The Winter 2014 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Welcome back to Partnership Activation! 

I'm excited to share this quarter's newsletter, an industry-leading resource showcasing sports marketing and sponsorship trends, insights, and best practices from across the world. 

Click here to purchase the Winter 2014 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99

Love the newsletter? Please take a moment to share it with your friends and colleagues via email and social media using this shortened URL: http://bit.ly/1d0h8sl

Also, please feel free to connect with me via Twitter (@BrianGainor), as I'd love to build an ongoing relationship.

Thanks, and enjoy! 

Brian

The Winter 2014 Partnership Activation Newsletter features a collection of topics, including:

  • Jersey Sponsorships (Inside)
  • 10+ Tips for Maximizing Your Productivity in 2014
  • Beacon Technology
  • Maximizing the Value of Social Media 
  • Using Humor in Promotions
  • Delivering 360 Degree Viewpoints
  • BMW - Winning Customers Over One Challenge at a Time
  • New Balance - Creating True Value for Loyalists
  • Mario Balotelli Making Headlines with Innovative Apparel Marketing
  • LED Retail Displays
  • Manchester City's Annual Santa Stroll Event
  • The Heineken Baseline After Party
  • PwC's Sports Outlook
  • The January 2014 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
  • The Golden State Warriors' #DubNation Night
  • Carlsberg's Activation Efforts
  • A Close Look at the 2014 NHL Winter Classic
  • 5 #SportsBiz Handles You Must Follow
  • 20+ C-Store Activation Ideas

The Fall 2013 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Thank you for your interest in Partnership Activation and taking the time to check out the Fall 2013 Partnership Activation Newsletter. It's truly a pleasure to have the opportunity to share my perspectives, creative ideas, insights, and best practices with you on a quarterly basis. 

Click here to purchase the Fall 2013 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99

Love the Newsletter? Please take a moment to share it with your friends and colleagues at work, via social media, through word-of-mouth, and on the go. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in your communications:http://bit.ly/HbQnJT

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

  • Capturing Content with GoPro
  • 20 Brands to Keep an Eye On in 2014
  • Sports Content Insider - Presented by Freshwire
  • Navigate Research Spotlight: The Value of Research
  • Talladega Superspeedway Drives Buzz on Campus
  • Keeping an Eye On: PODS
  • Bleding Sports + Entertainment
  • The Tao of Sports
  • October 2013 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
  • Social Media Spotlight: AggieFBLife.com
  • Partnership Spotlight: Data
  • A Close Look at the Best Social Graphics in College Athletics
  • 5 Must-Follow #SportsBiz Handles on Twitter
  • 25+ Ways to Leverage Home Improvement Partners
  • 7 Questions with Jim Kahler
  • The Partnership Activation Grab Bag
  • Branded Entertainment... At It's Finest

Click here to check out the Fall 2013 Partnership Activation Newsletter and connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the quarter!

The Summer 2013 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Welcome to the Summer 2013 Partnership Activation Newsletter! Thank you for your continued interest in Partnership Activation, as I truly take pride in pulling together the creative ideas, solutions and strategies in each newsletter for you. 

Click here to purchase the Summer 2013 Newsletter for $7.99. After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc:http://bit.ly/18tJpIv

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

  • Wimbledon's Big Data and Small Ads 
  • 10+ Must-See Ted Talks
  • Sports Content Insider - Presented by Freshwire
  • Navigate Research Spotlight: Mobile Video Likely to Make Big Strides in Sponsorship
  • The Portland Timbers' Spread the Love Campaign
  • Raycom Sports Leads the Way with ACC Game Graphics
  • Brand USA Reaches Fans Worldwide Via the World Baseball Classic
  • Wimbledon's Twitter Mirror
  • The SF Giants' @ Cafe
  • Hot Off the Press: Social Media in Sport Marketing
  • Creativity in the Sports Marketplace
  • July 2013 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
  • 5 Must-Follow #SportsBiz Handles on Twitter
  • 25+ Ways to Leverage Watch Partners
  • Paddy Power's Sky Tweets at the Ryder Cup
  • adidas' Rivalry Activation at the UEFA Champions League
  • A Close Look at the 2013 UEFA Champions League
  • StubHub's Innovative Stadium Activation
  • Pre-Season Marketing Ideas
  • The Partnership Activation Grab Bag
  • Branded Entertainment... At It's Finest

Click here to check out the Summer 2013 Partnership Activation Newsletter and connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the quarter!

