How the Bandits became a local staple with ‘world-class entertainment at a minor league price’

Western New York is a hotbed for lacrosse, and the Buffalo Bandits can take credit for having a hand in that.

Click here to read the story at buffalonews.com.

Discussion Questions:

1. Who are the Buffalo Bandits?
2. What sport do they play?
3. How might the Bandits have helped to boost the popularity of the sport in the local area?
4. What is competition?
5. Who might represent an example of direct competition to the Bandits?
6. Who might represent an example of indirect competition to the Bandits?
7. What is competition for the entertainment dollar?
8. How do you think this news story represents an example of competition for the entertainment dollar?
9. What is positioning?
10. What is differentation?
11. Based on what you learned from this story, how would you describe the Bandits’ positioning strategy?
12. How would you describe the team’s differentiation strategy?
13. Why is the quality of product important to a sports team?
14. Do you think the Bandits provide the team’s fans with a quality product? Why or why not?
15. How has that impacted the team’s attendance? How might that impact the team’s bottom line?
16. What is personal selling?
17. What are ticket sales?
18. Describe the 13 steps in the sales process, as defined in your textbook (the Business of Sports and Entertainment).
19. How might an inside sales representative follow the sales process to help the team sell more season tickets?
20. Why do you think the Bandits hired an inside sales staff?
21. How has that impacted season ticket sales, according to this news story?