Block # 3: Advanced Sports & Entertainment Marketing Blog Entry # 7 (25 points)

Woods says he's coming back to win...
Holds news conference that reveals very little

While acknowledging he made some "incredibly poor decisions" in his personal life, Tiger Woods still thinks he can win the Masters -- even coming back from a five-month layoff. 

"Nothing's changed," Woods said Monday during an extraordinary 35-minute news conference at Augusta National. "I'm going to go out there and try to win this thing."  In his first full-fledged session with the media since his life fell apart, Woods entered the interview room with a smile on his face and stopped to hug one of the green-jacketed club members, Ron Townsend.

Woods again took full blame for his personal failings, but stopped short of providing many new details. He wouldn't say why he entered rehab for 45 days nor would he go into specifics about his infamous Thanksgiving night car crash, other than to say it took five stitches to close a lip wound.

Read the rest of the article below.

http://www.bnd.com/2010/04/06/1203786/woods-says-hes-coming-back-to.html

After reading the article, in a 2 paragraph response (at least 5 sentences for each paragraph), answer the following questions.  In paragraph # 1, discuss your feelings on how Tiger has handled this unfortunate situation since Thanksgiving.  If you were his agent, would you have advised him the same way?  Why or why not?  Be specific in your thoughts.  In paragraph # 2, discuss the importance of an athlete's or entertainer's image.  Why is it so important to maintain a good image?  Does image really matter in an athete's or entertainer's success?  Be specific in your thoughts.

Please sign your name to the bottom of your blog entry.

Block 3: Advanced Sports & Entertainment Marketing Blog Entry # 5 (25 points)

March Madness marketing a slam dunk for restaurants

Restaurants and retailers are hoping to cash in on the “madness” from this year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament.  Pizza places, chili parlors and even suppliers of ice cream are looking to boost sales as a result of the popular tournament, which kicks off March 18. E-mail alerts to customers offering “Bracket Busting” deals and specials have been bouncing around cyberspace all week.

Continue to read the rest of the article.

http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2010/03/15/daily23.html

In a 2 paragraph response (5 sentences minimum for each paragraph), provide your answers to the following questions.  In paragraph # 1, discuss  your views on the article.  Is is smart for a restaurant to try and capitalize on a major sporting event like March Madness?  Why or why not?  Are there any potential drawbacks for a large company like Papa Johns sending out so many promotional reminders and promoting their products so much?  In paragraph # 2, discuss your thoughts about the "little guy" restaurant going up against the "big guy" in Papa Johns.  Does the smaller restaurant chain have a chance to win over new customers?  Why or why not?  What specific marketing strategies would be effective in trying to win over new customers?

Please sign your name to the bottom of your blog entry.

Block 1: Sports & Entertainment Marketing Blog Entry # (25 points)

March Madness Unleashes a Nike vs. Adidas Fashion Competition: May the Best Sneaker Win


Ready for March Madness? How about sneaker madness? That’s the tournament without network television coverage or office betting pools that plays out every year as avid collectors debate the merits of swooshes and stripes and just have to get their hands — err, feet — in the latest shoes sported by the NCAA basketball teams. The brackets are up at SneakerNews.com.
The pick this year? The more old school the better. Sole Collector, a print magazine devoted to sneaker style, has a weekly poll that indicates Jordan VI Retros are the shoe of choice among die-hard aficionados (emphasis on the retro here).

Contine to read the rest of the article.

http://industry.bnet.com/retail/10008097/march-madness-unleashes-a-fashion-competiton-nike-vs-adidas-may-the-best-sneaker-win/

In a 2 paragraph response (5 sentences minimum for each paragraph), provide your answers to the following questions. In paragraph # 1, discuss which company (Nike or Addidas) you feel has a better hold on the overall sneaker market for ages 12 - 35? Why? Provide reasons and be specific. In paragraph # 2, discuss which company you feel does a better job at marketing their sneakers. Why? Provide reasons and be specific.

Please sign your name to the bottom of your blog entry.

Block 2: Sports & Entertainment Marketing Blog Entry # 6 (25 points)

March Madness Unleashes a Nike vs. Adidas Fashion Competition: May the Best Sneaker Win


Ready for March Madness? How about sneaker madness? That’s the tournament without network television coverage or office betting pools that plays out every year as avid collectors debate the merits of swooshes and stripes and just have to get their hands — err, feet — in the latest shoes sported by the NCAA basketball teams. The brackets are up at SneakerNews.com.

The pick this year? The more old school the better. Sole Collector, a print magazine devoted to sneaker style, has a weekly poll that indicates Jordan VI Retros are the shoe of choice among die-hard aficionados (emphasis on the retro here).

Contine to read the rest of the article.

http://industry.bnet.com/retail/10008097/march-madness-unleashes-a-fashion-competiton-nike-vs-adidas-may-the-best-sneaker-win/

In a 2 paragraph response (5 sentences minimum for each paragraph), provide your answers to the following questions. In paragraph # 1, discuss which company (Nike or Addidas) you feel has a better hold on the overall sneaker market for ages 12 - 35?  Why?  Provide reasons and be specific.  In paragraph # 2, discuss which company you feel does a better job at marketing their sneakers.  Why?  Provide reasons and be specific.

