ProVentures’ Weekly News Rundown:

21Nov09

From the week of Nov. 8-14

Sports:  In professional boxing, Manny Pacquiao stopped Miguel Cotto in 12 rounds on Saturday to claim his seventh world title in a seventh weight class. Pacquiao’s speed and power dominated the less-formidable Cotto. The 145-pound Filipino knocked Cotto down twice in the bout. Pacquiao earned a minimum $13 for the fight.

Our Take: This fight could set the stage for a Pacquiao versus Floyd Mayweather Jr. match. Such a match up would draw significantly more fans to the ring, than have shown interest in the sport over the past several years. A battle between the top two names in boxing could start a turnaround in the popularity that hasn’t existed since the ‘70’s, ‘80’s, and early 90’s. Mayweather will run into trouble with the fans if he doesn’t give them what they want to see—a fight against Pacquiao.

Entertainment:  “The Blind Side” opened in theaters on Friday and looks to become a box office hit. The story of the Tuohys family, who took in a 6-foot-4, 300-plus pound homeless boy in high school and watched him grow into a first-round NFL draft pick, will inspire many people. Michael Oher, the movie’s main character, now plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

Our Take: In addition to some great sports footage, this movie looks to be an emotional and uplifting story of how one family’s decision to give a boy a new chance can really make a difference. The originality of the story should draw people to the theaters.

Quote: “I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon.” –LeBron James

Our Take: LeBron James’ declaration that he wants everyone in the league to stop wearing number 23 jerseys raises a red flag. James included himself in the statement, saying that he will switch to number six. Making a remark during this part of the season is slightly alerting that James may be preparing for future plans. What caused this change of heart from wearing the 23 to commemorate Jordan to now wanting everyone to cease donning the iconic number? It could be that James is setting himself up for a change of teams. The free-agent-to-be could be preparing to jump ship in Cleveland and head to Chicago, which will have the ability to bring James on board in the summer.

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Tags: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, mike tyson, manny pacquiao, michael oher, the blind side, brandon jennings, kareem abdul-jabbar, milwaukee bucks

Twitter termination a cautionary tale

20Nov09

It finally happened. An athlete lost their job because of Twitter.

It was only a matter of time before the combination of audacious athletic personas and the ability to make instantaneous proclamations without the security of a delete button had disastrous results.

Outspoken former Kansas City running back Larry Johnson had his contract terminated by the team following his outburst against head coach Todd Haley and repeated use of a homophobic slur both on Twitter and in the locker room. Originally, the Chiefs suspended Johnson for two weeks, but have now decided to part ways permanently.

Various sources reported that the league intended to let Johnson off with a $10,000 fine following the precedent set by Joey Porter’s use of the same word directed at Kellen Winslow in 2006.

The divorce of the ball carrier and the underperforming Kansas City team was inevitable. Statistically, Johnson has been steadily declining the past few years. Johnson’s notorious off-field behavior (including two separate altercations at nightclubs prior to the Twitter incident) has become his only method of making headlines.

Kansas City made a statement by cutting Johnson [what is that statement?  Let the reader know your point and not have to infer it]. Of course, if the Chiefs had severed the relationship before the beginning of the season, they would not have had to pay the $3.75 million guaranteed salary promised him in a ruling made by Special Master Stephen Burbank.

History has proven that sports can go without such proclamations. Similar to Tim Hardaway’s “I hate gay people” statement in 2007 that earned him a ban from the All-Star weekend that reinforced there is no place for such commentary.

In less than 140 characters, Johnson cost himself a great deal of money and made two things certain:  social media platforms possess tremendous power to promote or destroy and there is no quicker way to ruin a potential endorsement deal than to air unpopular and unwelcome opinions to a global audience.

Filed under: Public Relations, Social Media   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: kansas city chiefs, larry johnson, Social Media, tim hardaway, Twitter

ProVentures’ Weekly News Rundown:

12Nov09

From the week of November 1-7

Sports: Boise State has hired PR firm Scott Peyron & Associates, to improve the football team’s chances of making a BCS bowl game. The team, long overlooked by the BCS for not being in a powerful conference, is hoping that this action will change the outlook of the NCAA on the Western Athletic Conference powerhouse.

Our Take: Scott Peyron & Associates will get Boise State more face time, but still no bowl game. NCAA football is set up to reward the powerful and this will continue, despite the Broncos efforts to leverage their solid playing with a little old-fashioned schmoozing. The BCS computer will never get beyond the less competitive conference in which they play. The only thing that may change the NCAA’s mind is a lawsuit, which we may see following another BCS bowl-less season for Boise State.

