The Inches: A Podcast About Sports Sponsorship

Timing is everything in sales. Making sure that you are there when the customer needs you the most. Finding the right timing for recaps. All the way to giving your promotion enough time to work. On this episode of The Inches, we dive into specifically how you can infuse timing into your sponsorship strategy and playbook for success. ----- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports &...

More inventory. More reach. More sponsors....more revenue? Not always. In this episode, we dive into why less can be more in sponsorships, and how you can drive the same revenue with less...but make it more meaningful for sponsors. ----- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports & event sponsorship and how digital is affecting the industry and landscape. Hosted by Rich Franklin , VP...

Many times, we don't own the building we play games in. For sponsorship, that means it can limit how we activate and sell. So how can we get past that to maximize our value and sales for sponsors. On this episode, we dive into ways you can creatively still create value in venue, even when you don't own the building. ----- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports & event s...

We've talked about it a ton on this podcast. Sometimes the best inspiration comes from seeing sponsorships outside of your own sport.  Sometimes, it involves jumping out of your whole sporting event structure. On this episode, we dive into NASCAR and what we can learn for how the sport and organization activates brand sponsors on race day. ----- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at s...

The price of sports sponsorships have gone up dramatically over the last 10 years. Which makes sense. Sports have never been more popular and viewed. But what does this mean for the whole ecosystem? And how might smaller teams take advantage of this? In this episode of The Inches, we dive into conversation around how high prices means a fragmented market, and how your brand or team can navigate it...

Coachella & Stagecoach, 2 concerts that consume the city of Indio in the Coachella Valley. The city almost doubles in size across 2 weekends. Brands notice...and they put their creative hats on to stand out and activate. So what can we learn in sponsorships from these activations? Luckily we have boots on the ground with Rich Franklin, and on this episode of the Inches we dive into what he&apo...

The sponsorship model is shifting. Brands want engagement, data, and proof - not logo placements. Not passive inventory. So why do most of what we sell in sponsorships consist of logo placement? In this episode, we dig into why passive sponsorship assets are dying, what's replacing them, and how your team can get ahead of the curve before your next renewal conversation. -- The Inches Podcast...

We all know digital inventory is a must have in any sponsorship department today. But how can you build it? How do you price it? How do you manage it successfully? On this episode we have Digital Sponsorship vet and expert Alex Kopilow from SponCon to answer all those questions and more. Check out Alex's sponsorship newsletter, SponCon. A must subscribe in the industry. https://sponconsports....

It's a big year in sports. Winter Olympics, Summer World Cup, and global events that ignite entire countries. These events build emotion; brands want to be a part of them. But how can your local sports team funnel that excitement into authentic sponsorship opportunities? On this episode of The Inches, we dive into how your team can transform national excitement into big wins for your local sp...

The new inventory sweeping sports in the U.S. over the last decade...jersey & uniform patches. A great awareness piece, but what is the actual value? And how can you make sure that it doesn't clash with the nostalgia of sports? On this episode, we dive into how your team should be thinking about your next jersey patch sale and the brands you pitch to. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast th...

The new year brings new trends, new things to pay attention to as our industry evolves. We'll never be 100% right, but each year we dive into our predictions for the 2026 year in sponsorships. In this episode, come along with us as we shell out 6 predictions for the sponsorship industry in 2026. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports & event sponsorship and how digital is...

The year is winding down. Out of office posts are on the rise. It's a great time to relax and enjoy a bit of a break. But what are a few things that you can do as the year winds down in sponsorship to help jumpstart the 2026 year? In this episode, we dive into 5 things you can do these last weeks of the year to put yourself in a position to thrive as we kick off the new one. -- The Inches Pod...

Premium events are where sports pull out all the stops—energy at a peak, fans fully immersed, every moment engineered to feel unforgettable. But what can teams learn from these marquee moments and apply to their own game-day experience This week on The Inches, we dive into a recent visit to the F1 Las Vegas experience and takeaways that can maximize your experience at your own games. -- The Inches...

We call it free sports. It's overtime, it's extra innings, it means the regulation game time you paid for just got extended. Most of the time, it is one of the most exciting moments in sports. But should that just be a 'given' for sponsors? Or can you sell into this unique space? This week, we dive into how your team can sell overtime assets and the value it can bring to your b...

When you aren't the big dog team in sponsorships, it can feel like you get left out of considerations, meetings, and dollars. So how can we build a strategy to stand out? In this Episode, we dive into a listener question to talk through finding your team's unique edge, building stories around it, and executing it into your sales with brands. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks...

In sports sponsorship, there is usually a big breakdown between minor league and major league teams. Each has its unique benefits and advantages when it comes to selling and buying sponsorships. But what are those advantages for Minor League teams? How can they get the big brand dollars? This week, we dive into how your Minor League team can compete and how your Major League team can take a note f...

We have our 'normal' categories. Your Car brand, QSR, Bank, etc., that we all sell into. From an optics & legal perspective, they are all pretty 'safe'. But then, there are those categories that toe the line. That sometimes operates in that grey area. These are our Vice industries. In this episode, we dive into how to manage, de-risk, and align on how you can sell and manag...

Your Logo & team IP has value. It is a connection to the relationships you have created with your fan base. So how can you carefully and properly monetize? In this episode, we dive into Licensing and how your team can add them to your sponsorship packages for maximum value. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports & event sponsorship and how digital is affecting the industry...

Off-season, it's a time to regroup, reflect, and take a bit of a break. Right? Yes, absolutely...but there is also an opportunity to drive more engagement, connection, and revenue for your partners. In this episode of the Inches, we dive into 4 ideas that you can easily execute to help drive more connection and revenue for your sponsors in the off-season. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast th...

We all know the common categories in sponsorships: QSR, dealerships, tires, etc. But what about that next step up, luxury brands? How can we close those...or even get them to care about our team and sponsorship assets? In this episode, we dive into the strategy your team can execute to find, pitch, and close luxury brands. You'll even find some luxury categories you never knew about. -- The I...

Trends come and go. But when enough major brands start pulling back on the volume of assets in their sponsorship deals, it’s worth paying attention. In this episode, we explore a critical shift in sponsor behavior: a move away from bloated asset lists toward lean, high-performing campaigns. Brands aren’t looking for more inventory—they’re looking for impact. And that requires a different mindset f...

We're back at it, diving into the thing shaping our industry. Artificial Intelligence. This time, how are our sponsors and brands using it to measure and evaluate your execution and results? In this episode, we dive into what we're seeing in the industry from a brand perspective and what it means for your property. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports & event spons...

We've all done it (hopefully). You take a job in a market where you aren't the biggest fish in the pond...or even the 4th biggest. But we still have a property that brings value. So, how do we convince brands when there are bigger entities they can invest in? This week, we dive into a listener question about selling sponsorships in a crowded market and how creativity can take you over th...

AI is transforming every industry—and sponsorship is no exception. In this episode, we unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of sponsorships. From smarter audience targeting to predictive analytics and real-time campaign optimization, we explore the real ways AI will impact how brands build partnerships, prove ROI, and connect with fans. If you work in sponsorship or brand par...

At the start of each year, Rich and Nick share their bold predictions for the trends shaping the sponsorship industry.  Now that we're halfway through the year, it's time to check in—what’s holding strong, what missed the mark, and what surprised us? In this episode, we revisit our January picks, break down what’s actually happening in the field, and share what to watch next as the spons...