Business Strategy and Competitive Environment of Minor League Baseball Team

Baseb in exclusively is in all probability one of the close to(prenominal) famous sports in the united States, along with basketball. It is very prominent and well- fetched in different move of the United States, and is rapidly spreading through place the world. It is even considered as United States national pas period. Minor Leagues pertain to professional baseball game teams that play on levels lower than that of the secondary confederations and teams in the pip-squeak league customaryly is an interact member of a major league baseball team. Competitors of Sports Baseball as a form of entertainment has a number of stiff competitors. in that location is the media with all of its forms video recording, movies and internet. There be too an increasing get wordance in guinea pig parks, amusement parks and even carnivals. Baseballs tickets would as well be an additional expense to a households budget. All the to a greater extent thats people may be dragged away from e njoying the actual game. Movies neer go out of fashion because there depart al shipway be roundthing new for the audience. The themes of movies are well-thought of. There are various genres that would definitely check into any individuals taste and preference.For every craving of the people, the media will innovate something to fulfill these cravings. Television, a long temptation for youngsters and competition to some other forms of entertainment, still gets much attention from the populace. Television describes a wide part of shows for all genders of different ages. With the cable channels and other features and programs in television, most people would rather stay at home watching television instead of going out to watch sports games or even drive themselves in playing sports. Theme parks and amusement parks excessively offer a lot of fun, oddly for the family.All of these things are stiff competitions for the baseball industry or for sports industry in general. The B irmingham Barons, a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama is the focus of this paper. The minor league baseball team, Birmingham Barons, is one of the most recognized baseball teams in the United States. The history of the team will be traced back in 1885 where it was played by many during the early years of baseball. Nearly two-thirds of Barons yellowish browns attend the games with family members. The typical fan is a college-educated and in an upper to middle income (Birmingham Barons, LLC, 2007).During mid-nineties Hispanic population in Alabama increased for more than than 210%, virtually 27% of which are in the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area which the leading U. S. heart and soul for the Hispanic population growth and billet findment (Shattuck, 2005). Birmingham, Alabama also has lots of museums Arlington phratry, Alabama Museum of Health Sciences, Southern Museum of Flight, Bessemer Hall of History, Sloss Furnaces National historical Landmark, and the Birmingham Museum of Art, the largest museum in the location, are just some to name. A number of festivals are also found in Birmingham, which features music, films, regional heritage.Future Objectives With these competitive environment of baseball in Birmingham that may be pulling the audience away from the game, the guidance of the say minor league baseball team should innovate ways to draw off not only the Whites, but also the Hispanic tidy sum especially now that there is a rapid growth of Hispanic population in Birmingham, Alabama. The circumspection could consider developing a more easy to recall jingle or song, that whenever played in radio receiver stations and television, will cling more to the minds of the people.The Birmingham Barons could also be more visible, not only to the popular masses, but also to those in petite towns. Through this, more and more people could recognize the team and they would be more psyched to see them play. Visibility in advertise ments and familiarity work could also help in making them known. Advertisements are a seemingly sure, as yet expensive way, of making the team closer to the peoples heart. Birmingham Barons has existed since 1885, gum olibanum their advertisement need not be that expensive. What they need is mass promotion.To know which of the media is most effective for the advertisement, the management may conduct Audience call for Analysis. This is a survey to determine the medium preferred or most used by the people. For example, they tuned in more often to radio than on televisions. Or most of the people render radio sets than television. Once the management was able to determine the medium preferred by people, they would know where they could sic more advertisement about their league. They may also target community radio stations, community television networks, and community newspapers.These media are not moderate through sponsorship and thence may accept advertisements and announcemen ts for free. In addition, it caters to the community especially to the grassroots therefore reaching a large number of people. other strategy to get the attention of people especially the youngsters would be a visit to the places far away from the main office of the team. They could reach out for the out-of-school youth and for those who cannot go to their free games. These people are probably not that heart-to-heart to the game and to the team as well and thus did a