Entertainment: The Onion is partnering with Comedy Central to bring the world a sports-news parody show called enter title here. The show will feature stories such as “a touching piece on the first openly gay horse to run in the Breeders’ Cup or the Yankees building a summer stadium in the Hamptons,” according to Onion CEO Steve Hannah. The Onion hopes to have the pilot ready by spring.

Our Take: Hannah goes on to say that sports parody shows have been attempted, but have failed to make it to television. Hannah, there is a reason for this. No one wants to watch made up stories on sports when there is so much relevant, dramatic news actually happening. Comedy Central may release a few episodes, but the show will most likely be canceled due to a lack of Comedy Central viewers that want both sports and comedy.

Quote: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4630382

Our Take: Julie Foudy is right, how does this happen? The actions of Elizabeth Lambert were completely uncalled for. Many people are at fault here, though. The referees should have ended any kind of foul play immediately and not have allowed it to carry on for the entire game. The New Mexico coach should have removed Lambert from the game. This debacle is an unusual example of poor sportsmanship in women’s college athletics; New Mexico will suffer the consequences of  Lambert’s poor behavior as it reflects on  the school.

Oddity: If San Antonio Spurs’ guard Manu Ginobili’s lightning quick swat of a bat flying around the AT&T Center on Halloween night wasn’t odd enough, the city’s Freetail Brewing Company has created a promotion that will preserve the lore of the bat-catching Ginobili for the rest of the season. Every time the Spurs win a game sans the attendance of a bat, everyone at the brewery will receive a free pint of beer and the brewery will also donate $1 per patron to Bat Conservation International.

Our Take: This promotion is a smart way to parlay Ginobili’s crazy capture of a flying wild animal into attracting customers to the Freetail brewery. Taking advantage of a topic that will surely be talked about much of the time the Spurs play could potentially spread the word of the San Antonio brewery. A simple connection with this odd story could go a long way for Freetail.

Number: $400,000

Our Take: The New York Yankees captured its 27th World Series championship in team history. The MLB’s richest team will keep getting richer as the players are expected to gain a record $400,000 bonus for bringing the title back to the Empire State. The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals earned $362,173.07 for their victory. This number illustrates that it pays off to be a winner. In the past 13 years, the Yankees have earned over $2 million for their performances in the post-season.

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Tags: boise state, comedy central, elizabeth lambert, freetail brewing company, manu ginobili, new mexico, new york yankees, san antonio spurs, scott peyron & associates, soccer fight, the onion, world series

Federer defines luxury branding

06Nov09

Roger Federer has become synonymous with high performance in one of the world’s most prestigious sports. His athletic accomplishments have garnered endorsements primarily from luxury brands. Federer’s most recent deal with Swiss chocolatier Lindt has shifted the paradigm of the tennis star’s relationship with luxury items. It used to be, Federer would align with luxury brands.  Now, normal brands come to him in order to be perceived luxurious.

Federer’s latest endorsement, which names him global brand ambassador for Lindt, signifies a strong, mutually beneficial deal. Swiss native Federer has the popularity to increase Lindt’s sales throughout the world and the acclaimed tennis player is able to connect his name with yet another powerful luxury brand. The fact that Lindt is Swiss and among the most elite in its industry make it the perfect fit for Federer’s endorsement profile.

Nike, and several other big name companies, has always been on board with Federer, but his marketability wasn’t what one would expect from such a great player. Since hiring IMG to represent him in 2005 the tennis champion has seen his visibility and marketing value substantially increase. In addition to Lindt, the 15 Grand Slam title winner is currently partnered with Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, and NetJets, along with Swiss coffee machine manufacturer, Jura. More and more companies, such as mid-level sports gear maker, Wilson, are starting to see that an endorsement from Federer is an ace for creating a luxurious product outlook.

Filed under: Branding, Tennis   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: jura, lindt, mercedes benz, netjets, Nike, Roger Federer, rolex, wilson

ProVentures’ Weekly News Rundown:

05Nov09

From October 25-31

Sports: The USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches’ Poll names Kansas the preseason favorite. The Jayhawks received 27 first place votes out of 31 coaches.

