Entries tagged with “NBA” from Global Sports Buzz

Skycam is the trademarked brandname of a patented, computer-controlled, stablizied, flying camera system. The camera is moved through three dimentions in open space over a playing area of a stadium or arena by a computer-controlled cable-drive system. The camera is responsible for bringing video game-like camera angles to televised sports coverage. The camera weighs less than 30 pounds and can travel as fast as 30 mph. Skycam was first debuted in 2001 during NBC's coverage of the XFL, a league that does not exist anymore. ESPN first used the camera in 2001 preseason games and then continued to use it for their Sunday Night Football broadcasts and now Monday Night Football broadcasts since 2002. Skycam has been used for NCAA football, Monday Night Football, and Superbowl XXXVII, as well as the NHL, NBA, and NASCAR. The Skycam has also been used at the 17th hole at The Players Championship at Sawgrass. The camera consists of 3 parts, the reel, spar, and central control. They all play a key role in the operation of the camera and the production of the television coverage. Since its introduction, Skycams have been used really well and have had little to no problems, except for one game in 2007 where an NFL game between the Seahawks and the Saints had to be delayed because the camera was flown into the field.

Chris Granger, NBA senior vice president of team marketing and business operations was asked questions about ticket values, how teams are doing with the downward economy, how teams doing business differently, and if there seems to be any challenges that have been face along the way. When asked about the strategy that the NBA has towards the limit of season ticket base Granger replies by saying that it's all about value, that would be a way to increase the number of new ticket buyers and keep recent ticket buyers. He also said that this strategy has been very effective.

I believe this is good. Even though I'm not a big fan of the NBA or even basketball this will be good for the organization if they can bring in new ticket holders and keep old ticket holders with the increase of a little extra value with the tickets. Teams might be doing things differently than they have done in previous years because the economy has gotten worse than it has say about a couple or so years ago. Hopefully there's a good if not great turn-around for the NBA from this new added value to ticket sales.

Read more.......http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/60466

With the season finally here, the NBA has prepared promotoinal ideas to jump start the 2008-2009 season.  The NBA is teaming up with Kia to create a fan fest in New York City's Union Square.  The event will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, October 28th, which is opening day of the NBA season.  They plan to attract fans by bringing in former NBA stars and current New York Knick players, as well as having a full basketball court with entertainment.  This first time event should get the NBA going for a great season.  According to Sports Business Journal, Kia will promote Tip Off Week at all of it's 640 dealerships throughout the nation.  They will have NBA-branded Kia Borregos in all 30 NBA markets, where giveaways will also take place.  2008 will be Kia's first full year of partnership with the NBA.  The NBA will have several other Tip Off Week sponsors to continue traditions from previous seasons.  None, however will be as big as the Kia sponsorship.

The NBA deal with Kia is a great way to get fans involved this season, and will definitely increase the Kia sales.  The advertisement Kia is recieving through the NBA will be a nice bonus for their marketing department.  The NBA attracts many people, and if people see Kia working with the NBA, they are bound to think again before buying a Toyota.

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The National Basketball Association has recently announced their plans to continue to stick with there "Where Amazing Happens" theme for the 2008-2009 season. They plan to televise these commercials during the NBA games and will feature some big name players that features the best moments of last season. In addition they will also include some radio advertisement with the same theme but the have dropped the print campaign, therefore there will be no magazine, newspaper, etc. ads that include the "Amazing" theme. 

I believe that this is an effective marketing campaign for the league because of the commercials ability to connect to the fans and make them feel that what they witness throughout the regular season is something amazing and something that is one of a kind. These advertising campaigns are crucial for the NBA and all business that advertise, they need people to watch their ads and buy into what they are trying to sell, which is what the NBA has been doing so well the past couple of years which is why the popularity has once again risen for professional basketball.

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The NBA executive vice president of global merchandising, Sal LaRocca said while the US retail market is still slow, the retail market in Asia and Europe is on the rise.  Because of the Olympics' in Beijing, over the summer the NBA built two stores in downtown Beijing and plan to have a possible 8 more by the end of the year.  A mother isn't going to pay $75 on a jersey when it is costing that much or more to put gas in the families mini-van.  One way the NBA is was trying to increase sales, was to get the logo out in places where non-NBA fans shop and try to develop a new fan base. 

 

 

With the economy in recession the high prices of jerseys and other NBA products are less appealing because the price of a jacket could also be a tank full of gas. Not only are the customers being over charged for the jersey but also for the gas it takes to get to the store to buy one.

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The City of Las Vegas, Nevada is in talks with a real estate development company to build a 20,000 seat multi-purpose arena in downtown Las Vegas. Mayor Oscar Goodman of Las Vegas wants this arena built to try to lure a NBA or NHL team to the city. There has been talk in years past of the Sacramento Kings moving to Las Vegas to try to lure in big spenders in the Las Vegas market. The owners of the Kings, the Maloof family, already own two casinos in Las Vegas and an NBA team there would not hurt business. If built this arena could host an NBA or NHL team and multiple shows and concerts a month. It would not be a waste for the city of Las Vegas, already known as one of the "Entertainment Capitals of the World."

I believe that if the NBA, which already has a gambling problem with the referees point shaving scandal, will not hold up in Las Vegas. Las Vegas allows sports betting in its multiple casinos and this is not a good image for David Stern and the NBA. They will be thought of as a crooked league who just wants to make as much money as possible.

The other side of this story is the potential loss to Sacramento, or another NBA or NHL city. If the Kings leave Sacramento there will be no "Big 4" team in that city and their arena will lose their anchor tenant. They will lose money and the owners will rip the hearts out of their many fans. I believe that this new arena in Las Vegas is not good news for Sacramento. However, it has the possibility of making so much money for the city and business people of Las Vegas.

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The drama in New York continues. According to ESPN, an ex-Knicks employee testified that Isiah Thomas

called one of his fellow co-workers, Anucha Browne Sanders, a "bitch" and a "ho". Nix also said that Thomas also told her "I'm in love with you." On top of all this, you still have the Stephon Marbury-intern situation. What a circus. ----------------------------------------------------

NEW YORK -- Months after berating her in an expletive-filled tirade, New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas moved from cursing to courting a fellow executive now suing the basketball Hall of Famer for sexual harassment, a former team employee testified Tuesday.

Jeffrey Nix, a 15-year employee of the NBA team, took the stand in U.S. District Court to recount a series of conversations he had with his friend and co-worker, plaintiff Anucha Browne Sanders, throughout 2004.

Sanders, in tones of disgust, detailed how Thomas initially treated her with contempt shortly after his December 2003 arrival in New York, Nix testified.   Read On...