By Rick Horrow and Karla Swatek
February 18, 2013
“Bust”: Top Five Reasons the Armageddon is Near
1. Procter & Gamble brands Gillette, Head & Shoulders and Old Spice dropped their official NASCAR sponsorship in advance of the 2013 season, according to Tripp Mickle of SportsBusiness Daily. The deal that included all three brands was valued in the low-seven figures annually.
2. Dwight Howard’s marketability has plummeted over the last year following his high-profile exit from the Orlando Magic and the drama surrounding this year’s Los Angeles Lakers. Howard remains one of the highest-paid endorsers in the NBA, but companies have been less inclined to use him in national ads recently.
3. The Miami Marlins’ annual preseason fan festival was sparsely attended, as fans protested the team’s ownership group and recent fire sale. Attendance at Marlins Park this season is expected to plummet compared to last year, and the numbers might not improve until owner Jeffrey Loria sells the team.
4. There won’t be a NFL Experience during next year’s Super Bowl in New York because the league wasn’t able to find suitable space for the exhibit. The decision, which surprised some sponsors, marks the first time in two decades the Super Bowl won’t include an Experience.
5. The NASL New York Cosmos face several issues as they seek a soccer-specific stadium near Belmont Park on Long Island. The Cosmos want to build their facility independent of MLS, which is working on a competing stadium proposal 10 miles away in Queens.
“Boom”: Top Five Reasons that Prosperity is Right Around the Corner
1. Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain expects to sell 150,000 David Beckham jerseys by the end of this season. In his career, Beckham has raised $1.6 billion in jersey and shoe sales, with $23.5 million expected from his upcoming, five-month Paris stint, according to Alex Miller of the London Daily Mail.
2. The Charlotte City Council tentatively approved a deal to provide nearly $145 million for Bank of America Stadium upgrades and keep the Carolina Panthers in town through 2027. The Panthers were considered a dark horse to relocate to Los Angeles because the team owns its stadium and doesn’t have a lease.
3. The St. Louis Cardinals broke ground on their long-delayed Ballpark Village development project next to Busch Stadium. The project’s $100 million first phase will include 100,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space, and is scheduled to be completed by next spring.
4. Despite drops in total viewership, Turner Sports already has grossed more revenue this season from NBA ad sales than in any past full regular season, according to John Lombardo of SportsBusiness Daily. The network has sold an estimated 85% of its remaining regular season ad inventory.
5. The NHRA in 2012 saw revenues increase for the first time in four years and posted its first profit since 2008, according to Tripp Mickle of SportsBusiness Daily. The strong financial performance was attributed to a new race in St. Louis, increased attendance, and renewed sponsorship deals.
“Hope”: Top Five Reasons That Creativity is the Key to Economic Survival
1. The New York Yankees are partnering with Ticketmaster to create an in-house ticket resale service. Having opted out of a league-wide deal with StubHub, the Yankees Ticket Exchange allows season-ticket holders to sell their seats for only a 5% commission, one-third of what most secondary market ticket sites charge.
2. The Golden State Warriors unveiled a new alternate jersey that features short sleeves. The Warriors will wear the jerseys three times through March 15, becoming the first team in the modern NBA era to wear something other than a tank top during the game.
3. MLS from February 25-28 will hold its inaugural Jersey Week, which will celebrate the art of each team’s jersey. Twelve clubs will unveil at least one new jersey this year, and beginning in 2014, all 19 MLS teams will unveil at least one new jersey every season.
4. Indianapolis Motor Speedway is seeking state money to help fund $100 million in track improvements. Track officials want to create a motorsports investment district in order to collect various taxes generated around the speedway. The taxes could raise an estimated $5 million annually for the project.
5. The Miami Dolphins have agreed to hold a public referendum so voters can decided on allocating tax revenue to Sun Life Stadium renovations. The Dolphins hope to get the issue before the public by May 22, which is when NFL owners will vote on Super Bowls 50 and 51.
