Pointing toward a long Fourth of July weekend, we check back in on some favorite topics as we wait for the fireworks to start.
 |
| Moreno |
Arturo Moreno has been true to his word to put fans first, and Anaheim Angels fans have reciprocated to the tune of 41,000 a game. Proactive and inclusive, Moreno not only has made the Angels one of the most exciting teams in baseball, but he also has listened to his customers and sought to change the culture in Anaheim. His team’s responsiveness and multicultural marketing have made Los Angeles a competitive, fun-to-watch, two-team market.
Anheuser-Busch President August Busch IV pledged this spring that the brewer’s advertising would be more cautious and less distasteful. Was anybody at A-B listening? Apparently not, judging from the campaign braying about rival Miller Brewing. Interesting, too, that the St. Louis company that just bought China’s fourth-largest beer maker is criticizing another’s multinational practices.
It seemed pretty obvious last December: College football needs a playoff system to crown a national champion. When the BCS process delivered co-champions in LSU and Southern California, the major conferences began planning to add yet another non-title bowl game during the holiday season. It still seems pretty obvious: College football needs a playoff system to crown a national champion.
The
 |
| Stern |
NBA has to be pleased with the second half of its season and the playoffs. The league needed to increase viewership and build interest levels after a couple of years in the doldrums, and it did that with the highest Finals ratings since 2001. While David Stern and Co. see some positive signs, one year doesn’t make a trend and the league now needs to find a new team with national star appeal after the disintegration of the Lakers.
MLB needs to find a buyer for the orphaned Montreal Expos. League ownership isn’t working. The damage to competitive integrity continues every day. The potential markets are well-identified. The Expos are the worst team in baseball — on the field and at the ticket window — and need a new start. As the All-Star break approached last year, there was speculation MLB was about to announce a buyer. As this year’s All-Star Game approaches, not much has changed.
As a team-owned network, Victory Sports One was a loss for the Minnesota Twins. Regional sports networks work in New York and Philadelphia, but they aren’t easy money everywhere. Instead of trying to sell a new network, Twins execs should have been selling tickets; attendance for the division-leading team is off 6 percent. The lesson for other franchises: Never let greater desires keep you from first filling the ballpark.
| LET US HEAR FROM YOU |
|
| Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal welcomes letters from readers on any topic that is making headlines in the world of sports business.
Address to: Letters, Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal, 120 W. Morehead St., Suite 310, Charlotte, NC 28202. By fax: (704) 973-1401. By e-mail: letters@sportsbusinessjournal.com |