The Spring 2013 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Welcome to the Spring 2013 Partnership Activation Newsletter! As I noted previously, I will continue to distribute the newsletter on a quarterly basis. Thanks for your continued support and I look forward to connecting with many of you soon!

Click here to purchase the Spring 2013 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99. After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc:http://bit.ly/17f3ott

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

  • The Dallas Mavericks Augmented Reality Efforts
  • 20 Great Sites to Frequent for Insights and Information
  • Structuring Your Organization for the Future (Content)
  • 10+ Video Series Your Organization Should Be Creating
  • Navigate Research - Industry Spotlight (The Value of the Referee Patch)
  • Nike's Real-Time Marketing Efforts During the Final Four
  • Paddy Power Heckles EPL Substitutes
  •  Unibet Delivers Big for Charity
  • Geofencing
  • Coca-Cola Celebrates the Final Four in Style
  • The Launch of the Ref Cam
  • Grasshopper Zurich Thinks Outside the Box
  • 10 #SportsBiz Topics Worth Keeping an Eye On
  • SMU's Sport Management Graduate Program
  • Creativity in the Sports Marketplace
  • April 2013 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
  • Social Media Spotlight - #WeAreUK
  • adidas Goes All-In to Provide Fans with Insider Access
  • A Close Look at the 2013 Final Four
  • 5 #SportsBiz Twitter Handles You Must Follow
  • 25+ Ways to Leverage Hair Salon Partners
  • What's Hot in Mobile, Social, and Local
  • adidas Lets Fans Posterize
  • Partnership Activation Grab Bag
  • Branded Entertainment At Its Finest
  • Idea Box

Click here to check out the Spring 2013 Partnership Activation Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

The Manhattan Sports Business Academy Delivers

What are the most important keys to a successful career in sports?

Depending on who you talk to, you will receive a variety of different advice around this topic. However, the common underlying themes usually center around networking and experience (whether it's volunteer work or paid). These two facets of building a foundation for a successful career in sports are crucial, especially in today's day in age where breaking in the door and career in advancement in sports has never been more competitive.

If you're personally interested in career advancement in sports, I'd certainly recommend considering a dual degree graduate program (MBA, MSA) - ala Ohio University - to build your network, gain invaluable experience, and begin the process of learning/challenging yourself on a daily basis.

However, I'd recommend that you also consider alternative experiences/opportunities like the Manhattan Sports Business Academy. David Oestreicher, Ben Sturner, and team have done an incredible job developing the MSBA summer leadership program in New York City over the past few years - an 8-week boot camp experience that allows undergraduate/graduate students and young professionals to jump start their career through internships, mentoring, and networking opportunities. 

The MSBA offers an intimate group of students a unique and comprehensive learning experience that includes:

  • 1-on-1 Mentoring with Established Professionals
  • Career Development Workshops
  • Internship Placement
  • Weekly Guest Lectures
  • Weekend Group Outings
  • An Optional Fitness Component

The MSBA is closing its application process for this year's class (approximately 25 individuals) on Thursday (February 28), but would encourage you to check it out. With David at the helm (who is one of the best young leaders in the business), I'm confident that participating individuals will truly see benefit from the experience.

Check it out here: http://www.gomsba.com/index.html

 

Winter 2012 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Welcome to the Winter 2012 Partnership Activation Newsletter! As I noted previously, I will continue to distribute the newsletter on a quarterly basis. Thanks for your continued support and I look forward to connecting with many of you soon!

