Comments on: Conversation with Craig Leopold, Minnesota Wild Owner http://barryjudge.com/conversation-with-craig-leopold-minnesota-wild-owner Updates from the CMO of Best Buy Sat, 03 Jul 2010 21:23:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kirk Berridge http://barryjudge.com/conversation-with-craig-leopold-minnesota-wild-owner/comment-page-1#comment-534 Kirk Berridge Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:15:59 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=13#comment-534 Hi Barry. If you are really into social media for sports, check out Fan Media Network. It's fan video reporting for sports. www.FanMediaNetwork.com. It's content, community and commerce generated by the fans - entertaining fan video reports you won't see on ESPN, YouTube, CBS, FOX, etc. We are building a network of fan video reporters (correspondents) for NFL, NCAA, NHL, NBA and MLB teams in over 40 major media markets across the U.S. & Canada, covering the teams from the streets to your seats. Sports fans and video enthusiasts need a trusted place to purchase digital video cameras, camcorders, tripods, memory cards, video editing software and other accessories. We are looking for a national sponsor. It's an opportunity for incremental product sales, in-store and online promotions, community relations, vendor tie-ins and employee engagement. For instance, many of your BlueShirts are video enthusiasts and sports fans who would love to report on their favorite teams. I am a 'sports insider' who worked in Corporate Sponsorship, Internet marketing and Media Relations for the San Francisco 49ers (NFL), San Jose Sharks (NHL), Big Ten Conference (NCAA) and Indiana Pacers (NBA). We are approved for your affiliate marketing program but would like a deeper partnership. How can we get Best Buy as a promotional partner? Hi Barry. If you are really into social media for sports, check out Fan Media Network. It’s fan video reporting for sports. http://www.FanMediaNetwork.com. It’s content, community and commerce generated by the fans – entertaining fan video reports you won’t see on ESPN, YouTube, CBS, FOX, etc. We are building a network of fan video reporters (correspondents) for NFL, NCAA, NHL, NBA and MLB teams in over 40 major media markets across the U.S. & Canada, covering the teams from the streets to your seats. Sports fans and video enthusiasts need a trusted place to purchase digital video cameras, camcorders, tripods, memory cards, video editing software and other accessories. We are looking for a national sponsor. It’s an opportunity for incremental product sales, in-store and online promotions, community relations, vendor tie-ins and employee engagement. For instance, many of your BlueShirts are video enthusiasts and sports fans who would love to report on their favorite teams. I am a ’sports insider’ who worked in Corporate Sponsorship, Internet marketing and Media Relations for the San Francisco 49ers (NFL), San Jose Sharks (NHL), Big Ten Conference (NCAA) and Indiana Pacers (NBA). We are approved for your affiliate marketing program but would like a deeper partnership. How can we get Best Buy as a promotional partner?

]]> By: judgekid http://barryjudge.com/conversation-with-craig-leopold-minnesota-wild-owner/comment-page-1#comment-333 judgekid Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:17:39 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=13#comment-333 haha haha

]]> By: barryjudge http://barryjudge.com/conversation-with-craig-leopold-minnesota-wild-owner/comment-page-1#comment-332 barryjudge Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:45:59 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=13#comment-332 Obviously, my son knows what he is talking about. Obviously, my son knows what he is talking about.

]]> By: judgekid http://barryjudge.com/conversation-with-craig-leopold-minnesota-wild-owner/comment-page-1#comment-331 judgekid Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:29:52 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=13#comment-331 I hope the Wild don't resign Gaborik, although I'm a big fan of his I don't think he's worth the money we are talking about paying him. He gets hurt too much and doesn't show up in key spots. I also like the idea of bringing hockey to Europe. I hope the Wild don’t resign Gaborik, although I’m a big fan of his I don’t think he’s worth the money we are talking about paying him. He gets hurt too much and doesn’t show up in key spots. I also like the idea of bringing hockey to Europe.

]]> By: maeva http://barryjudge.com/conversation-with-craig-leopold-minnesota-wild-owner/comment-page-1#comment-299 maeva Sun, 26 Oct 2008 01:35:28 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=13#comment-299 I\'ve heard of people talking such a discussion around in the city although. I\’ve heard of people talking such a discussion around in the city although.

