IBM Uses Augmented Reality at the 2010 U.S. Open

IBM is using augmented reality to take the fan experience at the 2010 U.S. Open to new heights. The computer technology company developed a U.S. Open iPhone application that allows users on-site at the tournament to point their phone in the direction of the tennis court (even if you are walking by outside) and receive real-time scores and statistics. Fans can also use this iPhone app functionality to see what restaurants are on-site.

The new U.S. Open App essentially marries the camera and GPS functionality of an iPhone to offer real-time scoring, live radio, venue maps, and the special "Around me" feature that provides fans with an interactive experience via augmented reality. The app serves as a great demonstration of IBM's "Smarter Planet" campaign and helps the company showcase t...

Air New Zealand Leverages Rugby Partnership with Safety Video

As part of their partnership with the New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Team, Air New Zealand recently released a terrific airplane safety video that incorporates players, fans, and more. The video demonstrates new ways that teams and airline partners can leverage their affiliations in creative ways.

Check it out below:

Brian Gainor is a passionate sports marketer with agency experience as well as an extensive background working in the NFL, NFL Europe, and collegiate athletics. Brian completed his MBA/MSA graduate work at Ohio University (Athens, OH) and currently resides in Charlotte, NC. As a Sports Partnership Activation Consultant, Brian created Partnership Activation, Inc. to provide sports business professionals with "industry best practices" - creative ideas that provide o...

The Yankees Launch Ticket Booth at Modell's in Times Square

The New York Yankees have teamed up with Modell's to create a ticket sales booth at the sporting good chain's retail location in Times Square. The unique sales location will offer tickets on sale at discounted prices, up to 50% off, starting at 8 AM for day games and noon for night games. Each customer willing to wait in line for tickets can purchase up to four (4) "Mo Saver" tickets, which will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Yankees and Modell's drove buzz for the launch of the new ticket sales venture on Monday by featuring former Yankees star Tino Martinez on hand to greet fans and speak to future opportunities. The booth is part of Modell's plans to turn its retail locations into more of an interactive experience for fans.

The venture serves as a g...

Hewlett Packard Celebrates Dallas Cowboys Partnership

Hewlett Packard recently created a tremendous viral piece that highlights its partnership with the Dallas Cowboys in a unique way. The clip provides insight into all of the work that went into designing and building the IT infrastructure behind the most technologically advanced stadium on the planet - the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

The viral piece highlights the HP converged infrastructure and would serve as an impactful piece to show on the video board and the team website for fans to enjoy. Check it out below:

Brian Gainor is a passionate sports marketer with agency experience as well as an extensive background working in the NFL, NFL Europe, and collegiate athletics. Brian completed his MBA/MSA graduate work at Ohio University (Athens, OH) and currently resides in Charlo...

Bring Furniture Sponsors to the Tailgate Lots

Are you looking for new ways to leverage furniture sponsors on game day? Are you looking for new ways to activate in your tailgate lots?

Sports organizations looking for new ways to deliver value for their corporate partners on game day - specifically furniture sponsors - should take a close look at the video below. A couple of students at BYU built a motorized couch using a motor from a wheel chair to get around on game day.

This idea serves as a great way for sports organizations to bring their furniture sponsors to life on game day. Instead of featuring a furniture display within the stadium concourse that you hope will draw fans, create ways that you can bring furniture to the fans, especially during the 3-4 hour tailgate window prior to games. The end result will be more impr...

With thousands of fans tailgating outside stadiums and arenas every given night, ample opportunities exist for brand marketers to drive consumer impressions and partnership affiliation awareness. As organizations and brand partners continue to analyze opportunities inside stadium parking lots, it's hard to ignore what has become a common practice at the Tour de France.

With limited marketing opportunities along the course, Tour de France sponsors invest their activation dollars into building mobile vehicles designed to entertain fans lining the course. These vehicles, traveling as a parade of sponsors, serve as effective awareness drivers for partnering brands.

Sports organizations in the United States can benchmark this practice of mobilizing sponsors by incorporating them in:

...

The Arizona Diamondbacks Unveil the Dbacks Legends Race

The Arizona Diamondbacks are taking their game entertainment to the next level with the introduction of a new Legends Race initiative that celebrates four of the team's All-Star players from the past. The team's new entertainment tactic, sponsored by Henkel North America, serves as a great way of how sports properties can take a general concept and customize it to make it their own.

When the team unveiled the Racing Legends for the first time on Friday, four costumed employees with oversized heads standing 10-feet-tall represented former Diamondbacks' players Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez, Matt Williams, and Mark Grace. The race, won on the first night by Randy Johnson, will occur between the 5th and 6th inning of every Diamondbacks game for the rest of year and beyond. But the first ...

Nike Hits the Subway to Write the Future

Are you looking for new ways to promote team/player affiliations in high-traffic outdoor settings? Are you looking for new ways to "own" subway and train stations?

Nike leveraged is "Write the Future" World Cup campaign in Denmark by giving a subway station in Norreport a complete makeover. The campaign was designed to demonstrate Nike's support for Denmark footballer Nicklas Bendtner, with the hope that he could guide his team to the promise land and become a leading scorer in the World Cup.

Check out Nike's terrific metro station branding initiative in the video and photos enclosed below:

Source: Nakedcomms cph's Flickr Photostream

Brian Gainor is a passionate sports marketer with agency experience as well as an extensive background working in the NFL, NF...

Vodafone Emphasizes Teamwork with F1 Viral

Vodafone recently unveiled a tremendous viral piece that features its star F1 drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, scrambling to put together the pieces of their car after their pit crew team decides to leave. The viral piece does a great job emphasizing the integral role that all team members play on the Vodafone race team. No star is bigger than the teammates and personnel that support him/her.

Check out the piece below!

Brian Gainor is a passionate sports marketer with agency experience as well as an extensive background working in the NFL, NFL Europe, and collegiate athletics. Brian completed his MBA/MSA graduate work at Ohio University (Athens, OH) and currently resides in Charlotte, NC. As a Sports Partnership Activation Consultant, Brian created Partnership...

Nike Takes You Inside Their 2010 OOH World Cup Execution

At the World Cup in South Africa, Nike recently released a really cool viral piece that demonstrates how they wrapped the side of the Southern Life building in Johannesburg with an inspiring campaign.

Check out the viral piece below... It does a terrific job providing an inside look at their behind-the-scenes execution!

Brian Gainor is a passionate sports marketer with agency experience as well as an extensive background working in the NFL, NFL Europe, and collegiate athletics. Brian completed his MBA/MSA graduate work at Ohio University (Athens, OH) and currently resides in Charlotte, NC. As a Sports Partnership Activation Consultant, Brian created Partnership Activation, Inc. to provide sports business professionals with "industry best practices" - creative ideas that ...