Also, I quietly wondered, “What’s next?” What happens to elite female athletes after the Olympic spotlight dims?

If you ask Donna de Varona, two-time Olympian in swimming and two-time gold medalist, she will tell you that shortly after the 1964 Olympics, due to limited opportunities for women, her career ended age 17. At that time, there were no discussions about where women could go in sports, and collegiate scholarships for female athletes were unheard of.

Seeing a need for change, de Varona became a strong advocate for Title IX and passionate about connecting women and sport with the business world. Now, after 40 years of progress, de Varona has a new partner, Ernst & Young, in her quest to mentor athletes. The global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services announced at the Laureus World Sports Awards’Women in Sport press conference that it is launching a Women Athletes Global Leadership Network.

“For years I think all of us have wanted to bridge the gap between women in sport and women in business,” said de Varona who will serve as a key advisor to Ernst & Young’s new program.

This program will build a connection between elite athletes and top women leaders. Additionally, the network will inspire and encourage female athletes across the globe to pursue meaningful careers after retirement, and it will focus on the following three elements:

Building the Leadership Network – The first-of-its-kind initiative will bring together a network of athletes and connect these inspiring women with Ernst & Young’s business network of top women leaders and entrepreneurs around the world (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania). The network will be designed to share lessons learned from career transitions, mentor and open doors, create opportunities and inspire the next generation to maximize its potential.

Highlighting Stories of Inspiration – Ernst & Young plans to leverage the power of Rio 2016 and the emotion of the Olympics by highlighting the success stories of women athletes who have successful post-sport transition into their chosen careers.

Understanding the Impact of Women’s Advancement in Sports and Society – Ernst & Young will commission research about the connections between sports and leadership, as well as the societal and economic effect that women’s access to and participation in sports have on education, health and development around the world.

Participants lending their support to Ernst & Young include leaders such as:Adriana Behar, Olympian and Member, Brazil National Olympic Committee; Deedee Corradini, President, International Women’s Forum;Anita DeFrantz, Olympian and International Olympic Committee Member, Chair of Women and Sports Commission; Nawal El Moutawakel, Olympian and Vice President, International Olympic Committee; and Donna de Varona, Olympian and former President, Women’s Sports Foundation.

While Ernst & Young is widely known for its accounting services, it is no stranger to the women’s empowerment landscape. According to Beth Brooke, Global Vice Chair, Public Policy of Ernst & Young, Title IX scholarship recipient, and one Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women, the firm has been focused on women’s economic empowerment for many years.

Since 2008, Ernst & Young has sponsored the Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program, which is an annual competition and executive leadership program that identifies women entrepreneurs whose businesses show real potential to scale – and then helps them do it. And as an official supporter of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Ernst & Young’s marketing activation plan includes an alignment around the Olympic values of inclusiveness and its own values of the advancement of women.

“Coming out of London there was so much momentum around women. It was the first time all of the teams had female athletes and all of the sports were available to both men and women,” Brooke said.

“It reinforced to us that women are an emerging market. The leadership potential that exists in these elite athletes is so consistent with our beliefs in somehow trying to unlock the potential to foster more women’s economic empowerment and leadership.”

It is no secret that there is a direct correlation between women’s participation is sport and their leadership capabilities. Some of the world’s most senior women leaders participated in sports, including former US Secretaries of StateCondolezza Rice and Hillary Clinton, Brazil President Dilma Rousseff,PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, and DuPont CEO Ellen Kullman. Additionally, a 2002 survey by MassMutual Financial Group and Oppenheimer Funds (From the Locker Room to the Boardroom: A Survey on Sports in the Lives of Women Business Executives) revealed 80% of the women executives surveyed played sports growing up.

However, “When you look at the progress around women across all sectors, the progress is slow, and it is one of the frustrations,” said Brooke. “We look as this [leadership network] as a great opportunity to do what is necessary now.”

Ernst & Young recognizes that right now women athletes, just like women in business, need access to mentors and role models. Right now the world is in desperate need of leadership that is collaborative and knows how to leverage the value of diversity. And right now women athletes are uniquely skilled and trained to be global leaders.

Ernst & Young does not pretend to have the all of the answers, but it wants to open the playing field for women’s equal participation in business, sport, society, and the economy. Don’t you?

Good Night Sports Fans, 

Alana

If you are an NBA fan, there is no doubt these marketing campaigns spark nostalgic feelings and perhaps back in the day motivated you to play a game of pickup basketball.

For the NBA, these successful campaigns translated into revenue growth, increased television viewership, and strong brand equity; their simplistic creativity connected the NBA’s loyal fan base to professional basketball’s biggest stars.

Now the question remains, will the league strike marketing gold with its“BIG” campaign?

