Archive for June, 2008

Floyd’s legacy?

Posted on 30. Jun, 2008 by in New Media | No Comments

The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced earlier today that it will uphold USADA’s suspension of Floyd Landis, whose website is currently down. That was Floyd’s last chance to be exonerated through the global sporting establishment, although it is possible that he’ll continue through civil court.
I’ve never been able to commit to a position on [...]

Brits on Tour in 2010?

Posted on 27. Jun, 2008 by in Bike Racing, Sponsors, Sports Business | No Comments

There’s been a flurry of news in the UK (1, 2, 3) that Dave Brailsford, architect of British Cycling’s dominant track program, is planning a top-flight road team for next year. Not that anyone had to do much digging to find that out. Brailsford has embarked on what amounts to a press tour, outlining his [...]

Puma I-Cycle video shorts

Posted on 26. Jun, 2008 by in Marketing, New Media, Trends | No Comments

Puma I-Cycle video shorts

Puma has released I-Cycle, a series of video shorts featuring the founder of the Recycle-A-Bicycle program in New York, actor Matthew Modine’s Bicycle For a Day, the guy who had the first pedicab in New York, the organizer of the Bicycle Film Festival, and Puma’s bike collecting CMO.
One thing that jumped out at me immediately [...]

The BBC guide to corporate social networking

Posted on 25. Jun, 2008 by in Marketing, New Media | No Comments

The BBC has published a guide for its producers on how to use social networks and other social sites to promote the BBC and its programming. The principles that they outline are essential for any marketer who wants to use social web sites in a way that feels natural and appropriate to users. Here are [...]

MASH at the RVCA x Cinelli art show

Posted on 20. Jun, 2008 by in Client News, Trends | No Comments

MASH at the RVCA x Cinelli art show

Last night was the opening of the “Pressure” art show, a collaboration between RVCA and Cinelli. The show featured bike-themed works by some really well known graphic artists like Barry McGee, KAWS, Phil Frost, and others. MASH was given the corner window display to play around with, and Mike came up with this giant dreamcatcher [...]

One more sponsor

Posted on 18. Jun, 2008 by in Bike Racing, Sports Business | No Comments

Plenty of reports this morning that Slipstream has signed Garmin as its new title sponsor, but Velonews explains the deal in the most detail. I might write something later about this, or maybe just wait until the next ROAD column to go over all three recent deals. Anyways, congrats to Slipstream.

High Road signs Columbia

Posted on 18. Jun, 2008 by in Bike Racing, Marketing, Sports Business | 1 Comment

High Road signs Columbia

Good news came on Monday that High Road Sports, the former T-Mobile team, has signed Columbia Sportswear as title sponsor for its men’s and women’s teams through 2010.
Outside of the implications for cycling, what’s interesting to me about this deal is the shift in Columbia’s brand. Earlier this year, they dropped the agency that developed [...]

Less Greenopolis, more cycling team

Posted on 17. Jun, 2008 by in New Media, Trends | 4 Comments

Less Greenopolis, more cycling team

TechCrunch reports that garbage and recycling company Waste Management has launched a social network called Greenopolis that encourages users to “Learn. Act. Reward. Together.™” It’s a full-on social network with user profiles, friends lists, blogging and media, forums, etc. It’s also an example of a company hopping on the social networking bandwagon a bit too [...]

ASO & AEG collab on Tours of France, California

Posted on 16. Jun, 2008 by in Bike Racing, Sports Business | No Comments

Just got a press release from AEG’s PR agency announcing that they’ve partnered with ASO to co-market the Tour of California and the Tour de France. Based on the release here’s my impression of the agreement:
ASO receives:

Sponsorship packge of the Tour of California
Assistance from AEG with sponsorship sales to US companies

AEG receives:

Sponsorship package of the [...]