little or no effort at all to go and watch the live games.They may also strengthen their fan clubs that will be of great help in promoting their teams and the baseball. The Birmingham Barons could also lead school and campus tours. They could visit different primary and secondary schools, introduce their teams to the students, and get on baseball games. In these ways, they will be more visible and exposed to these young people who might have interest with sports. And perhaps for those who tire outt have any interes t, it would be a start to develop even a little love for sports.In terms of the number of games which staring(a) the people, they could have what is so-called Special Game. In here, they may go against the usual happenings in their games. For example, they will have guests from the show trading in this particular(prenominal) date of game, a famous actor or actress perhaps. Current Strategies To attract more audience, the management of the Birmingham Barons and the whole minor baseball league offer discounts for the early buyers of tickets, for wholesale buyers of tickets and for long-time customers.These steps encourage baseball fanatics to reserve tickets to begin with and these also heighten the loyalty of the audiences to the baseball team. The team and managements get out lessened gifts and thank you tokens to their fans for their loyalty. They rattling give souvenirs and give-aways after the games. The team do play games at 1100 am designed for school children. Schools g et a heavily discounted game and meal ticket for the game and since they start at 1100 they still get back to the school originally 300.They also have youth clinics where children come to the park on Sundays and necessitate from our players. The Barons created a Home Run for the Community Donation Program wherein they give tickets to the non-profit organizations. The non-profit organizations then use the tickets as silent auction items or admittance prizes and the proceeds were donated. Another community based activity of the Barons is their tie-up with the Pull-A-Part draw against Child Abuse promotion where they gave donation to a Childrens hospital (Birmingham Barons, LLC, 2007).As of now, Barons have what they call Sponsorship/Marketing Kit which includes scoreboard, yearbook, radio and stadium advertising. They call for business advertisements during their games through these advertisement mediums. These have become attractive for advertisers because their imprisoned audi ences are people of middle to upper classes. As a minor league baseball team, they already have a capability of hive away funds through these sponsorships and that enables them to reach out to the masses. Assumptions and CapabilitiesThe Birmingham Barons are already getting a big income through sponsorships and tickets sales. Most probably, their income will not actually be affected by giving extra discounts for the long time customers, early and wholesale ticket buyers, and most especially to young fans, Hispanic or Hispanic fans who may be driven away by other forms of entertainment the Birmingham is rich for. Birmingham Barons has already a good business strategy they have that Marketing and Sponsorship kits which includes radio advertising, and they also have their authoritative website.This has already enabled them to captive a large number of audiences. In addition, they are also involved in community services and an example is that Home Run for the Community Donation Prog ram. The thing they must have some changes is about their target audience. Baseball should not be just for those who have money and can afford to buy tickets, but for other members of the confederation also. Baseball is a game for kids as what Barons General Manager Jonathan Nelson said during their tie up with Pull-A-Part (Birmingham Barons, LLC).Thats why I also believe it should be promoted especially to young generation of fans. Baseball is not also for whites, but for everyone. Thus, it is also good to promote this with others like the Hispanic or Latino. And it is good to know that Birmingham Barons is offering a family-oriented entertainment through this sport. There are really many factors to be considered and studied carefully before acting or making decision especially in business and its environment. The key point is to focus on the closing and what is really needed.But the goal is not just to increase the income of sports but must be beyond it. They must also aim to p romote the love and patronize for sports. merely think what will happen if the young people of todays generation will lose interest to sports. And with the Birmingham Barons existence and fame for more or less one hundred years, I know they can exercise it to the peoples heart to once again gain their attentions and affections for sport. References Birmingham Barons, LLC. (2007). Birmingham Barons. Retrieved November 9, 2007, from http//www.barons. com/ market/Barons07-MediaKit. pdf Birmingham Barons, LLC. (2007). Home Run for the Community Support Program. Retrieved November 9, 2007, from http//www. barons. com/thebarons/ communitysupport. shtml Birmingham Barons, LLC. (October 2, 2007). Home Runs Help go along Child Abuse. Retrieved November 9, 2007, from http//www. barons. com/nm/publish/barons705. shtml Shattuck, Michael. (2005). Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area Population assortment Summary. Retrieved November 9, 2007, from mhrc. dopm. uab. edu/ resources_new/Birmingham