5 Creative Ways you Can Get Involved With Kansas City Sports

Susie Kirkpatrick

Susie Kirkpatrick About The Author

Jun 30, 2020 8:55:00 AM

5-creative-ways-you-can-get-involved-with-kansas-city-sports

People love to watch sports. They love to feel involved with their favorite teams. Every year, savvy businesses look for ways to get their brands in front of sporting fans. Unfortunately, it often comes at a hefty price. With some of these creative solutions, you can get your brand involved with sports fans across the Kansas City area at a more affordable rate.

1. Sponsor Weekly Segments

Take a look at your local news station that likely has several weekly segments focused on sports. Kansas City news stations like KCTV and KSMO TV highlight teams, players, and even replay footage of the games that local viewers want to see most. Try to find a segment that fits with your business: a local injury report that displays Kansas City players who suffered an injury during the week's games, for example, might receive sponsorship from a hospital. This strategy allows businesses to get in front of sports fans without paying for the prime ad spots used during actual games.

2. Cooking Segment

Cooking segments often prove popular with sports fans when they're geared toward that audience. Try sharing recipes suited for tailgating at the game or watching from home. You can show off recipes focused around the Kansas City staples that people love to enjoy on game days or put together recipes related to the colors and teams your viewers support. Try showing off a great barbecue recipe or putting a unique twist on Kansas City baked beans: some of the most popular foods for game day and beyond. Don't forget to wear your favorite sports gear and use dishes and decor that center around the sports team. This is a great advertising opportunity for bakeries, restaurants, or grocery stores throughout the Kansas City area to align their brand with sports, without the heavy ad spend.

3. Social Media Campaigns

You don't have to get in front of a television audience to participate in the hype and excitement of upcoming game days. Run a weekly campaign that helps take advantage of all the excitement of upcoming games. Highlight employees wearing their game day gear or show off what your business has chosen to offer for this game, like a percentage off if the home team wins. As a restaurant, you might offer a special tailgating pack for your customers, while a bakery might offer special cookies or cupcakes decorated in the team's colors. You could also invite customers to let you know what they're looking forward to most when game day arrives, or invite them to share their own photos of them using their sports-themed merchandise from your store. By staying active on social media through engaging with sports fans and creating content around your home team, you will be able to get involved with sports fans at a much more affordable cost.

4. Run Ads on Game Days

You don't have to run ads during prime time to make the most of game-day advertising opportunities. If you're looking for a more affordable option for advertising on game day, run an ad before or after the game. Fans might choose to watch pregame coverage or to continue checking out the highlights offered after the game itself, making it the ideal opportunity for you to connect with sports fans. For example, a local sports bar might want to advertise that customers need to order by a certain time in order to have food delivered before kick-off. When you advertise your business with segments, times, or days associated with sports, you are able to align your business with sports without working directly with a team.

5. Give Tips for Enjoying Game Day

Game days might look a little different this year, but that does not mean customers cannot enjoy them just as much as ever—and your business can provide critical guidance that will help them do so. Partner with a lifestyle show like Better Kansas City and give tips for enjoying a game day at home or tailgating elsewhere. Offer guidance on game day fashion and how to carry your belongings into the stadium while still meeting the guidelines. Give tips on how to hold a stellar watch party, especially for people who might want to maintain social distancing practices. Provide information about how to keep food warm and drinks cold at the next tailgate. For example, a salon might provide tips for the perfect gameday hairstyle, while a store might showcase products that can help make game day better than ever. While you may focus on the tips that relate to your business, don't be afraid to go outside those general lines to offer more creative tips to help customers make the most of the upcoming sports seasons.

The return to sports is leading to considerable excitement in many circles. This year, many people have realized just how important sports really are to them, their family members, and even their businesses. By finding ways you can creatively market your business alongside Kansas City sports, you can bring some of that excitement back to your business as you continue to show your support for Kansas City and its teams by highlighting your support for the local sports teams.

Topics: Sports Marketing