Click here to purchase the Winter 2012 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99. After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc:http://bit.ly/145Px7e 

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

  • Athlete Branding
  • 15+ Top Global Sports Business Conferences
  • Interactive Fan Technology at The Barca Museum
  • Freshwire - Sports Content Insider Tips
  • Navigate Research - Industry Spotlight
  • Chelsea Unseen: Behind-the-Scenes
  • Taylor University's Silent Night
  • adidas Kit Sponsorships
  • Laser Graffiti
  • Farmers Insurance's Love Float
  • SMU's Sport Management Graduate Program
  • Paciolan's Pinterest Page
  • Creativity in the Sports Marketplace
  • January 2013 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
  • The Milwaukee Bucks' #ShowMeYourMilwaukee Contest
  • The Washington Wizards' Cookie Challenge
  • A Close Look at the Chick-fil-A Bowl
  • 5 #SportsBiz Handles You Must Follow
  • 15+ Ways to Leverage Formal Attire Partners
  • Molson's Wake Up Call for NHL Fans 
  • Heineken's Bottle Wall
  • Partnership Activation Grab Bag
  • Idea Box

Click here to purchase the Winter 2012 Partnership Activation Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

Summer 2012 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter

Welcome to the Summer 2012 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter! I apologize for the brief hiatus of ongoing content but am truly excited to share with you this quarter's newsletter.

Click here to purchase the Summer 2012 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter for $7.99. After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc: http://bit.ly/NdYwMm

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

  • A Look at Paddy Power's Ambush Marketing Tactics around UEFA EURO 2012
  • Navigate Research - Industry Spotlight on The Value of a Social Fanbase
  • A Look at How Teams Are Using Projection Display Technology
  • 10 Ways Teams Can Leverage Instagram
  • adidas Speaks to Fans As Owners in Latest Cricket Spot
  • Red Bull's Golf Skee Ball Challenge
  • Property to Keep an Eye On: Jersey Watch
  • The Philadelphia Flyers' FLYERBOT
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning Let Fans Make Noise
  • Sports Illustrated Sheds Golf in a New Light
  • Hot Off the Press: Nielsen Sports Insights
  • Creativity in the Sports Marketplace
  • July 2012 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
  • Social Media Spotlight: Team Infographics
  • 10 Ways to Create New Experiences / Inventory Around the Draft
  • A Close Look at UEFA EURO 2012
  • 5 #SportsBiz Twitter Handles to Follow
  • 30+ Ways to Activate Casino Partners
  • Delta's Touch the Future of Travel Display at MSG
  • Nike's Twitter RSVP Platform
  • Sports... Like You've Never Seen it Before
  • Partnership Activation Grab Bag
  • 4 Ways to Help Sponsors Escape the Clutter on Game Day
  • Idea Box

Click here to purchase the Summer 2012 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing.

Spring 2012 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Welcome to the Spring 2012 Partnership Activation Newsletter! Thank you for your continued interest and support for Partnership Activation and the monthly newsletter.

Click here to purchase the Spring 2012 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99. 

After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc: http://bit.ly/GGZCtk

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

  • 10 Tips for Activation Success
  • Heineken Capitalizes on Fan Shock Value
  • Trend Watch: Pre-Game Sponsorships
  • Navigate Research: Effective Sponsorship and Fan Research Webinar
  • Industry Watch: Sport is Fantastic
  • 5 Ways Sports Teams Can Leverage Pinterest to Visually Engage Fans
  • FanBridge
  • Labatt Celebrates Sabres Greats in Style
  • Steph Curry Turns to Twitter for a Game of H-O-R-S-E
  • Coca-Cola Turns a Suite Into A Dormitory For Fans
  • Ways to Leverage Music, Resort, and Theme Park Partners
  • Hot Off the Press: Sport Business' Frontloaded
  • Creativity In the Sports Marketplace
  • The March 2012 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
  • XFINITY Presents: The Ultimate Sports Social Media Job
  • 10 Tips to Drive Incremental Value From Your Partnerships
  • A Close Look at the 2011 F1 Abu Dhabi Fanzone
  • 5 #SportsBiz Twitter Handles You Must Follow
  • 30+ Activation Ideas For Leveraging Financial Partners
  • Going Grassroots To Promote Pet Partners
  • Carlsberg Celebrates Its Naming Rights with a Smashing Success
  • Examples of Video Projection Mapping in Sports

Click here to purchase the Spring 2012 Partnership Activation Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing.

