We have a sponsor patch now

[brentashton]

I don't dispute your point. Honestly I didn't look closing into the postings on this thread ... it looked like you were arguing into the clouds haha as I couldn't see the other parties comments. I enjoy your posts and respect the thought that goes into them.

The gamble situation is legal. Ethically might be a question for some in that there can be serious life altering implications for a portion of society exposed to gaming. Mainstreaming gambling and mass marketing association with beloved corporate brands sweeps away some of the (earned) stigma around it.

I don't know what prospective corporate sponsorship options were on the table for the jersey advertisement so I don't know if there was a 'better' option available to them. But I will say managing your brand, its reputation and alignment with other corporates with shared values is important. One can't control the actions of external partners and their negative actions can blowback on your company (Enron and other stuff). Sports Entertainment businesses though largely live with halo effect with their customers and stakeholders, whether deserved or not, unlike traditional big business. The Leafs jersey partner is from my pov a more positive, strategic brand alignment that resonates without alienating prospective segments of one's business.

Agree, it's ultimately their choice to do. Though I think it worth some dialogue about the bigger picture which I figured I'd stick my nose into!

Sensible post.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I guess the troll from down south got the punt (hoorah!)

I get what you’re saying. The pervasive sports gambling commercials have viewers over saturated and it is a vice that has addictive qualities.

However the government let that genie out of the bottle and it’s not going back. So now regulation and government oversight are required and along with the sports gambling industry there is a clear responsibility to provide the necessary social backstops to help those hurt by the product.

Like booze advertising and seeing a cannabis shop on every street corner now, vice is on the menu as the tax dollars are too great for Big Brother to ignore.

Not upset with the conversation as you always bring rational and measured discussion.

Cheers

Agree, it's kinda at the Wild West stage of growth now enabled with government approval somewhat similar to the market rush into canabis. It's something I'm mildly curious about because of prospective impact on so many levels beginning with risk of match or situational fixing like point shaving in sports to the broader sociological aspect and marketing efforts of the gambling industry (and even Vegas as a destination specifically) to re-position itself as leisure entertainment away from a historic vice.

I recently read some interesting studies by a prominent UK academic advising their government and EU on sports gambling trends and issues. Wish I could find them.

However here's a decent Wired article which compares and contracts the growing North America sports gambling market against the established UK market which appears to be starting to limit the scope and scale of gambling marketing within sports and placing stronger limits around the gamblers themselves to mitigate the steep downside of addiction. A good read if interested:

https://www.wired.com/story/uk-us-online-gambling-lessons/

"But starting this fall, the UK’s Committee for Advertising Practice will ban soccer stars, celebrities, and social media influencers from appearing in gambling adverts. (Most of the UK public supports a total ban on gambling advertisements, a 2021 study found.)

A well-covered public backlash in the UK informs this scrutiny, including testimonies of figures who have suffered from gambling addiction, like former Arsenal player Paul Merson, who has said it “sickens” him when he sees former players and managers in these ads. Meanwhile, in the US, Ben Affleck appears in WynnBet ads alongside a host of celebs and sports figures like Shaquille O'Neal, striding through golden casinos with a smartphone in his hand.

The market for sponsorships is also diverging. Back in 2018, nearly 60 percent of clubs in England’s top two divisions had gambling companies as shirt sponsors; the government is likely to ban this practice by 2023. But in the US, explains Whyte, “sponsorships are something that firms and leagues and governments are putting all their effort behind.” In January 2021, the Washington Commanders became the first NFL team to land its own sports betting license. Universities have signed deals with gambling companies that can incentivize registrations among the student body. (Worries about match-fixing, when an amateur athlete can do something as simple as drop a pass and make someone thousands of dollars, are legitimate; the journalist and academic Declan Hill has covered the problem in depth in Canada.)"

Anywho, stuck my nose into this thread and something I had given no thought about with context of the Oilers decision to add a corporate sponsorship jersey logo. But the broader context I think is worth some good, respectful dialogue about.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Agree, it's kinda at the Wild West stage of growth now enabled with government approval somewhat similar to the market rush into canabis. It's something I'm mildly curious about because of prospective impact on so many levels beginning with risk of match or situational fixing like point shaving in sports to the broader sociological aspect and marketing efforts of the gambling industry (and even Vegas as a destination specifically) to re-position itself as leisure entertainment away from a historic vice.

