In my last column, we talked about how supporting your local community is low-key one of the most effective ways to promote your business. It’s important you read that column before this one.Go to the times leader website, look in the business section, and you’ll find it. Times Leader is great because you can read the articles for free!
After writing that column, I decided to follow my own advice and become a sponsor of my son’s football team, the Ed-Lark Hurricanes (12u). Today I’ll explain what I did, how I found the information I needed and what I plan on doing going Foreward. Hopefully this at the very least give you some insights and maybe some inspiration on how you can get started in this kind of marketing!
Last Saturday, I got in touch with the president of the Ed-Lark Hurricanes organization, Tony Sitler, I explained to him that I’d like to sponsor my sons team and asked him how I could do that and inquired about any specific needs they might have. He said there are a few levels of pretty straightforward sponsorship and gave me a form to fill out. Simple enough. You pay $250 dollars and give them your logo and message and they put a banner on the field for you.
Not bad at all, literally hundreds, if not several thousand people are going to see my logo and call to action now! (Note: I may actually sponsor multiple banners, we’ll see how finances look over the next couple of weeks)
He also mentioned that the concession stand needed a new hot-water heater. The old one had failed a year earlier and the bathrooms and kitchen had only cold water. I decided to buy a new one for them, and I actually managed to install it without blowing the place up!
As for the plan to take photos and videos of the games — easy peasy. Tony had absolutely no problem allowing that — in fact, he encouraged it!
Local businesses, including pizza places, bakeries, and restaurants, have a unique opportunity to support their community by donating food to concession stands. This initiative can significantly help sports teams raise money to purchase necessary equipment, cover operational costs, and enhance their facilities. Concession stand sales are often one of the primary ways teams generate revenue during games and events, and donated food items can boost their profits even further.
Teams often have a wide range of needs, from basic equipment like shoulder pads, helmets, and cleats to more specialized gear such as football sleds and pylons. Additionally, upgrades to concession stands, such as installing a soda fountain system or a hot water heater, can improve the experience for both fans and team members. A fresh coat of paint featuring the business’s logo is another way to add value while promoting local companies that support the team. These investments not only enhance the game-day atmosphere but also ensure that teams can focus on what matters most—developing young athletes and providing them with the tools they need to succeed.
Beyond food donations, local businesses can also provide equipment or sponsor various elements of the team. For example, an internet company could offer to film games from the boom of a lift truck, providing a unique vantage point for video recordings (looking at you Loop Internet — let’s talk!)
Larger businesses with more resources might consider sponsoring team jerseys, with their logo prominently displayed on the sleeves. It would save so much money for families, as jerseys can cost around $100 per child, and with 60 kids in an organization you can be their hero for around $6,000!
There’s obviously more than just youth football leagues, that is just what’s on my radar right now. If you have kids ask the schools how you can get involved, if not, ask your friends who do have kids what kind of sports and activities they think would help.
Of course, you can also take a look at the Times Leader website (again: FREE) and take a look at the community events happening all around. The opportunities are endless!
By getting involved in these ways, local businesses not only give back to their community but build stronger relationships with the people they serve. It’s a win-win situation that benefits both the teams and the businesses, fostering a sense of community pride and collaboration.
I’ll keep you updated on what I’m doing and how it’s going, and I encourage you to join me! We have thousands of businesses in our area, and if we all contribute, we can make a startling difference for our kids and our community!
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