Manchester City and Jaguar Team Up for An Entertaining Halftime Promotion

Manchester City FC recently teamed up with Jaguar to create a pretty thrilling form of halftime entertainment for fans to enjoy that can be replicated in most other major professional sports.

The game, called Boot the Boot, tasks select fans with attempting to kick soccer balls from a distance into the trunk of a Jaguar that is parked within the corner tunnels of Etihad Stadium at the playing level (a trunk is commonly referred to as a boot in Europe). The promotion is perfectly suited for in-game entertainment because it adds a level of excitement while seamlessly integrating the Jaguar brand into the experience.

A similar promotion can be replicated in several additional sports, including:

1. Baseball - MLB/MiLB teams can task fans with throwing a baseball from 2nd base (or the outfield) into the trunk of a car (one-hopping it along the way)

2. Basketball - Teams can task fans with trying to throw a full-court pass into the trunk of a car for the chance to win free parking for a section of fans at the game

3. Tennis - Tennis officials can task fans with trying to hit 5 of 10 tennis balls into the trunk of an automobile located at courtside for the chance to win a free lease for a year

4. Football - Teams can ask fans to attempt to throw a 30-40 yard pass into the trunk of a car (located along the sidelines) for the chance to win a free lease for a year

Check out the MCFC-Jaguar "Boot the Boot" promotion below and consider new ways that your organization can integrate automobile partners in a fun, memorable way for fans!

A bit of mental agility and footballing skill could win you the use of a fabulous Jaguar car for a week! Fancy having a go? Make sure you're in City Square nice and early ahead of City v Newcastle this weekend, and you could be just a kick away from winning!

December 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Welcome to the December 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter! Thank you for your continued interest and support for Partnership Activation and the monthly newsletter.

Click here to purchase the December 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99.

After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc: http://bit.ly/tg9WZ3

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

  • 20 Non-Traditional Bowl Game Sponsors in 2011-12
  • 2012 - GMR Marketing's Social Media Channels
  • Ohio University Center for Sports Administration
  • 2012 National Sports Forum
  • Navigate Research Industry Spotlight
  • Barclays 20,000th Goal Celebration
  • Sevilla Sells Space on Team Jerseys to Fans
  • Adidas Launches an Augmented Reality Initiative in Scotland
  • Audi Gives a Nod to the Barcelona-Real Madrid Rivalry in a Commercial
  • Oregon Athletics Play Up the Civil War Rivalry
  • All Blacks Fans Experience Rugby in a New Way
  • The Manhattan Sports Business Academy
  • Creativity In the Sports Marketplace
  • December 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
  • The Old Spice Classic's Social Media Efforts
  • A Close Look at the 2011 Grey Cup
  • 5 #SportsBiz Handles You Must Follow on Twitter
  • 50 of the Most Creative Ideas in Sports Business in 2011
  • Zlaty Bazant Beer Encourages Fans to Drink Responsibly
  • Baylor IMG Gives Fans a Suite Seat for the Game
  • The Western Bulldogs' Capture Their Brand Story
  • The New BC Place Showcases the Future of Stadium Lighting
  • Red Bull Soars Over Moses Mahiba Stadium
  • Four (4) Creative Ways to Engage Fans with Interactive Walls
  • Idea Box

Click here to purchase the December 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing.

November 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Welcome to the November 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter! Thank you for your continued interest and support for Partnership Activation and the monthly newsletter.

Click here to purchase the November 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99.