On the heels of the 2011 lockout, the NBA announced “BIG Things Are Coming.” The league carried the campaign into the 2012-2013 season by producing memorable 30 second videos (Royalty is BIG, Family is BIG,and Unbelievable is BIG) featuring Spike Lee, Kevin Durant and his mother Wanda Pratt, Chris Paul, Magic Johnson, and Steve Nash.

The NBA’s fourth and final spot of the 2012-2013 BIG regular season campaign (Together is BIG) goes national today. The ad makes a comedic comparison between the Milwaukee Bucks’ backcourt stars Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis to the ‘70s TV icons Laverne & Shirley.

With a feminine twist, the spot highlights Jennings and Ellis’ spectacular moments of the season—all set to the tune of the Laverne & Shirley theme song, “Make Our Dreams Come True.” According the NBA, the ad is designed to “embody the hard work and team spirit that has come to define the City of Milwaukee and the Bucks style of basketball.”

What do you think? Does the NBA’s latest advertising campaign score with fans?

Whether you are a gridiron guru or Pop Warner pupil, here are a few tips to prepare you for Super Bowl Sunday…

Tickets. If you are lucky enough to be in New Orleans and you are trying to find last minute tickets, please use common sense before handing over your 401k. Generally, the face value of Super Bowl tickets ranges from $850 to $1,250. On the secondary market, fans can expect at least a 50% markup.

Kase Chong, the Director of Marketing at Scambook.com suggests, “fans [should] stick to authorized resellers like StubHub and eBay, which have safeguards to protect consumers against fraud. StubHub guarantees orders by replacing any tickets that turn out to be counterfeit or refunding the buyer’s money.”

Chong and Scambook urge fans to take the following precautions:

1. Ask yourself if it is too good to be true. Look out for red flags such as the ticket price being extremely low compared to the average price on other listings. Any elaborate, emotional story explaining why the seller cannot attend the game is another common sign.

2. Do not pay via Western Union or money order. There are no buyer protections using wire transfers or payment methods like money orders and cashier’s checks. If you send your money via Western Union, you won’t be able to get it back if the seller turns out to be a scammer.

3. Examine the tickets carefully before money changes hands. Legitimate event tickets are printed on stiff, glossy paper. Examine the barcode to see if it has been tampered with and look for other suspicious signs like ragged edges, smudged printing, official logos that do not look right, misspelled words or wrong event details.

4. Never buy e-Tickets. Similarly, never buy electronic tickets that are emailed to you or printed out. E-Tickets are easy to counterfeit, or scammers can print and sell multiple copies.

5. Do not give the seller more personal information than necessary. Someone selling tickets on Craigslist has no need to know any of your sensitive personal information.

In the end, if you cannot score tickets to the big game, stay home and watch it with 111.3 million of your closest friends.

The Owner’s Box.  At some point during Super Bowl XLVII, the cameras will pan to the owner’s box where you will find Steve Bisciotti and the DeBartolo York  family.

Bisciotti was a minority owner when the Ravens won its first Super Bowl in 2001. He bought controlling interest of the team in 2004 from the late Art Modell, and since then he has gone through the progression of rebuilding the franchise. Bisciotti is often asked whether he is a hands-on or hands-off owner. He does not view his role as an either or, but  instead a lot of both. “I’m not in the position to overrule my guys, but I am certainly in a position to question them until I am comfortable with their answers and decisions,” said Bisciotti.

The DeBartolo York family is going for their sixth Super Bowl victory. Eddie DeBartolo Jr. co-owned the 49ers from 1977-2000. In 1999, he was suspended by the NFL for one year after being found guilty of failing to report a felony arising from a gambling fraud and extrusion case. During that time, lawsuits ensued, and he ultimately traded his interest in 49ers for his sister’s, Denise DeBartolo York, real estate holdings in the DeBartolo Corporation. Today, DeBartolo York’s son, Jed York, is in his fourth season as the CEO of the 49ers. He is credited for reviving the franchise the same way his uncle built it.

The Coaches: Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh. Last season we watched the Harbaugh brothers, Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh, and 49ers head coach, Jim Harbaugh, lose the AFC and NFC Championships respectively. I can only imagine the first conversation between the brothers after the heartbreaking losses.

John: Hey Jim, it’s me John. We lost. I can’t believe I’m not going to the Super Bowl.

Jim: I hear you big bro, we lost too. I’m not going to the Super Bowl either.

John: Let’s make a pact, next season we are both coaching in Super Bowl XLVII.

Jim: I concur. By the way, I’ll be hoisting the Lombardi trophy.

John: Tell that to Ray Lewis. See ya in NOLA.

Ok, so no one knows what the Harbaugh brothers said to each other behind closed doors, but don’t we love a good old fashioned family rivalry?

Players to Watch. 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, and Ravens linebacker, Ray Lewis, are among the athletes receiving the most attention going into the Super Bowl.

