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Social Media, Sponsorship, and everything in between. Welcome to the 5T Sports Blog!
Thanks for checking out our Blog - We do our best to provide expert opinion and actionable value on new developments in the sports marketing and sports management field. We'll touch on everything from sustainability initiatives for revenue growth to Social Media Activations as powerful CSR initiatives and ticket sales drivers. We have our regular "5T on the 5th" blog post and will update throughout each month as well, so check back often, sign up for our RSS feed, comment away, and please share what you like.
New Age Issues, Old School Solutions
// Apr 1st, 2013
Originally posted as guest blog to SponsorPitch‘s weekly Ahead of the Curve feature
Broken Networks, Blurred Corporate Budgets and Automated Submissions’ Impact on Creativity in Sponsorship Development
Once upon a time, I managed the national marketing for an international automaker. We sponsored sport and...
The Anatomy of a #YVRSportsbiz Tweetup
// Mar 30th, 2011
We’re already looking forward to the next #YVRSportsbiz tweetup!!
As a little case study of its own, we thought we’d outline how the whole event came together. With so many social media pros in the room, we thought this would provide a good discussion starter, feedback on what we can do better for next time...
Lets Do This Thing…. Vancouver Sports Social Media Tweet Up
// Mar 11th, 2011
Now That We Own the Podium, What Will We Do With It?
// Feb 21st, 2011
Late last week, the Globe & Mail (Canada) posted an article asking whether athletes who are essentially “working for Canada” should be paid. Leaving aside the question of “Should elite athletes be paid?” (and for the record, yes, as we long ago left all vestiges of amateur sport aside), begs the question...
Vancouver Sports Teams’ Facebook Scorecards
// Jan 10th, 2011
Following last week’s very well-received “Twitter Report”, we thought we’d share our observations on our Vancouver Pro Teams’ leverage of Facebook.
For some comparisons among the teams and some context within their own leagues, we’ve charted their activity followed by some commentary on what we read into...
Which Team Takes Gold in Vancouver Sport’s Twitter Landscape?
// Jan 6th, 2011
With the start of the New Year we here at 5T decided to take a moment and appreciate our surroundings. What we found was a great cross-section of different approaches sports teams can and are taking toward social media sitting right in our back yard! The top teams and franchises here in beautiful British Columbia...
Sports Organizations should Start Offline to Build Online
// Dec 13th, 2010
Growing a following, connecting with the right groups, and delivering on objectives can be daunting tasks at first for any sports organization taking the dive into social media. Online tips and tools can be tempting and sometimes are helpful, but as an organization takes its first real steps into social media, these...
If it’s been said once, it’s been tweeted a thousand times: social media is a vital tool for almost all businesses and organizations – Sports businesses, teams and National Sports Organizations or governing bodies are no exception. Many high end sports properties have jumped in full-tilt and are increasingly...
Sustainability Sponsorship Opportunities Abound!
// Nov 3rd, 2010
For Sports franchises, going green is a moral success story and an operations life saver when it comes to driving down costs, but it can also be a valuable incremental revenue generator by creating new and freshening up existing assets for sports sponsors. Great opportunities abound for sports venues, organizations...
Helpful Tips and Hard numbers for making the Business Case to Save Power
// Oct 14th, 2010
Electricity is always in the top three largest expenses for any sports venue. The key difference with this line item is that it is highly manageable and can help a team make some noise to boost CSR and public profile. With the high dollar sums involved, going green when it comes to power has never made more cents. ...
5 Great Waste Reduction Activation Examples to Ponder
// Oct 7th, 2010
I Love Trash
// Oct 6th, 2010
If the above were a jeopardy answer, the question would be “What is the secret to deeper fan engagement for sports teams?”
I say ‘hit ‘em where they care – hit hard, hit often. It’s all wrapped in a velvet glove after all. People are responding to cause marketing like never before –according to eMarketer,...
Sponsorship’s Last Mile: How Local Teams Can Deliver
// Sep 14th, 2010
Green is the New Green
// Aug 5th, 2010
Sustainability Moves = Profit Increases for Sport Facilities and Franchises
(and we’ve got the numbers to prove it)
In a small-market, minor-level sport facility or franchise, staff are hard-pressed to meet the basic operations needs, let alone take on ‘new efforts’. And money to do anything extra isn’t...
Professional Sports Teams are Embracing Recycling
// Jul 27th, 2010
We may not be surprised to hear that in each year “over 135 million fans attend more than 5,100 games in the NFL, NBA and NHL and MLB not including pre-season, playoffs and minor leagues games. ” But you may not know that “these four professional sports generate more than 80,000 tons of paper, plastic,...
