Tuesday, 7 October 2014

NZ boxing prospect set for return to the ring

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/sport/10505212/Gold-medallist-among-boxers

New Zealand boxing prospect David Nyika or golden boy as some like to put is all set to return to the boxing ring next month. Queenstown are running a boxing competition called the New Zealand 2014 boxing championships. The event will run from the 8th to the 11th of October.

David Nyika first caught the attention of alot of people when he won a gold medal at the Commonwealth games last month and although those within the boxing community knew for a fact he had the talent, winning what he did ensured everyone knew he was the real deal.

In one hundred and twelve years of this competition being running it will be the first time Queenstown has actually hosted the event. Event organizers are hoping to take the championship to a new level this year with the aim to pull a crowd of at least $1000 for the finals night on the nights of October the 10th and 11th. In regards to the boxers competing there will be 5 locals competing and a total of 200 boxers competing altogether. David Tua, one of New Zealand's most successful boxers is also expected at the event to be the guest of honour.

In terms of Marketing, people will have taken notice of this event taking place in their town for the first time and in return fans are expected to turn out in large numbers. What a perfect opportunity to promote boxing in the town and this like I said will bring in plenty of fans to watch the fighters which in return brings in more revenue and these up and coming fighters are at of a high level so what a great product to promote.

One off events such as these are known as a great draw card to attract fans however temporary they may be. In my opinion this event will be a success with the quality of boxing, local support and the organization of this competition.

From a management perspective they have employed good pricing to bring people to the event. Prices will be $20 for a day pass and $120 for the whole competition with a meal on finals night. As a result of this event Queenstown will be able to see benefits in regards to recruitment seeing as young boys will see the sport close up and some will go as far as to play it. This will boost the number participating in the sport in the area so that's good.

This analysis addresses the marketing and management perspectives from this which will be good for Queenstown, the boxers and the fans who turn up to watch it.


Monday, 6 October 2014

2 ground, 2 teams, both to play the phoenix

http://tvnz.co.nz/football-news/phoenix-make-history-two-premier-league-clubs-set-visit-5944807

The Wellington Phoenix will create history when they host two English premier league teams Newcastle United and West Ham United in July this year. It will be the first time this has ever happened and both these matches will be hosted in the nations capital Wellington and one in Auckland.

The unique occurence of two top class premier league sides playing in New Zealand has never happened before and seeing as the Wellington Phoenix have been around for less than ten years it would be the first encounter a professional New Zealand side has had with a professional side from England. This is something that's unlikely to be repeated for quite a while as both teams operate on different schedules at different times of the year.

In terms of marketing this is an opportunity to market the Wellington Phoenix from a different angle with the different angle being people haven't seen a premier league team play live before. These two exhibition matches will get solid crowds which will in turn bring in more inland revenue which is of big importance for a team looking to compete in the A-league every season with the appropriate finances and players at their disposal.

It helps in regards to promotion of the Wellington Phoenix brand and also promoting these two particular premier league teams and the competition itself over there. Place where it occurs is of vital importance because they're hosting it at Westpac Stadium in Wellington and Eden Park in Wellington which is a marketers preference because they're both great facilities with the appropriate number of seats available for this event.

Exhibition matches are a very smart way to attract fans. In my opinion some of these fans that will flock through the gates will be temporary however I believe more fans will get on board with the Phoenix due to more public interest and media coverage.

From a management perspective they have employed a clear strategy to make prices at a reasonable purchase such as $35 for an adult and $16 for a child to ensure people from working class, middle class etc can afford to witness such a unique spectacle. The performance management department now must ensure the Wellington Phoenix are at least very competitive when they play these teams so the fans can leave the ground knowing they've witnessed a solid performance.

These points address the marketing and management aspects of the exhibition football matches on show this year that should have a positive effect on both the Wellington Phoenix and the growth of New Zealand Football.

Sports brands to break brazil

http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3883/features/2014/02/03/4591776/2014-fifa-world-cup-the-challenges-and-opportunities-for

2014 is Football World Cup year and due to that official and non official partners are expected to boost their marketing campaigns ahead of the kick off in San Paulo, Brazil.

