1. Building a
TEAMDevelopment of strong and lasting relationships
between smaller athletic departments and their
surrounding communities (internal and external).
Presented by
Alvin N. Conteh
2. “If you want to go
fast, go alone. If
you want to go far,
you need a team.”
- John Wooden
3. I. Reach out to
local vendors
• Provide an opportunity (i.e. theme night) for
local vendors to be a part of an athletic
event.
• During this theme night, provide vendors
the opportunity to pass out marketing
materials and/or products to existing fans.
• In return, ask the vendor to sponsor a future
team event.
4. II. Ask existing
vendors to buy
season tickets
• Give your ticket sales staff a list of your
existing vendors.
• Ask these companies to buy season tickets.
• Encourage the season tickets that
companies purchase to be used as rewards
for their employees.
5. III. Reach out to
your on-campus
(internal)
community
• Reach out to your on-campus community
via your athletic events!!! (i.e. promote
athletic events and communicate
promotions within the residence halls,
Greek system and student body).
• Play a vital role on how information is
disseminated at your athletic events (Be
involved in creation of your PA
announcements and scripts, marketing
materials, game programs).
• Improve the atmosphere at each event
through the use of games, giveaways,
contests, trivia and music, etc.
6. IV. Become your
external
community’s
resource for
athletics
• Many of your largest and/or most influential
community groups have never been to one
of your athletic events. Identify these groups
and provide tickets to their leadership.
• Allow your athletic facilities to be rented for
area athletic events.
• Provide NCAA compliance workshops to
local high school athletic directors and
counselors.
7. V. Become a part
of your external
community’s
corporate
relationship
organizations
• Join the local chamber of commerce and
become a community ambassador.
• Serve as a resource at community fairs and
events.
• Participate in any type of leadership
training that your county or city government
provides.
• If fiscally possible, obtain the use of CRM
software to identify corporate targets.
8. VI. Once
relationships
have been built –
FOLLOW THROUGH!
• Make SURE that sponsor elements are
being fulfilled (i.e. logo exposure, PA
announcements, advertisement placement,
promotions and events).
• After completion of the sponsorship
campaign, ask the sponsor what they liked
and/or disliked.
• Be open to ideas from your sponsor – drive
the car but be willing to receive some
directions.
