BMA ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE NETWORKING EVENT: “THE BUSINESS OF BASEBALL MARKETING” WITH SAM KENNEDY OF THE BOSTON RED SOX

Key Red Sox executives to share experiences in B2B Marketing at *exclusive* business networking event at Fenway Park on January 25th

Boston, MA - December 26, 2006 –  Red Sox Senior Vice President of Sales/Marketing Sam Kennedy will join other senior Red Sox executives at an exclusive business seminar and networking event hosted by the Business Marketing Association of Boston.  The event, titled “The Business of Baseball Marketing”, will be held at the State Street Pavilion at Fenway Park on January 25, 2007 from 6:30PM – 9:30PM.  For details on the event, and to register, visit www.bmaatfenway.com (Space is limited)

Kennedy oversees sponsorship (sales and service) and tickets (sales, operations and service).   Since joining the Red Sox, he and his staff have increased sponsorship revenue by more than 250 percent, premium licensing revenue by 160 percent and the season ticket base by 30 percent.  Beyond the numbers, Kennedy has been a key contributor to the club’s revitalized marketing effort.   Contributions include the new “Legends Suite”, expanded advertising above the Green Monster, the Right Field Roof seats, and recent long-term naming deals with EMC and State Street.

At this session, Sam will discuss the challenges of marketing in major league baseball  and the nuances that make the Red Sox a truly unique brand.  He will also discuss the changing dynamics of sports marketing.

“We are very excited to offer our members this insider-look at the best baseball marketing organization in the world today” said Michael Lewis, President of the Boston BMA.   The BMA of Boston is the area's premier association for B2B-focused marketing professionals.
 
About the Business Marketing Association of Boston:
The Business Marketing Association (BMA) of Boston is the area's premier association for B2B focused marketing professionals.  As the local chapter of the International Business Marketing Association, we are the professional growth and networking organization for business-to-business marketing professionals who want to stay on top of the game. The BMA is a worldwide organization with over 3000 members and provides today's marketers with broad information and educational resources, in addition to networking opportunities through local chapters, conferences and seminars. To learn more about the BMA Boston visit our website at www.thebmaboston.com

Speaker Bios:

CHARLES H. STEEDMAN
Vice President/Fenway Enterprises and Broadcast Services
        Charles H. (Chuck) Steedman was named Vice President/Fenway Enterprises and Broadcast Services in March, 2005.  He is responsible for the thriving business, Fenway Enterprises, which places non-baseball events into America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.  The booking of Fenway for parties, corporate meetings and weddings, as well as the operation of the Red Sox’ year-round tour program is under his direction.
           In addition, Chuck is the point of contact for the business relationship with the club’s broadcasting partners, WEEI Radio, NESN, the Spanish Baseball Network and the national rights holders (Fox and the ESPN family of networks). 
           After the club’s World Series title in 2004, Chuck was the point person for the Red Sox’ grand World Championship Trophy Tour, presented by the Massachusetts Lottery.  It was his idea to bring the trophy to the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts as well as oversee its many travels to New York; Los Angeles; Washington, DC; Atlanta; Florida; and the Dominican Republic.
           Steedman is an original staff member of the club’s ownership group.  When Tom Werner and Les Otten initiated the effort to purchase the club, Steedman was with them from the start.  As founder and principal of Steedman & Partners, he coordinated financial analysis, legal and financial due diligence, relations with prospective investors, and the Major League Baseball application process.
           Steedman’s background in media and sports business includes tenures at The University of Connecticut, Raycom Sports, the American Skiing Company, and Resorts Sports Network. In addition, he has served as a consultant for a number of arena and stadium revenue projects, broadcast negotiations, and event creation and management projects.
                A native of East Brookfield, MA, Steedman graduated from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) in 1984 with a degree in Sport Management and later added an MBA from Queens University in Charlotte, NC. He is married to the former Lisa Allen and has two children, Andrew (15) and Michael (10). They reside in Hopkinton, MA.
 
SAM KENNEDY
Senior Vice President/
Sales and Marketing 
         Sam Kennedy was promoted to Senior Vice President/Sales and Marketing in 2005 after joining the club as VP/Corporate Partnerships on March 25, 2002.  The Brookline , MA native was among the first executives that Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino brought with him from the San Diego Padres, for whom Kennedy had worked six years.  Since joining the Red Sox, Kennedy and his staff have increased sponsorship revenue by more than 250 percent, premium licensing revenue by 160 percent and the season ticket base by 30 percent.  Beyond the numbers, Kennedy has been a key contributor to the club’s revitalized marketing effort.  For example, the popular giant flag that drapes the Green Monster on special occasions was his idea.
        Kennedy oversees sponsorship (sales and service) and tickets (sales, operations and service).  In 2003, he helped conceive and execute the successful sales and marketing plan for the new “Legends Suite” at Fenway Park , the Dugout Seats innovation, and new tasteful advertising positions above the Green Monster.  In 2004 Kennedy secured a long term partnership with Anheuser-Busch that was instrumental in the creation of the new Right Field Roof seats at Fenway. In 2005 he was charged with developing the sales and marketing plan for the new club seats at Fenway Park set to debut in 2006.  Earlier this year, Kennedy secured long term naming rights deals for the EMC Club and the State Street Pavilion at Fenway Park .  He also serves as the club’s marketing liaison to Major League Baseball . 
        Prior to joining the Red Sox, Kennedy was the Padres’ Executive Director/Corporate Partnerships and Broadcasting.  Originally hired as an account executive in 1996, he tripled sponsorship revenues from 1996-2001.  Kennedy oversaw the sale of signage at Qualcomm Stadium (home of the Padres, Chargers, Super Bowl XXXII and other events), virtual advertising, promotional programs, broadcast media and print advertising. 
        In 2000, he helped the Padres make history by creating and implementing the first-ever “Season Title Sponsorship.” He also played an integral role in securing financing and developing the sales and marketing strategy for the Padres’ new downtown ballpark, Petco Park , conceived by Larry Lucchino.
                Sam attended Trinity College in Hartford , CT , where he played baseball and earned a degree in American Studies in 1995.  At Brookline High, he was a classmate and baseball teammate of colleague Theo Epstein.  In 2004 Kennedy was sworn in as a board member on the Massachusetts Governor’s Committee for Physical Fitness and Sports.  Sam and his wife of seven years, Amanda, reside in Wellesley , MA with their two-year-old son, Jimmy and one-year-old daughter, Allison.

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