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Marketing and Sponsorship

ESPN.com Bracket Contest Prize Only $10,000 Despite Large Number Of Contestants

The $10,000 grand prize for ESPN.com's Tournament Challenge is "probably the worst prize in all of sports fandom, considering the stakes," according to Darren Rovell of CNBC.com. The "low prize" might have "something to do with the network's partnership with the NCAA and the broadcasting of college basketball games." NCAA officials "have been outwardly uncomfortable with the so-called fantasy games." ESPN also "doesn't technically award" the prize; sponsor State Farm does. The prize "doesn't hurt ESPN.com from a participation standpoint," but it "does hurt the sponsor." Rovell noted while State Farm sponsors the contest, Sprint "sponsors the actual brackets" (CNBC.com, 3/17). Fans submitted more than 5.9 million Men's Tournament Challenge brackets this year, a record for the contest. The runner-up in the men's contest will be named in a random drawing for $5,000. Fans can submit Women's Tournament Challenge brackets until the first game Saturday, and the winner of that contest will receive a $2,000 Best Buy Gift Card (ESPN).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: April 25, 2024

Motor City's big weekend; Kevin Warren's big bet; Bill Belichick's big makeover and the WNBA's big week continues

TNT’s Stan Van Gundy, ESPN’s Tim Reed, NBA Playoffs and NFL Draft

On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp has two Big Get interviews. The first is with TNT’s Stan Van Gundy as he breaks down the NBA Playoffs from the booth. Later in the show, we hear from ESPN’s VP of Programming and Acquisitions Tim Reed as the NFL Draft gets set to kick off on Thursday night in Motown. SBJ’s Tom Friend also joins the show to share his insights into NBA viewership trends.

SBJ I Factor: Molly Mazzolini

SBJ I Factor features an interview with Molly Mazzolini. Elevate's Senior Operating Advisor – Design + Strategic Alliances chats with SBJ’s Ross Nethery about the power of taking chances. Mazzolini is a member of the SBJ Game Changers Class of 2016. She shares stories of her career including co-founding sports design consultancy Infinite Scale career journey and how a chance encounter while working at a stationery store launched her career in the sports industry. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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