ESPN - The one bright spot?

[larworth]

Spent the lunchhour listening to G. Bodenheimer's presentation on the future of ESPN. presentation

I think their margins are off a bit, due to all of the expensive sports rights they have acquired, but one has to be impressed that these guys seem to clearly know where they are going and what they are doing.

I heard Stagg's make a comment one time that the Cap City deal almost has paid for itself based only on the increased value of the ESPN franchise. It would be an interesting anaysis to see.

This may be a textbook example of a "blind squirrel finding an acorn" and what can happen when those who know and love their business are allowed to run it properly. I hope Jay R. has as much love for the parks as these guys seem to have for sports programming.

It would be a hoot to see what their ad agency would come up with for promoting the parks.

 

[raidermatt]

This may be a textbook example of a "blind squirrel finding an acorn" and what can happen when those who know and love their business are allowed to run it properly.

I think so.

It would be a hoot to see what their ad agency would come up with for promoting the parks.

I think the Sportscenter commercials are awesome, but I'm not sure that would work for the Parks. (Unless they are as good at "Magic" as they are at humor...). But they certainly could be funny!

Hmmm, how about some cross-promotion...

Mickey Mouse in a SportsCenter commercial. Or better yet, Donald Duck and maybe Bobby Knight in a SportsCenter commercial.

How about Roger Clemens brushing back Jafar at the company softball game?

Chris Berman interviewing Shaq on Dumbo. (Would it even get off the ground?). Maybe the commercial could have Shaq as a new ride in Fantasyland?

 

[larworth]

Brand management at ESPN sounds like doing it the right way. They are commited to maintaining their industry leadership, have a clear longterm plan, are not afraid to invest in new things, want to control their own destiny, and wow their customers. Sounds like the parks about 10 years ago.

Or better yet, Donald Duck and maybe Bobby Knight in a SportsCenter commercial

I've often wished BK was literally a cartoon character, instead of being one figuratively.
Maybe, they could get BK to do the ribbon cutting when they open the new "villians" park. There's cross-promotion. I can see a circle vision attraction based on "Season on the Brink" already.

They have been vocal about Disney and ESPN being the only two brands they will invest in. Given this I wonder why we haven't seen an ESPN based attraction inside the parks?

 

[raidermatt]

They have been vocal about Disney and ESPN being the only two brands they will invest in. Given this I wonder why we haven't seen an ESPN based attraction inside the parks?

They probably haven't figured out how to make it work. From what I understand, the NFL Experience at WWoS hasn't been very well received. It seems the Richard Petty Experience has been reasonably successful, but I have nothing to back that up. (of course, those aren't actually in the parks...)

I don't know, when I think of cross-promotion for networks and attractions, I keep having visions of Superstar Limo. If that's how they would pull it off, ugh. Better to not tarnish ESPN's name.

The ESPN Zones are doing pretty well, and there's that rumor that it could be taking over all or part of the Disney Quest building. They also have ESPN merchandise in the parks.

Maybe, they could get BK to do the ribbon cutting when they open the new "villians" park.

Not bad at all...

Brand management at ESPN sounds like doing it the right way. They are commited to maintaining their industry leadership, have a clear longterm plan, are not afraid to invest in new things, want to control their own destiny, and wow their customers.

I agree with this completely, and applaud them for it!

 

[larworth]

The success of the ESPNZones should give them confidence there is interest. I don't know what activities they had at their NFL experience, but this is not exactly what I was thinking of.

I'm not saying it belongs in the parks, but given they were willing to have an attraction? schilling the latest ABC shows, I was just wondering why they haven't jumped at the chance to cross-promote ESPN in a much bigger way in the parks.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has an interesting moving theater experience. Some incarnation of this approach would be easy around all the major ESPN sports. With contracts extending for the rest of the decade there is stability here. Sports and fantasy are no strangers so they should be able to come up with something interesting.

I keep having visions of Superstar Limo.

I hadn't even thought of this as a redo. A ride where you are the league MVP and you are trying to escape autograph hounds, groupies, drug dealers, and the child support collectors. It has possibilities.

Plus, it would fit into DCA so naturally since I hear people in CA do participate and watch sports.

 

[RyMickey]

This may be a foolish question, but it's one for which I don't have an answer.

If Disney were to sell ABC, would that mean that they would be selling ESPN? Does ABC "own" ESPN or are they two separate entities?

Thanks.

RyMickey

 

[LAinSEA]

and they have always been profitable

are known to promote from within

do not grow their payroll unless there has been a great justified need for it

average term of service for their employers is 12 years (as of about 2 years ago)

(it was tough to turn down a job offer there a couple of years back)

-LA