SPORTSBIZ -- JOEL HAMMOND
In the stands, teams continue to follow the Indians' lead
Blog entry: February 1, 2012, 1:54 pm | Author: JOEL HAMMOND
I wrote the headline carefully, of course, so as not to rile up those of you who wanted the Cleveland Indians to sign Prince Fielder or trade for Matt Kemp, the latter move being advocated by a friend of mine who shall remain nameless. But off the field, teams seem to be taking cues from the Indians. Much like the Indians are struggling with an overabundance of suites at Progressive Field and re-thinking how to handle the issue, the Detroit Pistons, under a new owner, also reportedly are going to eliminate suites.
From Crain's Detroit Business by way of Sports Business Journal:
The plan would be to convert suite space on the penthouse level of the Detroit Pistons' home into a restaurant, social media gathering sites and a sports hall of fame, the Sports Business Journal reported.
The suites targeted are on the highest level at The Palace, typically leased on a game-by-game basis and difficult to sell, the report said.
The Indians were, of course, the first to use in-stadium/arena space for designated social media spaces, with their Social Deck and now Social Suite.
And here is more following of the Indians: The Pittsburgh Pirates have introduced a Budweiser-themed party area at PNC Park — which sounds exceedingly similar to the Indians' Bud Light Party Deck.
Super Bowl
I'll pass along relevant Super Bowl/business-related links over the next couple days to get you ready for the big day, so tune back in tomorrow and Friday for more. Today's batch:
I've heard this refrain over and over again on Cleveland sports talk radio this week: If we'd built a dome here, could we have gotten a Super Bowl, like Detroit and Indianapolis?
Well, add Chicago to the list, as Crain's Chicago's Ed Sherman wonders the same thing.
The Indianapolis Business Journal reported an estimated 205,000 people attended Super Bowl-related activities in the downtown area from Friday through Sunday. Thanks to unseasonably warm weather Tuesday night, it seemed like there were 205,000 people squeezed into the space, all seemingly wearing a Peyton Manning jersey. The crowds cheered every time some person went flying by on the zip line.
And as I look at the big party that is taking place only 180 miles from Chicago, I wonder what might have been. If only the city and the Bears had built some sort of domed facility, the Super Bowl could have been here.
Count me in the group that wonders why a company paying $3.5 million for 30 seconds of Super Bowl ad time would release its ad early, like Acura did with its Seinfeld spot.
Any response, marketing folks?
For you Super Bowl Squares players, a scientific analysis of what numbers will suit you best; warning, the results are exceedingly obvious.
If you're not following me on Twitter, what are you waiting for? And, I trust you're listening to Crain's podcasts?
And, of course, email me with any news tips you see fit for this space.
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