2014 is simply dominated by the Fifa World Cup. In 2013 there was no real global tournament in which marketing companies could promote their products to the world. Brands such as visa, mcdonalds, coca cola, continental and adidas have a certain deal that mean they have a total combined shared rights package approximately worth $5.5 billion. The brands through this event will have the chance to communicate with over 50% of the world population which is clearly a monumental chance for brand exposure.

Brazil are a slightly unique country. They are a country of energy, passion and colour so for these partners to get the best out of their marketing campaigns they must use this to their advantage. If these positive traits that the Brazilians possess are ignored then the potential to flourish will not be reached,

In terms of Marketing this is a fantastic chance for the companies to market their products. With approximately 4 billion tuning in on television, as well as internet sites that air sports for a certain price and others free, what a perfect opportunity in regards to promotion. Through being able to promote your brand to such a large audience it will in turn bring back more inland revenue via promotional events where the products name is put on show and just generally gets out to the people. In regards to public relations the partners are making sure to integrate their content brand with social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube where the brand can still get plenty of exposure but also not distracting them from the event.

Its considered a great way of attracting fans. Through the event itself and social media sites it is a opportunity the partners will reap huge rewards from due to media and public interest.

In terms of mangement its clear that a positive repercussion of these marketing events and the world cup itself is sustainability of a strong fan base for the tournament in 2014 and in future world cups to come. In regards to finance it will certainly boost the economy over there due to tourists and all the money being paid to attend the event etc.

This article analysis regarding the Fifa World Cup 2014 addresses the marketing and management aspects surrounding this global spectacle for both the marketing partners and the country of Brazil.

7 rounds, tko and a win for Parker

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/9982538/Joseph-Parker-wins-with-7th-round-TKO

Young New Zealand boxing prospect Joseph Parker scored a monumental 7th round TKO against the Brazilian Marscelo Nescimento. This particular fight took place in Oberhausen, Germany.

The opening five rounds were dominated by Parker landing some heavy blows on his opponent until the sixth round where an old cut on his left eye re-opened which is something that will need to be seriously addressed before his next big fight. The seventh round as previously mentioned was a TKO and although Nescimento argued with the umpire about the decision it was clearly the right call seeing as he was powerless at stopping Parkers cruel blows.

This latest win has maintained Parkers unbeaten record but with the added bonus of the WBA Pan-Asia heavyweight belt. Ranking wise it will push him to 15th which in return helps with getting the fights he wants against top class opponents. Parkers management team have planned another three fights for him the remainder of the year however that will it will or wont go ahead depending on the progress of his eye. This is something thats obviously very ideal for Parkers career as he keeps striving to be a better boxer and have a crack at the grand prize heavy weight champion of the world title.

In terms of Marketing this has just given more attention to this young up and coming boxer with a bright future. People are taking notice which in return will attract more fans for his next fight, more people will buy the rights to view the fight on sky box office etc which in return brings more revenue in for the team so obviously a greater pay day for all involved.

Promotion will be easier for his next fight because of this latest victory. He is currently undefeated with a good personal image to go with it, what a great product to promote!

Winning is the best way of attracting fans. In my personal opinion a fight like this is a great stepping stone to greater things and I believe if he continues the stellar form he's been in he will reach his intended goals and gain an even greater fan base.

From a management perspective this fight was a bit of clear strategical management by Parkers management team. This fight was against someone they saw as beatable so it was a tactic that Parker could get a taste of playing another top class fighter but also not fighting someone out of his league in which he would get outplayed. A performance management goal is now needed to ensure that Parker continues to improve as a fighter whilst also picking the right boxers to compete against at certain times of his career.

This article analysis talks of Joseph Parker's fight against Marscelo Nescimento and the views from a marketing and mangement perspective.

Sunday, 5 October 2014

South Sydney Rabbitohs create history

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11337508

On the 5th of October 2014, the South Sydney Rabbitohs created history by beating the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 30-6. The match was a real arm wrestle right up to late in the second half until the Rabbitohs ran away with it in front of a record crowd of over 83000 fans at ANZ stadium.

