction they gave to players to prevent long term damage from concussions, according to the NFL Concussion Litigation Blog. Dickerson, who is the highest-profile claimant against the league to date, is joined in the suit by Pro Bowl Running Back Hoyle Granger, and the estates of David Lunceford and Ernie Stautner; both estates allege that the players were suffering from Alzheimers at the time of their death, which was a result of concussion-type injuries suffered during their time in the NFL. The suit, which was filed in the Southern District of Texas, is the 80th such concussion-related lawsuit filed against the league.

NFLPA disapproves of proposed Pad rule

Emmett Jones — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:08:06 +0000

So...how safe is too safe? An NFL proposed rule change would require that the usage of thigh and knee pads would be mandatory for all players beginning with the 2013 NFL season. The proposed rule change will be reviewed at the league's spring meeting, which takes place today. The NFL Players Association? Not too excited about said proposed rule change, according to a FOX Sports report,

“Guys want to feel as sleek as possible,” NFLPA president Domonique Foxworth told FOXSports.com last year. “Anything that inhibits that makes them feel it’s slowing them down or getting in their way. Some guys have never played with those pads. It’s difficult for them to wrap their heads around it mentally.”

The mandatory usage of pads comes at a time when the NFL is under fire from retired players over what they feel was a lack of information regarding player safety. To date, over 2,000 retired players have filed suit against the league, mainly for issues regarding lack of knowledge about the dangers of concussions and their treatment. Seemingly in an effort to head off potential lawsuits down the road regarding knee and thigh issues, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and the league itself, are proposing the rule as a part of a group of safety initiatives that seek to make the game safer for the players involved. There had been discussions of a pad rule since the 2010-2011 season, but this is the first time the proposed rule will be voted on by the owners. Of course, as Foxworth said, implementation of the pad rule may prohibit players from playing at their peak proficiency, which in turn effects on-field product and the players' attitudes; it's a delicate balancing act. Empirical data showing that thigh and knee pad usage would decrease injuries would probably go a long way in satiating the NFLPA, but the league has not yet provided them with said evidence, according to FOXSports,

“It sounds obvious that it would (reduce injuries), but it’s not necessarily true,” the source said.

The NFLPA is alleging that the rule change would violate the current collective bargaining agreement and they plan to take the change before an arbitrator, if the 75% owner voting threshold is met. Currently, NFL teams are prohibited from fining a player who does not wear knee or thigh pads. They can however fine players who, without pads, suffer a related leg injury during practice.

Try on the New York Giants Super Bowl Ring

Travis_Schluter — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:32:29 +0000

Are you a New York Giants fan? Even if your not, you may want to jump on the bandwagon at least for the remainder of summer. After their impressive Super Bowl win last season, the team is rewarding fans with an online app, that will allow you to virtually wear and take photos with the team’s Super Bowl ring and trophy. You can pose next to the trophy or snap a shot of the virtual ring mounted to your finger, and then post the pictures on social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter for a chance to win prizes and inclusions on Giants.com

“We’re really trying each day and each week to figure out how to use social media as it grows and evolves to let us communicate and touch fans in a more meaningful way than they ever have before,” Giants CMO Mike Stevens told Mashable in an interview. (Press release) “This just seemed like the right thing to do,” he told Mashable. “We’re taking something sacred to the organization and letting fans do something they couldn’t do before.”

The app is called GoldRun and is available for Android and iOS. After installing the app click on the New York Giants image and then the camera icon. After your photo shoot you can either directly upload your photos to Facebook and Twitter from the app, or save them in your photo library to show all your friends at a later time. The app is free for the time being, and we definitely recommend you go check it out.

Tebow is the Messiah, according to T-shirt lawsuit

Emmett Jones — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:54:35 +0000

Tim Tebow's faith is always at the fore-front of his life. Whether it be in a press conference, on the field, or just in day-to-day life...Tebow is a fierce believer in Jesus. But, a new lawsuit seems to portray Tim as Jesus. Tebow's attorneys at Ziffren Brittenham, LLP -- a Los Angeles based law firm -- have sent a cease-and-desist letter (via TMZ) to the t-shirt website, Cubby Tees, which claims that the website is illegally using Tebow's name for the company's own commercial gain.

