I realize this post is a little overdue, but while Semi-Pro is dying a slow death at the cinema, Jackie Moon is still pitching Old Spice and Bud Light every hour on ESPN.  I have had this post on my “to do” list for over a month and figured now might be the time to dust it off and get it online.  Somehow seeing Ferrell in those ridiculous shorts in an Old Spice commercial last night while watching Sports Center provided the inspiration to wrap this up.  So, here goes nothing…

Okay, okay.  I admit it.  I am an absolute sucker for statistics and numbers.  But, as they say in American business, knowledge is power…and power is money.  If those worn out cliches are tried AND true, the NCAA is likely rolling in the dough right about now. 

I have spent the last two weeks or so absorbing every possible commentary relating to the business of March Madness.  There have been numerous reports estimating the number of viewers watching the tourney, the cost to American businesses and economic impact in various markets.  I’ve seen numbers identifying the amount of time consumers devote to…

As a lifelong Packer fan growing up in the great state of Wisconsin, I’d be remiss to avoid commentary on today’s news regarding Brett Favre’s retirement. Yet, because this is a BUSINESS blog, it would be pointless to ramble on about Favre’s many great accomplishments. You know, like holding the NFL records for most consecutive starts (253…275 including postseason), most wins for a QB, most TD passes, most completions, most yards…Favre pretty much owns the NFL’s passing record book. Oh, and let’s not forget that Favre is the leagues ONLY three time winner of the league MVP award. Only Johnny…

All-Star games.  What are they?  What do they mean?  Do fans care about these events that pit the best of the best in each respective sport against one another?  By taking a closer look at the marketing and hype that surrounds the events, I think one could draw the conclusion that fans do indeed care.  The ratings, although in some cases quite modest, would support that notion:  Major League Baseball’s 2007 All-Star Game drew a 16.1 rating, the NFL’s Pro-Bowl a 10.7 and the NBA All-Star a 4.5.  Broadcastingcable.com reported that “TNT’s All-Star Saturday — featuring the Orlando Magic’s Howard strapping on…

As the New England Patriots and their 18-0 record barreled into Phoenix to take on the New York Giants, high expectations were abound on many fronts, particularly for the business of the Super Bowl.  And, unlike the Patriots performance, those expectations were met.  Record revenues.  Record ratings.  Record crowds.  Not only was this a game for the ages ON the football field, this was a game for the ages for corporate America. 

Back in the late 1980’s, the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers brought home two straight championships.  After the victory parades were over, Pat Riley (the team’s coach), trademarked the phrase “three-peat” so he could cash in on licensing fees if the team went on to win a third straight title.  Unfortunately for Riley and the Lakers, the Detroit Pistons would crush those hopes by beating them in the finals in year three. 

In the early 90’s, the Chicago Bulls (led by Michael Jordan) would capture those elusive three straight championships for a “three-peat”.  Riley, however, was one step ahead and earned millions…

Ahhhh, yes.  It is that time of the year again.  You know, the time of the year when corporate America flings millions of dollars in the direction of the NFL and its broadcast affiliates.  The time of the year when the creative minds of the ad agencies are truly put to the test.  The time of the year where new products are introduced, new brand campaigns launched and new companies attempt to establish a presence on the radar of consumer America.

This is also the time of the year where Monday morning quarterbacks prosper, placing each and every Super Bowl ad…

I don’t know how many of you have seen this ad circulating the Web already, but I certainly got a kick out of it.  This can be a fun way to illustrate to your students how marketing is all around us! 

The NBA’s Toronto Raptors star Chris Bosh is an exceptionally talented basketball player.  Unfortunately for him, he plays for a team that manages to fly largely under the media radar, despite his team’s on-court success the past few seasons.  Bosh was named to the Olympic team and was an all-star last year, but for whatever reason he is lagging in…

The seven-time Tour de France winner is again leveraging his amazing sporting accolades to maximize his marketing power.  On the heels of one of the most successful brand campaigns, Lance Armstrong and company are pushing the LiveStrong brand as a means for raising more money for cancer research.  This time, however, the promotion is tied-in through a major sporting goods retailer (Dick’s Sporting Goods).  The partnership between Dick’s and Armstrong serves as an excellent example of cause marketing for all you teachers out there.  Proceeds from sales of the Livestrong/Nike branded merchandise will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, a group formed…

A lot has been made in sports and entertainment circles about ratings of late.  Why?  Well, a number of factors have contributed, capped off by a few historic events that managed to capture the nation’s attention over the holidays.

Before delving into specifics, let us first address the concept of ratings.  Many automatically associate the term “tv ratings” with Nielsen.  This is understandable given Nielsen Media Research’s evolution as an American brand name, much like kleenex, band-aid, q-tip or scotch tape.  Nielsen has established its service as the industry expert when measuring the number of people watching television shows and makes its data available…