SoGamed Sponsorship Article

[rizzuh]

Why would companies sponsor players themselves?

[alikzam13]

because clans die. Its all about stability like the article says.

[obsoleet]

I work for a company that has looked at sponsoring teams. As an insider to the gaming community I can see the trouble of team instability, but a lot of other sponsors won't even be aware of this problem (as it is specific to gaming, they are aware of the general instability of any sporting team). The real problem is there is no significant ROI on sponsoring a team. The same reasons why companies sponsor stadiums, events, and individual players before teams in other sports applies to gaming as well.



You have to ask the question, what will truly bring your company visibility and customers --- Intel gets a lot more out of their investment in sponsoring the event than if they would have sponsored a team. Also because there is no formal organization within the gaming community when it comes to teams, a lot of them really don't deserve much respect. The teams that organize themselves the most professionally will have the best chance, but I don't know if the future of gaming as a sport lies in the hands of player run teams.

[wee bull]

rizzuh wrote..

Why would companies sponsor players themselves?

Think of all those amazing-great-I'm-so-gloriously-skillful movies you've watched. And think about the one's that have actually made you sit up and take notice. Then add a fancy sponsor (and perhaps a more gullible mind), and Bob's your father's brother.

For instance, if you've ever watched HeatoN play in a few clan matches, you'll soon realise he's not the world's best ever CS player, he's just one of many rather good players. But there are lots of players out there who will swear he's the greatest player ever, simply because they've seen a few 5 second demo's of him.



By the way, you need a British English setting for this spell checker. It's realise damn you!

[Gnu]

It might do in a similar way to how little league teams are sponsored -- small businesses helping with equipment, travel, etc., in exchange for advertising. I was with a TFC clan who was sponsored by a web hosting company with a good permanent host for the clan site in exchange for a little bit of advertising (no big ugly banners, too, just the odd mention). Clan sponsorship does work, but I doubt it will for quite some time on a corporate scale.

[dRage]

rizzuh wrote..

Why would companies sponsor players themselves?

Just think about other sports. Basketball, for instance. Many players are sponsered by companies, aka Kobe Bryant and Sprite. It could work in this world too I guess.

[rizzuh]

dRage wrote..

Just think about other sports. Basketball, for instance. Many players are sponsered by companies, aka Kobe Bryant and Sprite. It could work in this world too I guess.

Except Sprite doesn't sponsor Kobe, Sprite pays him to do commercials which sell Sprite's product. Kobe is sponsoring Sprite!

[[SWE]Twiggy]