Kaepernick, in his second NFL season, will be making his tenth career start. A win today means he will go down in 49ers lore with the likes of Joe Montana and Steve Young. However, keep an eye on the sidelines. If anything happens to Kaepernick, back-up quarterback, Alex Smith, will be ready to regain the starting position.

Lewis is undoubtedly the face of the Ravens. Whether it is his “I’ll fire you up” pre-game dance or “Hannibal Lecter like” facemask, believe me, you will surely know him when you see him. Off-the-field, Lewis’ past is shrouded in controversy, which means he has just as many critics as he does supporters. This week was not any easier as he was accused of using a “deer antler” performance enhancing drug. Keep your eye #52. He is headed for retirement and there’s no doubt that he will leave everything on the field.

The Commercials. Super Bowl Sunday is the ONLY time of the year that television viewers look forward to watching commercials. This year CBS charged $3.8 million to $4 million for one 30 second commercial, which is up $300,000 from last year.

Here at Forbes, SportsMoney contributor Allen St. John analyzed this year’s crop of Super Bowl spots with the help of legendary advertising executives. You can find their take here.

The Halftime Show. The much anticipated halftime performance can be summed up in one word – Beyonce. It is rumored that she will share the stage with husband Jay-Z and former group Destiny’s Child, but when asked Beyonce said that she cannot reveal any details about her performance.

My Forbes colleague, Zack O’Malley Greenburg, wrote about Beyonce’s much anticipated performance. Here’s what we do know. We know the NFL will not pay Beyonce for her performance. The league does not pay halftime acts, but rather covers all of the expenses related to the show. We know that the exposure of performing for over 100 million viewers will most certainly drive digital downloads, and the show will be a huge win for halftime sponsor, Pepsi.

And we know that she won’t be lip-syncing. Any questions?

Social Media. If you are skilled enough to watch the game and tweet at the same time, follow these twitter accounts and hashtags for up-to-date information.

National Football League (@NFL) 

• Hashtags: #XLVII #SuperBowl #SB47 #HarbaughBowl #Harbowl
• The Commissioner: Roger Goodell (@NFLCommish)

Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens)

• Hashtags: #Ravens #SBRavens #RavensNation
• Players: Ray Lewis (@RayLewis), Ray Rice (@RayRice27), Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) Terrell Suggs (@UntouchableJay4), Anquan Boldin (@AnquanBoldin), Joe Flacco (@TeamFlacco), Michael Oher (@MichaelOher)
• Front Office: Chad Steele, Director of Media Relations (‏@CSteele32)

San Francisco 49ers (@49ers)

• Hashtags: #49ers #Faithful #QuestForSix
• Players: Vernon Davis (@VernonDavis85), Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7), Aldon Smith (@AldonSmith), Dashon Goldson (@thehawk38), Chris culliver (@Cullyinthehouse), Michael Crabtree (@KingCrab15)
• Alumni: Jerry Rice (@JerryRice)
• Front Office: Jed York (@JedYork)

Sponsors & Advertisers

• Front Row Analytics (@FRAnalytics, #SuperBowl24Hours). It will evaluate the sponsorships and advertisements of Super Bowl XLVII in real time and deliver results exclusively on its Twitter account.

Forbes SportsMoney Staff and Contributors 

• Forbes SportsMoney (@SportsMoneyBlog), Monte Burke (@MonteBurke), Tom Van Riper (@RipSays), Chris Smith (@ChrisSmith813), Alicia Jessop (@RulingSports), Alana Glass (@IWant2BeAnOwner)

She rocked the world of sports by gracefully competing at the London Olympics and becoming the first American gymnast to win team and all-around gold in the same Olympics.

Douglas’ journey to the top of the podium is not a story of privilege, but rather an example of what is possible when a community embraces a gifted athlete and is willing to invest in her future.

Yes, when we invest in women, the world does change!

That was one of the many messages from the Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy, where the wealthiest people in America including Oprah Winfrey and Melinda French Gates spoke to their peers about the power of giving and investing in girls and women.

It is also the driving mission of the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), an organization dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through sport and physical activity.

The WSF, founded in 1974, is the leader in promoting sports, health and education for girls and women. With Billie Jean King as its founder and ongoing visionary, the WSF continues to be an agent for change.

Specifically, the scarcity of funding for women in sports and its barriers to the success of female athletes is an area where the foundation continues to champion change. Year-after-year the WSF attempts to close the resoruces gap via its Travel & Training Fund, which supports gifted and talented athletes by awarding grants ranging from $2,500 – $5,000 to cover the costs of coaching, specialized training, equipment, and travel expenses.

Since 1984, the fund has awarded close to 1,300 grants and $1.5 million to women athletes in a diverse array of sports.