"As you know, Mr. Tebow has not granted Cubby Tees any rights to use his name or likeness in any manner. By promoting, advertising and selling the Merchandise, not only has Cubby Tees used Mr. Tebow's name to promote Cubby Tees, but the Merchandise makes it appear as if Mr. Tebow's actually endorses Cubby Tees and its products...Consequently, Cubby Tee's use of his name in and in connection with the Merchandise for their Website or otherwise, without permission constitutes unfair competition, unlawful misappropriation of name and/or likeness, deceptive trade practices, and a violation of Mr. Tebow's rights of publicty and privacy..."

That all sounds like the standard legal fare for a cease-and-desist letter. "I caught you making money off of my name. Stop right now or I'll sue you, etc." The problem? The t-shirts in question don't contain Tebow's likeness or his actual name. The shirts parody the NY Jets logo and spell out "MY Jesus". Furthermore, the site has a clear disclaimer stating that Tebow in no way endorses the jersey -- a main point of contention in the-cease and-desist letter,

This fun design is not officially endorsed by New York's backup quarterback or the Son of God, but plays off the themes of Tebow's faith and his new team - borrowing from the J-E-T-S to promote J-E-S-U-S, with a fish for a football, and "MY" replacing "NY" with a color scheme that will be familiar to Jets fans. We don't take sides on the field or in the hereafter -- we just try to make fans happy, and this shirt should fit Tebow followers to a tee. It's available in green, white or grey in sizes small through 4XL. (Other colors/sizes/styles available on request) (via Cubby Tees)

If Tebow's legal team does decide to take the case to court -- Cubby Tees has already responded to the letter, and has decided to not remove the shirts -- they have a long road ahead of them. Copyright law would generally protect Cubby Tee's usage of Tebow's name and likeness in an instance where they've created an entertaining or artistic work that is transformative -- i.e. a creative element is added so that its more than just a depiction of the person's name or likeness. A parody t-shirt would seemingly fit that description. On top of that defense, Tebow's team may have quite a tough time proving that Tebow's name or likeness is even being utilized in the first place. To note, Cubby Tees also has parodied t-shirts of other sports superstars including the Detroit Tigers' Prince Fielder and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's Albert Pujols. To the best of my knowledge, they have not sent a cease-and-desist to Cubby Tees. hat tip to TerezOwens and TMZ.

Panel approves USC as LA Coliseum’s new lease-holder

Emmett Jones — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:29:14 +0000

According to an LA Times report, USC is on the cusp on taking over control of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Coliseum, which has been in dire financial straits for a few years, will now be controlled by USC, thanks to an 8-1 vote in favor of the move by the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission. The Coliseum has been in the hands of the public, or at least public officials, for the last 88 years. Under the terms of the agreement, USC would be given a new lease and the right to control the Coliseum and its revenue, until 2054, when the Coliseum Commission is set to dissolve and have all of its assets transferred to the state of California. Industry experts, which placed the value of the stadium at somewhere in between $240 and $400 million, in 2005, have noted that the lease essentially gives USC all of the benefits of a stadium, without any of the responsibilities that accompany stadium ownership. (Ed. -- Except for a $1 million dollar annual rent payment to the state). Ever quick to jump on the fortuitous opportunity, USC plans on putting $70 million dollars worth of upgrades into the stadium, to help turn it into a world-class college facility. The decision to grant the lease to USC was surrounded by controversy in part because many feel that USC is receiving something for nothing

"Most of it is exclusively to benefit the university," said Parks, who is also an L.A. City Councilman. "We should have negotiated this with more interest to the community, and in the interest of the taxpayers."

That being said, the Coliseum is so cash-strapped -- its cash reserves will dwindle below $20,000 by the end of June -- that some wonder if the panel simply ran out of options. As an interesting aside, there is an NFL provision written into USC's lease agreement -- If needed, an NFL team will be allowed to use the stadium if necessary, with all gate-revenue going to USC. A good deal, indeed.

The USFL is officially back…for the first time.

Emmett Jones — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:04:51 +0000

Dust off your old Birmingham Stallions jersey, the USFL is back. Well...sort of. The league which brought the world future NFL Hall-of-Famers such as Jim Kelly and Steve Young will begin play again next March. The new eight-team league will consist of a 14 game season. Separating the new USFL from the old USFL is that this new league, while the same in name, will consist of players who were not picked up by any NFL team, and will act as a developmental, off-season alternative to the NFL. Think of it almost like the NBA Developmental League, but for football. This new USFL will be run by EndZone Sports Management -- a San Diego based sports management firm -- and its president Jaime Cuadra.

