The Sports Info Business

I was recently contacted by the folks who are connected with Doritos and asked if I would write about the finalists in their fourth annual “Crash The Super Bowl” Challenge.

Let me say from the outset, that I have always loved Doritos, but no one has offered to pay me to write this.  They didn’t even offer to stack my house for the Super Bowl with a care package in exchange for writing a word or two (not that there is anything wrong with that) but I will say, the company has moved to a level of activation that others have not.  Today, just running a 30 second commercial and spending millions of dollars for brief mentions during the super bowl is not enough.

The Doritos brand has revealed six finalists selected from more than 4,000 entries in the fourth annual Doritos “Crash the Super Bowl” challenge.  The contest encouraged people to make their own commercial, submit it and then people would vote on the best of the best.

Here are the six videos (in no particular order) that have made the finals.

According to the promotion, you can now vote for a finalist once a day at www.crashthesuperbowl.com between January 5 and 31, 2010.  If you are not keeping track at home, that gives you until tomorrow to do so…

Contestants are not only competing to have their self-made Doritos commercials aired during the Super Bowl XLIV broadcast, they are shooting to make history by beating the ad pros and garnering the top three spots in USA TODAY’s annual Ad Meter.  If they can do it, Doritos will award the winners a shared $5 million cash prize.

Online consumer voting will determine which three of the six finalists will air as Doritos’ Super Bowl commercials during the big game on February 7, 2010

Two more to go…..

Which one is your favorite?

Here is the bottom line.  The company was able to activate thousands of people to make commercials, even more to vote and place these commericals online, where they will live for a long time to come for people to see.

The investment will pay off by allowing others to talk about the brand in a new and unique way.  It is something I helped lead in my last corporate position.  Bravo.

December is here and the holiday rush to buy presents is on.  In a related move, I recently posted a one question poll and asked, would you consider purchasing a comprehensive 2010 event schedule with a focus on sports?  The overwhelming majority, 66% said, yes, there is an interest in this solution.

Since then, I have been hard at work creating something that would fit everyone’s need.  You can visit it here at SportsCalendarPro.com

First, I created a master sports calendar.  It has every major sports event in the United States.  What did I include?  In no particular order, here is a listing of just SOME of the events.  The Super Bowl, The 2010 Winter Olympics, the 2010 World Cup, College Bowl Games, The Kentucky Derby, the Indy 500, the men’s and women’s college basketball NCAA tournament and Final Four, sports conferences for sports related events like the IEG Sponsorship Summit and the 2010 World Sports Congress.  There are about 100 sports events in all.

As a sports executive and dedicated sports fan, I want and need to know what is happening and when it is happening.  It would be nice to find everything in one place for the enter year.  I am tired of searching for the Next event.  It is also great for planning events.  Not a sports fan, but you may be involved in major life events like getting married or you are just planning major events like fundraising dinners?  Then this is ideal for you as well.  I cannot remember how many times a major golf event or fundraising dinner collided with a major sports event and either a TV was wheeled in an event or continuous updates were given to keep people informed.

Belowis a snap shot of the calendar for two weeks in April.  If you click on the image you can see it in a full screen view.

If you want additional details of the event itself, you can click on say The NCAA Frozen Four dates and you will see this

At SportsCalendarPro.com, I created the site where you can view it online via a gmail account and from there, you can easily download this or sync it with Outlook and iphone.  I did it and it now runs as event dates on my master calendar.

The second option is to purchase the 2010 Master Calendar.  This includes not only al of the sporting events, but also includes the 2010 Entertainment Calendar, the 2010 Technology Calendar and major U.S. holidays.  For example, want to know when the 2010 Academy Awards take place or the ESPYs?  Maybe you want to visit the Sundance Film Festival, CES in Las Vegas or Macworld?  Then, this option is for you.

Last, which you won’t find on the home page but you will find on the ordering page, is the 2010 Custom Calendar.  It includes all of the above and allows you to add four (total) sports team schedules to the mix. For example, say you live in New York or the Boston area.  You can add the 2010 schedule for the Yankees, Mets, Nicks and Islanders in one place.  Hate NY teams but love Boston sports?  Then you can choose the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics schedules.

