Butler's athletic prowess over the last few years has made it a player on the national stage, even if its still a fan's "second favorite team" in Indiana. Associate AD Mike Freeman shares of the ways that Butler goes after its fanbase, especially when creating a unique, passionate environment at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Freeman provides insight on how getting on local television, as well as driving the importance of the game itself, has increased attendance overall amid those Final Four expectations after two back-to-back years in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship games. Twitter: @MichaelSFreeman
Athletic tape has often been the invisible side of sports, in a typical white, bland fashion. Keith Moss aims to change that perception, introducing a branding tool with Signature Athletic Tape, that allows athletes and franchises to create a marketing concept surrounding something commonly taken for granted. Moss talks about how he came up with the idea to print logos and colors on the tape, and how it is now starting to generate buzz within the sports community, including a branding tool example made possible by a marathon sponsor, Airbrb. Moss discusses some of the challenges that lay ahead for his company, as well as how his tape has the ability to tear off easier, and reduce some of the stress on athletic trainers when an athlete wants to remove it. Twitter: @SigTape
As the traditions of college athletics have been usurped by conference affiliation changes, it has placed some challenges for marketing a football or basketball program in the modern era. Matt Wells knows this at West Virginia, where the populations to come watch live college entertainment is limited, and the passion for undeveloped rivalries isn't surfaced yet. Wells shares his views of what makes up a good marketing & sales plan, as well as how to develop an attraction that builds a fan base, despite the lack of a historical or traditional conference rival game. Twitter: @WMattWells
It is a rare, unique and surprisingly fresh approach when sports marketing turns toward the arts world for inspiration. That's what Christian Deleon's tenure at San Diego State Athletic Marketing has been all about, with the adoption of a Banksy-esk art-deco feel to an advertising campaign that cost the department little, yet got their branding throughout the city of San Diego. Deleon shares his passion of developing good, smart and interesting branding opportunities through new media, as well as creating a fun environment at games. Deleon talks about how SDSU honored the passing of its legendary alumni Tony Gwynn, not with a memorial, but with a fantastic week of showcasing exactly what Gywnn meant to SDSU and the San Diego community. Twitter: @SDSUChristian
Brent Jones has been working to meld the duties of marketing and communications into one department at the University of Southern Mississippi. Those tasks entail a plethora of duties, including promotions, communications, licensing, sponsorship fulfillment, branding, advertising, ticket sales campaigns, in game production, fan engagement, video operations, public relations, social media, community relations, the athletic department website, digital assets and the spirit squads for Southern Miss Athletics. Yes, that is a lot to digest, except Jones also oversees departments for sports information, broadcasting, sports technology and video operations, IMG College, LRG, M-Club ( Letter winners association) sports marketing department, digital marketing and creative services. So, basically, Jones has only a short window to chat on the podcast before catching his breath and continuing on. Jones covers the gamut in terms of different ways to attract fans to S. Mississippi as well as live the brand of the institution, and get most departments working together, instead of apart. Twitter: @BrentJones4
The Western Bulldogs of the Australia Football League are a perfect example of revenue generation. Despite some lackluster results on the field of play, the Bulldogs' Chief Commercial Officer Nick Truelson and his team were able to generate a men's health program in partnership with Liverpool FC, generating over $1 million in revenue, along with bringing in 25 new partners to the club. It is a great example of business development with new product creation that no one else in the AFL was doing. Truelson speaks about the reasons behind the men's health program, fixated on the poor health stats of the local community which has resonated with the area fans and has become a great new opportunity to grow the fan base. Twitter: @nicktruelson
Community relations is a new component for college athletics, although it has been in the professional sports ranks for a long time. Meaghan Brooks has overseen the program at the University of Oklahoma since its inception in 2012, describing what seems like a political campaign as the Sooners perform over 100 school visits annually. Brooks shares her secret for staying on top of things: Organization. That may sound simple enough, but when she gets into the details, she reveals a complex world of ensuring that everything is in place, even when someone still notices the smallest issue and magnifies it post-event. Brooks talks about the main goal, which is showing how her department improves the attendance and revenue situation for Oklahoma, as well as her continued desire to make sure that the goodwill toward the community is long-term in the activities that UO athletic department perform on a weekly basis. Twitter: @MixMasterMegs
Understanding how priority points and loyalty marketing work for a sports franchise is something that John Lemke has been dealing with for a long, long time. His career has spanned from loyalty marketing programs for the airlines, hospitality to setting up various sports franchise models with EFan. Lemke sorts out some of the issues regarding a loyalty marketing plan and implementation, in order to ensure that when a customer buys into a rewards program, that they stay in, long-term and continue to build up those points.
The podcast headed to Charlotte, North Carolina for Ticket Forum 15 and conducted a group interview with Kevin Wilson, Associate AD of Development - North Carolina Central University Athletics, Heather Lutz, Assistant AD of Marketing & Sales - University of Toledo and Eric Leach, Assistant General Manager, Bowling Green Hot Rods. Each brings something interesting to the table, especially on how to draw an audience, keep fans happy and live the brand every day. Special thanks to Ticket Return which facilitated the interviews as well as the location at the beautiful new Charlotte Knights' baseball park in downtown Charlotte, NC.
The Fresno Grizzlies have established a definitive brand in the Central Valley of California, so much so that the 2014 off-season separation after 17 years with the Major League Affiliate San Francisco Giants won't affect how their fans perceive their product. Grizzlies' Director of Marketing Sam Hansen discusses how the team is transforming with the change-over to the Houston Astros, as well as retaining its individual identity in the process. Hansen discusses the various themes that the Fresno Grizzlies are now famous for, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Night, various Bobbleheads with the Farm Grown themed focus, and Taco Everyday.