By Zachary Baru
Patriot Place will be packed with concert-goers in 2014, as some of the biggest concerts of the summer will be making the stop in Foxborough at Gillette Stadium.
The thousands of fans will pour into the shops, restaurants and hotel at Patriot Place, the lifestyle and entertainment center covering more than 1.3 million square feet adjacent to the stadium. This means big business for restaurants and bars both before and after the concerts, a characteristic that makes this concert venue so special.
Saturday night's George Strait concert featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill attracted 55,863, packing the stadium. Beyonce and Jay Z bring their "On the Run Tour" to Foxborough on July 1, for which a limited number of tickets remain.
Come August, the stadium will be booked for concerts four nights in a row. Two-night stadium stands are rare in the concert industry, but that is not enough for One Direction, who will be coming to Gillette for a three-night stand August 7-9 featuring 5 Seconds of Summer. And to end a busy week in Foxborough, on August 10 Luke Bryan featuring Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice and Cole Swindell will close out an impressive summer of concerts.
Not every 68,000-seat stadium can attract such a lineup of concerts, but the site is so much more than just a stadium. Economic activity in Foxborough is also generated from dinning, shopping and the adjacent hotel. Patriot Place creates an atmosphere built for big events, and it is no wonder why this venue continues to be a popular destination for concert-goers in New England year-after-year.
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Patriots' "Field Day With Dad" offers a unique connection to fans
By Zachary Baru
The New England Patriots have a unique way of strengthening the connection with their fans, while holding a community event that honors key members of their target market: fathers.
The Hall at Patriot Place's second annual Field Day with Dad will take place on Father's Day, June 15 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors will be given access on the field at Gillette Stadium, a special experience allowing fans to throw footballs and take pictures with Patriots cheerleaders. Inflatables will also be available for fans to use.
The event is a perfect example of how franchises can bring fans closer to the team, and in this case, literally on the field. A fan's perception of a franchise is so important, and the Patriots have hit a home run with this event, which personalizes the relationship with each fan who attends the Father's Day event.
Anytime a fan attends a sporting event, the experience is what will bring them back to the venue. The Father's Day event is a chance to create an entirely different experience, an interactive one that is arguably more of a lasting impression than simply watching a game.
Like last year's event, this year's event has sold out. Tickets were $20 for adults, and $10 for children, and include access to the Hall at Patriot Place and a 10 percent discount at the Patriots Pro Shop on June 15.
Kudos to the Patriots for giving fans an opportunity to share the same experience their favorite players have - without the danger of getting tackled by an NFL player.
Source: New England Patriots, The Hall at Patriot Place
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
The New England Patriots have a unique way of strengthening the connection with their fans, while holding a community event that honors key members of their target market: fathers.
The Hall at Patriot Place's second annual Field Day with Dad will take place on Father's Day, June 15 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors will be given access on the field at Gillette Stadium, a special experience allowing fans to throw footballs and take pictures with Patriots cheerleaders. Inflatables will also be available for fans to use.
The event is a perfect example of how franchises can bring fans closer to the team, and in this case, literally on the field. A fan's perception of a franchise is so important, and the Patriots have hit a home run with this event, which personalizes the relationship with each fan who attends the Father's Day event.
Anytime a fan attends a sporting event, the experience is what will bring them back to the venue. The Father's Day event is a chance to create an entirely different experience, an interactive one that is arguably more of a lasting impression than simply watching a game.
Like last year's event, this year's event has sold out. Tickets were $20 for adults, and $10 for children, and include access to the Hall at Patriot Place and a 10 percent discount at the Patriots Pro Shop on June 15.
Kudos to the Patriots for giving fans an opportunity to share the same experience their favorite players have - without the danger of getting tackled by an NFL player.
Source: New England Patriots, The Hall at Patriot Place
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Do the Celtics need a big trade to protect their brand?
By Zachary Baru
With non-stop chatter about what the Celtics could do during the off-season, the expectation for something "big" seems to be growing more and more from Celtics fans. There is, of course, the possibility that nothing at all happens. No trade, no Kevin Love, just a number six draft pick, and possibly another year of rebuilding. But could Celtics fans take it, and what would it mean for the Celtics brand?
One thing that Celtics ownership should not worry about is the long-term stability of the brand, which undoubtedly would remain strong. But should another year of rebuilding occur, attendance could start to dip, similar to 2006-07 levels when it finished at 16,843.
And then there are those ratings. Especially the radio ratings, for which a new contract was signed during the 2013-14 season with WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub. Another rebuilding year would mean a second consecutive year of low Celtics ratings with the new flagship station of the franchise.
