When they return, sports leagues will overlap more than ever, and corporate sponsors will face the challenge of placing all their tickets
After releasing their schedule last Thursday, the NFL has made no official notice of postponing their season. Other leagues, including the NBA, NHL, MLB and PGA Tour are working toward resuming or starting their seasons in early June to late summer. As a result, this summer and fall will be the busiest sports seasons to date. It is a feasible reality, likelihood even, that all five leagues will be in-season simultaneously. Corporate partners with assets in multiple sports leagues will face the challenge of finding ways to cultivate interest from clients and prospects to avoid…
…Invite Fatigue
We’ve all been there. Too many happy hour invites, inexplicable months where everyone has a birthday party, weddings in different cities practically every weekend. At a certain point we get tired of going out and simply want to stay at home with our stuff and our loved ones (well… maybe not after #Quarantine2020 but you get my point).
Invite fatigue is very real and, coupled with fans’ fears of their own safety at sporting events, companies will need to find ways to get their customers excited about returning to live sporting events. Even if sports continue without fans (more than likely turning to virtual reality) companies will still need to foster excitement for decision makers and influencers but this time for the couch experience.
Fans or No Fans – Stay Ahead of the Competition
With all five leagues potentially playing their seasons simultaneously, companies are sure to compete for invites. For example, John Smith, CEO of a Smith Enterprises, could have multiple companies vying for his business. So, how can you ensure he chooses your invite over others, and continues to accept your invites in your search for signing him as a top customer?
Best.Day.Ever. has your back here. This new mini-series will focus on how to fight invite fatigue through creative invitations, strategic programming around your allocation work flows, and in-event engagement. First up, capturing attention with any event’s first impression – the invitation.
Freshly Designed Invites
There is nothing better than an in-person meeting. However, with the Coronavirus pandemic sure to impact our ability to shake hands, emails and phone calls will have to suffice. Yes, even though Zoom fatigue is a thing, video calls are in vogue right now. Yet, zoom calls (like events) need to be scheduled and planned, while emails and text messages lend themselves to the convenience of the recipient.
The invitation will be the first interaction your guests have with any event. There is a crucial need for new and innovative invites that expand beyond the practice of “Dear customer, want to go to this weekend’s Giants game?” Something that screams “this will be the best event you’ve ever been to” with company branding, vibrant imagery, and personalized messaging that appeals to three key components of the invitee’s life:
- Fandom – The best way to get someone to a game is if it involves their favorite team or player. Invite them to “come enjoy your favorite team” or to “see the top draft pick compete against the league’s best defense” or, for those who aren’t the biggest fans of the team or sport, “watch the NFL’s hottest team in the best rivalry in sports.”
- Family – For any event, when someone is invited, it’s hard to deduce whether it’s appropriate to bring other people not included. Make sure the designed invite encourages them to bring their family or friends. Messaging should relay the idea of “treat(ing) your close ones to a VIP experience in a luxury box with food and beverages provided.” Be sure to also include links to stadium information and safety protocols for dealing with fears of attending sports events post-COVID.
- Business – Most importantly, this invite is for business purposes. Ensure the invitee knows what the suite atmosphere will be, and the potential outcomes associated with it. This could be in the form of networking with others from the same industry, a workshop with executives of the inviting company, providing a suite-wide event where the guest brings various members of their organization with them, or simply providing an escape from countless hours spent in the boardroom working on a new deal together. Whatever the case, make sure they know exactly what you are inviting them to.
Remember your competition: other invitations, the invitees other uses of free time, and human emotion in a post-COVID world. Your invitation needs to not only capture their attention, but also clearly depict the experience and outcomes, making it a can’t miss event.
The best way to do this is by designing the invite from scratch using Photoshop, Spark, or other Adobe programs. Don’t have a great eye for design? Sites like Canva or Zazzle are great for beginners looking for inspiration.
Want some inspiration? Best.Day.Ever. can help! Contact us anytime.