Failing economy coupled with lackluster fanbase affects Super Bowl XLIII events
First of all, I am not a football fan in any manner shape or form. I either fall asleep during most Super Bowls, awaking periodically to catch some commercials or halftime entertainment, or I am dragged out by my football fanatic husband to a watch party. Ideally, I find something else to do during that time with those like myself.
In any case, it caught my ears this morning to hear the news reporting that many events this year are being canceled.
From ABC News…
SUPER BORING? CANCELED A-LIST SUPER BOWL PARTIES
In these recessionary times, corporate America is shying away from many of the legendary extravaganzas of Super Bowls past. And this year’s host city, Tampa, Fla., is feeling the brunt of it.
The annual Playboy Super Bowl party? Canceled.
Last year, a ticket to the bunny-laden celebration ran around $2,000 and was hosted by Grammy-winning rapper Common, according to Time magazine. Not this year.
The Brooks & Dunn Golf Classic celebrity golf tournament? Canceled. It couldn’t get enough sponsors, or stars, to attend.
The Sports Illustrated party? Canceled.
Even the National Football League is feeling the hard times: Prices of some Super Bowl tickets have been cut 25 percent, and the league is about to lay off 150 employees…
Some traditional advertisers have also pulled out as well, although the article from the Houston Chronicle quoted below takes a glass half full look at this year’s Super Bowl.
SUPER BOWL ADS WILL TRY TO TAKE MINDS OFF ECONOMIC MESS
…If nothing else, we still have our Super Bowl ads — 45 minutes, give or take, during the Steelers-Cardinals game of the best that Madison Avenue has to offer, at NBC’s price tag of $2.4 million to $3 million for each 30 seconds…
…Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Sports and Olympics, said the network had sold 85 percent of its in-game inventory as of mid-September, which helped it avoid a last-minute fire sale of unsold ads as the economy tanked during the fourth quarter.
…“Considering the state of the economy, we couldn’t be more thrilled,” Ebersol said.
Several traditional advertisers, most notably FedEx and General Motors, opted out of the Super Bowl. Those slots have been taken over by first-time advertisers such as TeleFlora, Denny’s (with a Sopranos-styled breakfast meeting featuring three wiseguys) and Pedigree (whose “Crazy Pets” spot featuring rhinos and ostriches on the loose aims to promote the adoption of more traditional pets like shelties and setters)…
