Sports Business Digest

Ticketmaster named as ticket provider for Brooklyn Nets

Emmett Jones — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:51:37 +0000

The Barclays Center, future home of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets, has selected Ticketmaster as its exclusive ticketing provider. Ticketmaster, which is a Live Nation Entertainment company will work with its sister company TicketsNow -- a resale marketplace -- to handle both primary and secondary ticketing for the venue. As an accompaniment to the agreement, Ticketmaster will also serve as a Founding Partner of the Barclays Center.

"As Barclays Center continues to set new standards and lead the industry in state-of-the-art venue design, the sports and entertainment arena is an ideal partner to promote a ticket solution that will enable venues, artists and teams to better serve their fans," said Michael Rapino, president and chief executive officer of Live Nation Entertainment.

Ticketmaster will provide patrons with various forms of technology, including their TicketFast® electronic delivery system, to ensure that fans receive the best experience possible. Customer satisfaction was a driving force in the Barclays Center decision to go with the Live Nation-owned company,

"We are committed to aligning ourselves with the best in the sports and entertainment industry, and that is why we have chosen Ticketmaster as the exclusive ticketing provider for Barclays Center," said Barclays Center and Brooklyn Nets CEO Brett Yormark. "Customer Service is an integral part of our business and Ticketmaster offers the ultimate fan-friendly ticket experience for our visitors, as every ticket bought and sold on the platform will be validated as an authentic ticket by Ticketmaster." (via Press Release)

The Barclays Center will officially open with a concert by rap superstar and minority Brooklyn Nets owner, Jay-Z, on September 28th. The arena is scheduled to host more than 220 events in its inaugural year.

Detroit Tigers surpass 1 million “likes” on Facebook

Emmett Jones — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:11:57 +0000

Like This if you..."Like This". The future of Facebook's stock may be in question, but the obscene number of users flocking to the site is certainly not in doubt. The Detroit Tigers, who are quite popular even without an official Facebook page, have officially topped one million "Likes" on the uber-popular social networking site. With that mark, they become the first American League Central team to reach the one million plateau, and the tenth team in Major League Baseball.

“Social media is an integral part of the fan experience, and we are constantly seeking new ways to engage directly with loyal Tigers fans,” said Tigers’ Vice President of Marketing Ellen Hill Zeringue. “It all starts with unique content, and Tigers fans have demonstrated an exciting response to the Tigers on both Facebook and Twitter, and this milestone is attributable to their support.” (via Press Release)

In an effort to recognize and appreciate their fans, the Tigers are running a sweepstakes for their Facebook followers. Fans who "Like" the team have the opportunity to win four tickets to an upcoming game, complete with a VIP batting practice viewing and a signed Miguel Cabrera baseball. Out of market fans will have the option to opt out of the tickets and receive a free MLB.TV subscription along with the autographed "Miggy" baseball. More information on the contest can be found on the Tigers Facebook page, while fans can also follow the Tigers on their official twitter accounts @Tigers and @TigresdeDetroit

MusclePharm signs deal with Bryce Harper

Emmett Jones — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:17:08 +0000

Washington Nationals phenom Bryce Harper has signed a sponsorship deal with nutritional supplement company MusclePharm. The 19-year old outfielder is in the middle of his first season in Major League Baseball, having debuted for the Nationals on April 28th. While he has tended to shy away from endorsement deals because he's more focused on baseball itself -- according to his marketing agent, Tyler Beckstrom of Boras Marketing, he did sign with MusclePharm in part because of his previous usage of the product,

"I have been using MusclePharm products for more than a year, and I fell in love with the brand after first being introduced to it," Harper said. "MusclePharm products have been certified to be used in professional baseball, and I know they are safe and effective because of that. "Their entire product line is outstanding, and they do an amazing job helping me recover correctly, while allowing me to perform at a high level. I am truly excited to be working with MusclePharm in this capacity." (via Press Release)

MusclePharm is already a popular nutritional supplement among athletes in NFL and MLB circles, and it is the official supplement company of the UFC.

"Harper's immense baseball talent, likeable personality and broad appeal to a key demographic made this the ideal partnership for MusclePharm," said Cory Gregory, the company's co-founder and senior vice president. "We've had our eye on Bryce for nearly two years, because I really thought he fit our brand perfectly. We saw him progress through the minors at a rapid rate, and we were impressed with his Major League debut. It is icing on the cake that he is already using MusclePharm products "Bryce fits into our main demographic perfectly, and we are beyond thrilled to have him on board as one of our main athletes. He trains extremely hard and has a tremendous work ethic, and we are excited to welcome Bryce to MusclePharm in a big way," Gregory added.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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.

