Crisis Management, MLS, Mixed Martial Arts, New York Post, New York Times, WNBA, Washington Post

Give Them Liberty.

With all the choices of leasure time activity in a major market during the summer, the WNBA is always challenged to find ways to attract the casual fan.  However this weekend, there will be a spectacle worthy of near record numbers, brand exposure and good will.  The Liberty will play the Indiana Fever outdoors at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens on Saturday night.  All the elements of the game…the build-in of the court, the first practice, the fan festival around the game, the additional sponsorship…have been pitched and placed perfectly, ranging from multiple local and regional stories in publications which coverage can be hit and miss on, to a great visual piece in USA Today.  The followup visuals and trade pieces coming out of the game will also garner great ancillary exposure and will get the WNBA, already enjoying a banner season, even more attention going into the Olympics.  Well planned, well pitched and well placed, even going against a Yankees home game, the AVP Crocs event in Brooklyn and the great David Beckham playing at Giants Stadium, all in the same day.

Speaking of Beckham and the Red Bulls (great column by George Vecsey today), there is no doubt that MLS continues to grow in stature and acceptance, but an interesting read on the actual value of what MLS teams get in exchange for transfer fees was provided by Charles Cuttone on his Big Apple soccer site…it is a good read from an insider on the different way that MLS is building equity as opposed to traditional sports…speaking of building brand equity, the New York Post’s George Willis has a good column on the clashing MMA companies going head to head and how that will damage the sport and split the audience…another good read comes via the Washington Post, showing how crisis management and brand building groups for athletes are gaining market share…