I was reading about sponsorship (because well…I’m a bit obsessed with it if you couldn’t tell) and something slapped me in the face,
I know, I’ve said things slap me in the face in the past…unfortunately, it is happening a lot more...
I sound old sometimes and say "Back in my day, we didn't have QR codes." when I talk about how QR codes can help drive engagement & conversion in your stadiums.
At SQWAD we specialize in crafting digital experiences that help sponsors...
As with all things, we must adapt to survive in business.
Whether it is the natural progression in an industry, a change in consumer behavior, or overall innovation…we have to constantly expect change.
Sometimes dramatic events accelerate these items. Depressions, recessions, war, and...
We’re on the horizon for getting fans back into our stadium barring a major health setback. (knock on wood). With fans back we’ll need to ensure that they feel safe, are safe, and still have a great experience in our stadiums...
It seems as though each year we are met with new opportunities, obstacles, and trends in sponsorship. It’s something that I love about our industry.
It is forever progressing as our brands and fans change with the times.
With change comes items that...
Resolutions come with the New Year. Turning a new leaf. Starting with a blank slate.
A new beginning.
But what can we focus on in 2020 to ensure the longevity of our sponsorship assets and value?
Have no fear…Rich & Nick are here to...
I hear this a lot from teams. And it is a bit scary. In fact, I heard this recently from a notable team:
“I think you are overstating the number of times fans are looking at their phones on game day.”
My jaw...
Ghosting, Friend Zone, whatever you want to call it…sometimes after a great pitch and initial interest from a partner, we get radio silence.
This is not specific to sports & event sponsorship…this happens in ALL of sales. You will get ghosted in...
In the modern sports landscape, fan attention is the ultimate currency. We’ve seen a massive shift toward "playing along" in real-time, highlighted by major leagues leaning into predictive markets and interactive second-screen experiences. Fans don’t...
More inventory doesn’t mean more value. It usually means less.
For years, sports sponsorship has operated under a quiet assumption: if revenue is the goal, inventory is the answer.
Add more signage. Create more assets. Open more...
I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about what sponsorships in sports have become...and what they were always meant to be.
Not from the perspective of inventory or impressions. Not CPMs, logo counts, or “media...
There’s a temptation in business—especially in sports sponsorships—to believe that reach is everything. The bigger the audience, the bigger the impact. The more logos, the better. The wider the net, the more fish you’ll catch.
But...
“The goal is not to fit in. The goal is to resonate.”— Rick Rubin
The Misconception of Attention
Most sponsorships start from the wrong place.
We assume the audience will care.We assume the logo is enough.We assume that...
In the world of sports sponsorships, creativity is often boxed into a role: something that belongs to the agency, the graphic designer, or the "creative team."
But what if creativity wasn’t a department—it was a mindset?
What...
In sports, perfection is often the illusion.
A perfect record. A flawless play. A pristine image on the jumbotron.
But in the realm of sponsorship, where connection matters more than control, perfection can be a liability. It...
In the high-stakes world of sports sponsorships, where millions are spent on visibility, impressions, and association, a powerful truth often gets lost: fans don't show up for brands.
They show up for the love of the...
I'm always interested in the exact definitions of the words we use. Sometimes, they can be powerful in understanding the meaning behind the everyday language we use.
The definition of the word Resolution is "a firm...