Last month, the WSF announced its 2012 Travel & Training recipients. Douglas was among the 23 individual athletes and three teams representing 18 sports who received the award. Her mother, Natalie Hawkins, submitted an application to the foundation before Douglas’ historic Olympic performance and off the mat achievements, which include an endorsement deal with the Kellogg Co., being named the WSF’s Sportswoman of the Year and the AP’s Top Female Athlete of the Year, and releasing a memoir Grace, Gold & Glory.

While Douglas’ financial situation and world-wide recognition have significantly changed for the better, one thing that has not changed is her humility and sense of gratitude. She decided to donate her $5,000 grant back to the WSF to help fuel the dreams of another athlete.

“I am blessed to be in the position to give back to other athletes and open up opportunities to them,” said Douglas to FORBES.com. “I had hardships during my career and my road was not easy. If I can give them any help, then I am more than happy to do that.”

The primary corporate underwriter of the Travel & Training Fund is Gatorade, and the WSF is appreciative of its behind-the-scenes commitment to women and girls. In the future, the foundation envisions additional corporate sponsors joining Gatorade and giving at the same $100,000 level. Ultimately, the WSF’s goal is to transform the fund into a $1 million program.

“We think this is such a terrific program and the results are obvious, and they are measurable,” said Kathryn Olson, CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation to FORBES.com.

However, the Travel & Training Fund is more than just molding the next elite athlete. Olson explained that the WSF is committed to creating the next generation of leaders by providing access to sport and fitness to all girls, especially those in underserved communities.

In 2012, Douglas taught us that the next generation of women leaders are out there, and anything is possible if we dare to invest in their dreams.

Here’s to 2013 and the next female leader to shake up our world!

Good Night Sports Fans,

Alana

Swag

Champs Sports, a division of Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE:FL), has elevated the term into a hub for sport lifestyle with its new app-based digital magazine called SWAG – Stylish Ways to Acquire Game.

SWAG targets Champs Sports’ core consumers, male athletes ages 16-24 who are into a sport lifestyle, and features interactive videos, player interviews, and head-to-toe athletic gear.

For Champs Sports, SWAG is all about innovation. It is an example of evolving from the tried and true marketing methods of television and point of sales, and pushing to try new things.

The partnership with vendors, including Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour allows Champs Sports to create original content and share a side of athletes that fans are not used to seeing.

Issue one featured Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (second-youngest player to reach 10,000 points and the NBA’s leading scorer the last three seasons) and his love of hip hop.

Issue two drops today and includes the NBA’s and NFL’s most talked about athletes - LeBron James (Miami Heat), Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals), and Julio Jones (Atlanta Falcons).

The James profile is a four-part video series called SWAG16, and highlights his 16 favorite things. Those must-have things including Twitter, fresh haircuts, NFL Sundays and the ‘90s sitcom Martin- are pitted head-to-head in a bracket-style showdown as James is quizzed by comedian Jerrod Carmichael to reveal the one thing he cannot live without.

James’ rise from a high school prodigy to an NBA Champion, League MVP, and Olympic Gold Medalist is well documented; the SWAG16 feature allows Champs Sports to show another dimension of James that has not been covered.

“We are very excited about this new partnership with Champ Sports,” said Maverick Carter, CEO of LRMR. “It helps us tell an original story about LeBron by connecting directly with fans through our digital and social platforms.”

Along with discovering James’ favorite things, fans can use the mobile app to browse and purchase items from the LeBron James Collection in the reoccurring section called The Blueprint. LeBronJames.com will also include ads directing visitors to a branded microsite on ChampsSports.com where they can purchase the latest LeBron James sneakers, apparel and accessories.

“Building a marketing program around LeBron James and having a product assortment of footwear, apparel and accessories inspired by LeBron is the perfect marriage of product meets marketing,” said Frank Bracken, Vice President of Market at Champs Sports. “Digital platforms make shopping more exciting and a little more unique for the consumer.”

In 2011, Champs Sports became the third member of Foot Locker, Inc.’s $1 billion club, joining Foot Locker U.S. and Europe. This milestone contributed to Foot Locker, Inc. achieving its highest level of profitability ($5.6 billion) in its history as an athletic footwear and apparel company.

While Champs Sports was unable to provide metrics regarding SWAG’s performance, the company disclosed that the Ecommerce traffic to ChampsSports.com and sales have been above industry norm. A strong showing from SWAG during the holiday season should position the brand to match or exceed last year’s earnings.

(This post originally appeared on Forbes.com 11/22/12)

Today all Americans will take a moment to pause, gather together, and collectively give thanks. No matter how rough the road ahead may seem, there is always something to be thankful for.

What are you thankful for?

As a sports fan and Michigander, today I am especially thankful for NFL in Detroit.

The last several years have been rocky in Detroit, but I do not have to tell you that. We are a blue collar town that was almost left for dead, but Detroit did not quit and neither have the Detroit Lions.

