Direct mail could help drive interest in NBA basketball in Vancouver
Direct mail software can be used to create materials that grab the attention of consumers in a number of ways. Some organizations use direct mail to solicit donor contributions and draw attention to charitable causes, while others can utilize the strategy to gauge consumer interest about products and services and to also create excitement. The latter would be beneficial for a professional sports league looking to bring a franchise to a new city.
The Vancouver Sun states that many residents in Vancouver are clamoring for the National Basketball Association to bring another franchise back there. For six seasons, the Vancouver Grizzlies called British Columbia home before relocating to Memphis, Tennessee in 2001 due to a prickly relationship between the Canadian city and the NBA.
However, The Vancouver Sun states that increased population and a stronger Canadian dollar could entice the NBA to set up operations there for a second time. For an ownership group with interest in once again bringing professional basketball north of the U.S. border, using direct mail software to create materials that help gauge public interest and potential support could be a great way to assess the viability of the move.
"With Vancouver's steady rise in population, high income levels and a strong corporate presence, the NBA could return one day," Glen Hodgson, chief economist and senior vice president of the Conference Board of Canada, told the newspaper.
Should an NBA franchise make the decision to return to the city, it could create an economic windfall for a number of industries, including Canadian printing companies that utilize a print MIS solution. Marketing materials would need to be mass produced and distributed, as well as internal team communication documents, such as employee handbooks and programs. However, a direct mail campaign targeted at basketball fans living in Vancouver could be a great starting point to investigate the sustainability of such a move.