I recently read some interesting studies by a prominent UK academic advising their government and EU on sports gambling trends and issues. Wish I could find them.

However here's a decent Wired article which compares and contracts the growing North America sports gambling market against the established UK market which appears to be starting to limit the scope and scale of gambling marketing within sports and placing stronger limits around the gamblers themselves to mitigate the steep downside of addiction. A good read if interested:

https://www.wired.com/story/uk-us-online-gambling-lessons/

"But starting this fall, the UK’s Committee for Advertising Practice will ban soccer stars, celebrities, and social media influencers from appearing in gambling adverts. (Most of the UK public supports a total ban on gambling advertisements, a 2021 study found.)

A well-covered public backlash in the UK informs this scrutiny, including testimonies of figures who have suffered from gambling addiction, like former Arsenal player Paul Merson, who has said it “sickens” him when he sees former players and managers in these ads. Meanwhile, in the US, Ben Affleck appears in WynnBet ads alongside a host of celebs and sports figures like Shaquille O'Neal, striding through golden casinos with a smartphone in his hand.

The market for sponsorships is also diverging. Back in 2018, nearly 60 percent of clubs in England’s top two divisions had gambling companies as shirt sponsors; the government is likely to ban this practice by 2023. But in the US, explains Whyte, “sponsorships are something that firms and leagues and governments are putting all their effort behind.” In January 2021, the Washington Commanders became the first NFL team to land its own sports betting license. Universities have signed deals with gambling companies that can incentivize registrations among the student body. (Worries about match-fixing, when an amateur athlete can do something as simple as drop a pass and make someone thousands of dollars, are legitimate; the journalist and academic Declan Hill has covered the problem in depth in Canada.)"

Anywho, stuck my nose into this thread and something I had given no thought about with context of the Oilers decision to add a corporate sponsorship jersey logo. But the broader context I think is worth some good, respectful dialogue about.

I’ve no doubt there will be gambling controversies and match fixing - it’s already happening.

I’d rather there was a ban on gambling advertising like there is with smoking advertising but until then the sponsor is fair game for the Oilers.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I’ve no doubt there will be gambling controversies and match fixing - it’s already happening.

I’d rather there was a ban on gambling advertising like there is with smoking advertising but until then the sponsor is fair game for the Oilers.

Agree with you. The ownership structure plays a factor too. The Leafs owned by large publicly traded companies, Rogers and Bell, would be far more risk adverse so the Milk jersey sponsorship aligns better with their brand. Oilers private ownership has shown to be more edgy and risk taking in some of its decisions like a second change home for players like Kane, Kassian, a training camp chance on a player like Virtanen. Hiring Bowman despite the controversy.

Thought this was also interesting from the Wired article:
"US SPORTS, BY their very nature, have also proven predisposed to gamblifcation. While it’s important not to over-romanticize UK sports clubs, says McGee, they are often anchored in their communities in a way that US franchises aren’t. “US sports franchises are entertainment-oriented businesses, who are in the business of delivering sports as a form of leisure,” he says. Gambling slots neatly into this model, as just another form of entertainment for the consumer. US sports, particularly baseball and American football, also tend to be data-driven and statistically sophisticated to a level that would make the average UK fan blanch."

The Oilers are a big profit motivated business. It's ultimately their choice with whom to engage with as sponsors.

 

[The Panther]

I am very close to boycotting the NHL. You hear some people say they are boycotting the NHL like during the lockout then everyone came back when the NHL came back. I am not everyone. I use to love prowrestling. I was a big fan from the time I was a kid up until my 20s. When WCW closed down I knew it was the end. A few years after that all my favorites were gone and the show was God awful. So terrible I was questioning why I watched it anymore and quit watching somewhere in 2004. I loved Star Wars like many people do. When Disney bought it I thought it would be the death of Star Wars and I was right. Almost all the content Star Wars related by Disney has sucked and I quit watching it and I no longer care about anything Star Wars. The NHL is getting close to that line of no return. They could have put ads on the jerseys at anytime in their history but in the past they respected the fans and the uniform. The NHL uniform was suppose to be sacred. I remember jersey being thrown on the ice in Toronto in Edmonton, and how mad or upset owners of franchises would be because the jersey was sacred. Not anymore now it's just another billboard for their stooge fans. The electronic boards, the ads on helmets and jerseys where is it going to end? you'd think being worth 41 billion dollars they could give something to the fans like no ads on helmets and jerseys but no they don't care about their fans. We're just suckers to hand over our paychecks to them and soon it will blow up in the NHLs face.

