Jeff Fannell » Marketing

May 16

by Jeff Fannell in Baseball, Basketball, Career, Hockey, Labor, Labor Issues, Marketing, Media, MLB, NBA, NCAA, Sports, Sports Issues, Uncategorized 0 comments

LEAGUES LOOKING TO CA$H IN ON NEW GAMBLING LAWS

Now that the United States Supreme Court has struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection ACT (PASPA), a federal law that (with a few exceptions) prohibited state-authorized sports gambling, several states are lining up to enact legislation that allows sports wagering within their borders. And why not? There is huge money in sports betting. Last year, Nevada raked in nearly $5 billion in sports wagering. States like New Jersey, New York and others all want a piece of the action. States are not alone in this regard. Sports leagues, many of which opposed efforts to get rid of PASPA, also have their hands out looking for a quick buck. Having sensed that they were losing the PASPA battle, the NBA, NFL, MLB and others came up with the ingenious idea that if the Court were to strike PASPA leagues could cash in on the new legal landscape by imposing “integrity fees” on those states that enact new gambling laws. What are integrity fees? Some say it’s a nice way of saying “extortion.” The leagues and governing bodies say integrity fees are necessary to maintain the integrity and public confidence in their respective sports. The rationale goes like this: once […]

Aug 16

JFA SIGNS UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SOCCER COACH

August 16, 2016 – Jeff Fannell & Associates is pleased to announce that it has signed University of Maryland Assistant Soccer Coach, Scott Buete as a client. JFA will represent Scott in all areas of contract negotiation, marketing, and endorsements. “We are excited for the opportunity to represent Scott,” said JFA senior associate Kap Misir. “Among the nation’s collegiate soccer coaches, we believe Scott is a rising star.” Scott is in his third year as the assistant coach for the Maryland Terrapins, which is widely regarded as one of the top Division-1 soccer programs in the country. In 2014, the Terps advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament; last year, they advanced to the Elite Eight. They enter this year ranked No. 4 in the pre-season coaches’ poll and are expected to be in the running to capture the NCAA national title. A graduate of the University, Scott played five years for the Terps (1999-2003), the last three serving as team captain. In 2002, Scott led Maryland to the ACC Tournament title. In his senior year, he was named NSCAA First Team All-American, and was selected to the All-ACC First Team and the ACC All-Tournament Team. Scott finished […]

May 18

by Jeff Fannell in Advertisement, Marketing, NBA, Sports Business 1 comments tags: Blake Griffin, Jersey Ads, Kia, Philadelphia 76ers, Stub Hub

Trouble Ahead for NBA Jersey Ads?

In April, the NBA approved the sale of jersey sponsorships as part of a three-year pilot program beginning with the 2017-18 season. The League believes the program will be a financial boon, with expected revenue projected at $100-$150 million a year. According to ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell, teams will keep half of the revenue generated by their individual sponsorship sales, with half of that going into a revenue-sharing pool. The other half will be split with the players. Ads involving gambling, politics or alcohol are prohibited, as are sponsorships with competitors of key League partners, including broadcast partners ESPN, ABC and Turner; Spalding (the official ball); and Tissot (official timekeeper). The Philadelphia 76ers became the first team to land a jersey sponsor, agreeing to a three-year, $15 million deal with StubHub. Immediately after the deal was announced, critics assailed the sponsorship program, claiming, among other things, that the ads cheapen the NBA brand and otherwise signify impending doom. The critics are misguided. First of all, the ads measure just 2.5 x 2.5 inches, and will be placed on the jersey’s left shoulder. So the sponsorship patches will not dominate the uniform. Players will not be plastered with huge ads, á la […]

May 13

by Jeff Fannell in Advertisement, Basketball, Marketing, MLB, NBA 0 comments tags: Baby Dame Dolla, Chris Paul, Kevin Love, NBA Playoffs, Rob Manfred, State Farm

Droppin’ Dimes

The NBA playoffs have been compelling as usual, with intriguing team matchups and outstanding individual performances. In addition, “Inside the NBA” continues to be the best studio show on sports television, hands down. To top it all off, the playoffs allow viewers to continue to enjoy one of the best commercials in recent memory – State Farm’s “Droppin’ Dimes.” The commercial features Portland Trailblazers star point guard Damian Lillard (aka “Baby Dame Dolla”) and Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love as brothers rapping about how much money they’re able to drop – thanks to the family’s State Farm agent who saved them big cash by combining the family’s car and homeowner insurance. The commercial is, in a word, hilarious. I’ve seen it dozens of times during the NBA season and it still cracks me up. If you have yet to see it, take a quick look here. The spot is part of a campaign featuring “the Hoopers” (who, in addition to Lillard and Love, include fellow NBA stars Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Kevin Garnett). It is the brainchild of Steve Stoute’s award-winning ad agency, Translation. But as much as Stoute and his crew deserve credit for their creativity and humor in […]

May 07

by Jeff Fannell in Marketing, People, Sports, Sports Business 0 comments tags: Al Haymon, Boxing, Floyd Mayweather, Haymon Brothers, Haymon Mayweather Promotions

Keeping an Eye on Boxing: The Return of Sweet Science

(Photo credit: NY Times) Whether you’re a boxing aficionado, or even just a casual fan of the sport, after last week’s huge showing you have to admit, boxing is rearing its head as a returning powerhouse- at least when it comes to the business of sports. Check out this in-depth article on Al Haymon and his plan to return boxing to the mainstream.

Oct 14

by Jeff Fannell in Football, Marketing, NFL, Sports, What's Up With That? 26 comments tags: Beats By Dre, Colin Kaepernick, Headphones, Marketing, NFL, Restrictions, San Francisco 49ers

What’s Up with That?: NFL Restricts Player Use of Headphones

NFL players will be subject to fines and perhaps even suspension for wearing non-Bose headphones during TV interviews, thanks to a new agreement between Bose and the NFL. The restriction requires players wearing non-Bose gear to cover up the competitor’s logo or else face punishment. The rule is in effect during practice sessions and on game days, starting from the opening kickoff and lasting until 90 minutes after play has ended. While it is not unusual for leagues to impose restrictions on player use of apparel or equipment in order to protect league sponsors, the NFL’s restrictions on headphones is of a different character. In the former situation, player apparel and equipment is viewed as part of the player’s uniform, which typically is team-issued. League restrictions, in such situations, are understandable. Headphones, on the other hand, are personal items that players purchase with their own funds. The NFL’s current restriction is in place because of a deal the league reached with Bose to outfit coaches with headphones. That’s what makes this hard to swallow. This is not a situation where the sponsor is providing players with apparel as part of its deal with the league and the league turns around […]