This past Tuesday, the Advertising Club of Buffalo offered a unique sports marketing speaking event through their monthly AdLab at Templeton Landing. AdLabs are a monthly event the club hosts open to members and non-members alike, that present educational and panel sessions on a diverse range of advertising and marketing topics. The sessions allow the audience to hear experts on a specific topic discuss trends, challenges and best practices, and also ask questions.

This month’s panel included Vic Carucci (Cleveland Browns Senior Editor, former NFL.com/NFL Network Senior Columnist) an award-winning writer who has covered the NFL for more than 30 years, Brent Rossi (Buffalo Sabres Vice President of Brand Strategy and Marketing) and John Cimperman (CENERGY Principal) with the conversation moderated by WGR 550 morning show host Jeremy White.

There was a lot of great insight looking into the strategy of what it takes to pull off perfect execution in sports marketing.

Here’s a sampling of the key points discussed:

-Fan experience is the top priority for teams. Fans will support a team that genuinely supports its fans.

-Sponsors are now viewed as partners.

-Finding ways to improve the in-game experience is key.

-Gathering feedback whether it is surveys, social media or sitting in the stands. It’s all relevant.

-Team-run media, TV and radio, will continue to be a trend.

-Citizen journalists are welcomed.  They help spread the word.

-Lower tier, sustained sponsorships are better than top tier, one-time deals.

If interested in future AdLab events you can learn more here.

Content originally posted on ACB’s blog seen here: http://www.advertisingclubofbuffalo.com/blog/

Terri Swiatek is a Digital Designer at Travers Collins.