Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Football in LA?
I know this is kind of an old story. But I'm currently visiting family in LA and this means I've been hanging out watching a lot of sports on TV. When I hear about all these NFL teams and their playoff runs, thanksgiving games, and games being blacked out in local areas it just amazes me LA doesn't have a team. I understand LA isnt this big sports die-hard fan base, but there are so many people here I couldn't imagine them not selling out games, especially with their new plan, location, etc.
Anyway, check out the plan and see if you think LA deserves a team and deserves this stadium.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sports Travel Book Review: 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live
As a sports fan, this book is a must read. It gives you the events you must go to, and the means to get there. Tuchman describes the entier experience, from where and when the event takes place, to the significance, history, notable athletes and records and travel advice. His travel advice includes things to know, how to get there, how to get tickets, where to stay, what type of packages are available, and where to eat. He also lists Notable Quotes which really make you feel as though you can grasp the significance of the event.
What does the book include you ask. The usuals: World Cup, Super Bowl, Summer Olympics, Kentucky Derby and more, to the unusual: Little 500, Iditarod, Head of the Charles. The book lists every type of event any sports fan would want. I personally have added many events to my Sports Travel Bucket List.
I would thoroughly recommend this book to everyone I know, and I continue to use it as I plan trips, think about new ones and to continue to add to my wish list. Thanks Mr. Tuchman!
MNF Guide: Houston
Tonight's Monday Night Game takes us to Houston, Texas where the Houston Texans bash against Vince Young and the Tennessee Titans. Get out there early for some more awesome tailgating (make sure to check out the Texans Tailgate Party in the
Reliant Stadium is a multiple-use stadium in Houston Texas. The stadium is the home of the Houston Texans, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Texas Bowl, and many international soccer matches for the US National team as well as many other events. The stadium served as the host facility for Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1, 2004 and Wrestle Mania XXV on April 5, 2009.
Reliant Stadium is part of a collection of venues (including the Astrodome), which are collectively called Reliant Park The entire complex is named for Reliant Energy under a 32-year, $300 million naming rights deal in 2000. Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500, a total square footage of 1,900,000 square feet (177,000 m2) with 97,000 sq ft (9,000 m2). of natural grass playing surface. The stadium was constructed at the cost of $352 million. Reliant Stadium is the first facility in the NFL to have a retractable roof.
Before the game, stop by the B.U.S. bar, the most popular bar to hit up before Astros games. This bar has a huge interior equipped with pool, darts, video games, multiple alma mater flags, big screens, couches and multiple bars. They are also known to have the promo girls walking around, giving out free tastes of Jack Daniel’s, Miller Lite, and other alcoholic beverages. If you want it a little more laid back, hit the Houston Pavilions, filled with stores, restaurants such as Micormic and Schmidts, and other forms of entertainment.
Interesting Article: Time to Start Spending On Sports Again by Robert Tuchman
I knew 2009 was going to be an uphill battle for my business when last October President Obama stated at a town hall meeting in Indiana “You can’t get corporate jets. You can’t take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayers dime.” See my niche segment of the sports marketplace specializes in corporate incentives wrapped around major sporting events such as the Super Bowl. Many of the prize packages we create for incentive contest winners include private airfare, hotel accommodations, and event tickets. The contests we develop mainly for Fortune 500 sales teams aim to drive revenue and raise ebitda increasing a businesses bottom line production. The program costs a company incurs on these incentive trips helps to keep thousands of hospitality industry personnel employed. There is powerful trickle down effect on each piece of business which flows through hundreds of hands all the way through to the guy making a $5 tip for handling your bag at the airport.
Unfortunately this business as well as many other businesses in the sports industry slowed earlier this year after the credit crisis virtually shut the faucet on corporate spending. It was obvious that many companies directly and indirectly affected by the recession as well as the eventual economic collapse needed to work to get their balance sheets back into shape. This meant reducing operating costs which included trimming marketing budgets and laying off employees. The good news is many businesses made quick rebounds in just a couple of quarters to show profit gains. The bad news is in many cases this was caused by extreme cost cutting measures having nothing to do with revenue generating business growth. The next earnings report is where it is going to get very tricky for companies to look good as they need to start producing revenue again. Incentive contests, promotions, and sports sponsorship programs are now needed more then ever to get the engine going.