From a dreadful 0-16 season in 2008 to a whirlwind playoff appearance in 2011, the Lions remain resilient and the same can be said for Detroit.

Despite the changes and challenges in the Michigan economy Detroit has continued to soldier on – so have the Lions.

73 years of Tradition

This afternoon, the Detroit Lions, will host its 73^rd Thanksgiving Day game. The tradition of the Lions playing on Thanksgiving began in 1934when then owner, George Richards, moved the team from Portsmouth, OH to the Motor City.

That same year the Lions current majority owner, William Clay Ford Sr., went to his very first Lions football game. Decades later, Ford Sr. purchased the team for $4 million. Today Forbes estimates its value at $855 million.

Over the last 49 years, Ford Sr. has been at the helm of the Lions and the Thanksgiving Day tradition has remained safely intact. However, there was a period when the beloved game was in jeopardy.

“Years ago there was an effort by some of the NFL owners to look at rotating the Thanksgiving game,” said Lions President Tom Lewand to Forbes.com.

“William Clay Ford Jr. stood up in an owners meeting and made a passionate plea to keep it in Detroit. It was soundly defeated, and it never came up for a vote. Since that day, there has been very little doubt that the tradition would continue here in Detroit.”

Lewand further explained that adding a third game in primetime has allowed the league to preserve the traditions established by Detroit and Dallas, as well as give other NFL cities a chance to host a game on Thanksgiving.

Significance of the Thanksgiving Day Game

“I think there is significance on a few different levels. First, for the historical tradition, and the fact that it was the first national game on Thanksgiving that was broadcast on radio,” said Lewand. “The second is that it has created a celebration of American football. It has made a national holiday into one that combines an opportunity to give thanks with an opportunity to gather with family and watch football.”

Yes, millions of Americans will be at home watching the Lions go forward down the field.

Over the last several years, the television viewing audience of the first game has steadily increased (2009: 21.9 million; 2010: 27.75 million; 2011: 30.17 million). In light of this national attention, the Lions know that they must perform at a very high level to uphold the tradition on the field as strongly as it is off the field.

“The first thing that we want people to see is good football from us and a winning performance,” said Lewand. “As great as the tradition is, and as great as the energy is in the building, that is quickly replaced and quickly forgotten if we are not playing good football. Putting a great product on the field is the foremost consideration.”

Ford Field on Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving Day Ford Field will host roughly 65,000 fans. Many of whom will either watch the annual parade that travels down Woodward Avenue just blocks from the stadium, or beat the rush and bring their tailgate inside.

The organization does not disclose its financial information, but Lewand shared that historically the Thanksgiving games are one of the most well attended match-ups of the season.

“Not just from a sellout perspective, but from a ticket utilization and lack of no shows,” said Lewand. “People tend to come in the building earlier and stay a little bit later, especially if it is a competitive game and usually it is on Thanksgiving. That ends up meaning more activity at the concession stands and more activity in our merchandise areas.”

Once inside the stadium, fans will receive Movember (men’s health awareness) inspired rally towels from the presenting sponsor, Blue Cross Blue Shield. And this year’s United Way Halftime Show features Michigan’s own Kid Rock who will perform Detroit, Michigan off of his new album Rebel Soul.

“Our hope is that it will be extra special in terms of celebrating Detroit and celebrating the resurgence and the rebirth and what is special about Detroit,” said Elizabeth Parkinson, Senior Vice of Marketing and Partnerships to Forbes.com.  “Kid Rock has committed to the city. For us, he epitomizes the grit, heritage, and the commitment that people have made to the city.”

Thanksgiving is a day for honoring and celebrating our family, friends, and community. These connections keep us grounded and remind us who we truly are.

So today when you are rooting for the Lions, you are cheering for the pride that is inside of State of Michigan and Detroit.

For that I am truly grateful.

(This post originally appeared on Forbes.com 11/21/12)

By a show of hands, how many of you use a smartphone or tablet to follow professional sports?

If you raised your hand, you are not alone.

According to Strategy Analytics, between 2008 and 2017 there will be more than 350 billion smartphone and tablet apps downloaded. This translates into an estimated $57 billion globally in paid downloads by 2017.

With over one billion active smartphone users worldwide and another billion forecasted by 2015, this growth in digital technology has exploded onto the professional sports landscape. More and more fans are seeking instant access to scores, highlights, and live action on their handheld devices, which has increased the blending of digital technology with live sporting events.

Earlier this month, Miami Dolphins Owner, Stephen M. Ross, andMLB Advanced Media CEO, Bob Bowman, spoke about this growing trend at the Michigan Sport Business Conference. In the conversation moderated by ESPN’s Monday Night Football announcer, Mike Tirico, Ross and Bowman discussed how professional sports teams can maintain their home-field advantage in a digital age.

