Welcome to Competitive Edge (CE): Sports & Entertainment Marketing Current Events
Please enjoy free access to Competitive Edge (CE), SCC’s sports and entertainment marketing current events program for the remainder of the school year. Next year, Competitive Edge (CE) content will be featured on our new website, launching in September. USING COMPETITIVE EDGE (CE): Each week, we will post headlines (marked “CE”) highlighting creative and unique marketing campaigns. Articles with suggestion questions for students will be posted in the “Notable Campaigns” list of headlines “tagged” by lesson to help connect the news story with topics from SCC’s textbook. Additional links to sports and entertainment business initiatives will be provided in the “More News” list of headlines. Archived stories can be found in the “tags” list in the column on the right side of this page. Enjoy! Click here to redirect to our free content page and download a free copy of SCC’s digital textbook, The Business of Sports & Entertainment (2019-20 Student Edition).For the Week of November 16th, 2020
Notable Campaigns:
- Release The Kraken: Seattle’s Newest Team Gives Back In A Big Way
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Beyoncé inks multiyear Peloton deal as fitness marketer looks to keep up momentum
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Orlando Magic Announce New Marketing Brand Campaign, Magic Together
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- What happens to Masters merchandise when there are no fans?
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Ducks Have Matured From ‘Mighty’ Marketing to NHL Success Story
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
More News:
- Kim Ng hired by Marlins as general manager, becoming first woman to hold that post in baseball
- Click here to read the story from npr.org.
- Travis Scott’s McDonald’s Action Figure Sells For $55,000
- Click here to read the story from bet.com.
- When Ryan Reynolds Buys a Soccer Team, Dollars Await
- Click here to read the story from bloomberg.com.
- Notre Dame’s Win Over Clemson Gives NBC Highest Ratings in 27 Years
- Click here to read the story from sportico.com.
- Topgolf Live Stadium Tour comes to Providence Park in Fall of 2021
- Click here to read the story from timbers.com.
- World Table Tennis brings on Coca-Cola as first sponsor
- Click here to read the story from sportspromedia.com.
- DeChambeau to sport DraftKings logo at Augusta
- Click here to read the story from espn.com.
- 76ers Reveal Black City Edition Jerseys, Court Design
- Click here to read the story from si.com.
For the Week of June 8th, 2020
Notable Campaigns:
- Michael Jordan, Jordan Brand will donate $100 million to organizations fighting for racial justice and equality
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Bringing Fans Back to MLB Will Require Yogi Berra-Level Marketing Savvy
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Japan is testing an app that lets sports fans cheer from the safety of their sofas
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
More News:
- NHL creating four committees to examine and take action on diversity issues facing the league and sport
- Click here to read the store from espn.com
- When sports come back, what will athletes’ protests look like?
- Click here to read the story from bostonglobe.com
- Disney: Sports TV Ad Deal-Making Has Begun, ‘Multi-Year’ Deals Being Completed
- Click here to read the store from mediapost.com
- Pandemic willing, NBA Finals, World Series, football and Masters may create ‘golden month’ for sports
- Click here to read the story from usatoday.com
For the Week of June 1st, 2020
Notable Campaigns:
- MLB Is Exploring Advertising Tarps For Empty Seats
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Peloton goes from marketing punchline to ESPN programming with new ‘All-Stars Ride’
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Sponsorship still ‘massively valuable’ with right data, says Giles Morgan
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- When baseball cards become pop art: Inside the Topps 2020 Project
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
More News:
- It’s not just the 2020 season at stake, but the future of MLB
- Click here to read the story from espn.com
- Live music has collapsed, but streaming could save the industry, says Goldman Sachs
- Click here to read the story from fastcompany.com
- Roger Federer is world’s highest-paid athlete, according to Forbes. Who else is in the top 100?
- Click here to read the story from forbes.com
- Sports Embrace the Business of Clean
- Click here to read the story from teammarketing.com
- Michael Jordan’s regular season NBA debut ticket sold for nearly $25,000
- Click here to read the story from usatoday.com
For the Week of May 18th, 2020
Notable Campaigns:
- With live sports on hold, Adidas turns to video games
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Rams reveal new uniforms
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Movie-related products still hit stores despite film delays
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Could there be virtual fans in the seats at upcoming NBA games?
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
More News:
- NHL Teams Are Utilizing Esports To Keep Fans Engaged During Coronavirus Pandemic
- Click here to read the story from forbes.com
- Nashville group hoping to bring MLB to town applies for logo trademark
- Click here to read the story from usatoday.com
- NBA drops Spalding as maker of official basketball after more than 30 years
- Click here to read the story from cnbc.com
- Disney’s Streaming Bundle Begins Major TV Push With First Spot Uniting All 3 Platforms
- Click here to read the story from adweek.com
For the Week of May 11th, 2020
Notable Campaigns:
- With Vans, Tony Hawk Looks Back While Moving Forward
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Thanks to ‘Trolls,’ you’ll see more new movies open in the living room
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- America’s Most Passionate Sports Fans 2020
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Here’s Everything We Know About Shaq’s Business Empire, Including 150 Car Washes, 17 Auntie Anne’s, and — at One Point — 155 Five Guys
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
More News:
- Rowdies to launch esports initiative to reach fans during coronavirus pandemic
- Click here to read the story from bizjournals.com
- Nike Delivers Its First-Ever Indoor Cycling Shoe
- Click here to read the story from footwearnews.com
- WWE Raw Bottoms Out With Lowest Viewership In History
- Click here to read the story from forbes.com
For the Week of May 4th, 2020
Notable Campaigns:
- PBR Bucks The Virus; Creates A Roadmap For Sport Return
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- How much would Zion, Trevor Lawrence and other college stars make with new NCAA rules?
