Don’t remember hearing that the NHL was adding corporate sponsoring to the uniforms, let alone that the Caps were the first one to find a sponsor, and a sports book at that. Heard this from someone (who I don’t believe is much into sports) in the midst of telling her husband (a huge Caps fan) that this crossed the line and she wasn’t going to buy the family Caps-related merchandise again. When you appear to not only lose people normally indifferent to sports but actually antagonize some of them to that level in the name of what already looks to have markings of a cheap sellout, that says something.
Beyond the tackiness factor, the increased enmeshing of business concerns like that for extra cash could factor into issues with stadium and arena deals down the road. The selling of the community asset and family-friendly product that has gone into the advocacy process for public subsidy of such venues could not only be diluted as to the associated imaging, but raise questions as to whether the public would essentially be sponsoring and subsidizing a private gambling “partner“, as well as increased cries for the associated cash-rich partners to be the ones responsible to put up the lion’s share of funding.
There are already concerns as to what the increasing presence of gambling element at ballparks and arenas will have, especially as to what kids are going to be invited to see as commonplace and part and parcel with the pastime experience. I’m certainly not planning to buy me or the kids something that directly serves as a billboard for gambling, let alone official merchandise.
Where the line is for others is for others up to them, and maybe it doesn’t move the dial for as many as I think it might. One would hate to think that the cost-benefit analysis factored in the anticipated loss of support from the family-oriented, kid-friendly, generational portion of the fan base as something that would always be acceptable once the leagues allowed themselves to cozy up to gambling entities in just about every way possible. Maybe crowds pulling more from the greyhound race demographic will get the job done and won’t kill the golden goose.
Had a glance at the announcement, and the level of linkage is quite something:
‘CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR WASHINGTON CAPITALS x CAESARS SPORTSBOOK WEBSITE’
https://www.nhl.com/capitals/team/jersey-patch“WE ARE ALL CAPS FANS. WE ARE ALL CAESARS.”
What’s next, having the team extend their right arm straight out and scream “Hail Caesars”? And then they tack on a bit about a historic and groundbreaking partnership, which may only be equaled in history and groundbreaking impact when they partner with an established Nevada enterprise for a fan escort service. Totally worth it, Ted.
