By Karen Weaver:
Thursday night’s NFL Draft (Round One) was an evening to remember. Philadelphia looked her best as more than 70,000 visitors surrounded the newly constructed stage in front of the Art Museum. All were there to see who the next multi-millionaires would be in the NFL.
But off the Parkway, there was another, equally lucrative event going on, raising the profile and the bank accounts of those selected. On social media, players, agents and sponsors flawlessly executed their newfound partnerships.
Here, the No. 2 pick Mitchell Trubisky recognizes Giorgio Armani:
But a great deal of the pre-draft experience goes into getting these players “media ready.” For example, Corey Davis, new member of the Tennessee Titans, went through the “car wash” at ESPN. A “car wash” is back-to-back-to-back media interviews, introducing you to the professional sports world.
Mitchell Trubisky and Gillette worked ahead of the draft to put together two short Twitter video commercials, already cementing their sponsorship of the No. 2 overall player drafted.
In addition to the millions of dollars being made by players and agents as they sign their very first pro contracts, lucrative sponsorship deals are also struck and announced on Twitter as the money machine known as the NFL, rolls on.
The NFL Draft is “the truest reality television show there is,” says Trey Wingo, an ESPN broadcaster.
Karen Weaver, EdD, is a former Division I and III National Championship head coach and director of athletics, Weaver joined Drexel’s department of sport management in 2012. Her research interests include college sports media and finance, broadcast television media rights and rights holders, governance issues and social media and marketing. She has written numerous articles on the impact media rights are having on college sports. Additionally, Weaver serves as a consultant to the Knight Commission for Intercollegiate Athletics, which ensures that intercollegiate athletics programs operate within the educational mission of their colleges and universities.
For media inquiries contact Emily Storz at els332@drexel.edu or 215.895.2705.
