http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blog/Jon-Kander.aspx Read what’s on the minds of IEG’s sponsorship experts relating to the latest industry news and trends. en-us http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/April-2010/Where-Sponsorship-Analysts-Disagree---The-BP-Cross.aspx There are two sides to every argument. My colleague, Shelley Fasulko, lauded BP@s sponsorship of the Cubs-White Sox Crosstown Classic (now called the BP Crosstown Cup). Where Shelley saw a brilliant creation of new assets, I saw blatant corporate pandering and over-commercialization of a great event. Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:41:30 GMT http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/April-2010/Where-Sponsorship-Analysts-Disagree---The-BP-Cross.aspx http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/March-2010/A-Renewed-Look-at-the-WWE-and-Sponsorship-of-Risk.aspx Growing up, I was a big fan of the World Wrestling Federation (now the WWE @ World Wrestling Entertainment). Last night@s WWE Monday Night Raw broadcast sent me on a trip down memory lane as I watched one of my favorite wrestlers growing up, Shawn Michaels @The Heartbreak Kid@, announce his retirement. Not going to lie, it got a little dusty in Kander Manor towards the end of his speech and when he left the ring for the @final@ time. (By the way, Shawn Michaels@ speech was everything that Michael Jordan@s Hall of Fame induction speech wasn@t @ emotional, passionate, acknowledging his fans/colleagues for their support, etc.) Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:28:11 GMT http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/March-2010/A-Renewed-Look-at-the-WWE-and-Sponsorship-of-Risk.aspx http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/March-2010/Many-Takeaways-from-my-Professional-Sports-Special.aspx I had the pleasure of co-leading a discussion amongst many of the IEG Conference@s sports-centric properties, sponsors and agencies with my coworker, Larry Albus. There was a diverse range of conversation topics that included developing new revenue streams, emerging categories, cause-based partnerships and effectively measuring a sponsorship@s ROI.With regards to new revenue streams, the discussion centered largely around the NFL teams incorporating sponsors on their practice jerseys and practice facilities. One of the issues with those platforms was the difficulty in building awareness and getting eyeballs for those sponsors. One category that was able to avoid this issue was news @ media sponsors, who could guarantee practice coverage for their sponsored team. Another common sponsor of practice facilities are hospitals and rehabilitation centers. These companies business is endemic to the purposes of a practice (e.g., rehab, preparing the team to participate in the weekend@s game). A specific example, the Methodist Training Center partnered with the Houston Texans as the practice facility naming rights sponsor. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:16:01 GMT http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/March-2010/Many-Takeaways-from-my-Professional-Sports-Special.aspx http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/March-2010/Not-Sold-on-Lewis-Hamilton-s-Secret-Life.aspx 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. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:06:04 GMT http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/March-2010/Not-Sold-on-Lewis-Hamilton-s-Secret-Life.aspx http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/March-2010/Just-Because-you-Aren-t-an-Endemic-Sponsor,-Doesn-.aspx 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. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:11:27 GMT http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/March-2010/Just-Because-you-Aren-t-an-Endemic-Sponsor,-Doesn-.aspx http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/February-2010/Untapped-Marketing-Opportunity-in-the-NBA.aspx 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. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:52:36 GMT http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/February-2010/Untapped-Marketing-Opportunity-in-the-NBA.aspx http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/February-2010/Your-Parents-Were-Right--Do-Your-Homework-Before-G.aspx Last week I was able to get out of the office for a few days and attend the National Sports Forum in Baltimore. I@ve attended the conference for three years straight and always come away with multiple takeaways. This year was no different.One of the sessions I attended was a sponsor panel hosted by Bill Sutton with John Cordova (Coca-Cola), David Palmer (P@G), Matt Lederer (Comcast), Marke Dickinson (AAA) and Drew Hiddings (Hershey@s). A focus of this discussion was that properties need to do their homework (e.g., research, understand a prospective sponsor@s business model/objectives) before reaching out to a company with a sponsorship opportunity. Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:49:51 GMT http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/February-2010/Your-Parents-Were-Right--Do-Your-Homework-Before-G.aspx http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/February-2010/Why-No-Coors-Commercials-during-Super-Bowl-XLIV-.aspx 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? Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:31:30 GMT http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Jon-Kander/February-2010/Why-No-Coors-Commercials-during-Super-Bowl-XLIV-.aspx