Please sign your name to the bottom of your blog entry.

Block 3: Advanced Sports & Entertainment Marketing Blog Entry # 4 (25 points)

From: http://thesportseconomist.com/

The "Big Dance." 65 teams in a single elimination "knockout" tournament spread over three weekends in March and April. Games are held at predetermined neutral sites across the country. The big economic news here is that this could be the last year of the much-loved 65 team format, which has been in place since 2001. The tournament had a 64 team format from 1985-2000. The NCAA generates about 90% of its operating revenue from the massive 13 year, $6 billion contract with CBS to televise this tournament. The NCAA/CBS contract is in year 10, and the NCAA has an opt-out clause following this year's tournament broadcast. Much speculation revolves around the NCAA exercising that option, putting the broadcast rights for future tournaments up for bid, and expanding the field to as many as 96 teams. A new auction and expanded field could substantially increase the value of the contract. The NCAA seems to have a strong incentive to change the format.

In a 2 paragraph response (a minimum of 5 sentences for each paragraph), answer the following questions.  In paragraph # 1, discuss the pros and cons for NCAA tournament expansion to potentially 96 teams.  Is this potential product development change a good or bad thing?  Why or why not?  Who would expansion benefit?  Be specific in your thoughts.  In paragraph # 2, although not mentioned in the introduction above, discuss how you feel about the the NCAA tournament being the only event where games can be seen live on the internet.  Is it a good or bad thing?  Good or bad for who?  Hint.  It's not all about the fans sometimes.  Is anyone or anything else affected by this marketing strategy?

Please sign your name to the bottom of your blog entry.

Block 1: Sports & Entertainment Marketing Blog Entry # 4 (25 points)

From...dailycontributor.com

Can’t get enough of “Avatar”? James Cameron thinks so, hence the director is planning to re-release the film this summer. Reports said Cameron and 20th Century Fox officials are planning to re-release “Avatar” in mostly Imax theaters. Not only that, Cameron is reportedly also considering adding scenes that did not make the final cut.

“Avatar” had the monopoly of the Imax theaters for about three months since it was released but saw its take dwindle when Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” opened on March 5. Cameron had said earlier that he has up to 40 minutes of additional materials that can be easily included to a theatrical reissue or DVD release of “Avatar.” However, the director would probably limit additional scenes to about ten minutes in order to keep “Avatar” within the 170-minute limit for a movie to be shown in analog Imax theaters. The original version of “Avatar” is 160 minutes long.

“Avatar” has grossed $ 712.5 million domestically, while international earnings has reached $ 1.9 billion as of March 4. A 2D version of the film is expected to be released as early as next month while a 3D version on Blu-ray disc could come in fall.

In a 2 paragraph response (a minimum of 5 sentences for each paragraph), answer the following questions. In paragraph # 1, give your thoughts about Avatar coming back to the theatres this summer. Have people had enough? Why or why not? Do you feel that adding another 40 minutes to an already 160 minute film is to much? Why or why not? In paragraph # 2, discuss the marketing activities that you have seen for Avatar. From what you have seen, what do you think is the most effective. Use your knowledge of the 5 P's and the 9 functions of marketing to address this question.

Please sign your name to the bottom of your blog entry.

Block 2: Sports & Entertainment Marketing Blog Entry # 4 (25 points)

From...dailycontributor.com

Can’t get enough of “Avatar”? James Cameron thinks so, hence the director is planning to re-release the film this summer. Reports said Cameron and 20th Century Fox officials are planning to re-release “Avatar” in mostly Imax theaters. Not only that, Cameron is reportedly also considering adding scenes that did not make the final cut.
“Avatar” had the monopoly of the Imax theaters for about three months since it was released but saw its take dwindle when Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” opened on March 5. Cameron had said earlier that he has up to 40 minutes of additional materials that can be easily included to a theatrical reissue or DVD release of “Avatar.” However, the director would probably limit additional scenes to about ten minutes in order to keep “Avatar” within the 170-minute limit for a movie to be shown in analog Imax theaters. The original version of “Avatar” is 160 minutes long.
“Avatar” has grossed $ 712.5 million domestically, while international earnings has reached $ 1.9 billion as of March 4. A 2D version of the film is expected to be released as early as next month while a 3D version on Blu-ray disc could come in fall.

In a 2 paragraph response (a minimum of 5 sentences for each paragraph), answer the following questions.  In paragraph # 1, give your thoughts about Avatar coming back to the theatres this summer.  Have people had enough?  Why or why not?  Do you feel that adding another 40 minutes to an already 160 minute film is to much?  Why or why not?  In paragraph # 2, discuss the marketing activities that you have seen for Avatar.  From what you have seen, what do you think is the most effective.  Use your knowledge of the 5 P's and the 9 functions of marketing to address this question.

Please sign your name to the bottom of your blog entry.