The continued corporatization of sports : The NBA approves advertisements on jerseys

[boxman15]

LAS VEGAS -- The NBA Board of Governors approved a new look for uniforms and a couple of changes in the use of video replay, commissioner David Stern announced Thursday night.

Stern met with the media after the Board of Governors held their annual summer meeting, and said the league is looking to add possibly $100 million in revenue by permitting small advertising patches on uniforms starting in the 2013-14 season.

"The view is that the teams would need a significant time; one, to sell the patch; and number two, for adidas to manufacture the uniforms, because the patch that would be on the players' uniforms would also appear on the jerseys at retail," said deputy commissioner Adam Silver, who is handling the uniform change.

Silver said there are revenue projections from European soccer teams the NBA could use.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8182973/nba-adds-three-additional-uses-instant-replay-2012-13-season

This is disgusting to me. I don't watch sports for the sponsors, and there's no way in hell these teams need money like this. But, it is what it is and I'll expect the NFL, MLB, NHL, and even the NCAA to do the same within the next five years. This is a sad reflection on American society, in my opinion. Everything is corporate now.

[PoliticAverse]

1. Just go full NASCAR... n/t

[Lizzie Poppet]

2. As a soccer fan, I guess I'm inured to this.

I don't really notice the sponsor names, even though when I'm watching, say, EPL or La Liga games, they're often unfamiliar to me (and thus more noticeable). I guess that means they're not necessarily all that effective!

[KamaAina]

6. Pity us poor San Jose Earthquakes supporters

[Lizzie Poppet]

9. Ouch.

[rurallib]

3. I used to be a big sports fan until @1993

I am so sick of the money and the ads that I seldom watch any more. My viewing time for the Olympics will be @1 hour - mostly because I will ant to veg and there will be nothing else to do.
I was a huge baseball fan, but now a 2 hour game takes 4 to 5 hours.
One thing about soccer - they trade off the patches for lack of commercials on the TV. I could handle that.

[msongs]

4. NBA is not sports. it's entertainment. sports are something you do yourself nt

[Marrah_G]

5. Gross

[hughee99]

7. Why is this a sad reflection on AMERICAN society...

Watch soccer, cricket, grand prix racing, European PGA or Tennis tournaments, or hell, even darts and you'll see ads everywhere, and often much more prominent than what the NBA is going to start out with.

[madinmaryland]

8. Lovely. Now the Boston Celtics will become the Boston Bains.

[surrealAmerican]

10. So, does this mean no more hitting up the local taxpayers ...

... for support?


Just kidding. I know it means we, as taxpayers, will now have the opportunity to help publicize these "sponsors" too. Oh, joy.