After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc: http://bit.ly/tKW46y

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

  • 20 Digital/Social Platforms to Utilize in 2012
  • The Baylor Bold Rewards Program
  • 7 Key Insights from the World of Sports Media & Technology
  • The 2012 National Sports Forum
  • The Emergence of Social TV
  • Asics' Run with Ryan Campaign
  • Long Beach State's "Like Us" Campaign
  • Betfair's QR Cuts Initiative with Bromley FC
  • ESPN UK's New Soccer Augmented Reality Feature
  • The University of Michigan's Jet Pack Delivery
  • Contrex's Cycling Initiative
  • A Look at BeerToasts.com
  • The November 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
  • The Phoenix Suns' Top Facebook Fans App
  • Tailgate Lot Activation
  • A Close Look at Preparations for the 2012 London Olympic Games
  • 50 Ways to Leverage Automobile Partners In-Venue
  • Five #SportsBiz Profiles You Must Follow
  • Manchester United's Tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson
  • The Winnipeg Jets Deliver a Truly Exclusive Corporate Partner Experience
  • ING's Pop-Up Finish Line Displays
  • The Montreal Canadiens Celebrate Team History
  • Betfair Lets Fans Skydive While Betting on Soccer
  • Four Ways to Take Your Kids Club Efforts To New Heights
  • Idea Box

Click here to purchase the November 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing.

Webinar Alert: "Measuring Sponsorship ROI"

Sports Business Colleagues,

The team at Navigate Marketing is hosting a terrific webinar on "Measuring Sponsorship ROI" on Wednesday, November 16th at 12pm CST and I wanted to take a moment to encourage you to attend/participate.

The Navigate team, including AJ Maestas, Dr. Mark Friederich, and Matt Balvanz will provide webinar participants with an in-depth look at the various ways ROI is being measured and calculated in the sports and entertainment sponsorship space.

With measurement playing a key role in all phases of the sponsorship life cycle, it's an extremely valuable session that will surely pay dividends for you and your organization.

The team will specifically be discussing a number of topics, including:

  • Bounceback and Sales Tracking
  • B2B Hospitality Tracking
  • Market Research Driven ROI Estimates

Click here for more information: http://navigatemarketing.com/services/navigate_webinars/

If you have any questions about the webinar, feel free to reach out to Chris Todd at ctodd@navigatemarketing.com.

I look forward to hearing your personal feedback about the webinar!

Best Wishes,

Brian

October 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Welcome to the October 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter! Thank you for your continued interest and support for Partnership Activation and the monthly newsletter.

Click here to purchase the October 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99.

After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc: http://bit.ly/rmRwRk

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

  • A List of the Top Paid Global Athletes in 2011
  • SportShadow.com
  • Adidas' New Marathon Face Cam
  • Best Practices from the National Hockey League
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning's New Microchip Technology
  • Navigate Marketing Spotlight: The Impact of Conference Movement on College Sponsorships
  • Adidas' New UEFA Ultimate Access Campaign
  • Heineken Starvision
  • Tottenham Hotspur's New Augmented Reality Offerings
  • Iowa State's Social Billboard Campaign
  • BMW Mini's London 2012 Olympics PR Stunt
  • Activ8Social's #Sports Newsletter
  • Creativity in the Sports Marketplace
  • October 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
  • Mastercard's Witnessing History Social Media Campaign
  • Creating Powerful Marketing Messages Using Statistics
  • A Close Look at the 2011 MLB Playoffs
  • 5 #SportsBiz Twitter Handles You Must Follow
  • The NFL's Breast Cancer Awareness Efforts
  • Manchester City FC's Family Zone Activation
  • The Portland Timbers' 2012 Fan Draft
  • Women and Kids Invade Istanbul Soccer
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning Use Coils to Create Lightning In-Arena
  • Audi Lets Fans See What Life of a Le Mans Driver Is Like
  • Creatively Using Time Lapses in Sports
  • The Throwable Panoramic Ball

Click here to purchase the October 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing.

