If you follow sports you already know
that today we will find out who will win the National Basketball Association Finals.
In Honor of the NBA finals lets discuss the NBA as a business and their strategic
plan. The NBA receives revenue from endorsements, fans attending games, and memorable.
However, the NBA has struggled with TV ratings since the Jordan era.
The NBA went through a lockout
right after the 1998 season which caused a shortened 1998 - 1999 season, and
many people are not fans of the commissioner David Stern. Most people stopped
watching post Michael Jordan, when sports left NBC and moved to ABC, and the competition
of other entertaining TV shows such as American Idol, Dancing with the Stars,
etc.
Personally, I stopped watching
the NBA when Michael Jordan stopped playing for the Chicago Bulls. So I can
empathize with fans waiting for the next chosen one to rise.
However, it is steadily rising. Why?
If you were watching on Tuesday the
San Antonia and Miami Heat finals game 6 and you stopped watching at the beginning
of the fourth quarter you would have probably thought the Spurs won. But no the
Miami Heat won in overtime. Not to take anything away from the players sacrificing
their bodies and showing passion and heart. Many people believe that the NBA is
rigged and I agree. So we remember when
ratings where great and the NBA was making more money because Michael Jordan won
over many fans all over the world. So let’s use that same approach. If you use
the "Stress Test Your Strategy: Seven Questions to Ask," the first question who
is your primary customer? Could the NBA
be looking at trends of their fans that we want to watch excitement and magic
happen on the court like Jordan showed us.
I will publicly say I’m a fan of
Lebron James and I think he has lots of talent. I believe he is the
commissioner’s new cash cow or golden boy and if Lebron is marketed correctly
the NBA will be back at top with ratings compared to the Jordan era.
Let’s think about why it didn’t
make strategic sense for the San Antonio Spurs to win on Tuesday: Why would they win in
Miami, most of the Spur's players should be retiring soon, and building a dynasty
with Lebron James taking the ranks of the new Jordan. It all makes sense to me.
But my question to you all is..... 
Renee,
ReplyDeleteLove the comments about the next "Great Person," for the NBA. Like you, I've not followed or watch much basketball since "Air Jordan's" departure. For the most part, I've grown up watching NBA since the days of the Dr. J and Larry Bird. Those were good b-ball days.
How you have compared basketball to the strategy is an excellent cross of how one leadership of the past can have a major impact in the chosen leader's the NBS has running shop. Again, because I've not been a fan of the game since "Air Jordan," it may not be in my best interest to say much, but World Wide Sports (ABC) has not helped the game I've once enjoyed and loved.
Enjoyed reading your post.
Thanks Edward... Not sure if you watched but after the game Samsung had a commercial for Lebron...
ReplyDeleteCheck it out.. Here it goes: http://basketfootball.com/lebron-james-nba-championship-samsung-commercial/
Absolutely, about the leadership changing..I don't think I zoned in on that enough but excellent point...