Football Partnerships

By ALEX KOTLER

For the second time in two weeks, Football Partnerships delivered a top-level event without a hitch.

KICKOFF: ATLANTA, held at STATS on Marietta Street downtown, featured presentations by Steve Bellis, Commercial Director at KickWorldwide, Jill Robbins, Executive Director at Soccer in the Streets and Alex Kotler, Founder of Football Partnerships.

The evening also provided the opportunity for soccer industry professionals to meet, mingle and learn within one of the city’s premier sporting venues.

“We enjoyed an important evening meeting others in the business of soccer and were thoroughly enthralled by the tales of Steve Bellis from KickWorldwide,” commented delegate David Bash, Founder at Techno Soccer Ventures. “As a soccer-entrepreneur, I recommend that you attend the next KICKOFF in your area and help support this grass roots effort to unify the business of soccer.”

Among the delegates in attendance were representatives from The Atlanta Beat, Red Bull North America, Georgia Soccer, Georgia Soccer Park, Insignia Promo and more.

Following a period of informal networking, complemented by refreshments, guest presenter Steve Bellis shared the insightful and, at times, humorous story of his experience as Commercial Director at English League 1 side Stockport County FC and how he brought the club to China’s uncharted western provinces, garnering crowds that dwarfed those at matches played in Beijing and Shanghai by the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona FC.

Later, he discussed his newest project, reality television program Soccer Prince, which awards the winning participants apprenticeships at English Premier League football clubs. Soccer Prince has been viewed by over 130 million people in China.

Listen to Mr. Bellis’ presentation from KICKOFF: ATLANTA via the Football Partnerships podcast.

“Football Partnerships is providing a much-needed forum for soccer industry professionals to build relationships and explore commercial opportunities,” said Alex Kotler, Founder of Football Partnerships. “Bringing together the industry’s decision-makers within a comfortable and welcoming environment – and providing educational and entertaining programming – is what Football Partnerships’ KICKOFF events are all about.”

Partners for KICKOFF: ATLANTA included The Georgian Terrace Hotel, Autograph Signs, Todo Alemán and Soccer Wholesale.

Next on the schedule for Football Partnerships is the 76er Mixer, a top-level networking breakfast at the 2010 NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event is free for all NSCAA Convention exhibitors and is $15 for Football Partnerships members, the latter of which enjoy a complimentary day pass to the exhibition and seminars.

Register for the 76er Mixer

Download the partnership/exhibition opportunity presentation

Football Partnerships podcast

Football Partnerships delivers a broadcast of Commercial Director at KickWorldwide Steve Bellis’ presentation, live from KICKOFF: ATLANTA.

Listen here on Football Partnerships, or subscribe to the show via iTunes by searching the podcast directory for ‘Football Partnerships’. Please note that the recording is best heard via iTunes, as some browsers disrupt audio transmission.

 

 Episode 53 [40:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2)

Images of KICKOFF: ATLANTA

Missed KICKOFF: ATLANTA? Check out who attended and what went down. (Please pardon the excessive presence of Alex Kotler in the photos.)

Football Partnerships podcast

Football Partnerships welcomes Gareth Moore, International Sales Director at SPORT+MARKT, to the program.

Listen here on Football Partnerships, or subscribe to the show via iTunes by searching the podcast directory for ‘Football Partnerships’. Please note that the recording is best heard via iTunes, as some browsers disrupt audio transmission.

 

 Episode 52: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (132)

By Juan Arango

Since I was a kid, I remember not going to games because it was “Mexico” or “El Salvador” or “this” or “that.”

I do remember going to see the US National Team and I remember seeing Atlético Nacional (in its heyday) as well. It was easy back then to go to the Orange Bowl to see Brazil play. For me that was a moment of bonding with my dad.

But those days are long gone and the entire soccer community is here left longing for those days. No longer do we see Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Colombia, even the US National Team in South Florida.

And that (you fill in the blank).

I still remember Ito’s goal silencing the Orange Bowl in the first match of the Olympic tournament against Brazil. I remember the Japanese fan that hugged my dad and smeared tears and snot on his shirt after his team beat that side with Ronaldo and Aldair.

I also remember that, back then, we weren’t Mexican, Colombian, Peruvian or whatever. We were representatives from Latin communities that wanted to see the visiting national team hand the US its backside. We were, and are, proud of our roots.

That was a long time ago, but it is certainly one reason why we don’t see the US playing in South Florida anymore.

After moving back to Florida from Connecticut, I see the results of what I consider apathy that – from a mature perspective – I now see us paying for. And not even at the international/professional level. Trying to organize soccer in Miami is like running a city tour in Baghdad: Lots of effort required and few takers.

So, we find ourselves hurt, confused and disillusioned. How can our passion for the game be ignored?

Here’s why:

Soccer in Miami is failing because it is marketed to the NFL-, Major League Baseball- and NBA-parents who think of soccer as a thing that they have to endure on Saturday morning at a park. It is also marketed to the South Beach crowd who are more interested in what color and cut the jerseys are than in who’s wearing them.

Both demographics (above) are exclusive functions of disposable income.

The way I see it is that soccer needs to be marketed to the individuals that - may have less income - but income nonetheless that they are willing to spend on soccer. These are not the middle-upper class soccer moms that drive around minivans filled with private school kids.

No.

They are the people from Homestead, Liberty City, and North Miami. These are the Mexicans, Colombians, Peruvians and whatevers that used to pack the stadia to see the nations of their birth play fútbol.

If Miami wants any part of the US 2018/2022 World Cup bid, these are the people to reach.

Por seguro.

Juan Arango is a member of Football Partnerships and a writer for the Miami Soccer Examiner and a founding partner at Mad About Fútbol.