Here are highlights from their conversation…

On the growth of Major League Baseball’s At Bat app:

Bowman: We started with a wireless group, and we hired five developers six years ago when we thought the world was going mobile. This year we are the number one grossing app of all time at Apple. The At Bat app was downloaded 6.5 million times by fans principally here in the US, but some oversees as well. Even more importantly, it was opened by half of the people every day. At baseball, we play every day, so we have to build our apps and our digital strategy very differently than other leagues. It has to be reliable and ready twelve hours a day, seven days a week for the entire summer.

On the challenge of maintaining home-field advantage in a digital world:

Ross: The biggest challenge an owner of any sports team in any league is knowing that the fan experience at home, watching it on TV, is probably a better experience today than it is going there live. Being able to have the replays and the production that you have on television is a good reason not to go to a game and it is very expensive.

 

As an owner, I looked at it as how do I enhance that fan experience to bring them to the stadium? Why would they want to be there? And give them everything they would have at home, and give them a better production by being there live and in-person.

 

This year at Dolphin Stadium we are looking to be the most technologically advanced stadium in the country. We are being wired right now with over 1500 connections for Wi-Fi. All fans will be able to tune in on their smartphones to see the replays and other games, and we hope to have that operable by the end of the year. There are so many different areas that you have to look at as an owner in enhancing that fan experience to compete with television.

On blending the digital world and the sports world:

Bowman: We live in a two screen world. The second screen is what is in everyone’s hand. They are using it right now, texting and emailing. We need to get the second screen valuable no matter where you are – at home or in the stadium. The first screen is always going to be great. But the second screen, if you have to go somewhere and give up the second screen that is when you are going to run into problems. The second screen has to be just as valuable at a live event as it is at home.

On attracting a younger demographic to MLB.com in a digital age

Bowman: Twelve years ago Commissioner Selig set this company up. It talks to a younger audience; it is relevant to a younger audience. It is hard to get people to put their device down and go somewhere else. We have to be everywhere because that is where our audience is. Our effort and our assignment is to combine content with commerce. Bud Selig was just so far ahead of everybody. Whether we meant to or not, we are talking to the next generation of fans every day.  We are trying to be relevant on every device people are carrying, and not forcing them to go to any particular device.

On the challenges of maintaining the NFL as the most popular sport in the United States:

Ross: Football has been facing a lot more challenges outside their attendance and outside the games than baseball has. MLB is far advanced than the NFL from a digital media standpoint. The opportunities for football are fantastic. I think other leagues look to see what baseball is doing and react based upon that. In football, we have 16 games, as opposed to 162 games. The challenges are a little different.

They are now studying to see how do you bring technology into the stadiums; they have not really attacked it, and they don’t have the personnel to look at it the way baseball does. We are trying to create and bring connectivity to stadiums, and MLB is ahead of the NFL in regard to that. I think within a year it will be everywhere; the stadiums will be connected, and we can really start this new age of digital technology in the stadiums. Where it goes from there, I think we’ll see who is the most aggressive and creative.

 

Whether you agree or disagree with this remark made during the second presidential debate, there is no denying that gender disparities and issues impacting women are real.

In 2012, it is tough for me to believe that we are still talking about equal pay, and trying to figure out how men and women can have it all.

Yes, I think it is possible for women to have it all; and the organization that comes to mind that is striving to make this notion a reality is the WNBA.

The women of the WNBA are businesswomen, professional athletes, partners, mothers, and role models who for 16 seasons have been championing for gender equality.

Never mind binders full of women, the WNBA has something even better – basketball courts full of women.

Last night, the league concluded its 16th season and crowned the Indiana Fever the 2012 WNBA Champions.

Earlier this year, I wrote that the Fever are writing women’s basketball’s next chapter. At the time I had no idea they would win it all. In fact, no one did. On second thought, maybe the Fever’s star forward and 12-year veteran, Tamika Catchings, knew that they would.

On the court Catchings’ resume includes an NCAA Championship at the University of Tennessee, three gold medals, five Defensive Player of the Year awards (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2012), and the 2011 MVP of the WNBA. Off the court, she is the Founder and President of the Catch the Stars Foundation, and her aspirations after basketball include becoming a general manager.

If you ask Catchings if she has it at all, my guess is that she would yes; and not because she finally won a WNBA Championship and was named the MVP of the 2012 WNBA Finals. It is because she is humble and grateful for everything single gift and opportunity that comes her way. Not to mention, she loves her job and describes it as going to gym class for a living.

Catchings’ point of view in large part represents her colleagues, but if the women of the WNBA had a wish list it would probably include increased revenue and fan attendance.  In the world of professional sports having it all not only means loving what you do, it also calls for making money and gaining fan support while doing it.