This is the first time in 43 years that the Rabbitohs have won an NRL title. Many people including those who are not their fans would agree that they definitely deserve to have won a title, having played consistently good Rugby League all season and having reached two preliminary finals in the two previous years.

The strange fact of a long time club going 43 years without winning a title isn't a common thing and is unlikely to happen again, especially with this club. Sam Burgess who played with a broken cheek bone almost the entire match said after the match, "this ones for you south's fans, you've waited a long time".

In terms of Marketing the record crowd at ANZ stadium since the 2000 Sydney Olympics will have positive spin off's for the game of Rugby League. In a year of dwindling crowds, a drop in television ratings and the occasional player bringing the game into disrepute, a strong finish to the season such as this is ideal. What a great opportunity the NRL have now to promote the game as a spectacle worth watching following this special event. South Sydney will bring in more fans buying merchandise and season tickets. This in turn means more inland revenue for the game and club which is of vital importance for not just the Rabbitohs but also in re-establishing some of the fans that statistics suggested have been lost these last couple of years. It is more likely now that the team will have more demands for companies wanting to sponsor them and promote their product via this team whilst some of the marquee players potentially being asked to personally endorse products in certain campaigns.

Something like this is always a grand opportunity to attract fans. In my opinion both the NRL and South Sydney Rabbitohs should make the most of the current massive fan base and increased consumer demand.

From a management perspective it will be of paramount benefit in regards to recruitment. What a wonderful opportunity to be able to sign on some of the NRL star players. Players will see a team and some will think, "hey it'd be good to be able to play for a club like that". The human resources will now need to make sure they keep the Rabbitohs team a genuine workforce and title contender in the years ahead and achieving something that hasn't been done in over 20 years. A team winning 2 NRL titles back to back.

This analysis talks of the marketing and management positives coming from the Rabbitohs winning the NRL grand final.


New Marketing partnerships for usa basketball team

http://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciajessop/2014/07/30/usa-basketball-signs-new-marketing-partnerships-ahead-of-2014-fiba-world-cup/

Today three new marketing partnerships were signed for USA Basketball whilst the USA team prepare for for the FIBA World Cup which will soon take place in Spain.

Aaron Ryan, senior vice president of marketing solutions says that the partnerships came together in the last four to six months. He also said there was a similarity among all the new partnerships which is that they are looking for authentic partnerships where they can promote their services and products.

The new partners who currently joined USA Basketball are Samsung, Hospital for special surgery and Diageo. Including these partners USA now have a total of eight marketing partners and this year is a very special year because USA Basketball will be taking the sport literally global. This will include a training camp in Las Vegas, events in Chicago and New York, games in the Canary Islands and most importantly the FIBA World Cup to round out the year.

In terms of marketing more people will take notice of USA Basketball due to the amount of places this team will go. Marketing strategies from the partners involved will include sponsorship. This is them investing in the team via products and the many events that are occurring. There will be promotion through these partners as they are more than keen to promote their products and services. An example of this is that one of the partners Jeep will be holding a Jeep summer celebration event which will have areas where Jeep edition altitude vehicles are shown whilst at the same time featuring USA Basketball themes.

Many would believe this is a very good way to bring Basketball to the people. In my opinion signing on with these partners is a great idea as they all have their own unique ways of promoting their products, the locals get a fun day out whilst also interacting with the players and both parties benefit from the exchange.

From a management perspective these partnerships bring a great opportunity to increase finances for USA Basketball. What a great opportunity through these partnerships to gather increased money and in return be able to pump more money into the game at lower levels. It also helps with sustainability well into the future as USA Basketball has a good image and their partners such as samsung etc like being associated with them partly because of this.

This article analysis addresses positive consequences of both marketing and management perspectives will continue to benefit USA Basketball and the partners involved for the years to come.

Thursday, 2 October 2014

4 seasons, 2 titles, Lebron's coming home

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11203027/lebron-james-says-returning-cleveland-cavaliers

Lebron James is returning home to where it all began in the next NBA Basketball season and that team is the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Lebron James spent seven seasons at the Cleveland Cavaliers before he shipped off to the Miami Heat in which he won two NBA titles in four seasons. His reasons for coming back are that it holds a special place in his heart because its where he ran, its where he cried, its where he bled and he feels a strong urge to bring an NBA title back to North East Ohio.

