FORBES CONTRIBUTIONS
Read all Dr. Kirk Wakefield's work here.
Jul 23, 2021
Why Brands Love Sports: Fans Are Innovative, Progressive, Social, Upscale And Diverse
Brands like AdventHealth and Bud Light love Tampa Bay Lightning fans for the same reasons sponsors love home team fans everywhere: It pays off. Research from YouGov shows fans are more likely to be innovative & progressive, socially outgoing, and upscale & diverse than the general population.
Jul 14, 2021
Fans who watch most or almost all of their favorite team’s games are just different from everyone else. And in a very good way for brands who market through sports, as this nationwide study shows.
Jul 7, 2021
Why Home Team Fans Are So Valuable To Sponsors
With over $68 billion invested in sponsorships last year and the signing of record NBA (estimated to be $75 billion) and NFL ($110 billion) media deals, has the world gone mad? Or are sports fans really worth more to advertisers?
Apr 26, 2021
The Kentucky Derby Makes The Fastest Two Minutes In Sports A Year-Round Party
The Kentucky Derby turned the fastest two minutes in sports into a year-round party with strategic implications for sports marketers everywhere. The Derby's partnership marketing stands out in four ways.
Apr 5, 2021
Major League Baseball At Odds With Itself And Its Fans
Results from a weekend poll of Americans shows Major League Baseball’s decision to relocate the All-Star game from Atlanta places itself at odds with both its fans and itself.
Mar 26, 2021
Pandemic Propels Sports Sponsorships To Outperform Expectations
With over 177,000 fans studied in 2019-20, sponsors of 32 professional sports properties reached more fans in 2020 (than 2019) through digital and social media, commercial messages on TV and radio, (virtual) community events, and in-camera view gameday assets provided by teams.
Jan 7, 2021
Are All Fans Equal? A League Guide To Who Thrives In 2021
With an optimistic outlook for fans return to the stands sometime in 2021, which leagues do its fans think are heading in the right direction? A national poll (N=2,6442) compares fans of the NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB and MLS to find out.
Aug 28, 2020
Escape From 2020: A Case To Separate Sports And Politics For More Fans And Higher Ratings
With an election year upon us and an overload of dreary news, are sports fans turned off when they can’t escape from politics, protests and pandemic news? A national poll of sports fans makes the case for a separation of sports and politics.
Jul 27, 2020
Poll: NFL Fans Prefer Players Stand, But OK With Kneeling
When, where and how we kneel means different things to different people. What do NFL fans think about players kneeling during the national anthem? An NFL fan poll shows fans want players to stand, but can stand it if they don't.
Jul 20, 2020
Shift In Consumer Spending Brings New Sports Sponsorship Opportunities
We first look where consumers are spending money, then we look at where they’ve been spending their time, and then we follow the money—noting which relevant stock prices have soared over the past quarter.
Jul 9, 2020
Sponsors Take Heart: Sports Teams Will Reach Fans With Or Without Attendance
Teams and brands are concerned about sponsorship value if fans cannot attend games. But data shows it doesn’t mean teams won't reach them. In fact, the numbers show brands may catch more fans on different channels.
Jun 23, 2020
Return On Generosity (ROG): New Metrics For A New Generation Of Sports Fans
The bad news of 2020 brings good news: We now live in a time where investing in change for social advancement makes good moral and financial sense. Why? Because Americans value generous, purpose-driven brands. Brand category leaders can amplify positive impact with sports partnerships.
Jun 16, 2020
10 Ways Brand Partnerships Can Promote Sustainability In The Post-COVID Sports Industry
In the new fanscape, brands have a huge opportunity to make a difference. Here are 10 ways brands can partner with sports teams to make changes for good.
May 26, 2020
Thanks To Coronavirus, Expect Ratings For Live Sports Broadcasts To Set Records
The coronavirus stopped live sports, but it’s also pumping up excitement from pent-up demand for sports like never before. The latest national poll shows 90% of fans are excited for sports to return and about the same plan to watch as much or more than before.
May 19, 2020
Can Fans Recall NFL, NBA And MLB Sponsors? Data Show Brands May Want To Reconsider Strategy
Without live sports, do fans recall who sponsors what? Is the impact of a league deal worth the investment over team-by-team deals? A national poll shows which brands and leagues fare the best.
Apr 17, 2020
Take Me Out To The Ballgame: National Poll Says Fans Are Ready To Go
When live play resumes with fans in attendance for sporting events, will they want to sit by others they don't know? A national poll says yes, with MLS, PGA, NASCAR and NCAA fans leading the way.
Apr 11, 2020
Wrestlemania, XFL, And How Fan Passion Multiplies Everything
The XFL didn’t have enough time to fan the flames of passion to convert the curious to the committed. A look at what Americans would be willing to substitute for live sports and how the Net Fan Score (NFS) separates fans from flakes.
Apr 6, 2020
The New Fanscape: When Stadiums And Arenas Reopen, What Must We Do Differently?
What must be done differently once play resumes to deal with the new fanscape? This is where crisis meets ingenuity. Matt O'Neil jump-starts the conversation with ten tips for venues.
Apr 2, 2020
What Athletic Departments And NFL Teams Need To Know Now About Football Fans
With another 30 days at home, we update how fans are feeling now and provide five insights on how NCAA Athletic Departments and NFL teams can best reach fans during the pandemic.
Apr 1, 2020
Evidence From The Internet: How The Pandemic Sparks Sports Fans On Twitter
The United States dominated Twitter with 40% of all pandemic-related posts over the past week. Why? Users tweet at least 2X more about COVID-19 if they're sports fans.
Mar 22, 2020
Which Sport Fans Are The Best At Flattening The Curve?
The coronavirus is the nastiest curve fans have ever seen. Are fans fighting back by flattening it? Which leagues' fans are doing the most?
Mar 13, 2020
How Are Sports Fans Taking The Coronavirus Cancellations?
With the NBA, the NHL, MLS and the NCAA shuttering operations because of the coronavirus outbreak, what’s a sports fan to do? Will fan passion sustain, wax or wane? A national panel of fans weighed in.
Apr 3, 2019
Why The AAF Was Doomed To Fail
Some were optimistic the AAF would survive, maybe even thrive, as it filled the void NFL fans feel after the Super Bowl. Others laid odds that in-game betting would draw interest. Still others thought the people involved would make the difference. The league never had a chance. Here's why.
Mar 26, 2019
What If Pro Sports Operated Like Other Businesses? 7 Ideas Teams Could Use Now
If airlines can put electrical sockets and screens on the back of seats, why can't pro sports? If auto makers can put heated seats in my car, why don't outdoor stadiums? With that logic, here are seven tips for pro sports to make life better for fans.
Feb 2, 2019
MLB Stars Are So Easy To Overlook, JCPenney Misses Adrian Beltre In Its Own Ad
How can a future Major League Baseball Hall of Famer like Adrian Beltre randomly appear in a slice-of-life commercial from JCPenney without anyone noticing? Is there more to the story?
Jan 2, 2019
Why You Might Get In Cheap To The 2019 National Championship Game
Ticket prices escalate when teams with big followings in big media markets play in places people want to go. What isn't as obvious is why some games--like the 2019 Alabama vs Clemson match-up--don't draw top dollar. Could planners selecting Levi's Stadium in 2015 have foreseen this coming?
Jan 2, 2019
Five Ticket Trends To Watch In Sports & Entertainment In 2019
Inventory is sister to innovation in ticket pricing and practices. Look for more creative pricing from MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS teams as they adapt to five major shifts in consumer preferences for buying and consuming experiences.