These are areas where the league is gradually gaining traction. In 2011, three of the 12 franchises (Minnesota, San Antonio, and Connecticut) posted a profit, and the league signed its first marquee partner in Boost Mobile.

While the league was not pleased with its overall 2012 attendance numbers, it experienced sell-out crowds (18,000+) in Game 3 and Game 4 of the WNBA Finals. During the WNBA Finals press conference, President Laurel Richie commented that the league intends to form strategic alliances with organizations that share their values, fan base, or potential fan base with the goal of building strong and sustainable attendance.

To gain a fan’s perspective on this topic, I spoke to a Fever faithful, Thomas Armstrong, from Indianapolis who told me that he has been supporting the team since their inception.

He remembers the days when roughly 5000 people came to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to watch the Fever play. “Everyone knew everybody. Now I’ve noticed that the crowd is larger. More guys and young fellas are coming to the games,” said Armstrong.

When I asked him what it would take for more sports fans to support the WNBA, he looked dead in my eyes and said, “More people like you reporting and talking about it.”

Thomas Armstrong from Indianapolis, Indiana, I heard your loud and clear. Here are highlights from the 2012 WNBA Season, basketball courts full of women…

Television Ratings:

• Game 2 of the WNBA Finals between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx on October 17 was the most viewed and highest rated WNBA Playoff game on ESPN since 1999. The previous record is the 1999 WNBA Western Conference Finals (Houston Comets vs. Los Angeles Sparks) that had 1,052,000 viewers and 1.1 household rating. Overall, the game generated 778,000 viewers and .6 household rating, according to Nielsen. Game 2 peaked with 1,011,000 viewers (9:15 – 9:30 pm ET) and .8 rating (9:30 – 9:45 pm ET).
• The WNBA Draft Lottery drew 700,000 viewers, appearing for the first time on ESPN’s signature show SportsCenter.

Ticket Sales:

• Within 48 hours of the WNBA Draft Lottery, the Phoenix Mercury has sold over 150 season tickets.
• Season Ticket Renewals (across the league) for 2013 are already up 10% versus this time last year.
• In 2012, partial plan ticket sales increased by 6% and group ticket sales increased by 7%.

Sponsorships:

• During the 2012 season, team sponsorships increased by 10%.
• Boost Mobile completed its first full season as the WNBA’s league-wide partner. The wireless providerpresented the 2012 Draft, Performance Awards, Playoffs, and the Championship.
• Anheuser‑Busch and SAP joined the WNBA as two new sponsors.
• Finish Line, Inc., a national retailer of athletic shoes, apparel and accessories, will be the Indiana Fever’s marquee sponsor beginning in 2013. This jersey sponsorship will be the sixth of its kind in the WNBA, joining the Phoenix Mercury (LifeLock, Inc.), New York Liberty (Foxwoods Resort Casino), Seattle Storm (Bing), Los Angeles Sparks (Farmers Insurance Group), and Washington Mystics (Inova Health System).

Good Night Sports Fans,

Alana

America is a sport obsessed nation.

In 2011, Americans watched 42,500 hours of live sporting events on national broadcast and cable television, a 5% increase from 2010. This time last year, 463,664,000

video streams took place on sports websites by 35 million consumers (Source: Nielsen’s State of the Media: 2011 Year in Sports).

Considering so many people are watching sports, it seems hardly plausible that more than one-third (35.7%) of adults in the United States are obese, and approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents are obese (Source: Centers for Disease Control).

It wasn’t that long ago when we all wanted to “Be Like Mike.” Somewhere, somehow, we lost our way.

Who is to blame?

At this stage, we are well beyond the blame game. It is predicted that if Americans continue down the current unhealthy path more than half of the country could be obese by 2030 (Source: The Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation).

Now the conversation must shift toward solutions.

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), in its 16th season is the longest running women’s professional basketball league in the United States, and the Jamba Juice Company (NASDAQ: JMBA), a leading healthy, active lifestyle company headquartered in Emeryville California, have pledged to become part of the solution.

For 20 plus years, Jamba Juice has been on a mission to simplify and improve healthy living. The company struggled during the early part of the recession with declining stock prices and profitability. However, after repositioning the brand, appointing new leadership, and implementing its Blend Plan 2.0, Jamba Juice has since experienced accelerated growth.

Last year, the company posted $226.4 million in revenue, and in August 2012 it reported a seventh consecutive quarter of system-wide store sales growth. Today, Jamba Juice operates 783 locations globally (305 company-owned/operated and 478 franchises); and over the course of the last 18 months, it has opened 30 stores in three international markets (South Korea, Canada, and the Philippines).

In 2010, the retailer expanded its reach into professional sports with a multi-year sponsorship deal with the WNBA. Recently, I spoke withJames D. White, Chairman, President, and CEO, and Julie S. Washington, Senior Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, who discussed Jamba Juice’s mission-driven brand, its vision to simplify healthy living, and its commitment to the WNBA.