Endesa Leverages Title Partnership with a Game at Its Corporate Headquarters

It's become very interesting to see how brands across the globe are leveraging their title partnerships in new, innovative ways.

In Spain, an International utility company named Endesa recently signed on as a title partner of a premier Spanish Pro Basketball League. To celebrate the partnership, Endesa built a basketball court inside their corporate headquarters and organized a game featuring some of the league's star players, cheerleaders, music, and live entertainment. Over 1,000 people enjoyed the live basketball game, which was played in the mail hall of Endesa's company headquarters in Spain.

Players were also invited to tour Endesa's facilities and have an opportunity to meet with 57 accredited media companies that were on hand for the event. Endesa's unique celebration served as a unique way to generate buzz around it's title partnership of the Spanish Pro Basketball League, which will be called "Liga Endesa", and demonstrate that it's fully engrained and committed to the sport.

A special thanks to Jean-Paul Forsans for bringing this terrific initiative to my attention. Please take a moment to join his "Brands and Sports" group on LinkedIn, which is dedicated to sharing best practices and innovative ideas in the world of sports!

Check out a video of the action below as well:

Presentación de las estrellas de la Liga Endesa.

SportsPro and the Ivy Sports Symposium Honor Sports Business Leaders Under 30

Partnership Activation Readers,

Please take a moment to nominate one of our Rising Stars for a new "10 NEXT" initiative formed by SportsPro Magazine and the Ivy Sports Symposium that aims to recognize the next generation of sports industry leaders (under the age of 30) from around the world who will shape the business in the coming decades.

Please Nominate One of the Rising Stars Now!

Partnership Activation Rising Stars / 10 NEXT Nomination Form

SportsPro Magazine and the Ivy Sports Symposium have teamed up to create the "10 NEXT", an award that aims to recognize the ten stars of the sports business industry under the age of 30 that have achieved a level of success that is truly rare at such a young age. Those chosen will be honored as the inaugural Ivy Sports Symposium-SportsPro 10 NEXT class.

SportsPro and the Ivy Sports Symposium seek nominations for the 10 NEXT Class of 2011, and nominees will face a comprehensive judging process. Those individuals selected will be profiled in an upcoming edition of SportsPro magazine as well as on the SportsPro website. In addition, their achievements will be celebrated during the exclusive 10 NEXT Luncheon at the 2011 Ivy Sports Symposium on Friday 18th November in Philadelphia, USA.

To nominate an individual for inclusion in the 2011 Ivy Sports Symposium-SportsPro 10 NEXT Class, please click here and take a few minutes to fill out a nomination form for a qualified individual.  

A few details:

1. Nominees must be under the age of 30 as of 1st December 2011.

2. The nomination deadline is 10th October 2011, midnight BST (British Summer Time).

3. Self nominations will not be accepted.

4. Only nominations submitted to SportsPro using this nomination form will be considered.

5. Supporting materials are not mandatory, but may aid in the judging process. Email supporting materials to 10next@sportspromedia.com. 

August 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter

Welcome to the August 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter! Thank you for your continued interest and support for Partnership Activation and the monthly newsletter. I appreciate your patience this month with the slight delay!

Here is a link to the August 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter.

The coolest thing in this month's newsletter is Manchester City's unique collaboration with Liam Gallagher and the band Beady Eye ... I HIGHLY recommend you check it out!

After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc: http://bit.ly/nvvfSu

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

  • A List of NFL Training Camp Sponsors
  • The Captain Morgan Sky Bar
  • Toyota's "Mark & Me" Website
  • The New York Giants Historical Wiki
  • The Bills Backers Map
  • Navigate Marketing Industry Spotlight on Nike Logo Valuations and Analysis
  • Manchester City FC's Partnership with Liam Gallagher
  • Virgin America's #FlyTheBeard Promotion
  • Newcastle's Trapped in a Schooner Display
  • The SGI Weekly Intelligence
  • The August 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
  • CanesAllAccess
  • Ways to Drive Fan Engagement on Facebook
  • A Close Look at Copa America 2011
  • Retail Thought Starters
  • Liverpool and adidas' Home Away From Home Events
  • Manchester United's Tour Treasures

Click here to check out the August 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing. 


