Sports+Marketing


 * //Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises. - Demonosthenes //**


 * //Entrepreneurship//** is just one area we focus on in the Marketing classroom. [|**Johnny Money**] is a virtual entrepreneuship simulation game where students set up and run a busines for 24 months. They have the opportunity to make decisions regarding what kind of store to run, what to sell in their store, how to price inventory, manage employees, and more. The purpose of this game is to give them experince running a small business in a virtual environment and for them to face decisions entrepreneurs encounter on a daliy basis. **Discover what it takes to run a business!**


 * // [|Peanuts & Crackerjack] - //**the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's interactive baseball game that tests your knowledge of economics and pro sports trivia.

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//** __Monday, March 29: "Dirty Play at the Olympics?"__ **// In just over 2 years, thousands of athletes and sports fans will descend on the UK as the London 2012 Olympics get under way. And there is much for organizers to mull over, from how Vancouver dealt with things like transportation bottle necks to the provision of large public viewing screens. However, they will also be taking a very close look at how the authorities dealt with so-called "ambush marketing."

//Ambush marketing is when a firm tries to create unauthorized association between their name or brand and a major sporting event, detracting from the rights of the official sponsors of the event.//

Official Olympic sponsors McDonald's and AT&T charged rivals Subway and Verizon with unsportsmanlike conduct. Subway's spot featured Olympian Michael Phelps swimming toward Canada. In Verizon's TV spot, two speed skaters raced while the announcer asked, "What does it take to succeed...in a place with the highest level of competition?" Neither specifically mentioned the Olympics although the innuendo was clear. Neither Subway or Verizon was an official sponsor.

Ambush marketing at the Olympics isn't new...


 * //Your task: Research 'ambush marketing' to find another example of how and when it was used. Your example does not need to be linked to the Olympics, but must relate to a major sports event.//**
 * //Create a new page on your wiki site addressing the topic of sports marketing.//**

**//__Tuesday, March 30:__//** Visit the following link and read the ESPN article **//[|"Haves and Have Nots Share the Same Stage]" //** written by Howard Bryant. The article deals with the major differences in pay that some US Olympic athletes earn as comapred to some other US Olympians. As you read the article, create an outline on a Word document. Send as an attachment to jgrams@hlv.k12.ia.us. Then, provide your comments and your thoughts in a few sentences on the Discussion page of this site.

On a similar topic, give your opinion on whether or not countries should be able to use professional athletes in certain events. For example, using NHL players for the Olympic hockey event.

//Remember that these are your opinions, so you can't be completely wrong if you provide facts! Please// //answer the questions using complete sentences.//

Currently, out of the four major American professional sports (MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL) only MLB is without a salary cap. After watching the same few teams sign big money free agents year after year, many baseball owners and fans are starting to question whether or not baseball should adopt some kind of salary cap.
 * //__ Wednesday, March 31: __//**

1. The NFL and NHL have what is called a "hard cap" while the NBA has what is called a "soft cap". Explain the difference between these two types of caps. 2. Which of the two types of caps do you think is best? Why? 3. Do you think MLB should have some type of salary cap? Why or why not? 4. In your opinion, why hasn't MLB joined the other major sports in instituting a cap?
 * Based on your knowledge of salary caps or research you conduct, answer the following questions:**

//Please answer the questions using complete sentences. Use the Discussion page to record your answers.//

Over the past couple of years, several athletes in American professional sports have either been arrested, accused of using performance enhancing drugs or been caught being unfaithful to their spouses. the following questions deal with the potential, and sometimes actual, consequences of their actions...answer the questions below in full sentences.
 * //__ Thursday, April 1: __//**

1. Should a team be able to void (cancel) a players contract because of events that happen off the court/field, such as arrests, infidelity, performance enhancing drug admission, etc? Why or why not?

2. Give an example of a situation that has occurred recently in any professional sport where a currently playing athlete has been areested. did that player lose his contract? if he did, should he have? If he didn't, should he have?

//Remember that these are your opinions, so you can't be completely wrong is you provide facts! Use the Discussion page to record your answers.//

Watch the following 2 vidoes - sit at a computer that has speakers. After watching, please post your opinions on each topic...don't just give a summary, include YOUR opinion. Be sure to explain your thoughts fully.
 * __ Tuesday, April 6: __**

[|Video #1]

[|Video #2]

Visit the following link and read the ESPN article  [|**//Economy in Crisis Means Troubled Playing Fields Ahead for Sports//**] Sports, like banking and investing, is a business about confidence. For athletes, it's confidence in their games. For league executives and franchise owners, it's confidence in the economy and their own ability to manage businesses that most MBAs would say aren't that complicated. The question here is: **What effect did/does the stock-market turbulence have on professional and minor league sports, the franchise, and the fans?**
 * //__ Wednesday, April 7: __//**

