Bon Jovi puts his Soul into career as sports owner [volume 8, issue 20] by Brooke VanBuskirik

On top of acting in movies, tv series, and singing, Bon Jovi also is a co-owner of an arena football league franchise. Bon Jovi named it the Philadelphia Soul and it led the league in attendance it's first two games.

Bon Jovi used his celebrity standing as a way to make money and it showed in the first couple games. Bon Jovi doesn't just sit back and let everything happen, he actually takes part and controls alot of what happens. He wanted to relate to the fans and make it possible for more people to be able to come see the football games. He wanted people to be able to afford tickets to the game.

I think it's great the Bon Jovi took on this league for himself and other. He understands that its hard for a lot of people to pay for these tickets and wanted to make it easier. People realize that his point of view is actually being used and he's probably gaining even more fans. Bon Jovi is very experienced with what is needed to market your products from being a singer, so i think it helps that he's a part of this league.

“Nascar team sponsors again slow to put promotional muscle into Chase.” [Vo. 8, issue 20] by Kelly Brinker-Schaeffer

This article talks about the last 10 races termed the “post season” Chase. The article mentions how the chase was created to increase awareness for the Nascar sport at a time period where football usually dominates. It was also designed to create higher tv ratings and provide more revenue for sponsors. The tv ratings have improved greatly with a 12% increase in ratings from 2003 to 2004. However, the sponsors have been sidelined because of a lack of lead time. The sponsors claim that they are afraid to market a particular driver ahead of time for fear that the driver does not make the top ten.
Eric Pinkham, director of Motorsports for Newell Rubbermaid said, “Powerful activation and promotional programming often requires significant lead time and pre planning. The difficulty in executing Chase specific activation is that for most teams, marketing the Chase could be very last minute.” VanDerSnick, vice-president of marketing for Nascar, suggested that some sponsors may have to take a risk in allocating funds early on in hope that they will qualify for the Chase. But, Doye, president of motorsports marketing, thinks that over time the chase for the Cup will become one of the core marketing plans for Nascar sponsors.

"Partnership,formed in 8 days,dissolved in sea of squabbles" by Daniel Benjamin

The article was about five businessmen (Steve Belkin, Bruce Levenson, Ed Peskowitz, Michael Gearon Jr, and Rutherford Seydol) who formed a partnership, known as the Atlanta Spirit LLC, to purchase the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers. Now, less then two years after the business relationship was forged the group is without its major stockholder (Belkin) after numerous squabbles between the different fractions in the ownership group. However, the managerial style of the partnership was designed to be consensus in nature (rather than the traditional structure of a single leader at the top) where Belkin had a single vote,while Levenson and Peskowitz shared a vote as did Gearon and Seydel. Some of the friction between the groups was because Belkin (who invested twice as much as any of the other partners)felt his voice in the decision-making process should be proportionate to the amount of his investment as compared to the other partners. The relationship came to a head when Belkin citing fiscal responsibility (he was the Hawks Govenor at the time) blocked a trade with the Phoenix Suns that the other owners' wanted to make. Belkin's decision to go against the consensus resulted in the other four partners to remove Belkin as their team representative (the team representative must give his approval for NBA bussiness dealings to become official)which Belkin tried to prevent by suing. After losing the lawsuit, Belkin sold his interest in the Spirit to the other partners.

In my opinion, a partnership is an extremely difficult way of managing an orgnaization if no partner has a controlling interest (owning more than 50% of the shares). However, if there is a majority stakeholder, I believe that a partnership group is a more formable way to manage a sportsorganization than having a single owner. My reasoning is that a partnership will give a franchise more flexibility because of the fact that having more investors should invariably mean that there is more cash to spend on players and other franchise related issues. Additionally, with a partnership there is more than one voice in the decision-making process (like a checks and balance system)which I think is vital to the success of an organization. Conversely, this checks and balance system could end in chaos like the Atlanta Spirit situation especially if the partners aren't united. The key to a successful partnership is being unified no matter of personal philoshophy).

I find it particurly interesting that Belkin insisted that a "buyout" option of his shares be put into the partnership agreement. I believe financially speaking the buyout option was smart on Belkin's part however it was a dumb idea on his part in the business sense because it became a trust issue amongst the other owners because they didn't know if Belkin was going to be in it for the long haul. I do agree with Belkin's decision to block the proposed sign and trade deal with the Phoenix Suns that would've brought Joe Johnson to the Hawks inexchange for two first round draft picks and Boris Diaw. There are a couple of reason's I don't like the trade (the deal was finalized after Belkin left the organization) first although I like Johnson's game (he's an excellent complimentary player with his calling card being a hard-nosed defender and three point shooting specialist with the capability of averaging 15 to 17 points a game) I don't believe his value is anywhere near the contract that he got which was #70 million for five years. The second reason is that the Hawks are loaded with young players that play the same position as Johnson and who are extremely similar to his ability and style (The Hawks are planning to play Johnson at the point which I believe is a major mistake). I believe it was the correct decision for Belkin to negotiate a buyout because if he didn't there could've been major ramifications for the Hawks and Thrashers concerning their ability to sign free agents. The reason being is that players are hesitnat to go to a team where ownership is in disarray

Dish Network beaming in more sports (Vol8, issue 20, page 4) by Alicia Detweiler

Dish Network recently acquired distribution rights with NFL Network and CSTV (College Sports Television). NFL Network will be broadcast on Dish's mid-tier "America's Top 120" package and CSTV (along with NFL Network) will be broadcast on Dish's top-tier "America's Top 180".

While Dish Network does have NHL, MLB, and NBA deals, they have historically been behind in signing sport-related networks such as the YES Network.

