buzzcut Posted June 2, 2005 Author Share Posted June 2, 2005 Here's a little blurb in this week's Sporting News:NBA uniforms boast either the team's city or nickname across the chest. For the right price, some revenue-seeking owners would sew on the Golden Arches instead. The NBA bans advertising on uniforms, even from Reebok, which pays $20 million a year for leaguewide sponsorship. Top European soccer teams reap $20 million annually from jersey agreements, and commisioner David Stern says NBA teams would have to get even more than that, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Nets CEO Brett Yomark are among those who say it's time to stop treating uniforms as sacrosanct, commercial-free zones. "If it were up to me," Cuban told Bloomberg News, "they would be already be there." Ultimately, approval has to come from Stern, who says the day is coming when even basketball purists will have to recognize that the demand for revenue rules. "I don't doubt it will eventually happen but at a price that recognizes that value," Stern says. Rick Welts, a former chief marketing officer for the NBA and now president of the Suns, predicts that MVP Steve Nash's tank top will contain some sort of advertising within five years. Opposition to uniform advertising will wane as other revenue streams, such as television rights fees and traditional sponsorships, stagnate or recede. In other words, fiscal necessity trumps philosophical misgivings. The NBA would be inundated with offers if uniform advertising were permitted. According to Eric Wright of Joyce Julius & Associates, which gauges the worth of sports sponsorships, companies would get $20 million a year in advertising value-and thats not including the value of fans wearing replica jerseys. The NBA is the lone major league that bars corporate logos from uniforms altogether. The NFL, NHL and Major League Baseball allow their uniform providers logo access to jerseys. Basbeall last season allowed the Yankees and Devil Rays to sport patches on their uniforms with the logo of copier maker Ricoh during a series in Japan. Baseball then scrapped a plan to adorn the bases in 15 ballparks with the logo for Spider-Man 2, citing overwhelming negative fan reaction-Scott Soshnick The CCSLC's resident Geelong Cats fan. Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends. Sounds like something from a Rocky & Bullwinkle story arc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_cynic Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 We gotta face it, there's no stopping this. I think it'll be done in a good way though. Utah Jazz Retired Number's#1 - Frank Layden - #7 Pete Maravich - #12 John Stockton - #14 Jeff Hornacek - #35 Darrell Griffith - #53 Mark EatonRetired Number's To Come#00 The Bear (Best Mascot In NBA) - #4 Adrian Dantley - #32 Karl "The Mailman" Malone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubsFanBudMan Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 I remember when major league walls were ad-free and the minors' walls were basically billboards patched together, basically lookied like my Little League field wall times 10. Then, "Gap" started appearing in the, well, gaps, and that seemed cute. Now, instead of cookie-cutter stadiums with every team's logo on the wall, teams like the Marlins have their formerly teal wall covered from pole to pole with Miccosukee Casino and other ads. What once was 'untouchable' no longer is, and I fear the uniform will soon join that list. But way before that, there were ads on the wall, lots of them I believe. The Green Monster was not always green. I knew someone would mention that... thought about it as I was writing that post. Bad comparison on my part, I suppose, since there was a precedent on the walls. (I don't even mind it that much there.) But the unis should be sacred. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VitaminD Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 I don't understand the people who say they'll never watch the sport again if they put sponsors on shirts. After a few months you won't even notice them. Wouldn't notice them? Go back and look at the picture from the British Basketball League game (on page 1 of this thread; it's too big to repost, IMO) - the tiny "LONDON TOWERS" logo under the ballhandler's neck IS THE TEAM'S LOGO. The gigantic, cartoonish "KINDER SURPRISE" across the rest of the jersey's torso IS THE ADVERTISEMENT. Which do you notice more?It gets worse: from the official Web site of the British Basketball League, they offer congratulations to the 2005 Champs... the SPRINGFIELD HONDA Newcastle Eagles, who defeated the TCS Chester Jets. The official league site includes the principal sponsor of each team as part of their official name.We're over here in the U.S., pitching a fit over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Southern California of the United States of North America of the Western Hemisphere. Imagine if they were the Dell Computers Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim... "Start spreading the news... They're leavin' today... Won't get to be a part of it... In old New York..."In order for the Mets' run of 12 losses in 17 games to mean something, the Phillies still had to win 13 of 17. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullyrott Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 i would Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBPerry Posted June 15, 2005 Share Posted June 15, 2005 people, have you noticed it's already being done here in the u.s! Arena football has a sponsor on each shoulder of the uniform! <embed src="http://www.clocklink.com/clocks/5005-Blue.swf?TimeZone=CST&TimeFormat=hhmmssTT" width="180" height="60" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash">joshuabperry@sbcglobal.netMy Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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