SBD Global's year in review takes a look at some hits and misses from the past year.
HIT: In April, Chelsea teamed with adidas to launch a new campaign promoting the club’s new kit. The "It’s Blue, What Else Matters" campaign featured Chelsea players being doused in blue paint in a 90-second YouTube video distributed on Facebook and Twitter.
MISS: Fellow EPL side Hull City suffered fan backlash when Owner Assem Allam announced he would re-brand the club as the Hull Tigers to “appeal to a wider international audience.” The decision did not go over well with supporters, who campaigned to protect the club’s heritage and tradition.
HIT: Goal-line technology was approved for the Premier League last summer and was hailed as one of the most important developments in the 150 years since football rules were laid down. The Hawk-Eye system debuted at the Community Shield match between ManU and Wigan in August and was viewed as a success.
MISS: The London Times admitted that it was "duped" into publishing a hoax exclusive in March about plans for a Qatar-based Dream Football League. The report from Times reporter Oliver Kay cited high-level sources who claimed the world’s top football clubs would play a 24-team tournament with clubs getting up to $240M per two-year cycle. The information from sources turned out to be a hoax. London Times Football Editor Tony Evans admitted that the paper had "missed warning signs about the story in the rush to publication."
HIT: The NFL played two regular-season games in London this year for the first time. The Pittsburgh Steelers faced the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 29 while the Jacksonville Jaguars played the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 27 at Wembley Stadium. Both games drew sell-out crowds.
MISS: The NBA’s attempt to play a regular-season game in Mexico City on Dec. 6 was unsuccessful as smoke from a malfunctioning generator filled the arena, canceling the game between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves. A sell-out crowd had been expected.
