There is a lot of hype generating around this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament, otherwise know as "March Madness." Last year, over $1.5 billion was generated in TV ad revenue for the nearly month long event. Revenues this year are expected to far surpass those of 2013. Large companies are now rallying around the event that brings together college basketball fans from all over the country to cheer on the best 64 teams in the nation.
Anheuser-Busch is famously known for its all inclusive, full brand experience hotels, Bud Light Hotels, that it rents out for Superbowl fans each year. Well that tradition is now moving to March Madness. Anheuser-Busch has rented out a hotel in Dallas for four days around the final rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
(An outside look of the Bud lLght Hotel from Superbowl XLVI)
Other major marketing efforts seen at large scale sporting events are also being implemented into March Madness. Coke Zero and AT&T have teamed up to provide concerts everyday while the tournament is in Dallas. A March Madness specific app has even been created for fans to keep up with all the action taking place.
The tournament is sure to spark a lot of talk and it provides the perfect opportunity for companies to promote their brands for nearly an entire month! That is a winning situation if you ask me, I know I will be watching.
Have you filled out your bracket yet?
Sources:
http://www.minyanville.com/sectors/media/articles/March-Madness-Marketing-Mayhem-T-DIS/3/17/2014/id/54183
Downloaded the March Madness app 30 minutes ago actually. But you're right, there aren't many better opportunities to get your name/brand out there than during the tourni. I bet the Anheuser-Busch hotel in Dallas will be a ton of fun.
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