]]> By: barryjudge http://barryjudge.com/conversation-with-craig-leopold-minnesota-wild-owner/comment-page-1#comment-214 barryjudge Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:30:41 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=13#comment-214 Great story. Debbie, I didn't know you were an old Cincinnati Reds fan. The Big Red Machine, one of the best of all time. Great story. Debbie, I didn’t know you were an old Cincinnati Reds fan. The Big Red Machine, one of the best of all time.

]]> By: Debbie Estes http://barryjudge.com/conversation-with-craig-leopold-minnesota-wild-owner/comment-page-1#comment-204 Debbie Estes Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:52:30 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=13#comment-204 Janet Aubrey ~ please feel free to reach to me directly at Debbie.Estes@bestbuy.com . We have been able to test drag racing activation in local markets through our great partners at Coke/Powerade. I would be happy to talk racing, football, baseball, soccer, etc ~ all day if I could spare the time. My love for racing started when Mario Andretti was a rookie driver ~ I was very young! At the same time I was also writing letters weekly to the owner of the Cincinnati Reds telling him what I thought he should do, going to as many games as I could and hanging out and collecting autographs! The owner, Bill Dewitt, finally sent me tickets to sit in the owner’s box! My first experience at sports access! If my parents only had the cool technology of today to document one of the highlights of my life up to that point! Or if Johnny Bench Twittered. At BBY we don’t have a sports marketing strategy ~ but it can be a powerful tool in the marketing tool box to activate strategies/objectives, connect with customers on a local and national level and energize employees. That in itself is not earth shattering information. It is the creativity in the differentiating activation that will make it pay off and drive results. NASCAR (and to some extent the NFL) were ahead of the curve in the realizing the power of access and connecting the power of a brand to the passion of fans. Other sports have copied that page. When Joe Montana picks a child up in a limo (who won a back to school contest) and takes him to breakfast at Perkins before he goes to school with him for an inspiring assembly, or when Magic Johnson coaches your child’s basketball team because one of the parents entered in a contest by buying the right product and used the right credit card ~ you are delivering life changing experiences. I’ve seem parents tear up when their child meets their local hero at a store personal appearance! Or image having your local GM at BBY call you up because you are a good customer and invite you to the NASCAR race, you meet Elliott Sadler before the race, and you have a great seat ~ that is connecting and building a relationship with a good customer. But to Barry’s point, it is essential to find partners whose goal is to help you achieve your business goals, easy to work with and they are committed to a winning team. We have those partners! This is just the start of the conversation ~ it is always a challenge to find the next level of value. Janet Aubrey ~ please feel free to reach to me directly at Debbie.Estes@bestbuy.com . We have been able to test drag racing activation in local markets through our great partners at Coke/Powerade.
I would be happy to talk racing, football, baseball, soccer, etc ~ all day if I could spare the time. My love for racing started when Mario Andretti was a rookie driver ~ I was very young! At the same time I was also writing letters weekly to the owner of the Cincinnati Reds telling him what I thought he should do, going to as many games as I could and hanging out and collecting autographs! The owner, Bill Dewitt, finally sent me tickets to sit in the owner’s box! My first experience at sports access! If my parents only had the cool technology of today to document one of the highlights of my life up to that point! Or if Johnny Bench Twittered.
At BBY we don’t have a sports marketing strategy ~ but it can be a powerful tool in the marketing tool box to activate strategies/objectives, connect with customers on a local and national level and energize employees. That in itself is not earth shattering information.
It is the creativity in the differentiating activation that will make it pay off and drive results. NASCAR (and to some extent the NFL) were ahead of the curve in the realizing the power of access and connecting the power of a brand to the passion of fans. Other sports have copied that page. When Joe Montana picks a child up in a limo (who won a back to school contest) and takes him to breakfast at Perkins before he goes to school with him for an inspiring assembly, or when Magic Johnson coaches your child’s basketball team because one of the parents entered in a contest by buying the right product and used the right credit card ~ you are delivering life changing experiences. I’ve seem parents tear up when their child meets their local hero at a store personal appearance! Or image having your local GM at BBY call you up because you are a good customer and invite you to the NASCAR race, you meet Elliott Sadler before the race, and you have a great seat ~ that is connecting and building a relationship with a good customer.
But to Barry’s point, it is essential to find partners whose goal is to help you achieve your business goals, easy to work with and they are committed to a winning team. We have those partners!
This is just the start of the conversation ~ it is always a challenge to find the next level of value.