This move would have come as a shock to many and it will be the first time Lebron James has played for Cleveland since 2010 where riots in the street occured as a result of him leaving the team to play for Miami. There was also a media backlash and crowd booing when Lebron came back to play against them following season. This is likely to be the last team Lebron James ever plays for as he has strongly implied he sees his coming back to a win a title as a long term project and is determined to give the fans what they have long been craving for.

In terms of marketing fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers have taken notice. Who would have thought that after Lebron James big move to the Miami Heat that he would come back and finish his career in Cleveland. What a brilliant chance to advertise the team and promote them with Lebron playing for them now. The team had already sold one million dollars in ticket sales on speculation alone that he would be returning which therefore brings in more inland revenue. Public relations is a marketing aspect that comes into play here because now the people who run the cavaliers will see this as a chance to improve a mutually beneficial relationship between the organization and the fans, for example increased consumers and punters coming through the stadium to see Lebron James play

Its definitely considered a brilliant way of attracting fans to watch this team play. In my opinion the Cleveland Cavaliers support base would have dwindled if things had kept going the way they were. Since 2010 they had struggled against higher class teams and hadn't been making the playoffs.

From a management perspective this is a clear performance management type of goal as they are using this star signing to improve their results that have left alot to be desired in recent years. Recruitment is key as this star signing gives the potential to lure top players from other teams to the Cavaliers which would only boost their chances of improved performance.

These points address the marketing and management aspects of Lebron James return to Cleveland which will only have positive repercussions for the Cavaliers in the years to come.

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Bumper crowd for shield defence

http://www.sportsground.co.nz/Article.asp?SiteID=20394&ArticleID=39950

A bumper crowd is to be expected for Hawkes Bays first Ranfurly Shield defence of the year vs Otago this weekend.

This is the second time in two seasons that the Napier based Hawkes Bay Magpies have claimed the Ranfurly Shield. Many people across New Zealand would agree they thoroughly deserve to be holding the shield again following some superb Rugby to claim it against Counties Manukau a week earlier.

The somewhat unique occurrence of this region holding the Shield is a massive draw card for fans to attend the game. It will be the first time in 2014 a Shield match has been hosted at Mclean park in Napier and the Hawkes Bay union manager Jay Campbell quoted that roughly 7000 tickets had been sold for the event and that they were hoping to top the crowd number they had for last years shield game which was more than 14000. Last years shield match in Napier took place 6 days after beating Otago by a point and they went down to Counties Manukau 27-24 in that match.

In terms of Marketing this is a positive spin off for the Hawkes Bay Rugby union. A great opportunity for Hawkes Bay to Market themselves from a different angle in regards to hosting a shield game which attracts no doubt there biggest crows of the season to date and increased inland revenue for the Hawkes Bay Rugby Union. This is of vital importance for napier to continue to grow Rugby in that region.

In my opinion the shield is a great way to promote the game of provincial Rugby and gets people from family, punters and groups of friends attending the game for a great afternoon out. It also increases the chances of bringing the best out of the players due to the extra support they are receiving.

From a management perspective they have employed good customer relations ethos by extending the the number of embankment seats to 9000 which in order allows more people to attend the spectacle. The human resources department now need to do their best to ensure that the extra fan base that have been recruited for this special event stay on regardless if the shield stays or goes.

The points I have mentioned in this analysis mention the marketing and management key aspects regarding this event and how it will positively effect the Hawkes Bay Rugby team and the people who support the province..

Tuesday, 26 August 2014

Makos boosted by crowd funding idea

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/10367210/Crowd-funding-bid-to-boost-minnow-Makos

The Tasman Rugby Union have recently come up with the initiative to turn the Tasman Makos attractive style of Rugby into a crowd funding one. The consequences of this initiative will help them compete with the biggest unions in the country financially and on the field competitively.