 Now, consider your favorite sports team...  1**. When did you begin to root for them?**  **2. How did you come to like that team? what is your first memory of liking this team?**  **3. What are the things that you like most about the team?**  **4. Has the failing economy hurt this team? If so, how? If not, why not?**

 //After reading the article, provide your comments and your thoughts on the Discussion page of the Sports Marketing page.//

You will create a new imaginary team for any sport. This could include rock climbing, tumbling, skateboarding, bicycle racing, and so on. Create a new page in your wiki for this team. Choose the team colors for the page. Use the team's name for the name of the page. Then, provide why you chose that name for the team, the sport represented by the team, where and when the team will play, the strengths of the team, and why the public should watch and support the team.
 * //__ Wednesday, April 14: Brainstorm! __//**

Design the front of a cereal box using an 8-1/2"x11" sheet of paper promoting the team. This should be computer-generated. Example: Iowa Corn Flakes. ..
 * //__ Thursday, April 15 - Friday, April 16: __//**

//__** Monday, April 19: Design a gimmick for your team. **__// The Green Bay Packers have the cheesehead, Nebraska has the corn head, and just about every team has the foam #1 finger. What will your team have? Design an original gimmick. Place a picture of your design onto your sports team wiki page.

Design a multi-use stadium for a sports team. This may be the new imaginary team you created. Develop a special opening event at the stadium and create promotion for it. What will your promotion include - any free giveaways? Create a grand opening flyer. Click [|here] for an example of a flyer you could use. Send all items as e-mail attachments to jgrams@hlv.k12.ia.us
 * //__ Tuesday, April 20 - Friday, April 23: If You Build It, They Will Come __//**

Create an invitation inviting special guests to the grand opening at your new stadium. You must determine the following: location, time and date, and entertainment. Use Microsoft Publisher or Microsoft Word to create the invitation. Send as an e-mail attachment to jgrams@hlv.k12.ia.us
 * //__ Tuesday, April 27: __//**

//**__ Wednesday, April 28: Sports Shoe Marketing Plan __**// //You are the owner of a popular brand of sports shoes. But, you just got caught operating a sweatshop abroad. The media has painted a very negative image of you and your compnay. It is up to you to do some creative damage control. You must create an outline of the following information://

A. Identify the country where the sweatshop is located. 1. Why did you choose this country? 2. What are the GDP and GNP statistics of the country?

B. List and explain five things that you will do to increase your public image 1. a. 2. a. 3. a. 4. a. 5. a.

C. Create a promotional advertisement to sell your //new// image

//Send your outline as an e-mail attachment to jgrams@hlv.k12.ia.us//

//**__ Thursday, April 29-Friday, April 30: Ticket Mix __**// //Using the Internet, you will determine the Marketing Mix (Product, Price, Place, and Promotion) for the tickets to see the team of your choice. Type the following information in a Word document using complete sentences. Do not copy and paste any information from the Internet. Send the Word document as an attachment to jgrams@hlv.k12.ia.us//

Paragraph #1 - Product - I am researching ticket information for the (team name and city) - This information was located on __(Web address)__

__Paragraph #2 - Price__ __- List and explain the prices for each seat level__ __- List and explain any pricing plans such as mini-seasons or weekend packages__

__Paragraph #3 - Place__ __- List all locations that tickets are available for purchase__

__Paragraph #4 - Promotion__ __- Find a list of promotional nights the team is hosting and any sponsors involved__ __- Create a list of all promotions__ __- In your opinion, what are the three best promotions the team is offering? Explain why.__

__**// Monday, May 3: Think About It. . . //**____

Have your ever considered what it would be like if your favorite sports team was not located in the city it is currently? What would be the impact on the team as well as on the city? Consider the economic impact. Consider what the city offers the team. What does the team bring to the city?

//Example: What would it be like if the Green Bay Packers football team was not located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. How would not having the team's stadium and games played there impact Green Bay's economy? On the other side, what has the team gained from being located in the city of Green Bay? Some players even have their own restaurants there!//

In today's task you will research what each side (team - city) gives to the other. Then, move your team to another location in the U.S. This new location cannot have a professional sports team already located there. By doing this, you will predict how this move will impact the city's economy.

Word process your responses to: 1. Choice of professional team and where it is currently located 2. Impact the team currently has on that city's economy 3. What that city gives to the team. 4. City the team is moving to 5. How that move will impact the city's economy 6. What that city will be able to offer the team. 7. Would this be a "smart" move for the team. Explain. 8. Would the team have to change their name and logo? 9. Create a new name for the team, as well as a new logo. Put that logo on a ball cap or t-shirt.

You may have to research the cities for information on the economy and tourism,

Send your work as an e-mail attachment to jgrams@hlv.k12.ia.us