The NBA has allowed companies to advertise on NBA jerseys with their logos. Which companies should the Cleveland Cavaliers be interested in advertising?
If there is one agenda that Adam Silver has, it’s to increase the revenue of teams in the National Basketball Association. The league grew exponentially while his predecessor, David Stern, was commissioner. Commissioner Silver is looking to enhance the brand of the NBA globally.
More from King James Gospel
- 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
- The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
- 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
- 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
- This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead
One way to do that would be to put a global brand’s logo on the jerseys of the defending NBA champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers have one of the leagues few megastars with worldwide influence left in LeBron James. James, for his part, is a global brand in his own right. Many companies would benefit from both his business acumen and his star power.
The Philadelphia 76ers made headlines as the first NBA team to put an advertisement on their jerseys. This is the type of event that advances Silver’s agenda to grow the game of basketball globally. How much a company would have to pay to get the chance to place their logo on a Cavaliers jersey isn’t known, but the rules are.
Here are ten companies that could get advertised on Cavaliers jerseys.
Next: Warner Bros
Warner Bros. Entertainment
The chances are that any business relationship between Warner Bros. Entertainment and the Cavaliers will lend their hand to rumors of LeBron James starring in the sequel to Michael Jordan‘s popular film “Space Jam”.
In June of 2015, Warner Bros. filed trademarks on a new “Space Jam” title. Earlier this year, the company hired a writer for the film. After James’ history-defying championship performance, there may be nothing that can stop James from starring in the sequel as a next-generation Jordan.
As of last year, LeBron has had an extensive business partnership with Warner Bros. Entertainment. In June, James’ SpringHill Entertainment signed a content creation partnership with Warner Bros. Six months later, James earned a $15.8 million investment from Warner Bros. for his “Uninterrupted” platform in 2015.
The relationship between Warner Bros. and James could cement status James as the best player in NBA history with the way he’ll be marketed and thus perceived. For Warner Bros., a logo on the Cleveland Cavaliers jerseys could be all the promotion the film needs as the team goes on a championship run. Though, obviously, the previews will still be necessary excitement.
Next: Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Dan Gilbert and Warren Buffett wanted to buy Yahoo!. Instead, Yahoo! will be purchased by Verizon.
In any case, a business relationship between Gilbert and Yahoo! already exists. Quicken Loans and Yahoo! Sports partnered up in order to bring the “Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge” to the NCAA Basketball Tournament in 2014. This has been that’s enhanced the notoriety of all parties involved as even people who don’t watch college basketball fill out the brackets.
Notable NBA journalist Adrian Wojnarowski, who has the sources to break the biggest stories in the sport, works for The Vertical. The Vertical is under the umbrella of Yahoo! Sports. There’s no chance a NBA fan can follow the league’s happenings and not come across an article or tweet from The Vertical.
In addition, Verizon has its own ties to the NBA. In 2015, Verizon announced a new content and marketing partnership with the league.
The Cavaliers wearing the Yahoo! symbol would be a very profitable move for all parties involved. The Cleveland Cavaliers gain more exposure across the sporting world and Yahoo! gets more exposure as the historical relevancy of LeBron James rises both on and off the court.
Next: Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams has its headquarters in Cleveland, OH. As the building on whose wall LeBron James’ most iconic image hangs, advertising with Sherwin-Williams is a natural option for the Cavaliers.
The American Fortune 500 company is currently valued at $27.6 billion, according to Forbes, and their stock is currently going up. Sherwin-Williams would be one of the better options for the Cavaliers, in terms of profitability from bearing the company’s logo.
Sherwin-Williams itself is a conscientious all-weather fan of the home team. When the city of Cleveland wanted LeBron James’ banner to be kept up through the Republican National Convention, Sherwin-Williams recognized the historical relevancy of the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA title and what LeBron James had been trying to deliver the city for nine seasons (2003-2010, 2014-2016.)
Next: Quicken Loans
Quicken Loans Inc.
Another business the Cleveland Cavaliers could decide to advertise on their jerseys could be the business of Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, Quicken Loans Inc.. Gilbert is the founder and chairman of Quicken Loans Inc., the largest online mortgage lender in the nation.
A large chunk of Gilbert’s fortune comes from Quicken Loans and the profits from that business are what allowed him to buy the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005. Wearing a patch that symbolized Quicken Loans symbolizes the modern-day Cleveland Cavaliers; since Gilbert has been the owner the team has been historically successful, sensational and home to the NBA’s biggest star, twice.
Quicken Loans Inc. is a Detroit-based company that was founded in 1985. The story of how Gilbert sold the company, which was originally named Rock Financial, and bought it back highlights a trait of Gilbert’s that’s not thought of much in the NBA world; his own loyalty to his hometown and home state.
For a team whose championship was a byproduct of a similar circumstances, wearing a Quicken Loans patch could be a marketable and branded symbol of hometown and home state loyalty.
Next: Fathead
Fathead
Dan Gilbert is also the founder of Fathead. Fathead is a non-profit organization that specializes in creating life-size wall decals of popular figures. It’s one of the more popular ventures that Gilbert has been involved with and a venture that the younger generation of sports fans certainly know about.
With Dan Gilbert owning stake in the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League, and the Lake Erie Bayhawks of the NBA D-League, it’s clear that he has interest in other purchasing sports teams. As he increases his revenue, he’d be able to promote players outside of his NBA team.