Interestingly enough many companies no longer face the dilemma of not having actual dollars to spend on these meaningful initiatives. You would think the solution would be quite simple then. The issue currently is that these companies are so fearful of being singled out by politicians for what they term frivolous spending that they are shutting down some of these needed practices. Fortunately our overall business as well as many others in sports have picked up some in the last couple of months but we are still having to prod some clients who act like a deer frozen in a headlight when it comes to spending on sports. They want to get back in the game but they are terrified of being perceived in a negative light. This trepidation will have a devastating effect on a companies ability to grow its business.
Why is sports being targeted? When a company throws ten million dollars into a campaign for one of their products to tie into a Hollywood film no one bats an eye or asks questions. Tying in with Tiger Woods or the Super Bowl? That’s another story. My specific business niche in many ways gives a better ROI then most advertising campaigns. Winners of these incentive contests have to produce sales above their quotas to get invited on the trip. There is a clear cut revenue goal. If you hit it you go on the trip. If you don’t you stay home and watch it on television.
A short while after hearing President Obama’s words on going to the Super Bowl I happened to catch him on ESPN sitting front row at a Wizards/Bulls game. How come he gets to go to sporting events on the tax payers dime but I have to stay away? Earlier this month Nancy Pelosi and our house of representatives approved a bill for 550 million dollars to purchase private aircrafts including a Gulfstream plane so our leaders can fly to places like Costa Rica and Panama for “government educational trips.” This smells of hypocrisy.
Moving forward its imperative that we in the sports industry not be hesitant in promoting our business. We shouldn’t be embarrassed for using the word “luxury” when selling suites at a game. We all know sports is a huge business around the world nowadays. Sponsorship, promotion, media, and hospitality are all legitimate must have business practices that help companies grow and succeed. There is nothing wrong with that.
Unfortunately this business as well as many other businesses in the sports industry slowed earlier this year after the credit crisis virtually shut the faucet on corporate spending. It was obvious that many companies directly and indirectly affected by the recession as well as the eventual economic collapse needed to work to get their balance sheets back into shape. This meant reducing operating costs which included trimming marketing budgets and laying off employees. The good news is many businesses made quick rebounds in just a couple of quarters to show profit gains. The bad news is in many cases this was caused by extreme cost cutting measures having nothing to do with revenue generating business growth. The next earnings report is where it is going to get very tricky for companies to look good as they need to start producing revenue again. Incentive contests, promotions, and sports sponsorship programs are now needed more then ever to get the engine going.
Interestingly enough many companies no longer face the dilemma of not having actual dollars to spend on these meaningful initiatives. You would think the solution would be quite simple then. The issue currently is that these companies are so fearful of being singled out by politicians for what they term frivolous spending that they are shutting down some of these needed practices. Fortunately our overall business as well as many others in sports have picked up some in the last couple of months but we are still having to prod some clients who act like a deer frozen in a headlight when it comes to spending on sports. They want to get back in the game but they are terrified of being perceived in a negative light. This trepidation will have a devastating effect on a companies ability to grow its business.
Why is sports being targeted? When a company throws ten million dollars into a campaign for one of their products to tie into a Hollywood film no one bats an eye or asks questions. Tying in with Tiger Woods or the Super Bowl? That’s another story. My specific business niche in many ways gives a better ROI then most advertising campaigns. Winners of these incentive contests have to produce sales above their quotas to get invited on the trip. There is a clear cut revenue goal. If you hit it you go on the trip. If you don’t you stay home and watch it on television.
A short while after hearing President Obama’s words on going to the Super Bowl I happened to catch him on ESPN sitting front row at a Wizards/Bulls game. How come he gets to go to sporting events on the tax payers dime but I have to stay away? Earlier this month Nancy Pelosi and our house of representatives approved a bill for 550 million dollars to purchase private aircrafts including a Gulfstream plane so our leaders can fly to places like Costa Rica and Panama for “government educational trips.” This smells of hypocrisy.
Moving forward its imperative that we in the sports industry not be hesitant in promoting our business. We shouldn’t be embarrassed for using the word “luxury” when selling suites at a game. We all know sports is a huge business around the world nowadays. Sponsorship, promotion, media, and hospitality are all legitimate must have business practices that help companies grow and succeed. There is nothing wrong with that.
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