Here are highlights from our conversation…

On Jamba Juice’s partnership with the WNBA…

White: I have been a passionate advocate for women across my career. For me, it is about leveling the playing field for women and making sure they get real opportunities. We are huge fans of the WNBA, one for the incredible family friendly entertainment, but more importantly the example it sets for young girls and young women. This is the one league where there is a significant number of women ownership, which we think is a big deal. I’d love to see many more people be exposed to the WNBA, its players, and the brand. We have had nothing short of exceptional experience with the teams, the league, and the leadership of the WNBA.

Washington: As you look at the WNBA, the entity, the respective teams and players, they are very community connected. Jamba is very much about a store in your community that then moves it from just being a retailer to being part of your life. When you look at the WNBA, their players are not just celebrities on the court. They are a part of the fan-base and the community in which they live. Here, we have players who are genuinely willing to be a part of the different opportunities, and they are great role models.

 

On Team Up for a Healthy America and the fight against childhood obesity…

Washington:Team Up is a grassroots social media campaign. When we talk about healthy living we wanted to make sure that we had a holistic approach to it. Team Up allows us to provide simple and fun solutions for kids in addition for adults. When you come to the website and pledge weekly in the program, we give fun but easy activities that allow people to form healthy habits. When you pledge, Jamba gives monetary donations, and in turn we have been able to buy equipment and items for schools. At the end of the day, what is our role and how can we have an impact on childhood obesity? We know that nutrition is important, which is a core part of Jamba.

On the relationship between corporate responsibility and healthy living….

White: We have been on a very clear path to inspire and simplify healthy living. As a corporation versus this being a campaign, it is who are. At the DNA level of our corporation, we have always been actively invested in our local communities. The investment has always been around youth sports, physical activity, and getting people engaged in creating a healthier lifestyle. It is very much part and parcel to who we are as a company.

On accomplishing goals and objectives with the WNBA Partnership…

White: We have and we wanted to accomplish three or four primary objectives. We wanted to expose the great fan base of the WNBA to the Jamba brand in as many ways as we could. That has been a great success so far in the partnership. We also wanted to capitalize on our common interest in kids and local communities.  We’ve found many ways to partner and impact the local communities that we do business in. Importantly, we had an objective to get to know some of the players and engage the women of the WNBA.

At the intersection of professional sports, business, and nutrition, you will find Jamba Juice and the WNBA promoting healthy living and “teaming up” to combat obesity. For more information about the fight against childhood obesity visit www.JambaJuice.com and www.WNBA.com.

The motto from the 2012 Olympic Games was Inspire a Generation. Last week, the WNBA carried that motto into its 2012 Inspiring Women Luncheon where the league honored Team USA’s female medalists with its WNBA Inspiration Award. 

The select group of athletes who represented Team USA included: Betsey Armstrong (Gold Medal, Water Polo),Tamika Catchings (Gold Medal, Basketball), Kayla Harrison (Gold Medal, Judo), Paige McPherson (Gold Medal, Taekwondo), Taylor Ritzel (Gold Medal, Rowing), Danielle Scott-Arruda(Silver Medal, Volleyball), Claressa Shields (Gold Medal, Boxing), Lauren Tamayo (Silver Medal, Cycling), Logan Maile Lei Tom (Silver Medal, Volleyball), and Venus Williams (Gold Medal, Tennis).

These distinguished women were honored, not just because of their athletic accomplishments, winning 58 of the 104 medals and 29 of the 46 gold medals, but for their determination, courage, and strength. They inspire us to reach higher and dream bigger, which unquestionably embodies the mission of the WNBA, showing the world what is possible.

“This team is a persuasive and powerful proof point of the impact of Title IX,” said WNBA President Laurel J. Richie. “The breadth and depth of the events in which these women competed, and the compelling story of their journey to the Olympic stage is nothing short of inspiring. The women of Team USA are in my mind truly and unequivocally champions of achievement.”

Four-time Olympic gold medalist, Venus Williams, spoke on behalf of Team USA and graciously thanked the WNBA for the honor.

“Sports makes life better. It helps women become more successful and feel more confident. It is wonderful because young women do need role models, and young women need to know that they can achieve,” said Williams. “We are all here because we believe in women’s sports, we believe in women’s basketball, and we believe in women athletes.”

Yes, believing in women’s sports is what elevated women’s participation in Olympics events from 13% in 1964 to 44% in 2012.

Believing in women’s basketball is why the U.S. National Team has won five consecutive gold medals and 100 million girls and women worldwide play basketball.

Believing in women athletes is how two teenagers from Compton California began playing tennis simply because it was their dream, and now their careers are bigger than they ever imagined.

Nothing short of inspiring. 

Good Night Sports Fans,

Alana