The MLS Crew are "making progress toward becoming a more attractive buy for companies looking to tie their names to professional sports," as the club is spending “big on an electronic advertising board to showcase the brands of its corporate sponsors,” according to Jeff Bell of BUSINESS FIRST OF COLUMBUS. The club also is “nearing completion of a new local television deal, possibly with Fox Sports Ohio, and working on stadium improvements that could include a towering marquee on the north side of Crew Stadium that would overlook heavily traveled Interstate 71.” Crew Senior VP/Sales & Marketing Mike Malo said that the effort is “aimed at providing the sort of fan base and facilities that can improve the Crew’s chances to sell naming rights to the 20,000-seat stadium and more corporate sponsorships, including a high-profile one for the team’s jerseys.” The club also is 20% "ahead of last year’s pace in season-ticket sales" (BUSINESS FIRST OF COLUMBUS, 2/10 issue).
LIVING IT UP: In K.C., Charles Gooch noted MLS Sporting KC have launched a new marketing video called “Live for It” and have devised an “entire marketing campaign behind” it. In addition to a commercial -- which “will continue to air on local broadcasts through the season -- a second spot will debut" on KSMO-MYT during the team's first match of the season against DC United on March 10. The spots were created by the team along with K.C.-based ad firms Barkley and Liquid 9. Gooch noted there will also be “a few prominent billboards scattered throughout the KC area" featuring '11 MLS Rookie of the Year C.J. Sapong (K.C. STAR, 2/14)