July 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Welcome to the July 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter! I really appreciate your continued interest and support and think that you are going to really enjoy this month's newsletter.

Click here to purchase the July 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99.

The coolest thing in this month's newsletter is the Red Bull Hare Scramble video... I HIGHLY recommend you check it out!

After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc: http://bit.ly/on6seF

 This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

  • Gila River Casino's KaChingKo
  • 10 Building Blocks To Help You Become Everything You Can Be
  • Eyes on the Industry: Australian Football League
  • Navigate Marketing Spotlight: 5 Questions With Mark Friederich
  • Using Augmented Reality to Engage Fans
  • Drive Merchandise with Virtual Stores
  • Leverage Airspace on Gameday to Engage Fans
  • LG Uses a Unique Rugby Branding Play to Wash Away the Competition
  • Continental Tire Displays The Cage
  • IBM Uses Sponsorship Technology to Engage Airport Travelers
  • The Sport Industry Daily
  • Creativity In the Sports Marketplace
  • July 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
  • NACMA Spotlight
  • A Close Look at Creative Marketing in Major League Baseball
  • Creative Tactics From the 2011 College World Series
  • The Cincinnati Reds' Dusty Days
  • Showtime Delivers a Unique Foursquare Vending Experience
  • Idea Box

Click here to purchase the July 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing.

Guest Editorial: How Connecting Online Can Produce Real Business Value

Jonathan Norman is a sports sponsorship strategist for GMR Marketing, a major U.S. sports and event marketing firm. Jonathan has been in sports marketing and media for more than 10 years, and has worked on several major corporate branding campaigns around sports. His expertise resides in how brands reach consumers through sponsorship and activation of sports properties. Follow Jonathan on Twitter at @Jonathan_Norman and his official blog here.

The main ballroom at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square was filled last month with the best and the brightest from sports, as executives from the leagues, teams, networks, brands and agencies gathered for the annual Sports Business Awards. Outside the ballroom, there was a familiar scene. Colleagues and friends shared updates and insights that could lead to the next great idea in sports, and introductions were made that could lead to new partnerships that alter the sports landscape.

Networking is critical for our industry, and as many of you know, it’s expanded online significantly in the last five years. Portals such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other industry-specific social communication sites have changed the way we do business. With nearly 750 million accounts between the three major sites, the impact continues to grow.

Twitter has certainly found popularity among the sports industry in particular, as 42 percent of those surveyed in the 2010 SBJ/SBD Reader Survey are using the service, up six percentage points from the previous year. Assuming that our industry has a universe of 50,000 individuals domestically and internationally (a very round estimate), that would mean that at least 21,000 of us could be connecting on an hourly, daily or weekly basis on Twitter.

If we were to look at those Twitter users within the sports business community, we could likely classify them in three ways. I’ll call them “no-shows,” “lurkers” and “connectors.” No-shows are industry members who are not using Twitter. Lurkers are those who have a Twitter account, but use it only for keeping up with the news and conversation, rarely or never contributing. The connectors are those who are plugged in, both receiving and sharing information, all in a highly targeted way.

Each of these groups plays a role in sports business online, but all three have the opportunity to continue to build the community. For no-shows, it’s about getting onto the site, creating a handle and surveying the landscape — listening in. For lurkers, it’s about joining the conversation and interacting with the community — being engaged. If you’re a connector, you’ll want to continue to advocate for using Twitter and engage others to also connect — doing more. That’s where each of these will experience real value. If we look specifically at that value, it’s primarily fourfold. For ease, I’ll just call it the four C’s:

Connection: Twitter provides connection points with colleagues in real time, paired with the ability to network with individuals we don’t normally come across on a daily basis. There’s real value here: Tangible business relationships are formed every day through the medium.

