How to Market a Minor League Team in a Major League City

In a city with a major league sports teams, you know those major leagues are the kings. So a minor league team will have tough competition drawing fans in one of those towns. How does a minor league team without the star power and resources of the majors compete with the big boys to put people in their seats?

Instructions

    • 1

      Know your budget and how to use it. You're not able to throw dollars around like the big clubs, so you need to know how much you can spend on newspaper, radio and billboard ads.

    • 2

      Find your target audience. This will mainly be lower income people who can't afford major league prices and people in your part of town who would be drawn to your greater proximity.

    • 3

      Accentuate your team's positives. You can market how affordable you are, especially to families. You can also promote the players as people and not stars so your fans can identify with them.

    • 4

      Hold as many promotional game days as you can think of. This involves not only giving away gifts to fans but also offering discounts for groups like schools and businesses. If your team's product is good, some in the large groups you draw will come back.

    • 5

      Work deals with whoever carries your games on the air. Tell them if they promote your team during the day instead of just giving you the airtime, it will increase the games' ratings and benefit their station as well.

    • 6

      Reach out to community groups like schools. If you connect with kids at a young age, you can count on having fans that will last for many years. If you develop relationships with teachers, they can help draw their students to the games.