You write a sports related blog?  This allows you to preview the event since you know what is coming up.

Okay, it is the first time I have blatently plugged a product in the year I have been writing this sports business blog, but it is my product and I really believe in it.

Please, visit the site, Re-Tweet and Post this onto facebook or Digg for others to see.

Consider purchasing this unique holiday gift for the sports fan or event planner in your life.

It may be November, but 2010 is just around the corner.  Where does the time go this year?

My guess is, part of your energy has gone into finalizing schedules, planning budgets, checking on event availability and things like this.  Even if you do not work in the sports industry and are planning an event for next year, you need to know what may conflict with your own agenda.  Ever plan a fundraiser and it lands on….. a March Madness game? the World Series?  Your home team’s biggest event of the year?

For that reason, I have developed a 2010 master calendar.  The main focus is on sporting events things like College football bowl games, the Super Bowl, Wimbledon but also includes events like published sports conferences from a variety of groups.  Additionally, there are a handful of non-sports events like  The Sundance Festival, CES (technology trade show) the Academy Awards as well as general U.S. holidays.  In all, there are more than 50 events so far and I am adding more as they are listed.

Here is the question of the day.  It is simple and is one question only.  I would sincerely welcome your feedback.  Please take a moment to participate!

Experience is the name of the game and right now, just prior to the 2009-10 National Basketball Season getting under way, internship opening is is the name of the game.  I unearthed listings here today for The Houston Rockets (community relations), the Orlando Magic (marketing/web) and the Memphis Grizzlies.  On the paid side, the Cleveland Cavaliers have begun sifting through resumes for a season paid position in the communications department.

If your passion is basketball, the best time to get your foot into the door is now, before the season starts.  Once the ball is put into play, for the most part, you can forget about working for a team until the season ends in June.

Organization: Houston Rockets

Department: COMMUNITY RELATIONS INTERN
TYPE: Part Time/Seasonal Internship (30-40 hours)
REPORTS TO : Director of Community Relations
COMPENSATION: Course credit only

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Administrative Support for Clutch City Foundation’s Fundraisers (Tux & Tennies)
• Maintain database, oversee mail-outs, registration and serve as point of contact for all related collaterals
• Assist with auction and other event duties as required
• Proficiency in Excel is required.
• Must be organized, able to handle multiple tasks and have the ability to work with premium accounts.
Intern Specific Duties
• Oversee fan mail program to ensure the prompt written response to all fan requests.
• Maintain department databases and merchandise inventory files.
• Handle general office duties, including: data entry, answering phones, copying, filing, faxing, and maintaining mailing lists and donation requests.
• Administrative support for Director of Community Relations
• Assist on phones in the reception area during peak periods
CR Staff Support
• Assist with planning, implementing and evaluating all community relations programs.
Support Community Relations Coordinators in developing relationships with partners.
• Assist with Rockets Basketball Skills Camps.
You can link to apply here.

Organization: Orlando Magic

Department: Marketing

Responsibilities: Assist with the creation of dynamic and original graphical content for Orlandomagic.com, the official Web site of the Orlando Magic.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Assist in designing creative graphics that match the Orlando Magic brand on Orlandomagic.com using programs including but not limited to Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash. 
2. Assist in designing graphics and html layouts for emails.
3. Assist in the development of web pages and layouts for special sections including but not limited to: Playoffs, ticket campaigns, holiday campaigns, All-star campaigns, etc.
4. Assist in creating rich-media presentations using Flash and video for splash pages and e-brochures.
5. Edit, retouch and crop photos using Photoshop. 
6. Assist in editing short videos for the web using iMovie and/ or Final Cut Express.
7. Assist in game coverage, including updating site with original content, photos, audio & video.
8. Help with day-to-day maintenance of OrlandoMagic.com and OrlandoMagic.com en espanol, including home page content, multimedia elements and overall updating of the Web site.
9. Assist in the maintenance and moderation of the team’s social networks and other fan interactive elements. This includes but is not limited to sending bulletins/event invitations, updating news and media, researching new ways to utilize social networking technologies.  Link to the positions