Our Take: Tipoff for the start of the college basketball season is right around the corner.  Bill Self’s Kansas squad highlights a talented top-25 that will ensure excitement throughout the season. The NCAA enters its first season in six years without Myles Brand, paying homage to the late president by having its board of directors endorse a series of rules that will clean up recruiting. 

Entertainment: Michael Jackson’s special documentary “This Is It” debuted to an opening day gross of $7.4 million in the U.S. The film, which has been met with solid reviews, achieved more success overseas amassing a total $12.7 million on opening day. The film earned $32.5 million over the first five days domestically and $68.5 million overseas.

Our Take: The late Jackson’s international appeal is very apparent by the film’s early success. It is earning solid numbers during it showing time in America, as well, despite the U.S.’s mixed appeal for the pop star over the years. The picture is tops in the box office, besting the next top weekend grossing movies, Paranormal Activity and Law Abiding Citizen, by $6.8 million and $15.8 million, respectively. Sony Pictures has not mentioned any plans on extending the two-week limited engagement, but if the strong output is able to maintain, it would make a lot of sense and cents for Sony to prolong the showing of the documentary.

Quote: “Shocking. Not as much shock that he did it as shock he lied about it and didn’t own up to it. He’s up there with Roger Clemens, as far as I’m concerned. He owned up to it (in the book), but it doesn’t help now.” –Martina Navratilova on Andre Agassi

Our Take: Navratilova’s parallel between Agassi and Clemens draws attention to the ease with which many athletes escape blame and accountability for their actions. Many times, as in the case with Agassi, an athlete claims they “unwittingly” took a substance. How can someone with so much to lose be that careless? Navratilova’s refreshing candor should encourage further commentary and admonition from other major players on the topics of lying and substance abuse. The lying that comes out in Agassi’s tell-all book, including the admission that his wild ‘90’s hairstyle was a wig, will make the one-time tennis idol less likable. However, sponsors will not likely pull away from Agassi as much of his current work is devoted to philanthropic efforts, which will lessen the blow to his image.

Oddity: The Washington Redskins have banned all fan signs at games. The NFL has backed the team on this matter. The league spokesman, Greg Aiello, called it “a team and stadium matter.” Redskins COO David Donovan explained that fan security and comfort warrant the restriction.

Our Take: Amid a dismal season, owner Daniel Snyder apparently does not fear the repercussions of taking the fun away from fans. When customers make visual statements criticizing management’s ability to place a competitive product on the field, Snyder responds by banning signs and hiring new personnel to call plays.  It’s not the best of times for ‘Skins fans.

Number: $35 million

Our Take: Mercedes-Benz USA has inked a $35 million deal with the U.S. Open Tennis Championships to be the event’s automotive sponsor for the next four years. The signature event complements the nature of the sponsorship deals Mercedes has with two of golf’s premier events—the PGA Championships and the Masters. The visibility of the luxury car brand during the two-week tournament is substantial, allowing Mercedes a great opportunity to promote new products to the affluent demographic that attends the Open. This sponsorship package looks likely to provide a good return on investment for the auto-maker.

Filed under: Weekly News Rundown   |  1 Comment
Tags: Andre Agassi, kansas, martina navratilova, mecedes-benz, michael jackson, roger clemens, this is it, U.S. Open, washington redskins

The Pop-up Concept: the Good, the Not-So-Good and the Utterly Disturbing

29Oct09

When big players like Gucci and Proctor & Gamble jump on the same marketing boat and throw up a pop-up shop, it warrants a closer look.  Pop-Up shops appear overnight in trendy venues and operate under the magnetism of urgency, exclusivity, and novelty to draw in curious consumers before killing the lights, closing the shutters, and locking the door.  They are, for the most part, purely a branding and marketing play with little to no focus on revenue.  Pop-Up stores open long enough to launch a new product, meet some explosive, immediate brand exposure goals, or to get a read on the latest consumer attitude. 

Target’s 2007 pop-up showcase of the high-fashion, low cost Proenza Schouler line in New York City lasted 96 hours.  Gap took a more mobile approach with their ‘60s style promotion and filled up a bus full of beachwear that made short stops at the beaches of New York and Los Angeles. 

Pop-Up Done Right

Pop-Ups are quick, visible, and cheap.  They can operate for less than the cost of advertising on television.  With good PR, a $200,000 week-long pop-up investment can generate plenty of media attention.  The U.S. Potato Board, with spokesman Mr. Potato Head, did just that with their New York City-based Thanksgiving week store promoting the nutritional value of potatoes. 