Great post, I feel exactly the same way. I subscribe to NHL.tv to watch games in Japan (it's, like, $100 a year or something to watch any game, any time), and even then I regret handing that negligible money to the NHL.

Just like you, Star Wars and other things turn me off so much now that I have nothing to do with them and would never hand them any money.

And yes, I feel I'm getting closer to this with the Oilers and the NHL.

I would like to see the Oilers' org take a responsible / ethical stand on this issue, and simply say, "We can't help what the NHL does for its greater revenue, but we -- the Edmonton Oilers' hockey club -- will not participate in any gambline-related activities, nor associate our club with gambling in any way". That would make me proud as a fan and eager to support them more (financially and otherwise). But as it is now, I'm certainly not going to attend any games, buy any merchandise, or otherwise support the club (aside from my $100 to NHL.tv, of which the Oilers probably get 25 cents or something).

Very bad look for Connor and Wayne to appear in gambling ads.

 

[timekeep]

Great post, I feel exactly the same way. I subscribe to NHL.tv to watch games in Japan (it's, like, $100 a year or something to watch any game, any time), and even then I regret handing that negligible money to the NHL.

Just like you, Star Wars and other things turn me off so much now that I have nothing to do with them and would never hand them any money.

And yes, I feel I'm getting closer to this with the Oilers and the NHL.

I would like to see the Oilers' org take a responsible / ethical stand on this issue, and simply say, "We can't help what the NHL does for its greater revenue, but we -- the Edmonton Oilers' hockey club -- will not participate in any gambline-related activities, nor associate our club with gambling in any way". That would make me proud as a fan and eager to support them more (financially and otherwise). But as it is now, I'm certainly not going to attend any games, buy any merchandise, or otherwise support the club (aside from my $100 to NHL.tv, of which the Oilers probably get 25 cents or something).

Very bad look for Connor and Wayne to appear in gambling ads.

Not sure how this is a bad look on the McDavid and Gretzky. Tocchet and Janet got in trouble a few years for gambling, I don't think it tarnished Wayne at all. Loads of fans are gambling before and during the games even at the games. I have done it myself, it makes for a better experience if its a shitty game.

But to eachs own, bet or don't bet.

 

[Oilslick941611]

There's been a wide spread huge marketing effort to pivot away from gambling as a vice to entertainment. For most adults this might be a manageable reality but for others it is a death sentence which has catastrophic effects on a person's well-being, health, relationships, and financial security.

It's also big business. For governments it creates a new revenue stream moving money out of black markets or in operating their own gaming operations. Sports teams and pro athletes it delivers a huge revenue stream through marketing dollars with sponsorships, celebrity endorsements, and I read a EU study that reinforced it increases audience eyeballs with the diverse lines of in-game betting options made. There is compelling business alignment and profitability for pro sports teams and gambling to 'do business'.

The Oilers jersey patch is their choice and as a profit centred big big business this sports big business operation is overturning every stone to maximize their profits. Within their right including the relocation threat once levelled. Unfortunate reality is the gambling advertising unlike other vice products or services is not regulated to be seen or exposed only to adult audiences. The jersey patch and McDavid/Gretzky' gambling celebrity endorsements are mass marketing campaigns that include impressionable children and teens.

Now some studies suggest the largest at-risk audience for problem gambling is males age 18-34 which not coincidentally is a prime target audience for sports entertainment (Harm from problem gambling in Great Britain ‘may be eight times higher than thought’). An example of the consequences of sports gambling: How prepared is Europe for an increase in gambling and addiction?

The Oilers are a highly visible, uniquely positioned big business that has significant and deeply unbridled brand loyalty that cuts across all ages, demographics, education, and income strata. They've leveraged this powerful customer loyalty to build a highly public subsidized hockey rink and set their ticket pricing and ancillary services under monopolistic conditions among the highest in their league. It's a brand that matters in Edmonton and their relationships are observed and to some extent consumed by most of the population.

Regarding the jersey patch, I get it from the business side. But I do think they could have chosen a different brand partner that reflects better on their visible status and influence in their city and beyond. For one instance, the milquetoast Leafs have something with "Got Milk."

100% im in the camp "f*** gambling and f*** gambling ads"