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Paid for military tributes in the news again


Beerball

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I view this as paid advertising.

 

if you want a volunteer army, you need to advertise.

 

what if one branch of our armed forces took out a super bowl commercial ? what's wrong with that ??....nothing !

 

having said that, it is SHAMEFUL that sports teams take money in any way shape or form for recognizing a military veterans service to our country.

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http://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/12de6dcb-d8d8-4a58-8795-562297f948c1/tackling-paid-patriotism-oversight-report.pdf

 

Has anyone read the report? I haven't read a ton of it (its 150 pages), but the little I read makes this seem a little petty.

 

x DOD spent $10.4 million on marketing and advertising contracts with professional sports teams (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS) between 2012 and 2015

 

FY12 - $2.8 million

FY13 - $3.9 million

FY14 - $2.6 million

FY15 - $1 million

 

Particular examples of paid patriotism items could be considered waste and abuse of taxpayer funds, including:

The Air Force paying the LA Galaxy for “recognition of five high ranking officers of the Air Force” in a 2012 game and four sideline season tickets

The National Guard paying the Seattle Seahawks for the “opportunity for up to 10 soldiers to reenlist pre-game on the field” at a 2014 game;

The Air Force paying the Cincinnati Bengals $4,960 for 60 club level tickets;

The National Guard paying the Indianapolis Colts for use of a luxury suite, autographed items, pregame field visits and cheerleader appearances

The National Guard paying the Indiana Pacers for 40 lower level center court seats

The National Guard paying the Boston Bruins for a luxury box for 18 people and an executive view suite for 25 people on Military Appreciation Night.

 

Buffalo Bills

 

Year Club Contract Number Taxpayer Cost

FY 12 Buffalo Bills W912PQ-12-M-0147 $250,000

FY 13 Buffalo Bills W912PQ-13-M-0113 $250,000

FY 14 Buffalo Bills W912PQ-14-M-0233 $150,000

$650,000

 

Taxpayer-funded “paid patriotism” and perks in these contracts included:*

• Sponsor of Salute to Service week (FY2013) and a military appreciation day (FY2012)

• Opportunity to conduct a live reenlistment ceremony (FY2012) • Participation in full-field flag unfurl (FY2012, FY2013)

• Performance of the national anthem by a member of the NYARNG (FY2012) • One color guard ceremony (FY2012)

• Two hundred game tickets (FY2012, FY2013)

• The opportunity for NYARNG soldiers to purchase discounted tickets for the military appreciation game and to be one of 40 selected to cheer the Bills from Stampede Row as they ran onto the field (FY2012)

• Opportunity to host an educator’s training conference for 80 guests in a VIP hospitality area during Bills training camp, which also included 20 VIP parking passes, food and beverages, a commemorative item, and player autographs after practice (FY2012, FY2013, FY2014)

• Four lower level season tickets to each preseason and regular season Bills home game (FY2014)

• Flyovers for 2012 Buffalo Bills home games played at Ralph Wilson Stadium (FY2012)

 

*The item(s) in this list are a subset and may not comprise the full scope of the contract(s) or taxpayer costs

Edited by What a Tuel
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Maybe I am just gullible but the team statements on page 143 and 145 are exactly what I believed the situation was. The Military reached out for recruitment efforts, and the NFL (and others) did the BAU marketing package for them.

 

Jets

"The facts are that from 2011-2014 the New Jersey National Guard (and, to clarify, no other Military branch) had an advertising and promotional contract with the Jets. The National Guard approached us, seeking our promotional assets to reach their target audience. The National Guard, and the U.S. Military in general, spend millions annually to maintain an all-volunteer force. As a National Guard spokesman recently confirmed, his organization has found it effective to use some of its budget with the Jets, the NFL, and other sports properties. Our understanding is that this arrangement was similar in content to other sports advertising expenditures made by the National Guard."

 

Falcons

"I’m sure many of you have read various news accounts regarding the National Guard’s marketing partnership with a number of NFL teams, including the Falcons, and other sports entities. Unfortunately, many of the stories failed to accurately present the business relationships between the two groups, and we want to make sure you have the facts to alleviate any concerns you may have.

 

Our marketing and sponsorship agreement with the National Guard is designed to fulfill their objectives of increasing awareness and aiding in recruiting efforts, which has become more important in an all-volunteer service environment. This is no different than any other sponsorship agreement in that it is structured to fit a business need.

 

Our agreement with the National Guard during the 2014 season included advertising on the Falcons website and in the Atlanta Falcons Playbook, which is distributed to fans on game day; signage in the Georgia Dome; LED and backlit messaging on Falcons game days; activation at Falcons Landing on game days; and participation in a number of other game program activities.

 

As explained by National Guard spokesman Rick Breitenfeldt in a recent story on ESPN.com, their spending with teams in all sports on year-round advertising and marketing programs is a way to reach important audiences.

 

"We have hundreds of [sponsorship agreements] with teams, including minor league baseball and at high schools," he said. "We have found that spending in sports to help us recruit in our 18-24 demographic works out for us". "

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Perhaps we need to better clarify recruitment vs. honoring our service men and women.

 

That probably would be better, but they mix it all the time. Sentimentality, and pride are a driving factor in recruitment.

 

You see it in the commercials, they don't typically get you in the door with logical reasoning of the benefits of joining the military, they get these kids in the door by giving them a sense of pride, and duty of supporting and defending their country, and then in the recruitment office they sell them on the benefits.

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