“We were featured in The New York Times, in the network morning shows, and in many places,” reported Amy Kull of communications firm Fleishman-Hillard. “We could never have bought that much media within that budget.”

Near Success

Gucci fell short of achieving a chic and trendy image boost from a sneaker pop-up, showcasing DJ Mark Ronson’s branded footwear line, in New York City last weekend. While stars like Claire Danes and Mary J Blige were much in evidence, public confusion on the opening time left potential real Gucci consumers out in the cold.  Reports that Gucci staff outnumbered customers the first few days highlight a major promotional blunder for a concept which measures success—like movie studios—on opening weekend attendance.   

Repulsive or Genius? 

A more alarming tale of pop-up culture is toilet paper manufacturer Charmin’s take on the marketing tool.  ‘Charmin Ambassadors’ are being sought to work pop-up bathrooms in Times Square for the next five weeks . . . and blog about the experience.  Ambassadors will be “maintaining their own blogs and content on Charmin-branded Web sites and popular social media sites, and sharing family-friendly video from the restroom space and surrounding areas,” states the Business Courier of Cincinnati. 

The upcoming “Enjoy the Go” campaign is testament to the success Charmin feel they gained from their 2008 “Plush Potties for the People” coast-to-coast traveling pop-up store.  But how effective is novelty as a marketing tool when it borders on repulsive?

Pop-up retail is ultimately a branding play, providing a great platform for creative marketing with minimal risk.  Gucci’s snafu and Charmin’s lack of taste in their pop-up enterprises will not hurt their product lines or negatively impact revenue, but a little brand equity might have just gone down the tubes.

Filed under: Branding, Events, Marketing   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: charmin, claire danes, gucci, mark ronson, mary j blige, mr. potato head, pop-up shop, proctor & gamble

ProVentures’ Weekly News Rundown:

27Oct09

From the week of Oct. 18-24

Sports: The Phillies will face off with the Yankees for the World Series, which begins Wednesday night. The Yankees will return to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2003, while the Phillies are looking to repeat. The Yankees clinched a birth in the World Series Sunday night after defeating the Angels 5-2 in Game 6.

Our Take: It should be an exciting series, although having both teams based on the east coast may diminish west coast interest. It will be good for media travel as the average distance between opponents in the past 20 years has been 1,040 miles. Both teams have a strong lineup and there is sure to be a lot of long balls, which should attract fans.

Entertainment: The new Meadowlands Stadium, which will host both the New York Giants and Jets, will open next year with a show by Jon Bon Jovi. The shows set for April 26 and 27 will conclude the tour for the band’s new album, Circle. MTV’s Kyle Anderson makes a tongue-in-cheek pitch to have Bon Jovi and other New Jersey icon Bruce Springsteen team up to buy the naming rights of the stadium, with suggestions such as “Born to Runaway Stadium” or “Blaze of Glory Days Pavillion.”

Our Take: Bon Jovi is a predictable, but solid choice to christen the new stadium. The show will draw thousands of fans, as usual, but this time there is the added value of being one of the first to check out the $1.6 billion site that will replace Giants Stadium. The naming rights for the stadium could be a great investment for a corporation since the stadium is only the third of five major arenas in the New York metropolitan area to offer such a sponsorship, along with the Mets’ Citi Field and the Devils’ Prudential Center.

Quote: “I wish he would have had the courage to say this stuff to me face to face, as opposed to writing it in some damn book to sell and he can make money off it.” –Isiah Thomas, about Magic Johnson’s upcoming book When The Game Was Ours

Our Take: The Thomas-Johnson drama is a PR gold mine. The more controversy that unfolds over the book and the two hoops stars’ relationship, the faster the book will fly off the shelves. Johnson goes into detail about the exile of Thomas from the 1992 Olympic team, as well as allegations over statements made by Thomas regarding Johnson’s HIV diagnosis. It should make for an interesting read when the book is released Nov. 4.

Oddity: Not only has Eric Mangini lost the favor of Jets fans, but he was the victim of some harsh criticism from the WWR wrestler known as “The Miz.” Not impressed with the Browns performance thus far this season, The Miz called out the coach for his alleged ineptitude in coaching the team, designating Cleveland “the new Lions”.

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Tags: Bon Jovi, eric mangini, isiah thomas, Magic Johnson, meadowlands, new york yankees, Nike, philadelphia phillies, the miz, when the game was ours