Sure there are some draw-backs, but should the Celtics go through the summer without making any big-time deals, another year of rebuilding would arguably be the best option for the franchise, and the brand long-term. Unless the Celtics are sure they can go deep into the playoffs and make some serious noise, rebuilding just might be the direction to take in a market that demands championships.
Making it to the playoffs and reaching the second round is not enough for fans in Boston, who have high expectations for not just the Celtics, but for all of its franchises. So can the magic of the 2007 off-season happen again? Celtics fans will just have to wait and find out.
Should nothing happen, the Celtics brand will not be seriously affected. Just expect to see some extra black and gold seats at TD Garden.
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
With non-stop chatter about what the Celtics could do during the off-season, the expectation for something "big" seems to be growing more and more from Celtics fans. There is, of course, the possibility that nothing at all happens. No trade, no Kevin Love, just a number six draft pick, and possibly another year of rebuilding. But could Celtics fans take it, and what would it mean for the Celtics brand?
One thing that Celtics ownership should not worry about is the long-term stability of the brand, which undoubtedly would remain strong. But should another year of rebuilding occur, attendance could start to dip, similar to 2006-07 levels when it finished at 16,843.
And then there are those ratings. Especially the radio ratings, for which a new contract was signed during the 2013-14 season with WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub. Another rebuilding year would mean a second consecutive year of low Celtics ratings with the new flagship station of the franchise.
Sure there are some draw-backs, but should the Celtics go through the summer without making any big-time deals, another year of rebuilding would arguably be the best option for the franchise, and the brand long-term. Unless the Celtics are sure they can go deep into the playoffs and make some serious noise, rebuilding just might be the direction to take in a market that demands championships.
Making it to the playoffs and reaching the second round is not enough for fans in Boston, who have high expectations for not just the Celtics, but for all of its franchises. So can the magic of the 2007 off-season happen again? Celtics fans will just have to wait and find out.
Should nothing happen, the Celtics brand will not be seriously affected. Just expect to see some extra black and gold seats at TD Garden.
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
NFL Draft in Boston? Where, why, and how?
By Zachary Baru
Imagine football-crazy Boston hosting one of the sport's most popular events. No, not the big game, the big made-for-TV event: the NFL Draft.
According to a report earlier this month by the New York Post's Bart Hubboch, Boston was one of seven cities to apply to host the NFL Draft. The other six cities include New Orleans, Philadelphia, Orlando, Chicago, Los Angeles and Canton, Ohio.
While some people may laugh at the possibility of the NFL moving the event out of New York, this year's draft was pushed back two weeks due to scheduling conflicts with the venue. The city of New York has hosted the draft since 1965, and the 6,015-seat Radio City Music Hall has served as the host for the past nine years. National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell has said that he does not want to give up on Radio City entirely, but what if the decision to move was made? Would Boston be a suitable host?
If the concern is over venues, Boston has that covered. Whether it is a large venue like the 17,565-seat TD Garden - which will begin a two-phase $70 million renovation this summer - or small venues like the 3,600-plus seat Wang Theatre, Boston has multiple options to host such an event.
Mass transit would certainly not be an issue in Boston between its subways and commuter rail, and Logan Airport's close proximity to downtown adds to Boston's claim as a candidate with potential. Boston has no shortage of hotel rooms, perfect for the thousands of media members, and both league and team officials who will be attending the weekend-long event.
As the NFL continues to take applications for the draft, don't count out Boston as a potential host city for football's most popular non-sporting event.
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Imagine football-crazy Boston hosting one of the sport's most popular events. No, not the big game, the big made-for-TV event: the NFL Draft.
According to a report earlier this month by the New York Post's Bart Hubboch, Boston was one of seven cities to apply to host the NFL Draft. The other six cities include New Orleans, Philadelphia, Orlando, Chicago, Los Angeles and Canton, Ohio.
While some people may laugh at the possibility of the NFL moving the event out of New York, this year's draft was pushed back two weeks due to scheduling conflicts with the venue. The city of New York has hosted the draft since 1965, and the 6,015-seat Radio City Music Hall has served as the host for the past nine years. National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell has said that he does not want to give up on Radio City entirely, but what if the decision to move was made? Would Boston be a suitable host?
If the concern is over venues, Boston has that covered. Whether it is a large venue like the 17,565-seat TD Garden - which will begin a two-phase $70 million renovation this summer - or small venues like the 3,600-plus seat Wang Theatre, Boston has multiple options to host such an event.