While LeBron James plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and is one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, there are other big-name star athletes across various sports that end up being promoted as well. James’ outer circle of friends are some of the greatest players in their sport. Members of his star-studded circle include Serena Williams, Kobe Bryant, and Ronaldinho.
There’s strength in numbers. There’s also a huge financial opportunity to be gained by promoting the sales of other star athletes merchandise.
Next: Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health
The Dublin, OH-based pharmaceutical company Cardinal Health is one of the more prominent and successful small firms in the health industry. They provide over 40,000 hospitals with pharmaceuticals and other hospital products. Cardinal Health has over 100,000 locations worldwide. In a world where there seem to be victims of violence on the news everyday, companies like this aren’t advertised heavily, but they should be.
Related Story: LeBron's Social Activism Overshadowed By Basketball Greatness
LeBron James has long shown himself to be a social activist in the NBA. In speaking against violence at the ESPY’s, LeBron once again used his platform to raise awareness about the seriousness and impact on widespread violence in America. With the Cardinal Health wings on the Cleveland Cavaliers jersey, LeBron would again show his concern for victims of violence.
There could be offseason partnerships between the Cavaliers team and Cardinal Health to promote their services such as actually delivering products to hospitals themselves. A documentary on pharmaceuticals helping ailing patients might not get a lot of views and fanfare. A documentary with the same topic that features LeBron James would.
Next: Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Dick’s Sporting Goods is a Fortune 500 company that doesn’t lack in any area of sporting goods sales. LeBron James is the face of Nike and a partnership with James’ team would greatly boost the stores basketball merchandise and Nike sales.
This is a move that could benefit Nike as well. As Under Armour becomes more popular, Nike has more competition in stores like Footlocker because the shoes that are sold in stores are all primarily basketball shoes just different brands.
In a retailer like Dick’s Sporting Goods, basketball merchandise is only a fraction of the team’s sales. A partnership could boost the sales for both Nike and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Dick’s Sporting Goods is one of a few businesses that would pay Dan Gilbert handsomely for his team to advertise their brand. LeBron James is an athlete who mingles with the biggest stars from other sports.
Next: Goodyear
Goodyear
Goodyear is already “All In” with LeBron James.
During Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Goodyear honored LeBron James and Stephen Curry, two Akron-born players. Goodyear gave the parents of all babies born that day an “Akron-born” gift package and a chance to ride in the Goodyear blimp. Utilizing Akron-based businesses to transport the packages, Goodyear honored James’ beloved even further by using small-town services for a national feat.
Goodyear is being innovative and has generated a buzz with it’s “wheel of the future“. It’s spherical and has the additional feature of magnetic levitation. The technical specifics are better explained in the video at the top of the slide.
A business relationship with Goodyear would not be a bad idea, the Cavaliers could profit heavily. LeBron has been the NBA’s face of Kia Motors for a couple of years and with the increased exposure from other innovative technologies like the mobile app Snapchat, Kia’s stock went up after Cleveland Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson proved LeBron really does drive a Kia. LeBron would be a global brand to advertise for Goodyear as they develop products that can change the world.
Next: LRMR
LRMR
If Dan Gilbert wants advertisement from an Ohio-based company, LRMR Marketing & Branding is an Akron, OH-based company that markets LeBron James’ sports and entertainment ventures.
LRMR has a partnership with Fenway Sports Management, which is part of the Fenway Sports Group. The Fenway Sports Group includes the Liverpool Football Club of the English Premier League, the Boston Red Sox, the New England Sports Network, and Roush Fenway Racing.
LRMR has earned investments from Turner Sports for “Uninterrupted”, and exclusive content can be found on Bleacher Report. “Uninterrupted” is a multi-media platform that allows athletes to connect with their fans. LRMR also has earned notoriety for signing notable sports figures as clients with their sports agency Klutch Sports Group, which was valued at $7.4 million in September 2015.
Klutch Sports Group has only been around since 2012. Currently the agency’s clients include Ben Simmons, John Wall, Eric Bledsoe and LeBron James.
The athletes LRMR Marketing & Branding are connected to span across multiple sports and have varying levels of playing experience. There’s no limit to the influence LRMR can have in the sporting world.
Next: Bizdom
Bizdom
Once again, Cleveland is getting some notoriety. This time in the form of a television show that shows how four local entrepreneurs in the area will build their businesses and help Cleveland’s economy.
With news that LeBron James will be producing a Cleveland-based show, “Cleveland Hustles“, the King’s star power in Believeland was only magnified.
Bizdom is Dan Gilbert’s own attempt at helping aspiring entrepreneurs. Instead of being a Cleveland-based show, it’s an online platform that allows entrepreneurs and investors the chance to connect and engage with one another and glance at each other’s portfolios without an in-person meeting.
The connection between Cleveland’s economy and the Cleveland Cavaliers would only increase with a Bizdom logo on the Cleveland Cavaliers jerseys.
Next: Cavaliers Advertising Benefits
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a historically relevant team thanks to their performance in the 2016 NBA Finals. They’re also historically relevant because they have the, or one of the, best NBA players to play the sport of basketball.
LeBron James’ star power doesn’t just stay on the court, however. James has influence throughout the entire sporting world, in the entertainment industry, and in social and political arenas. His business acumen has led to deals with prominent companies and his success in growing his own businesses.
Next: Where Does LeBron James Rank In Fame And Wealth In 2016?
Dan Gilbert should allow companies to bid for the chance to put their logo on the Cavaliers’ jersey because his team has the star power and recognition that few others have. As the Cleveland Cavaliers set themselves up defend their NBA championship, the world will be watching.