The NBA has "dramatically expanded its teams' local marketing territories" in a "significant move that has major revenue implications," according to John Lombardo of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Teams are now allowed to market their brand "across a 150-mile radius from their home cities, twice the 75-mile area they were able to cover" under previous boundary rules. Teams are also allowed to "reach beyond that 150-mile area to market throughout their home state so long as doing so doesn't encroach on another team's 75-mile territory." The updated zoning was called for by teams that "want to increase their branding ticketing and partnership programs far beyond" the old 75-mile area. The new rule will also allow team sponsors to "tout sponsorships in cities that previously were off-limits." Owners voted "unanimously to approve the expansion earlier this month." NBA Exec VP/Team Marketing & Business Operations Amy Brooks said the move allows the NBA to "reach more than 100 million more fans." Brooks: "It also enables us to market in 10 cities that have professional sports teams but not NBA teams -- like Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Nashville" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/22 issue).