Keys to Increased Revenues Within Reach
// Jun 28th, 2010
Given that many sports franchises and venues are still on a slower and harder path to revenue growth than they’d like, it seemed like a good time to offer a bit of a reflection on where the highest-return investments in facilities and franchise can be made right now.
And since we’re 5T and we’re doing...
Don’t Worry Mr. Lombardi, it’ll be allright.
// Jun 11th, 2010
A Survey of Youth Sports Finds Winning Isn’t the Only Thing
As we focus on the importance of youth participating in sports, we are aware that many parents may lean toward turning children`s game into an approximation of professional sports.
Mike Barton, a sophomore at Fairfield Prep, researched in the...
Vancouver’s Kids No Longer East-Sidelined
// Jun 8th, 2010
Mini Soccer Jam brings World Cup Excitement to Eastside Kids
On realizing that less than 3% of school-age kids were playing organized soccer – widely recognized as the most affordable sport option – compared to over 20% on the city’s more affluent west side, local community centre leader Carole Brown...
Real Vancouver Souvenirs
// Feb 4th, 2010
A Vancouver Original
So I stopped by the ‘International Pavilion’ of the Olympic Store at the Bay the other day (also known as the 5th floor). Once I made my way past the furniture, bedding and other housewares I found the goodies I was so keen to check out — team gear from various nations (I can...
…and kudos to one who got it right
// Jan 19th, 2010
RBC Royal Bank of Canada
Now, I’ve had my moments in the past with RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) but I have to absolutely say, that without a doubt, they have done so many things right with their sponsorship it has actually changed my opinion of the company from borderline satisfaction to an actual fan. If you’d...
Nicer, Better, Faster — customer service ideals elude Olympic sponsors
// Jan 19th, 2010
Sportcierge Tip #3 – Abbott & Cordova Street Shops
// Dec 17th, 2009 Free is A Relative Term
// Dec 16th, 2009
The debate rages on, the dilemma continues and monetization is a magical, mystical concept. I’m sure our ancestors who didn’t even use currencies would be amused and confused about our seeming inability to figure out the basics of trade these days. Between the internet laying it all at our feet, and...
Sportcierge 2010 Tip #2 – Revel Room
// Oct 29th, 2009
There’s a certain implication in the word revel — like a slow, unpretentious enjoyment simple things that deserve an unrushed appreciation. Food, music, conversation, for instance. If that all sounds right to you, then this ambient Gastown space is where you want to be. Come the height of Games time...
Sportcierge’s 2010 Tip #1 — Lolita’s
// Oct 13th, 2009
Sportcierge 2010 Vancouver Insider Tips
// Oct 8th, 2009
In every great world city (and some of the mediocre ones) there is an army (or small cadre) of knowledgeable insiders who hold the secrets to the places the locals go – the places that reveal the true character of a town and its tribes.
Starting now — some 100+ days out from when the massive on-slaught...
Consolidation is coming — lead or be left
// Sep 22nd, 2009
Youth Sports, Arts & Community Programs on the Ropes
// Sep 11th, 2009
As BC Gaming monies remain in limbo, many community-based organizations are both scrambling to pay outstanding invoices and quickly convening their boards to determine how they must respond internally & externally to continue their programs. While immediate issues will likely resolve themselves we have to wonder...
BC Continues to dominate Little League Canada
// Sep 4th, 2009
Hastings LL headed to World Series
In a perfect sweep of all other teams the Hastings Little league 11 & 12 year old players have taken the national title and will represent Canada in Williamsport, PA in the Little League World Series. This makes the sixth straight national title for a BC-based club, prompting...
I Do Ski Cross
// Sep 4th, 2009
Canada’s Ski Cross Racers Break Down How They Get it Done
Check out the inside track from the team as Julia Murray, Davey Barr, Kelsey Serwa, Brian Bennett, Aleisha Cline, Dave Duncan and Dani Poleschuk give you he rundown on gate trash talk, inside moves, crafty drafting and plain flat out-skiing the other...
Big blank canvasses in 2011 for companies
// Feb 19th, 2009
Looking ahead to beyond the big day I see some fantastic opportunities for advertising space – the Whistler Sliding Centre and Nordic Centre are two of the most tantalizing. Smaller, but nonetheless intriguing, are the helmet spaces for all the 2010 athletes when they head into World Cups for 2011….do...
New Office in Vancouver’s Gastown
// Feb 17th, 2009 Stellar Day for Canada Ski Cross
// Feb 17th, 2009
In their home turf debut Canada Ski Cross pulled out all the stops, taking the top five of the six medals up for grabs. The ladies picked up some gorgeous new jewelry, with Aleisha Cline of Squamish sporting gold and Ashleigh McIvor of Whistler doning silver. The men clearly took those results as a direct challenge...