Even though their government continues to censor the internet, and lock up people who violate those rules. USA Today reports that China now has more users on the internet than the United States. They numbers report that 220 million Chinese used the internet in 2007, which surpassed the US number of 216 million users. And now that China has surpassed the US in number of users, expect them to lap America in this category in the coming years. As China’s population of 1.3 billion people dwards the USA’s 304 million people. Currently only 17% of Chinese citizens are using the net, compared to 71% in the USA.
Archive for April, 2008
China surpasses USA in internet usage
Posted by ZA on April 22, 2008
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AT&T Field will be the richest naming rights deal of all-time
Posted by ZA on April 14, 2008
The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable franchise in sports, with estimated value of $1.5 billion according to Forbes. The Cowboys are currently working on a stadium that will be the most expansive stadium ever built for one U.S. sports team. When completed the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington is expected to have cost close to $1.1 billion to build.
Now it looks the Cowboys might achieve the trifecta, by signing the richest venue naming rights deal in history. Recent articles in the Dallas Morning News & Fort Worth Star Telegram suggest that AT&T is the leader in the corporate sweepstakes to put their name on Jerry Jones stadium. The articles quote Arlington Mayor saying he’s been in contact with AT&T about the naming rights deal. And the chatter makes it sound as if a deal could already be done, even though the Cowboys and AT&T both deny it.
If AT&T Field is going to be the name of the new home for the Dallas Cowboys, then what’s it worth? In-terms of exposure, AT&T will reap a huge amount as the stadium will be a showpiece in professional sports for many years until someone builds something more grand. And the Cowboys are “America’s Team” and on the upswing, so that guarantees that numerous Cowboys games will be broadcast from AT&T Field for a national TV audience. Throw in the Cotton Bowl, a few other marquee college football games, and maybe a future BCS Bowl Game and/or Olympics, and AT&T is going to get a lot of brand exposure.
I expect that AT&T will need to pony up close to $500 million in order to get the naming rights to the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. The current richest deal is $400 million for 20 years at Citi Field, the new NY Mets stadium. But I don’t see Jerry Jones settling for edging out that deal for first place all-time, I think Jerry is going to push the bar higher than most thought imaginable. So expect an annoucement in the next few months that AT&T shelled out $500 million plus over 20 plus years for naming rights to AT&T Field.
Posted in NFL, Sports Marketing, Venue Information, Venue Naming Rights | Leave a Comment »
Sonics owners lied about intentions to move
Posted by ZA on April 10, 2008
It just got uglier in the on-going feud between the Seattle Supersonics ownership, Clay Bennett, Aubrey McClendon & Tom Ward, versus the City of Seattle and Sonics fans. Because The Seattle Times reported on documents obtained by City of Seattle lawyers, that prove the Sonics ownership group always intended to move the team to Oklahoma City.
Within the emails, there were numerous things written which clearly show that Bennett & Co. had OKC in-mind the entire time. That goes the pledge they made in buying the team, that they would try to keep the team in Seattle.
So now that the City of Seattle has “outted” Bennett & Co. as liers, what happens?
Probably a whole lot of posturing that adds up to nothing. The NBA declined to comment on the initial report, although eventually they’ll have to respond. I figure David Stern will rant a little bit about it, because Bennett & Co. are leaving Stern with a lot of egg on his face. And Stern will probably even levy another fine against the management group. But beyond that, there isn’t much the NBA league offices can do. They had better chances in the past to try to fix this deal, but at this point the horse is already way, way, way out of the gate.
I’m also sure the City of Seattle and Key Arena will fight to keep the team there throughout the end of their lease agreement. And they might win too. But will it really be a victory? No, it’ll just mean a couple of more lame duck seasons in Seattle. Even if the fans boycott to some degree, which I hope they do, the economic impact will still be pretty minor for Bennett & Co.
So as much as it is great to officially know that Bennett and his partners lied. I don’t think it will stop the impending move of the Sonics to Oklahoma City. I’m sorry people of Seattle, you deserved better than this. Make sure you thank your hometown Mr. Starbucks, Howard Schultz, because he’s the guy who sold the team from a group of investors from Oklahoma City. The day the ink dried on those papers, was the day the Sonics were gone.
Posted in NBA | 2 Comments »
Bobcats arena now called Time Warner Cable Arena
Posted by ZA on April 9, 2008
The Charlotte Bobcats landed a major deal today with Time Warner. The Bobcats home arena will change from Charlotte Bobcats Arena to the Time Warner Cable Arena. No figures were released on how much Time Warner is paying for the venue naming rights deal.
The deal also calls for the Bobcats games to be televised on Fox Sports Net, which will get them better exposure within their home state. Charlotte stated this is the first deal that included both venue naming rights and TV rights in the same package.
Aside from being the home of the Charlotte Bobcats, Time Warner Cable Arena also plays hosts to many concerts and is the home for Charlotte Checkers, a minor league hockey team.
Official site for Time Warner Cable Arena.
Posted in NBA, Sponsorship Deals, Sports Television, TV Rights Deals, Venue Information, Venue Naming Rights | Leave a Comment »
Coors backing off venue naming rights deals
Posted by ZA on April 8, 2008
Within the past few months Coors has let two of their venue naming rights deals expire. In February they let their 10-year sponsorship of the Coors Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California expire. That venue is now going to be sponsored by Cricket, and will called Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre going forward.
The beer maker also let a naming rights deal near their hometown expire. The Coors Amphitheatre in Englewood, Colorado is no more. As the venue is returning to its pre-Coors name, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre.
There was no official word from Coors on why they let these two deals expire. But I don’t expect Coors to let their most notable naming rights deal end any time soon. They’ve had their name on Coors Field, the ballpark for their hometown Colorado Rockies, since the venue opened up in 1995.
