The Madness behind March Madness!

Avid sports fan or not, most everyone looks forward to March and when this month entails. For those out there that for some insane reason do not know what March Madness is, you can compare it to the Super Bowl multiplied over ten days instead of one. It is hands down the biggest college sporting event, ever.

Although March Madness is a very popular and crazed over event, it has not gotten to be at the level it is today without the help of social media.  Both Facebook and Twitter have helped to make this event not only a more interactive one, but an even larger one than ever before. Record amount of 'likes' as well as followers have allowed more and more fans to stay linked to the games and happenings that surround college basketball.

http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=15089

Why is this tournament such a big deal to so many? How many people really watch the games even? According to TV by the Numbers, 7.9 million viewers were watching the first Thursday and Friday of the NCAA tournament. Obviously with that high of number, it is more than college students and family members of the players that are watching it when the games start at 11:00 am CT.  Many people have found ways to bring the games to the office instead of having to run to a local bar during their lunch break to catch some of the game as they have had to do in the past. Getting the games on their iPads, desktops, smart phones, or even radio has allowed 8-5 workers the chance to keep up with the action without having to take off of work, although some have the desperation to go that far. Employers realize that 'slacking' is going to happen during people's workday because of the games, however they work together with their employees to make sure that it doesn't get in the way of getting their work done. Dean Jarrett from the Martin Agency said the following about the matter:

"We hire people we believe have good judgment and we trust them to use it," spokesman Dean Jarrett says. "Can you imagine getting an e-mail at work that said, 'We know it's time for March Madness and that many of you have access to see those games during work hours on your computer or mobile devices. Please don't use work time to follow your favorite team because work time is for work.' "

Although distracting, following the games during work has been shown to bring employees closer together and form a bond of companionship amongst each other. Half of Human Resource managers state that this sense of camaraderie between each others brackets have made it easier for employees to work together and get an insight into each others personal lives. 

"The happier your employees are, the more productive they will be," Moore Cicotello says. "The more collaborative they are, the more productive they will be."

How broadcasting changes our views of sports

The Superbowl, BCS Championship game, March Madness, Conference Championships, World Series, and Frozen Four, to name a few, are all examples of sporting events that have sporting fans racing to the nearest TV to make sure they catch all the greatest plays as if they are at the event themselves. Sports broadcasting has changed how we view sports and most importantly HOW we watch them.

Sept. 6, 1920 with the first radio broadcast of a prizefight of Jack Dempsey vs. Billy Miske was the start of radio broadcasting in sports, at least the first that I could find!  August 5, 1921 was the first radio broadcast  baseball game between Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies that really seemed to kick off the radio era. After America realized that they could keep up with the games without actually having to attend them, everyone was in almost need of one.

www.americansportsbroadcastersonline.com

Sports broadcasting soon became a talent that most would compare to the actual athletes themselves and how well they can play the game. If the voice that so many heard on the radio did not announce the game as if the listeners were actually at the game, and did not give them a vision, then they had failed at their job. There are many that have ingrained a recognition into our minds as a well known announcer, but there are others that have become legends for what they are best at.

 Among the top fifty sports broadcasters, Vin Scully, Mel Allen, Red Barber (pictured to the left), Curt Gowdy, and Howard Cosell are among the top five. These men have been able to take a skill that they were blessed with and turn it into something that many can only dream about doing. How the radio has changed sports is incredible, but how sports has changed radio is rather unfortunate in my opinion. Society has gone from only listening to the games on the radio to relying on the television to now bring them the game. People have cast radio to the waste side and don't realize the talent that still lies within it.

www.ktgr.com Mike & Mike in the Morning

Many ways that radio has been able to stay in the picture of sports is by offering online radio segments that cover the wide range of sports with special guests to discuss the many topics that come up throughout the season. Mike & Mike (pictured to the right) is one of those series that airs both online as well as on espn.com. They are, in my opinion, both experts in the industry of sports and are able to relate to a series of issues that they make sure to cover thoroughly. They provide the chance for listeners to give feedback and take their opinions and comments and incorporate them into the discussion. They are able to do this by having accounts on espn.com for fans to activate and comment as well as Facebook and Twitter accounts to reach their fans that way as well.

Other ways that radio has incorporated social media is by having the accessibility of chats, blogs, podcasts, twitter, facebook, and all the other outlets that are available  to broadcasters to reach listeners as the event is taking place. This is one way they are still able to bring light to radio that has taken a backseat to television in the most recent years  and to keep the fans involved as many ways as they can.

Minnesota Professional Teams Marketing on Facebook

I was inspired for this blog by another blogger by the name of Jason Peck who likes to blog about marketing in sports. He has had some very interesting blogs, bringing insight and different ideas that I have failed to look at before reading his stories.

When someone first hears about a team, the first place they may go look to find out information about them or an event they are holding is their Facebook page. Once they have gotten as far as your page, it is important to note that a team must have a convincing cover page to draw that potential fan in and get them to 'like' your team's page. If it is boring, uninviting, and does not give the appropriate amount of information, you are going to lose a potential fan.

I went on to my own Facebook account and looked up all the professional sporting teams in Minnesota: Vikings, Timberwolves, Lynx, Wild, Thunder and Storm to see how their appeal is to newcomers.

Retrieved from Facebook

 I was rather impressed by the Minnesota Timberwolves Facebook cover page. They have been a better team this year than in the past, yet have not gotten as much attention as some of the other professional teams that are in Minnesota.

This picture allows for the organization to influence the viewer to 'like' their page and draws them in with information and the chance to win contests and to check out their photos, videos, and team updates.

This is a very effective cover page for the team and allows them yet another way to reach fans through  the use of social media.

Retrieved from Facebook

The Minnesota Wild also has a very effective Facebook page with the arrow pointing towards the 'like' button  as well as another icon that symbolizes the like button. They are able to use this social media site to draw in fans with the intent to persuade the viewers that they can only get this exclusive content after they like the page.

 Both the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Lynx did an average job of drawing in my attention. They do not have a very good appeal and do not offer any information that is making me want to 'like' the page. I was disappointed that both of them, being a highly competitive, sought after teams that they did not cater their social media sites to match the rest of the industry and the competition.

As an avid fan of Minnesota sports, I really appreciate when social media websites give you appealing information that makes you want to investigate more into what they are about and what they have to offer you.