It's good to see Dish finally going after sports channels. I've been a subscriber for 6 months now and was hoping that Dish would be able to make this deal happen. I agree with the article, sports are a very lucrative asset to service providers. It's important to make sure you have a broad variety of sport networks to satisfy a larger sector of your subscriber base, otherwise they may decide to drop your service in favor of a competing provider.

"Back on the Ice" [vol8 issue 20]

This article is about how the Boston Bruins are trying to bring back the fans after the work stoppage that cause last season to be canceled. The Bruins are not only using ads with current players but also old hall of fame Bruins like Ray Bourque, Cam Neely and Terry O'Reilly. They even got one of the most famous Boston Bruin fans to do a special ad. Actor Denis Leary did a special ad during his FX tv show "Rescue Me" explaining to the fans that the team is ready to win the Stanley Cup. The Bruins GM believes that the fans will come back for the new season but fears that they don't believe the Bruins will have much success. I believe that the Bruins management are taking a pretty good angle towards the fans. The Bruins have a good team and have a chance to do very well this season. Letting the fans know that winning the cup is there main priority is very important in my eyes. Team captain Joe Thorton told fans in Boston that he's not leaving until he wins a cup for the city. Reading this article as a Bruin fan i would be very anxious for the season to start and have an up beat attitude as well. The bruins are making it clear for everyone and because of it they are enjoying a 92 percent season ticket renewal which is among the highest in the NHL. With the success of the Red Sox and Patriots the Bruins need to provide a championship soon,

"Gentleman, start your holiday greetings" [Volume 8 issue 20] by Michelle Mattis

Eclectik a card company recently obtained a license from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to sell two custom designed holiday cards. The cards will feature the late Dale Earnhardt and his son. The cards will be sold in boxes of 12 for fifteen dollars and will be available starting at the end of the year. The card for Dale Earnhardt Sr. will have the legacy star and his legacy logo. His son's will have a number 8 and his signature. The company want to add other drives to the company's sport portfolio.
This is a good way for the card company to make money. Selling greeting cards with some of nascars most popular names will attract fans to buy them. The comapny wans to also make cards with other nascar names on them. This is also nice for fans to buy cards and send them out to friends and family that are fans also. It is nice remebering the late Dale too.

"Site launches athlete stock market game"volume 8 issue 20, p.9 by Steve Jackson

A new intenet based interative stock market game is being launched called Prototrade.com. this is a complex game in which athletes are valued determined by a sophisticated "Moneyball" inspired system measuring their benefit to their team on every play and even based on trades, involving them or their own teammates.
This was developed by former Steinburg & Moorad employee Mike Kerns and MIT-trained quantitative analysis expert Jeff Ma. They don't want to call it a fantasy game because the belief is that you can not do all of this in a "fantasy game".
It is being launched from a 30 person company that has been working for two years to bring this sophisticated "market" to the internet. there will be a range from 5 dollar to 100 dollar games that will include the players on witch you may decide to represent or be a active GM towards.
I like this idea, it may sound as though the internet is becoming rediculas to alot of poeple who may get involved strickly to win (or lose) money, but I am more interested in the "experience". This may not have to do with my genereation but if there is a future sports marketer out there that wants to integrade a little more instruction into there curriculum than this is a good step to take. You don't have to spend any money, there is a finacial background that may be taught with out the "gamble". I do plan to take part in Protrade.com because I would like to make this industy a part of my like, and if that means it is going to be for work or for a past time than that is what I presume to do.

"Sideline Seating not in lineup" [Volume 8, Issue 20, page 4] by Matt Valentine

This article deals with NFL teams toying with the idea of on the field seating for home games. The idea was sure to be a big hit, but due to the ongoing collective bargaining agreement which has not been reconciled yet, it doesn’t look like it will be happening in the near future. NFL insiders say that the idea has not been totally eliminated, but it has taken a backseat until other things are resolved. A few teams experimented with the idea of having fans in seats on the field last year, and some say that it was a hit. Others aren’t saying whether or not it will be a sure thing. The Patriots said last year that they could generate one million dollars in revenue with the seats they are planning to install in each corner of Gillette stadium. I feel that an opportunity like this should not be wasted. What team wouldn’t want to generate an additional million in sales just for having a select number of fans sit in lazy boys in the corner of the end zone? I am sure that the big markets in the league would have people bidding higher and higher for these never before possible seats. It would be a big mistake if the league and the players association didn’t come to some sort of agreement on this issue.

"McClatchy's Pirates demonstrate the art of doing less with more" Volume 8, Issue 20 by James Hays Jr.

In this article Andrew Zimbalist talks of how Kevin McClatchy has turned the Pittsburgh Pirates into one of baseballs best overall profits my making an estimated 12.8 million dollars in this past year. He states, though the Pirates keep losing and getting worse each year, they keep pulling in more and more revenue.
However, later in his article, Zimbalist states that the Pirates keep pulling in more income and revenue, but keep getting worse each year because they cannot generate that revenue towards the salary of the team. It is stated that the small markets teams will get up to "$300 million" in revenue sharing but if they win and get better they have to give back "more than 45%" of that back as reduced transfer payments from MLB.
In my opinion, I think this is ludoucris because it means those who are in small markets who improve jsut have to give back the money they jsut earned in revenue, forcing them not to improve their payrolls. Plus, the big market teams still benefit from this the most because the money they earn is so much more that their 45% still leaves them with hundreds of millions in earnings each year. This 55% the big market teams have left over in the end, is still more than the 100% earned bythe small market teams.
Until, baseball can come up with a system that rewards the small market teams who improve their field performance and revenues, and punishes the big markets who faulter in on-field perfomance; the davids will keep losing, and goliath will keep prevailing over all.