Understanding the Importance of New College Football Championship
Millions of words will be written in the lead up to the first College Football Championship, which replaces the Bowl Championship Series that preceded it. While the BCS pitted the top two teams in the land, the new playoff matched the top four teams in semi-final match ups within the existing bowl scheme (this year Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl) and added a championship game.
As Oregon and Ohio State set to face off, it is important for those working in sports (or aspiring to) to take off the "fan" hat and examine some of the sports business angles emerging from this new event.
Here is a roundup of some important first year stories to monitor before, during and after the game:
How to Build a Brand Oregon is a relative newcomer to the big stage in college football, as compared with perennial power Ohio State. This article from Grantland in 2011 is a reminder that while Oregon is still viewed by some as an "outsider", they were able to sustain their success, even though it was surprising.
The Phil Knight/Nike Connection Even casual sports fans know that Phil Knight is an Oregon alum and major donor. But to understand the full effect of his involvement with the university and the football team, read this look from USA Today. And don't forget that Nike also outfits Ohio State, making the game a win-win for The Swoosh.
The Coaches In college sports, the head coach is the face of the organization. The return to the top of the profession for Urban Meyer is examined by the Wall Street Journal, while Mark Helfrich's rise from largely unknown coordinator to head coach is explained by the New York Times.
Impact for Advertisers The potential emergence of the new championship game as a marketing event is covered by Advertising Age. Increasingly mega-events like the Grammys, Golden Globes and Oscars are used to reach mass audiences. The CFP as a new marketing vehicle is another important sports business angle.
The Ratings The status as mega-event can only be reached by attracting enough eyeballs. Based on the semi-final games played on New Year's Day, the prognosis is good. The Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl rating approximated the previous year's BCS title game. The re-claiming of the New Year's Day tradition of great match ups certainly helped. It will be interesting to see what the championship game draws in terms of television viewing.
Social Media Real time marketing and social media conversation are becoming increasingly important to firms. The social media sports fans crowd plus the large audience give the night a lot of potential. This is certainly a part of the story to follow during and after the game. Ad Age offers a good preview.
The Economic Impact on Dallas This piece in the Dallas Morning News offers the views of several economists, including David Berri. It is a good reminder that calculating the impact of any sporting event is subject to many assumptions and there is rarely a consensus.
There Are Detractors Dave Zirin points out many of the issues that challenge the paradigm of college football and the current alignment of the "student-athlete" moniker and the NCAA. While tthe announcers and media will mostly focus on the successful aspects of the new playoff, Zirin's sobering look provides a different viewpoint.
As Oregon and Ohio State set to face off, it is important for those working in sports (or aspiring to) to take off the "fan" hat and examine some of the sports business angles emerging from this new event.
Here is a roundup of some important first year stories to monitor before, during and after the game:
How to Build a Brand Oregon is a relative newcomer to the big stage in college football, as compared with perennial power Ohio State. This article from Grantland in 2011 is a reminder that while Oregon is still viewed by some as an "outsider", they were able to sustain their success, even though it was surprising.
The Phil Knight/Nike Connection Even casual sports fans know that Phil Knight is an Oregon alum and major donor. But to understand the full effect of his involvement with the university and the football team, read this look from USA Today. And don't forget that Nike also outfits Ohio State, making the game a win-win for The Swoosh.
The Coaches In college sports, the head coach is the face of the organization. The return to the top of the profession for Urban Meyer is examined by the Wall Street Journal, while Mark Helfrich's rise from largely unknown coordinator to head coach is explained by the New York Times.
Impact for Advertisers The potential emergence of the new championship game as a marketing event is covered by Advertising Age. Increasingly mega-events like the Grammys, Golden Globes and Oscars are used to reach mass audiences. The CFP as a new marketing vehicle is another important sports business angle.
The Ratings The status as mega-event can only be reached by attracting enough eyeballs. Based on the semi-final games played on New Year's Day, the prognosis is good. The Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl rating approximated the previous year's BCS title game. The re-claiming of the New Year's Day tradition of great match ups certainly helped. It will be interesting to see what the championship game draws in terms of television viewing.
Social Media Real time marketing and social media conversation are becoming increasingly important to firms. The social media sports fans crowd plus the large audience give the night a lot of potential. This is certainly a part of the story to follow during and after the game. Ad Age offers a good preview.
The Economic Impact on Dallas This piece in the Dallas Morning News offers the views of several economists, including David Berri. It is a good reminder that calculating the impact of any sporting event is subject to many assumptions and there is rarely a consensus.
There Are Detractors Dave Zirin points out many of the issues that challenge the paradigm of college football and the current alignment of the "student-athlete" moniker and the NCAA. While tthe announcers and media will mostly focus on the successful aspects of the new playoff, Zirin's sobering look provides a different viewpoint.