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Analysis: Sports vanishing to cost at least $12B
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
More News:
- Drone Racing League looks to expand ‘intersection of sport and technology’ with groundbreaking new hire (Click here to read the story from usatoday.com)
- Nike’s newest shoe collection includes a Luka Doncic-inspired colorway in his Jordan Brand debut (Click here to read the story from dallasnews.com)
- Amazon Dives Deeper Into Sports With Deal to Stream Saturday NFL Games (Click here to read the story from thestreet.com)
- Opinion: As much as we want sports, players are the ones who are facing risks (Click here to read the story from usatoday.com)
For the Week of April 27th, 2020
Notable Campaigns:
- NFL scores 580M views with Draft Day TikTok challenge
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Travis Scott’s virtual concert on Fortnite set a record
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Patrick Mahomes dethrones Tom Brady on the NFLPA’s top selling players list
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Honda sponsors esports matchups between NHL players
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
More News:
- Virtual NFL Draft Grows 37% To 15.6 Million Viewers (Click here to read the story at mediapost.com.)
- The Last Dance Is ESPN’s New Ratings Champ (Click here to read the story at vulture.com)
- Los Angeles Chargers unveil new uniforms, which emphasize iconic powder blue (click here to read the story at usatoday.com.)
For the Week of April 20th, 2020
Notable Campaigns:
- The NFL’s wild sponsorship rules for 2020 draft could cost players up to $50K
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Will ‘Trolls World Tour’ Profit Off Universal’s Experimental VOD (& Drive-In Theater) Model?
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Despite Lockdown, MLB Teams Gain Value In 2020
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Why the nation’s top prep player is opting for the G League
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
More News:
- How Baseball Cards Are Giving Fans An Escape From A Nationwide Health Crisis (click here to read the story at forbes.com)
- ESPN enlists Facebook, Reese’s, State Farm for custom content around Michael Jordan docuseries (click here to read the story at mobilemarketer.com)
- How the NBA pulled off turning H-O-R-S-E into compelling pandemic TV (click here to read the story at fastcompany.com)
- Opinion: NFL faces multiple issues (including maybe liability) as it decides how to open season (click here to read the story at usatoday.com)
For the Week of April 13th, 2020
Notable Campaigns:
- Sources: XFL staff laid off, no plans for 2021
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Tom Brady submits trademarks for ‘Tompa Bay,’ ‘Tampa Brady’
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Report: PGA Tour restart could happen without fans in attendance
- Click here for the story and questions for class discussion.
More News:
- Toyota ad celebrates ‘Modern Family’ finale and 11 seasons of brand integrations (click here to read the story at marketingdive.com)
- Opinion: Expanding College Football Playoff could be how programs find needed money (click here to read the story at usatoday.com)
- Coronavirus: Over 70 percent of Americans say they wouldn’t feel safe attending sporting events until vaccine available (click here to read the story at sports.yahoo.com)
For the Week of April 6th, 2020
Notable Campaigns:
- Olympic hopeful Gwen Berry may file for unemployment after 2020 postponement
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- WrestleMania in front of no crowd is a reminder that fans matter
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- How coronavirus could permanently change the movie industry
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
More News:
- What Happens To Sports Marketing Budgets Without Sports? (click here to read the story at adexchanger.com)
- 7 NFL teams are getting new uniforms or logos for the 2020 season and here is what we know already (click here to read the story at insider.com)
- Movie advertising is now just making Zoom backgrounds (click here to read the story at theverge.com)
For the Week of March 30th, 2020
Notable Campaigns:
- Why NBA should permanently shift start of season to Christmas Day
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Play inside: Sports brands like Nike pivot to encourage social distancing
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
- Overwatch pivots to online-only matches, sees opportunity to grow with no live sports
- Click here for the story and questions for class discussion.
- What coronavirus means for sports marketing
- Click here for the article and questions for class discussion
More News:
- NCAA slashes payouts to schools by $375 million in wake of coronarivus cancellations (click here to read the story at usatoday.com)
- Can It Still Be ‘Euro 2020’ in 2021? Sponsors Hope So (click here to read the story at nytimes.com)
- Can Movie Theaters Survive Coronavirus? (click here to read the story at vanityfair.com)
- Ranking the Best Logos in the Four Major Sports (click here to read the story at deadspin.com)