]]> By: barryjudge http://barryjudge.com/conversation-with-craig-leopold-minnesota-wild-owner/comment-page-1#comment-190 barryjudge Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:25:03 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=13#comment-190 That is cool that Ted responded to your email. Craig and Ted should hook up. It would be great for fans to see them sparring about ideas on Twitter or Facebook. Has anyone seen sports teams be aggressive in the social technology space? To Erik Olson's question above, I wish I had asked Craig about his expectations of the soft economy on sports revenues including the question of currency on competitive balance. This issue will become even more interesting as the League expands to Europe. My bet is that Sports will be impacted by the economy. Maybe this will be a good things as the players have lost touch, in my opinion, with the fans. Perhaps, a tougher environment will make them spend more time on building the fan base. However, I attended the Wild opening night game last night and ther was no sign of trouble. Full house. That is cool that Ted responded to your email. Craig and Ted should hook up. It would be great for fans to see them sparring about ideas on Twitter or Facebook. Has anyone seen sports teams be aggressive in the social technology space?

To Erik Olson’s question above, I wish I had asked Craig about his expectations of the soft economy on sports revenues including the question of currency on competitive balance. This issue will become even more interesting as the League expands to Europe.

My bet is that Sports will be impacted by the economy. Maybe this will be a good things as the players have lost touch, in my opinion, with the fans. Perhaps, a tougher environment will make them spend more time on building the fan base.

However, I attended the Wild opening night game last night and ther was no sign of trouble. Full house.

]]> By: Clint Perez http://barryjudge.com/conversation-with-craig-leopold-minnesota-wild-owner/comment-page-1#comment-188 Clint Perez Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:00:39 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=13#comment-188 As a follow up to my previous comment, I did trade some e-mails with Ted Leonsis this week. He does claim to be on Twitter, although I could only find a Twitter for his team, which posts the team scores (last night's 7-4 loss to the Thrashers was conveniently not updated). He is on Facebook (I am waiting for him to accept my friend request). And, he is on something called AIMFight. Finally, he does have a blog at the team website. The coolest thing is that he did answer my e-mails. You can reach him at washingtoncaps@aol.com. As a follow up to my previous comment, I did trade some e-mails with Ted Leonsis this week. He does claim to be on Twitter, although I could only find a Twitter for his team, which posts the team scores (last night’s 7-4 loss to the Thrashers was conveniently not updated). He is on Facebook (I am waiting for him to accept my friend request). And, he is on something called AIMFight. Finally, he does have a blog at the team website.

The coolest thing is that he did answer my e-mails. You can reach him at washingtoncaps@aol.com.

]]> By: Erik Olson http://barryjudge.com/conversation-with-craig-leopold-minnesota-wild-owner/comment-page-1#comment-187 Erik Olson Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:53:59 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=13#comment-187 Thanks for the post about this. V. interesting stuff. Owning a team would be amazing. Here's to hoping that Powerball ship comes in. A question I thought of after your meeting: Did you talk at all about the change in the dollar's value v. the Canadian dollar and if that has changed the dynamics of the league at all? (I know, nothing like some currency talk over dinner... but hear me out...) I know for a while the NBA was having a tough time getting free agents to go (or to stay) with Vancouver and Toronto, and that was part of the reason the Grizzlies moved. I just wonder if the monetary reshuffling has made the Canadian teams more viable to the point that some of these struggling sun belt teams, etc would move back into a Winnipeg, etc. Thanks for the post about this. V. interesting stuff. Owning a team would be amazing. Here’s to hoping that Powerball ship comes in.

A question I thought of after your meeting: Did you talk at all about the change in the dollar’s value v. the Canadian dollar and if that has changed the dynamics of the league at all? (I know, nothing like some currency talk over dinner… but hear me out…)

I know for a while the NBA was having a tough time getting free agents to go (or to stay) with Vancouver and Toronto, and that was part of the reason the Grizzlies moved. I just wonder if the monetary reshuffling has made the Canadian teams more viable to the point that some of these struggling sun belt teams, etc would move back into a Winnipeg, etc.

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