March Madness Marketing

Every year as the month of February comes to a close, basketball fanatics prepare for the craziness that is March Madness.  Fans support their team, and everyone jumps at the chance to become an amateur bracketologist and pick the winners for each round.  However, just as college basketball enthusiasts plan and prepare for the NCAA tournament so do businesses.  Nike, Adidas, and Under Armor compete for the right to be the official athletic apparel sponsors for each competing team.  Strategies for designing the best uniforms that will result in jersey and team apparel sales from fan bases are heavily considered.  Additionally, just like the Super Bowl, various businesses are competing for commercial space and air-time to attract the large viewership of the March Madness tournament.  Also, TV networks like Turner Broadcasting and CBS battle it out for the rights to air NCAA basketball games.  I find it interesting how so many facets of marketing surround this one singular tournament.  But if there's a lesson to be learned, it is that strategy is key.  If a business is going to get involved with the March Madness tournament, whether through designing apparel, airing games, or buying airtime for commercials, they better have a knowledgable staff regarding the teams that play and their popularity with the American public.