GO Sports Wiki

The League Bar is an extremely important component of the GO Kickball experience.  This is not only where the majority of the social experience takes place- but it is also a source of income for your market.  Marketing and advertising efforts are also conducted with the League Bar.  Since choosing a League Bar is so important, several things to consider before choosing the venue should be:

 

• Bar Location

• Bar Criteria

• Bar Agreement

• League Communication

 

 

Bar Location

 

The location of the League Bar will play a large part in the attendance that you get after the games are played. This establishment is ideally close to the fields, and is a relevant establishment that resonates within the core GO Kickball demographic. The farther that the League Bar is from the field space, the less attendance you will have after the games.  This is important, since the business that you will be bringing into the League Bar is used to leverage sponsorship funds.

 

 It is important that players attend both on and off field activities, and get the full social experience of GO Kickball. Approximately 75% of players that attend the League Bar, after games become repeat customers; while most players that do not attend the League Bar tend to not become repeat participants. Developing customer loyalty leads to positive word-of-mouth, which helps significantly grow the leagues and the market.

 

 

Bar Criteria

 

When considering which location is right for your League Bar, the type of Bar that you want should fit three primary criteria, which are:

 

• Size

• Atmosphere

• Food and Drink

 

 

Size is a very important criterion. Though some smaller bars may be great places to hang out and socialize, the League Bar needs to be large enough to accommodate a large amount of people.  Ideally, the league Bar should be able to accommodate your entire league-though you may have to settle for a little less, since you will most likely not have 100% attendance.  Generally, expect a 50 – 70% league attendance rate per week.

 

The atmosphere is just as important as the size of the Bar.  Clubs and bars, that are too crowded and loud, detract from the social aspect that GOKickball tries to foster. The atmosphere should be one that is fun and upbeat, yet relaxed so that people can foster relationships, strengthen friendships, and network with each other.  The League Bar must also be a clean and reputable facility, while not being too formal. We prefer working with establishments that have a patio or big open seating where all of the teams can sit together, interact, and socialize with their team and others.

 

Providing food and drink specials are an important facet to the experience of the League Bar.  It is not just having food and drink available that is important.  It’s having food and drink that is appropriate for accommodating large groups of people.  Pitchers of beer are a ‘must have’ for a League Bar.  Party style foods, such as wings or pizza are also highly considered when choosing a League Bar since they are family style and bar foods.

 

 

Bar Agreement

 

Food and drink specials help create the synergy between the League Bar and Market Director. A League Bar Sponsorship Fee is asked of the League Bar in exchange for the business that we will be generating, and for advertising their particular establishment to our players.  What is generally asked of our League Bars are:

 

• Food Specials (15% off or two for one appetizers)

• Pitchers of Mainstream Beer: There is no hard price here, ideally though if retail for a pitcher of draft domestic is $12 the GKB special should be around $7.

• League Bar Fee ($75 per Team – includes League Bar partnership, logos on all t-shirts, and logos and links on the GO Kickball web site)

• League Advertising

 

 

By bringing hundreds of GO Kickball players to the league bar, we have found that these relationships prove to be mutually beneficial. It is preferred that the League Bar Sponsorship Fee be paid in one installment-up front. However if they require two payments, then that half of the seasonal League Bar Fee ($75 x number of teams), should be paid prior to the start of the season, while the second half of the League Bar Fee is to be paid at the commencement of each season. During the first 1-2 weeks of the season 60-70% of people go to bar, which recoups its initial sponsorship investment during the initial weeks. We will generate a tremendous amount of exposure for their brand. We don’t have a problem prorating money back to the bar if we don’t get the registration numbers we were projecting- however this is why we urge to get the sponsorship check up front. This sponsorship helps pay for a significant amount of expenses. Once the season is over the bar has no motivation to pay the sponsorship unless the want to continue to have a good relationship with GBK and they desire to be the league bar next season. Should a prospective League Bar not agree to our requests, simply find a different League Bar.

 

Aside from the social atmosphere provided by the League Bar, the most important purpose of having a League Bar is to raise money and advertise.  This is done through the relationships that you foster with the owners and management teams of whichever bar you end up choosing.   Not only does GOKickball advertise the League Bar by placing their logo (.png, .eps, and .jpeg images are required) on the GOKickball team t-shirts, but a link to the Bar’s web site and an advertisement are placed on the GOKickball.com web site.

 

 

League Communication

 

Once your League Bar has been established, it is vital that you communicate to your league:

• League Bar Name

• League Bar Location

• Bar Accommodations/Specials

• Arrival Time

 

 

If this is not done, then your relationship with your league bar will fade along with any advertising and funding that may be associated with your venue, as well as player loyalty slowly wanes as they only participate in the kickball games and do not enjoy the entire experience that we offer.  This communication can be done by the Market Director sending emails to the league and by the Team Captain encouraging their teams to attend after their games.  Both approaches are recommended.