Belmont Stakes sells-out tickets in 5 minutes

Emmett Jones — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:40:13 +0000

What a difference a Triple Crown contender makes. The Thoroughbread Times is reporting that reserved seat tickets for the Belmont Stakes sold out in under 5 minutes when a block of 3,000 tickets went on sale via Ticketmaster yesterday morning. Of course, this year's Belmont has a little more added incentive after I'll Have Another won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in exciting fashion. Roughly half of the seats at Belmont were sold at the start of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. Since the end of the Preakness, there has been a mini-rush for tickets, with the New York Racing Association reporting that approximately 5,000 more seats have been sold since the race's end. While the Belmont can hold 32,000, they have the ability to increase capacity for high-demand events like a potential Triple Crown winner. 1,000 more seats will be available for the Belmont starting on Wednesday. While online reserved ticket prices range somewhere between $20 to $120 depending on your seat, secondary tickets are presently going for nearly $1,000 on secondary ticket market website, Stub Hub. The last potential Triple Crown winner, Big Brown, pulled in more than 90,000 fans during his 2008 Triple Crown bid.

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.

The Bradley Center Changes Name to BMO Harris Bradley Center

Travis_Schluter — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:35:34 +0000

The Bradley Center, home of the Milwaukee Bucks announced today that a sponsorship with BMO Harris Bank will expand the name of the building to BMO Harris Bradley Center. The name change will soon be visible on the outside of the building and on various other interior signs. "The BMO Harris Bradley Center name will be a terrific addition to Milwaukee," said MMAC President Tim Sheehy. "The Bradley Center has a net annual economic impact of more than $80 million in metro Milwaukee – it's a tremendous community asset and job creator. When we issued a call for Champions of the Community to help build a bridge from the Bradley Center to the future, BMO Harris Bank really stepped up. This sponsorship will have a big and important impact." "This partnership is a great fit for us, and we applaud Tim Sheehy for the incredible job he has done in rallying support from the business community. For almost a quarter century, the Bradley Center has served as metro Milwaukee’s home for premier sports and entertainment, opening its doors to millions of fans, including the region's corporate citizens, their employees, their customers and families," said Brad Chapin, executive vice president of BMO Harris Bank. "Sponsorship of a community treasure like the Bradley Center is a great opportunity for us to deepen our local commitment and strengthen our relationships with customers in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin. The new BMO Harris Bradley Center represents a solid, positive investment for the future, and we are proud to be associated with such a wonderful building with a glorious past.” "We are also pleased to announce a six-year sponsorship of the Milwaukee Bucks and to work with the team and Vincent Lyles to establish new BMO Harris Boys & Girls Club seating to support the community and broaden the fan base," Chapin said. Other than having a new name, nothing else will change. Building owners and sponsors plan to keep the changes minimal so fans will not experience any loss of history, which the building has obtained over the last 23 years.

Pittsburgh Pirates Social Media Night

Emmett Jones — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:35:54 +0000

This social media thing...I think it may have legs. Continuing the current trend toward a combination of social media and physical presence at a ball park, the Pittsburgh Pirates will host their first social media night of 2012 on Friday May 25th. Pirates fans who follow the team through one of their social media channels (Twitter or Facebook) can receive $10 off their ticket for the social media night game against the Cubs, along with a pre-game reception. Participants in the Pirates social media night will receive a free T-Shirt, a chance to meet local radio personalities from 93.7 THE FAN and Pirates executives, a chance, and there will be various raffles and giveaways accompanying the event. One interesting wrinkle to the Pirates social media night is that one fan from the pre-game reception will be chosen to represent the Pirates as the "Fan of the Game". That fan will be recognized before the game, and will have the opportunity to change a base with the PNC Park ground crew during the game. The Pirates social media night coincides with another popular Pirates promotion -- You Score as the Pirates Score -- in which fans receive a price discount equal to the number of runs the Pirates scored this past weekend against the Tigers (It was $7). Two promotions on the same day. If the weather holds, it looks like the Pirates will have a good night attendance-wise, regardless of their current record. For more information on Social Media Night, visit Pirates.com/socialmedia.

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.