In 2013 the Makos capped their best season to date by beating Hawkes Bay in the ITM Championship final in what was a very nail biting encounter and as a result have been promoted to the top tier division called the premiership which kicks off against Hawkes Bay in Blenheim next weekend.

Les Edwards, the Commercial and Marketing Manager of the Tasman Makos explained that they were $200,000 short of the maximum salary cap of 1 million that bigger unions such as Auckland, Waikato and Canterbury spend on maintaining their top class squads year in, year out. The chances of the Makos reaching this salary cap are good due to the fact they are on the rise in the ITM Cup and because they now have a solid fan base due to their increased better performances in recent years.

In regards to Marketing, Makos fans in the Tasman region have taken notice of this initiative and have used a Marketing Strategy called public relations in order to help this franchise achieve its Marketing goals. This is a fantastic opportunity to get fans involved in the future of this team which will help them reach the cap, maintain good players and result in more revenue for the team in years to come. Using the website liftoff.co.nz people can donate as little as $5 to the team and those who donate more than $40 will in return receive Makos merchandise. This campaign has a tough but possible target of $50,000 and recently has closed in on S1000.

I suspect that some may think this is an odd way to attract fans due to the fact you are asking for more money from them since the majority of those donating will have already paid for tickets to home games and their sport merchandise. In my opinion though I still believe this is a brilliant initiative that will benefit this franchise for this year and in the seasons to come.

From a Management point of view they have employed clear strategic management processes which in returns fits its financial and fan related goals. The Tasman Rugby Union now need to make sure the team keep performing at a high level so the fan base does not decrease and also keeping their strong core group of players who have helped this team be successful recently

This article analysis shows positive repercussions for the Tasman Makos from a Marketing and Managemnt perspective which will see continued enjoyment of the fans for the foreseeable future.

Saturday, 2 August 2014

Nonu back to where it all began

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10271880/Ma-a-Nonus-return-to-Hurricanes-confirmed

Maa Nonu is set to be returning to the Hurricanes in 2015, a massive boost for a team who has struggled with inconsistency in recent years and fallen short of the playoffs since 2009.

This will be the first time Nonu has played for the Hurricanes since Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett also known as 'Hammer' unceremoniously dumped him from the franchise along with Andrew Hore and Piri Weepu. That decision has cost the team some games in recent seasons due to the lack of punch in the midfield at crucial times. The man who has covered that position Tim Bateman is a solid operator at that level but perhaps not the strong ball carrier the Hurricanes desperately need heading into next season.

Nonu commented that he never wanted to leave Wellington to begin with, it was hard having to travel back and forth from Auckland to Wellington and Dunedin to Wellington to spend as much time possible as he could with his two young sons.

In terms of Marketing, this is a strong positive for the Wellington franchise. No doubt people would have taken notice that a veteran All Black will be part of the squad and will be excited to see a born and bred Hurricane back to his old tricks for their team. What an amazing opportunity for the teams sponsors to use this to promote the Hurricanes brand, this means that with another exciting all black in the team it will increase ticket sales at Westpac Stadium which will result in greater financial kickbacks which they can then reinvest in the game at a lower level. With crowd numbers inconsistent and okay at best in recent years due to Hurricanes hot and cold seasons it is of vital importance to bring back the fans that have been potentially lost since 2011

In my opinion its a fantastic way of attracting fans because Nonu was a brilliant performer in his time with the Hurricanes back in the day and having him play consistently for the team will only motivate people to show up to the home games and see what this guy can do.

From a team Management point of view they have employed clear strategic goals as to what they want from Maa Nonu returning to his home franchise. He will be a great asset to the teams overall results and will help manage the younger players such as Ardie Savea, Motu Matuu and Matt Proctor into real leaders of this team moving forward beyond 2015. Incoming coaches Chris Boyd and John Plumtree need to be tough on Nonu's performance so he can get the best out of himself for World cup aspirations and so the team can have the best shot possible at winning the title.

The points addressed in this analysis talk about some key aspects as to what the spin offs are from a Marketing and Management perspective due to All Blacks 2nd five eighth returning to the Hurricanes in 2015.