Organization: Cleveland Cavaliers

Department: Communications: Media/Public Relations

RESPONSIBILITIES: Under the supervision of the Director of Corporate Communications, assists the corporate communications team with various job responsibilities including:

• Writing press releases, media advisories, monthly calendar of events
• Assisting with event publicity; setting up interviews, escorting to TV/radio appearances
• Customer service: responding to fan emails, addressing complaints, general inquiries
• Tracking press clippings, maintaining press matrix and preparing media summaries.
• Taking game and event photos (with /digital camera) and assembling galleries for cavs.com 
• Organizing and maintaining photo archives appropriately.
• Maintaining and updating media database.
• Media relations – follow up phone calls, credentialing, media drops
• Monthly Mailings (stuffing envelops, printing, labeling, etc.).
• Related duties as assigned. Link to apply is here This is a paid position at $8.00 per hour.

Organization: Memphis Grizzlies

Department: Community Relations

Responsibilities:   Manage Donations In-Kind Program – distributing items to nonprofits, schools, etc…

Assist with managing Grizz Kids Club, including correspondence with club members and coordination of members’ only events.

Provide support in the preparation of CI fundraising auctions, including online auction series, Annual Tip-Off Luncheon, and other events as needed.

Research and serve as primary liaison for Black History Month Program.

Assist Education and Sport Development Coordinators on programs, including, Read to Achieve, Stay in School Challenge, and Get Fit with the Grizzlies.

Manage the Community Investment informational booth, Community Corner, serving as the main point of contact for volunteers working the booth and non-profit groups participating in the Community Corner Partner of the Game program.

Assist with courtside and in-arena programs, special events, and other NBA mandated programs.

Distribute tickets through the Tickets for Kids Program to local community groups and non-profit organizations.

Accompany Grizzlies staff, mascot, and dance team members to various events.

Assist with mass mailings.

Assist with inventory and tracking of CI merchandise.

Research and investigate matters and programs pertinent to CI operation.

Attend programs on Grizzlies and Community Investment’s behalf.

Respond to fan mail with appropriate follow-up information.

1.             Other related duties as required.

Apply for Memphis Position

Anheuser-Busch recently unveiled  a new marketing and advertising promotion that caused quite a stir, both among participating colleges and in the media.  The beer company began advertising a plan can to dress some of its beer bottles in the school colors of select colleges and Universities.  The move comes in part based on comments made by employees at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

So I have to ask the question, Do ‘Fan Cans’ make you drink more?  I am responsible, know the dangers of drinking and driving and try to set a good example.  I think alcoholic companies also need to set good examples and be responsible advertisers.   That said, this advertising campaign, in my humble opinion, might influence someone to try the Bud Light brand (see picture), but I don’t know that it will get them to drink in the first place.  A college student who intends on drinking beer, will continue to do so.  Tell me, is this targeted advertising towards minors or a company just affiliating with a college campus?

This is a legal product that is sold at most games and advertised on TV virtually doing all college football games.

All of this comes at a time when InBev, the parent company for AB, recently announced price increases.

“We plan on taking price increases on a majority of volume and in a majority of markets this fall,” a spokesman told the St. Louis Business Journal

If you are going to stop promotions for Beer companies from affiliating with a college campus that promotes a product, then stop take marketing and accepting promotional dollars at Athletics departments.  That is exactly what the University of Wisconsin did today when it announced the university ended long-standing sponsorship partnership with  and Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors for advertising during Badgers broadcasts. The deals, according to an Associated Press story which ran online today, totaled about $425,000 per year, were stopped after a campus committee suggested stopping the advertising as a way to help prevent college binge drinking.

If a University is ready to take this financial step, then I understand the decision ask a Beer company like A-B to stop a promotion like Fan Cans.

Other companies have also recently attached themselves to college universities as Chicago-based The Parking Spot, came out with their own school colored promotion on its shuttle vans, asking users to choose between UCLA and USC colored vehicles.

So please, answer the question, Do You Think ‘Fan Cans’ make you Drink More?

Here are some other related stories

SMU protests Bud Light campaign

Too Dangerous for College — Newsweek

The Price Hike’s For You – Bloomberg