- I attended a sports marketing conference in New York this week where Mark Waller, Chief Marketing Officer of the NFL, participated on a panel discussion and intimated that the replacement referee controversy did not adversely impact the NFL brand. Perhaps Waller was trying to downplay the impact and the real concern that may have occurred at the league's 280 Park Avenue offices in New York. But, if there indeed was no concern about brand impact by the NFL, then that is a foolhardy stance no matter the strength of this pre-eminent sports property. Just like antenna-gate soiled the Apple brand, so too has this referee situation impacted the NFL brand given negative fan sentiment and player reactions. The NFL needs to be careful that arrogance does not get in the way of strategic brand management.
- On the topic of replacement refs, estimates range from $250 million to $1 billion as to how much gambling money was affected by the replacement ref's "call" at the end of the recent Green Bay-Seattle game--a contest which Seattle won on the controversial ruling of a Seahawks touchdown.
- Tony Stewart is announcing today that the primary sponsor of his NASCAR ride next season will be Springfield, MO-based Bass Pro Shops. Bass Pro will move to Stewart from Jamie McMurray. Mobil will continue with Stewart as a secondary sponsor.
- I'm not a New York Yankees fan but seeing Derek Jeter in the Major League Baseball Playoffs one more time is simply a good thing.
- The 2013 high school basketball recruiting wars have a look of sameness about them as the Harrison twins, out of Texas, announced yesterday that they plan to take their talents to Lexington, KY. The loss of the top five duo--the highest ranking twins ever--was a blow to Mark Turgeon and the Maryland Terrapins who had high hopes that the brothers would end up in College Park.
- If you're a fan who wishes you were more empowered to impact your franchise of choice, then perhaps you should move to Seattle. The Major League Soccer Seattle Sounders are conducting a fan vote to select the team's next General Manager. And, the vote is legit--the fans will decide.
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