Collaboration: Through these relationships and subsequent conversation on Twitter, we’re able to dissect important issues of the day as a group, each providing our own insights and opinions for the group to consider. While we all represent our own organizations and areas of business, we find opportunities to share valuable thoughts and ideas in an open forum.

Consideration: Through connection and collaboration, we have the opportunity to consider new ways of thinking from other areas of sport. While some may criticize Twitter as a means to erupt with short-sighted musings, it is also a way to read others’ opinions as they unfold, and possibly reconsider your own positions.

Current events: Twitter is increasingly becoming the go-to site for breaking news, whether it’s SportsBusiness Journal reporting a Pac-10 media deal or updates on the latest free agent signing. By simply following one of the many lists of sports business reporters, you can help eliminate the dreaded daily onslaught of Google Alerts.

Over the last three years, our industry has developed a subset of executives that actively participate on Twitter, primarily through the hashtag of #sportsbiz, which is a means of identifying conversations. About 800 users consistently use this identifier to stay up to date on news, share insights, connect with fellow professionals and become more engaged in our industry. This community has become one of the critical components of the ongoing education of sports business executives across the globe. The value of this group, and others built around the sports industry, is evidenced through their rapid growths.

Let it be said that the sports business forum on Twitter will never replace the value of working the ballroom and hallways at industry conferences. We need the face-to-face interactions that are the backbone of our industry. And to be fair, some of the criticisms of Twitter are rooted in the truth. While some of the early perceptions of the medium are well-founded (i.e., sharing what you had for lunch), Twitter has evolved and will continue to do so as business professionals embrace the channel. There’s little downside to joining the community.

By engaging through Twitter, we all share in the ability to be more informed and in tune with the sports business industry. It allows us to serve our clients and sponsor partners better and, in the end, further develop our own ability to collaborate and connect.

For smart sports professionals, I believe the choice is easy: We all have to develop an online networking game plan and execute it. Whether you’re a no-show, lurker or connector, commit to the plan and you’ll find rewarding interactions that have real business value.

Alaska Air Partners With the Timbers To Create Hilarious Ads

Alaska Air is leveraging its designation as the Official Airline of the Portland Timbers with a series of hilarious commercials that incorporate team stakeholders. The airline's first commercial features Timbers head coach John Spencer giving seat belt instructions to passengers and the second spot features the team's iconic mascot, Timber Joey, helping a passenger with his luggage.

The ads have been very well received by soccer fans, especially amongst the Timbers' loyal following of fans. Check out the two (2) spots below and consider new ways that you can take team partnerships to the next level with a dose of humor. 

Alaska Air Commercial Featuring Timbers Head Coach John Spencer

 

Alaska Air Commercial Featuring Timber Joey

 

A special thanks to Alan Cassinelli of UC Santa Barbara Athletics for his insights and contributions to this column!

The Cleveland Indians and BP Capitalize on Pre-Game Inventory

The Cleveland Indians recently announced a partnership with BP that is highlighted by a series of promotions in-stadium and at retail.

As the Official Fuel of the Cleveland Indians, BP receives the exclusive naming rights of Indians batting practice and the company is taking full advantage of the designation to enhance the fan experience:

  • Fans can win free BP gift cards by catching specially marked balls into the outfield stands during batting practice
  • The first 100 fans who arrive for pre-game batting practice receive a limited edition Indians t-shirt at Gate A
  • BP will reward select fans with VIP batting practice experiences at 40 home games. The experience includes special on-field access and a gift bag of promotional items

From a retail standpoint, the Indians and BP are teaming up to execute a pretty standard fill-up and win promotion across 215 BP locations in Northeast Ohio. From June 1st to August 30th, fans who fill-up their cars with ten (10) gallons of gas can receive a scratch-off card that provides a unique code. Fans are encouraged to register five (5) unique codes on BPIndiansBaseball.com to receive two (2) free Mezzanine tickets to an Indians game online at www.indians.com/BP.