Mass transit would certainly not be an issue in Boston between its subways and commuter rail, and Logan Airport's close proximity to downtown adds to Boston's claim as a candidate with potential. Boston has no shortage of hotel rooms, perfect for the thousands of media members, and both league and team officials who will be attending the weekend-long event.
As the NFL continues to take applications for the draft, don't count out Boston as a potential host city for football's most popular non-sporting event.
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Bruins-Canadiens at Gillette in 2015? It just might happen
By Zachary Baru
When hockey fans found out last year about about the league's inaugural Coors Light NHL Stadium Series, there was a lot of skepticism about the success of four additional outdoor games. Would it saturate the market, and would they even be able to sell out four stadium-sized games? National Hockey League fans quickly found out the strong demand for outdoor hockey, as the four games between the three cities of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles all sold out. The 220,000 tickets for the games meant more than $40 million in revenue according to SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily, leading the league to look for continued success in 2015.
This is where Boston comes into the picture. According to the same report by SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily, a game at Gillette Stadium between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens has been discussed. Fortunately for Boston, the franchise has a lot of reasons to persuade the league to include them in next year's Stadium Series.
First comes the demand. The Bruins currently have overwhelming demand, and a game such as Boston-Montreal would easily sell out 68,756-seat Gillette Stadium. As for the venue, it is perfectly suitable for hosting such an event, as the increased amount of media members could be accommodated well both at the stadium and at the hotel on the property. Renaissance Boston Patriot Place Hotel & Spa is conveniently located within walking distance from the stadium, which is not only ideal for the media, but also for fans traveling in who want to make a weekend-trip out of visiting Patriot Place. The lifestyle and entertainment center includes dinning, shopping, concerts and a movie theater, making it an ideal site for an event such as the Stadium Series.
In addition to hospitality and entertainment options, Gillette Stadium can also be accessed by public transportation via MBTA Commuter Rail. The MBTA has run special trains for years to the Foxboro Station during Patriots games. While the rail line is not part of any MBTA revenue service lines, the CSX-owned tracks can connect to MBTA's Franklin line to serve Boston's South Station, and also to MBTA's Providence/Stoughton line south to Providence. The MBTA has already announced continued service for the "Football Train" to Gillette Stadium for all Patriots home games in the fall of 2014.
So could it really happen? All signs point to outdoor hockey finally coming to Foxborough. The site has the demand, the venue, and the accessibility of public transportation. Cross your fingers hockey fans, a Bruins-Canadiens game with 68,000 of your closest friends just might become a reality.
Source: SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
First comes the demand. The Bruins currently have overwhelming demand, and a game such as Boston-Montreal would easily sell out 68,756-seat Gillette Stadium. As for the venue, it is perfectly suitable for hosting such an event, as the increased amount of media members could be accommodated well both at the stadium and at the hotel on the property. Renaissance Boston Patriot Place Hotel & Spa is conveniently located within walking distance from the stadium, which is not only ideal for the media, but also for fans traveling in who want to make a weekend-trip out of visiting Patriot Place. The lifestyle and entertainment center includes dinning, shopping, concerts and a movie theater, making it an ideal site for an event such as the Stadium Series.
In addition to hospitality and entertainment options, Gillette Stadium can also be accessed by public transportation via MBTA Commuter Rail. The MBTA has run special trains for years to the Foxboro Station during Patriots games. While the rail line is not part of any MBTA revenue service lines, the CSX-owned tracks can connect to MBTA's Franklin line to serve Boston's South Station, and also to MBTA's Providence/Stoughton line south to Providence. The MBTA has already announced continued service for the "Football Train" to Gillette Stadium for all Patriots home games in the fall of 2014.So could it really happen? All signs point to outdoor hockey finally coming to Foxborough. The site has the demand, the venue, and the accessibility of public transportation. Cross your fingers hockey fans, a Bruins-Canadiens game with 68,000 of your closest friends just might become a reality.
Source: SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Red Sox look for another ratings increase in 2014
By Zachary Baru
As the Boston Red Sox come off their eighth World Series title in 2013, the team looks for another ratings increase on the New England Sports Network.
In 2013, NESN ratings rose 14 percent from 2012. This was good for a 7.3 local rating in the nation's seventh largest media market. Fenway Sports Group, the owner of the Boston Red Sox, is a majority owner of NESN, owning 80 percent of the regional sports network.
The ratings increase comes during a season that saw the Red Sox capture their third World Series title since 2004, and generated big ratings during the postseason. The 2013 World Series on Fox averaged an 8.9 national rating and 14.9 million viewers, up 17 percent from 2012.
