Fieldhouse Media has been one of the companies that has been working with college athletic departments in terms of social media education, monitoring and brand protection. Kevin DeShazo talks about some of the ways that college athletic directors can protect their department through social media initiatives such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. DeShazo isn’t really a fan of the adoption of Snapchat, and discusses its possible pluses and potential failings, both for the athletic department and the end user. DeShazo covers various points of entry for social media into how to draw fans to games as well as ensure that what is said on those platforms by student-athletes and coaches is consistent with the department’s brand message. Twitter: @KevinDeShazo
One of the premiere journalists covering the world of sports business today is Mike Ozanian, who shares insight into everything from media rights to franchise valuations. Ozanian goes deeper when talking about the impact of fans actually in the building compared to those watching on televisions at home. This includes the largess of media rights deals such as the $8.3 Billion deal between Time Warner Cable and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ozanian also discusses the idea of whether the teams are competing against themselves in terms of attracting fans through the doors while also trying to get them to watch through other media. Ozanian speaks on the athlete as a brand driver of revenue both individually and within a franchise structure. Twitter: @SportsMoneyBlog
The role of brand and corporate sales are discussed with Brendan Falvey, who has worked on every corner of brand development in sports. Falvey has been on the side of the sports franchise with the Colorado Rockies, selling sponsorships to companies. He has also been on the company side, trying to initiate sponsorship opportunities. And finally, Falvey has been on the business development aspect as a middle man between the company and team, trying to best create activation for both the client and the team. His experience is dynamic, helping ensure that the role of brand and brand development is taken serious by all parties involved. Twitter: @BFalvey