Official site of Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre in Englewood, Colorado.
Ticketmaster site for Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California.
Posted in MLB, Sponsorship Deals, Venue Information, Venue Naming Rights | Leave a Comment »
Adidas ruins the National Championship Game
Posted by ZA on April 7, 2008
Let’s hope that’s not the headline at the top of every newspaper in the country tomorrow. But it could happen if the new Adidas jerseys, both teams will be wearing tonight, don’t work out.
The Kansas Jayhawks and Memphis Tigers are squaring off in tonight’s Final Four Championship Game. And SBJ announced today that Adidas plans to outfit both teams with new ClimaLite uniforms. Adidas is the official appareal provider for both universities. ClimaLite is their new uniform jersey, that is described as a “breathable synthetic fabric”.
And we all remember what happened on Seinfeld when George Costanza decided to change the New York Yankees uniforms from polyester to cotton. Let’s hope tonights uniform switcheroo doesn’t have the same outcome.
Seinfeld Episode 87
Announcer: Mattingly just split his pants!
Jerry Seinfeld: Ah, that’s a shame.
Posted in College Basketball, Sponsorship Deals | Leave a Comment »
New York icon getting $500 Million facelift
Posted by ZA on April 4, 2008
Madison Square Garden is a landmark in New York City. The building has been part of the city’s heritage for over a century. But like any old bird, there comes a time when some maintenance is needed. So recently there have been plans flying around for how to upgrade MSG. The two most popular plans have been to renovate the current building or to build a new Madison Square Garden a block from the current, at Penn Station.
It looks like a decision has been reached (at least for the moment) as MSG execs detailed a plan to spend $500 Million dollars on an upgrade to the current facility. The renovation would be an entire overhaul of the legendary facility, that would add 36 new luxury suites. The capacity of the Garden would stay the same (20K), but the seating would be reconfigured to provide better sight lines. The construction on the Garden would take place over the next 3 years, but would not interrupt the schedules of its primary tenants (the NY Knicks & NY Rangers). It also would not affect the Big East Tournament, which is played at MSG every year. But the New York Liberty, of the WNBA, would probably need to find some new digs for the next few seasons. I imagine their fan will be crushed.
The current location for Madison Square Garden opened in 1968. During its years it has been the home to many great sporting events, concerts and performances. A few of the most famous were the Ali-Frazier fight, John Lennon’s final concert and The Concert for New York City (after September 11th attacks).
Posted in NBA, NHL, Stadium Construction, Venue Information | 1 Comment »
Powerade dumps Lebron James
Posted by ZA on April 1, 2008
Why would Powerade drop a top sports icon from endorsing their brand?
Because Daddy said that Little Brother needed Lebron’s help more.
Only in this case “Daddy” is Coca-Cola, which owns Powerade. And “Little Brother” is Coca-Cola’s newest asset, Vitaminwater, which Coca-Cola bought when it acquired Glaceau in 2007. Coca-Cola switched Lebron to add another high-profile athlete to the stable of Vitaminwater endorsers. Some of the athletes who are currently working with Glaceau’s product are: James, Brian Urlacher, Shaquille O’Neal, LaDainian Tomlinson, Tracy McGrady and Tom Brady. Vitaminwater also recently signed Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson to an endorsement deal.
So why would Coca-Cola switch Lebron from one of their key products to another? Two reasons. First, water and healthier alternative drinks are the shining star for the future of the beverage industry. As society has become more health conscious, the major beverage companies have been pushing their water & health conscious products more. Because it is easier to sell someone on zero calorie Dasani or a product that has “water” featured in the name (even if Vitaminwater does usually pack in about 150 calories per bottle), than perceived high calorie beverage like Powerade or Gatorade. Pepsico has even started to convert its in stadium signage from its MLB sponsorship to focus on Aquafina instead of Pepsi. Again, the focus is on positioning themselves for the consumer who wants the healthier option.
The second reason Coca-Cola switched Lebron was the endorsement model for Vitaminwater has a bigger upside than Powerade. Vitaminwater will create a special flavor for Lebron. Think Formula 50 (named for rapper 50 Center) or Tigerade (Tiger’s new Gatorade product). James can focus on marketing that particular flavor to drive sales, and help the overall brand at the same time. Plus Lebron’s special flavor from Powerade never took off, so this gives Coca-Cola a mulligan by moving him to a new product. Forget Flava23 (Lebron’s Powerade brand), this will be King James Water.
So as you are pushing your cart down the water aisle at the grocery store, keep an eye out for its newest start – Lebron James.
Posted in Endorsement Deals, Gatorade, Sponsorship Deals, Sports Marketing | Leave a Comment »
Venue naming rights deals on the way out?
Posted by ZA on April 1, 2008
They would be if Dennis Kucinich was elected President. Kucinich was recently quoted in ESPN The Magazine’s MLB Preview 2008 issue as saying:
“Naming rights are one of the biggest frauds on the fans, because for the most part the public is paying for these stadiums. Progressive Field (formerly Jacobs Field) ought to be called Taxpayers Stadium“
Not so fast my friends…
Although I agree with Kucinich’s principle that local taxpayers shoulder much more of the costs to build a new stadium than they should (see: Washington Nationals new stadium). It doesn’t change the fact that venue naming rights deals are a lucrative way for a team to pad their bottom line. And more often than not, a team with a strong financial position is going to be a contender in their league.
The deal to rename Jacobs Field to Progressive Field is going to bring in $3.6 Million dollars per year, over the next 15 years. That’s almost $50 Million dollars in addition revenue for the team. So definitely not chump change.
So unfortunately Dennis, I don’t think any of the teams or venues are going to be calling you for advice on the matter.
Posted in MLB, Venue Information, Venue Naming Rights | Leave a Comment »
