Latest Thinking from IEG

Not Sold on Lewis Hamilton’s Secret Life

Formula 1 driver, Lewis Hamilton, and Reebok unveiled an alternate reality game (ARG) yesterday called Lewis Hamilton: Secret Life. Hamilton is the central character in this game, which allows its users to experience a facet of Hamilton’s “life” beyond being a Formula 1 driver. The overall goal of the game is to help Lewis train and prepare to recover priceless artworks, sculptures and manuscripts from thieves. Apparently (or as Reebok would like you to believe), Hamilton is a big “The Thomas Crown Affair” fan and bypassing museum security/stealing priceless artifacts is his secret passion.

More >

Filed under: branded content, motorsports, new media, non-traditional categories, social media, sports, activation

Increased Activity around Participatory Sports Events by Amica Insurance and What it Could Mean for Properties

Since 2008, Amica Insurance, based in Rhode Island, has really stepped up its marketing activity around participatory sports events, specifically triathlons and marathons. In 2010, Amica is the title sponsor of no less than 13 events across the U.S., including a series of 10 sprint distance triathlons, an Ironman 70.3 and two marathons. What is also interesting is that almost all of these events did not exist before 2008.

More >

Filed under: events, marathon, sports, agency

Just Because you Aren’t an Endemic Sponsor, Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Be Endemic to the Overall Sports Experience

In a down economy, companies are forced more and more to make their sponsorships relevant and meaningful. Companies who are endemic to a particular sport are a natural fit for those particular sponsorship opportunities. However, for companies whose businesses do not naturally fit into the sports experience, they have to be a little more creative with how they activate their sponsorship platforms to make their presence meaningful to the fans and attendees. In particular, companies within the consumer and B2B technology and communications categories have done a great job of leveraging their sponsorship opportunities and made themselves largely endemic to the sports experience.

More >

Filed under: pro sports, sports, trends, activation

Why Motorsports Teams Should “Trade Paint” With Art Museums

Hallelujah and thank you, Bill Taylor. I read his great Harvard Business Review blog post yesterday on idea-swapping outside the immediate field (or sector or industry) we work in. If there’s any Kool-Aid you are open to drinking today, let this be it.

While I suggest you read the full post—he has good anecdotes about companies employing the strategy—his last paragraph sums up his point.

More >

Filed under: associations, cause marketing, entertainment, how to get sponsorship, motorsports, non-traditional categories, sports, arts

A Company’s Sponsorship Budget Should be “a” Factor Not “the” Factor When Choosing a Property

Among the numerous considerations a sponsor must wade through to determine which properties to sponsor, cost is usually at the top of the list. Unfortunately, focusing too much on cost can sometimes lead a sponsor down the wrong path or create unnecessary boundaries, ruling out properties that might otherwise be appropriate.

More >

Filed under: arts, associations, cause marketing, events, local, sports, activation

Untapped Marketing Opportunity in the NBA

For the record, I am an NBA fan. But aside from my love of the game, it’s my opinion that the NBA has been ahead of its time, when compared to other professional leagues in America, in creating interest abroad, especially in China. The past few years have seen some of the greatest playoff series ever (Spurs-Suns 2007 and 2008, Celtics-Cavaliers 2009, Celtics-Bulls 2009, Pistons-Cavaliers 2007, Lakers-Celtics 2008) and the league’s stars have never been more likable and charismatic from a fan’s standpoint.

More >

Filed under: social media, sports, pro sports

Will Other Online Companies Follow in the Sponsorship Footsteps of AOL and GoDaddy.com?

An AOL press release from earlier this week about AOL’s sponsorship of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week spurred a thought. I wanted to better understand what online companies such as AOL, Google and YouTube are sponsoring and why online companies aren’t more active in sponsorship.

More >

Filed under: nonprofit, research, sports, NASCAR

Shout Out To Long-term Sponsorships

If you have checked out Sponsorship.com’s News section you may have read the February 17 release from the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning announcing a renewal of the title sponsorship that began in 1993.

More >

Filed under: festivals, motorsports, NASCAR, sports, events

Why No Coors Commercials during Super Bowl XLIV?

Hi all,

My name is Jon Kander. I am an alumnus of Wake Forest University for undergrad and Ohio University’s MBA/MSA program. I have worked in IEG’s Valuation Services department since graduating from Ohio and am brand new to the IEG blogosphere. You can read a little more about me in the brief bio on the right.

Watching this year’s Super Bowl, I found myself wondering one thing – where are all the Coors commercials? Obviously, the price tag for a 30-second advertisement is steep; however, when Coors is paying an estimated $100 million per year in NFL-themed advertising, promotions and other team sponsorships to be the official beer of the NFL, it needs to make sure it is seen by the 106.5 million people watching the NFL’s marquee game on TV, right?

More >

Filed under: pro sports, sports, beer

Should Toyota and Cardiac Science Product Recalls Have Any Impact on Their Sponsorships?

Usually when we’re talking about recall and sponsorship in the same conversation, it’s a discussion of figuring out whether audience members had a positive recall (aided or unaided) of a given property's sponsors as measured by a survey. Today, however, we’re talking about product recalls and what should be done by (and for) properties that have the manufacturers—if not the product brands themselves—as sponsors?

More >

Filed under: government/municipal, guidelines, NASCAR, non-traditional categories, sports, contracts