“You can't deny the impact the USFL made on the football landscape even with its brief history. It gave us great players like Steve Young, Jim Kelly, Reggie White, Sam Mills and so many others,” President and Chief Executive Officer, Jaime Cuadra states. “We are excited to have the opportunity to build on that history and re- launch the league as a Professional Football League that plays in the spring, giving fans more football and giving talented athletes a platform from which to perform.” (via Press Release)

Also involved with both EndZone and the USFL, is NFL Hall-of-Famer Fred Biletnikoff, who has been hired to consult on football operations. The league has also already hired Crimson Marketing & Public Relations and Brand North for their marketing and social media marketing needs, respectively. The USFL joins an ever-growing list of off-shoot football leagues that were created to either compete against, or at least coincide with the NFL. World League of American Football, NFL Europe, and the XFL are just a few of the leagues that have tried, yet none have been able to achieve the long term viability that the NFL has been able to create. Of course, the fact that the USFL is strictly holding itself out as a developmental league that is in no way in any direct competition with the NFL, could allow it to be the "spring fix" that transitions the NFL fan from offseason to new season. The league, in fact, is making such a conscious effort to distance itself from direct sporting competition, that they are not only refusing to place teams in cities that do not have an NFL franchise, but MLB franchises as well. The teams and their host cities will be announced sometime this summer. Maybe dusting off that Birmingham Stallions jersey is a good idea, after all.

CBS Sports Push Forward

Travis_Schluter — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:06:03 +0000

CBS Sports is making moves to become the leading network in football coverage. Already holding rights to the 2013 Super Bowl, they are pushing advertising spots for next seasons SEC football games. By using the Super Bowl as leverage they are quickly out competing their adversaries ESPN and Fox. With the increase in popularity the SEC conference has acquired over the last two seasons, CBS has been able to raise their ad rates. This comes as no surprise after the championship game last year was between Alabama and LSU, two top seeded SEC Conference teams. They plan to be just as if not more competitive this year with Arkansas and Georgia leading the way. Currently eight of the top thirteen most popular teams reside within the SEC Conference, according to attendance numbers by Sports Business Daily. It has also been rumored that CBS and the SEC are looking to renegotiate their TV rights agreement. It’s predicted the new agreement could be worth $5 Billion over a 15 year term. Backing by one of College football’s most popular conference and hosting this season’s Super Bowl, CBS Sports network has slingshot past the competition and shows no signs of slowing.

Bud Light Promotion: NFL season tickets for life

Emmett Jones — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:52:45 +0000

Bud Light may have just simultaneously created the easiest and best marketing campaign ever. The official beer sponsor of the National Football League is offering one fan two season tickets to their favorite team's regular season home games for up to 50 years beginning with the 2013 NFL season. The deal is so sweet, they're even throwing in a season parking pass. To enter, fans aged 21 and up only have to fill out an online entry form on Bud Light's Facebook page, or on their website. Seriously. Entries will be accepted through January 11, 2013, with the lucky winner announced before Super Bowl XLVII.

"There's nothing like cheering your favorite team from the stands on game day, and we're going to make sure one of our fans enjoys that experience for life," said Mike Sundet, vice president, Bud Light. "We're giving fans the opportunity to enter throughout the 2012 season because we want every single NFL fan to have the chance to throw their name in the hat." (via Press Release)

Official rules can be found on Bud Light's website.

Mike McQueary to file whistleblower suit against PSU

Emmett Jones — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:26 +0000

The worst story in Penn State's storied history, continues. Former PSU wide receiver coach/PSU quarterback Mike McQueary is filing a whistleblower lawsuit against the University that he once called home, according to the Centre Daily Times. McQueary's attorney, Elliot Strokoff, filed a writ of summons for a civil case in county court on Tuesday. The writ gives the University notice that McQueary intends to sue. Although there are few details in the four-page writ, it does contain language stating that the suit is a whistleblower suit. McQueary gained national notoriety when it was revealed that he was the graduate assistant who had seen Jerry Sandusky allegedly molest a boy in a Penn State locker room shower. This incident, which McQueary reported to former Penn State coach Joe Paterno, was not investigated properly under Penn State's code of conduct, and would ultimately lead to the firing of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno and criminal charges against Penn State administrators, Gary Schultz and Tim Curley. McQueary himself was placed on a leave of absence by the University, after he started to receive death threats due to his involvement in the event. Penn State officials are currently unable to comment stating that they have not seen the complaint.