Alternate Sources of Revenue

I've just read a PDF file called "The Coming Revenue Revolution in Sports". Unfortunately, there is no way to obtain the full contents of this PDF file unless one has Lexis-Nexus. (If you're a reader and you have this service, care to send me the full .pdf?)

From the part I was able to read, the article divides sports revenue into traditional sources:

1. gate revenue
2. rights fees to TV
3. merchandising
4. sponsorships
5. team ownership
6. concessions

The other parts of the article name what are called "other revenue sources", which are probably sources that have only recently been used and understood:

1. architecture
2. luxury suites/club seats
3. pay-per-view
4. satellite radio
5. personal seat licensing
6. media access charges
7. naming rights
8. sport as entertainment
9. international expansion


The final part of the article deals with what are called "nontraditional revenue sources":

1. housing related to the sports complex
2. computers at your seat
3. projected ads on field/court/ice
4. name plates on seats
5. headsets that would connect the fan to the field
6. flat screens in restrooms
7. interactive TV
8. broadcast license for trains and airlines
9. fan blogs (with advertising)
10. gaming

Let's look at which of the non-traditional revenue sources are plausible for the Dream....

1. housing - not really plausible. When you think of "housing", you usually think of golf courses where a member of the club can buy a house right next to the golf course. Dream fans tend to be a bit cost conscious. Is a fan really going to buy a condo because it's right next to Philips Arena? It's also a pain in the ass to manage such properties. Maybe a Dream trailer park is more our level.

2. computers at your seat - I know that Philips Arena has wireless internet, although I don't think they'll be letting every fan bring their laptop any time soon. What this can be used for is to have concessionaires roam the aisles with nothing more than a computerized device, like they do at the Braves games. An order for concessions is taken at the seat and "beamed to" where the food is prepared. Then, the concessionaire brings the food to your seat.

I've used this at Braves games. And I've enjoyed it.

3. projected ads on field - This would definitely work. I wouldn't mind seeing projected ads, although if the Dream is losing by 25 I don't want to see an ad for "fast headache relief" (or maybe I do)

4. name plates on seats - sorry, but the Hawks or Thrashers would get first pick. Unless the nameplates could be unscrewed when the Hawks/Thrashers aren't playing.

5. headsets that would connect the fan to the field - Oh, hell yes! Let's say that the Dream had two broadcasts that could be picked up by transistor radio - one of the Dream bench and one of the opposing bench. We could hear Meadors curse up a storm! (Of course, the R-rated nature of such broadcasts would be known.)

Two mikes would be positioned near each bench. Whenever there was a timeout, the mikes would be turned off to keep play calling private.

6. flat screens in restrooms - It works only if the patrons pee standing up.

7. interactive TV - I'll be happy with "regular TV".

8. broacast license for trains and airlines - why not? MARTA could show Dream games instead of those boring old newscasts. Furthermore, Dream games could be broadcast at the airport as well.

9. fan blogs - sorry, you ain't getting my fan blog riches (Did you know I swim in a pile of hundred dollar bills every night? Thanks, readers!)

10. gaming - I'll play any sort of WNBA electronic game if it comes out, even it it's a text sim. But it has to be the entire WNBA roster, not just a few select players for NBA Live.

Just a few thoughts. Even though attendance is great, I don't mind squeezin' that ol' nickel until Thomas Jefferson screams.