Show Your Horns – Business of Professional Sports
MN AMA Event Recap from Tuesday, November 12th
How can companies compete with the experiences that digital now provides inside of your own home?
You can sit in Minneapolis traffic for an hour, pay $20 for parking, and sit in the nosebleed seats next to the guy about to spill his drink on you. Or, with today’s technology, you can watch the game while checking your fantasy draft and tweeting about that fumble while lounging on your couch.
Steve LaCroix , Chief Marketing Officer for the Minnesota Vikings, spoke to this issue at a recent MN American Marketing Association event. LaCroix oversees all aspects of marketing for the Vikings including sales, digital marketing, community and special events, advertising, fan relations and game day activities.
LaCroix stated that one of the biggest challenges is getting people to come to the stadium instead of watching the game at home or the local bar.
This is a pretty big problem to have when the new stadium will run about 975 million dollars.
So how will the Vikings compete for fans’ time and money? LaCroix says, “By raising the customer experience inside of the new stadium.” The new in-stadium technology will have better wi-fi access so that fans can access apps like fantasy drafts and social media. Large screens situated around the stadium will show unique content for the audience.
During the presentation, event attendees got a peak at the new stadium plans. Not only will the stadium be the new home for the Vikings, but it is also a multi-purpose facility that will host events year-round.
The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and Mortenson Construction broke ground on the site on December 3 rd . The 65,000 seat, 1.7 million square-foot facility is scheduled for completion in July 2016.
For more of the latest news and marketing trends direct from industry experts, join us for the next MN AMA Event.