So much for all the "will fans come back?" we heard after the collapse of 2011. Never doubt Red Sox fans, and more importantly, never doubt Boston sports fans in general.
One challenge the Red Sox will face in ratings will be from another team in town, the Bruins, who own 20 percent of NESN. With much of the spotlight of Boston sports fans being consumed by the Bruins as they enter the postseason, ratings may take a while to get up to potential. But as the 2014 season gets underway with a strong and fan-appealing lineup, the Red Sox look to continue their ratings success for another season of high local numbers.
Source: Forbes, Nielson Media Research
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
As the Boston Red Sox come off their eighth World Series title in 2013, the team looks for another ratings increase on the New England Sports Network.
In 2013, NESN ratings rose 14 percent from 2012. This was good for a 7.3 local rating in the nation's seventh largest media market. Fenway Sports Group, the owner of the Boston Red Sox, is a majority owner of NESN, owning 80 percent of the regional sports network.
The ratings increase comes during a season that saw the Red Sox capture their third World Series title since 2004, and generated big ratings during the postseason. The 2013 World Series on Fox averaged an 8.9 national rating and 14.9 million viewers, up 17 percent from 2012.
So much for all the "will fans come back?" we heard after the collapse of 2011. Never doubt Red Sox fans, and more importantly, never doubt Boston sports fans in general.
One challenge the Red Sox will face in ratings will be from another team in town, the Bruins, who own 20 percent of NESN. With much of the spotlight of Boston sports fans being consumed by the Bruins as they enter the postseason, ratings may take a while to get up to potential. But as the 2014 season gets underway with a strong and fan-appealing lineup, the Red Sox look to continue their ratings success for another season of high local numbers.
Source: Forbes, Nielson Media Research
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Celtics find themselves on bottom of standings, middle in attendance
By Zachary Baru
As the Celtics' tough season continues on the court, off the court things aren't so bad. Not yet at least.
Fortunately for the Celtics' front office, the franchise finds themselves 14th out 30 teams in attendance, averaging 17,934 fans per home game at TD Garden. With a 20-39 record, it is another reminder of how truly great of a market Boston is for sports.
The Celtics find themselves well behind the attendance-leading Chicago Bulls, who are averaging a remarkable 21,636 fans per game at the United Center. It should be noted that Chicago - the nation's third largest media market - is also second in National Hockey League attendance, as the Blackhawks are averaging 21,571 fans per game.
Ready for some more numbers? Even better than the Celtics' attendance average is their capacity. The Celtics are at 96.3 percent capacity this season, which is good for 11th in the league. Seven teams, including the New York Knicks, have capacities at or above 100 percent. The Dallas Mavericks find themselves on top in this category, with an impressive 103.5 percent capacity.
Is the Celtics success just a carry-over effect from the Big Three era? Most likely, but this market has one thing that will always be true - passion. Even during the Celtics miserable 2006-07 season, Boston still averaged 16,843 fans per game.
However this difficult season will end for the Celtics, it is great to see the Celtics doing so well at the gate. While Boston enjoyed a 100 percent capacity season last year, it is no surprise that attendance has taken a hit during this transition year for the franchise. With 12 home games remaining, the Celtics hope to continue keeping TD Garden as close to capacity as possible.
Source: ESPN, NBA, NHL
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
As the Celtics' tough season continues on the court, off the court things aren't so bad. Not yet at least.
Fortunately for the Celtics' front office, the franchise finds themselves 14th out 30 teams in attendance, averaging 17,934 fans per home game at TD Garden. With a 20-39 record, it is another reminder of how truly great of a market Boston is for sports.
Ready for some more numbers? Even better than the Celtics' attendance average is their capacity. The Celtics are at 96.3 percent capacity this season, which is good for 11th in the league. Seven teams, including the New York Knicks, have capacities at or above 100 percent. The Dallas Mavericks find themselves on top in this category, with an impressive 103.5 percent capacity.
Is the Celtics success just a carry-over effect from the Big Three era? Most likely, but this market has one thing that will always be true - passion. Even during the Celtics miserable 2006-07 season, Boston still averaged 16,843 fans per game.
However this difficult season will end for the Celtics, it is great to see the Celtics doing so well at the gate. While Boston enjoyed a 100 percent capacity season last year, it is no surprise that attendance has taken a hit during this transition year for the franchise. With 12 home games remaining, the Celtics hope to continue keeping TD Garden as close to capacity as possible.
Source: ESPN, NBA, NHL
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
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