3-15-12: Read this story in USA Today about title sponsorships for state high school associations. HTM is well represented in the story.
3-13-12: Congrats to Peter Fitzpatrick for being selected by Sports Business Journal magazine as a Forty Under 40 winner for 2012. Here is the story:
For all of the people who claim that high schools represent the next sports marketing frontier, few have made a bigger bet on it than Peter Fitzpatrick, president of Cleveland-based Home Team Marketing.
Fitzpatrick's company has been aggregating the multimedia rights to high school athletic associations all over the country for the last few years, and now has the rights to 21 state associations and close to 10,000 schools.
Home Team Marketing monetizes those rights by selling sponsorship packages to companies for state championship and playoff events.
The former Fox Sports and Host Communications executive says high school sports marketing “is still in its infancy, but there are only good things to come.” Fitzpatrick has endeared himself to the cash-strapped state associations and high schools by returning a share of the revenue to the schools.
“You're starting to see a much greater focus on high schools, even from the major networks like Fox and ESPN,” Fitzpatrick said. “You're seeing the new USA Today sports group putting a huge focus there. There are going to be ups and downs, but it's vital to do it the right way and that means working in conjunction with schools and administrators. It's an exciting future and we're as well-positioned as anybody to be a leader in that space.”
Fitzpatrick's leadership and vision has led to several new deals recently, including a blockbuster 15-year TV arrangement with Time Warner Cable in Southern California for the California Interscholastic Federation of high schools.
“This is a benchmark right situation that took the better part of a year,” Fitzpatrick said. “High school programming is that perfect connection to the community. We take a lot of pride in that deal.”
2-22-2012: HTM announced a strategic partnership with Phizzle Inc., a leading technology provider of advanced mobile marketing products and digital advertising solutions. The agreement between HTM and Phizzle allows for the integration of traditional and digital mobile marketing solutions designed to enhance fan's digital experience specifically among local high school athletic teams throughout the country. The cross-platform approach to digital marketing will enable HTM's network of 10,000 high schools across the country and 21 state association partners to have access to Phizzle's mobile marketing and digital strategic solutions to integrate new media within traditional elements.
Complimenting HTM's highly successful high school marketing platform, which includes traditional advertising such as signage, print ads, public address announcements and on-site multi-media campaigns, Phizzle will offer multi-channel digital solutions including SMS, 2D/QR codes, mobile websites, advertising networks, social media and branded apps to connect with sports enthusiasts. Phizzle will provide HTM with its mobile marketing platform to create, manage and launch SMS campaigns; Broadcaster iX™ to create real-time in venue participation entertainment, on-air broadcast, live event displays or web stream and digital marketing integration that includes the SoMoLo model (Social Mobile Local).
2-3-2012: The Federated Council of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) has voted to begin offering title sponsorships for all State and Regional Championship events beginning with 2012 Championships. The CIF hosts a total of 450 State and Regional Championship events, including football, basketball, wrestling, cross country and track and field.
By offering title sponsorships, the nation's largest state high school association increases potential funding opportunities. The CIF positively affects more student-athletes and families than any other athletic governing organization. With over 1,500 schools and 22,000+ teams competing, the CIF and its member schools provide a platform for furthering the positive message of education based athletics.
“Adding a title sponsorship at the State and Regional level will give the CIF the opportunity to elevate our State Championship experience for our student-athletes” said Marie Ishida, CIF Executive Director, “we look forward to the benefits this will bring to the playing field.”
Title sponsorship benefits will include naming rights on all Regional and State Championship events, in broadcast elements, event signage and on site activation opportunities. This news comes on the heels of the CIF'ss announcement in September that Time Warner Cable (TWC) will be the official content distributor of CIF Regional and State Championship sports programming for the next 15 years.
11-17-11: Home Team Marketing (HTM) and Rush For A Cause (RFAC) are proud to announce their partnership in an effort to raise awareness and support for tragically and severely injured athletes, and to help promote injury prevention. RFAC was started in 2009 by then Brecksville-Broadview Heights High running back Matt Galland after a fellow football player was tragically injured in a routine tackle and left paralyzed. HTM is the nation's leading high school sports marketing company with a network of 5,000 high schools nationwide and 18 state high school association partnerships. Together these two organizations will use their expertise to educate and raise awareness for injury prevention and to support those athletes that have already been injured. HTM and RFAC will be supportive of one another's efforts.
Anyone interested in receiving more information about RFAC can visit their website at www.rushforacause.org.
9-21-11: HTM is a proud supporter of the Christianville Mission in Haiti. Christianville was established in 1978 by Jim and Carol Herget. They saw the need to establish an orphanage and to meet the spiritual needs of the people in the Christianville area. Jean Claude Duvalier, President of Haiti, donated approximately thirty acres of land to Christianville for the establishment of an orphanage, and to provide humanitarian assistance.
Throughout the years, God has continually blessed the efforts of many people who had served Christianville. The programs of the mission have changed dramatically, but the goal of being a Christian witness to the people of Haiti has not changed.
Today the mission focuses most of its evangelistic efforts through our school system, which has an enrollment of over 1,200 students in grades kindergarten through grade 12; and the Christianville College, which commenced in 1998. Enrollment averages 120 students. Many churches have been started through God’s blessings and national pastors who serve throughout the nation of Haiti.
Christianville also provides Christian based humanitarian programs to meet some of the extreme physical needs of Haitians. Medical, dental, and eye clinic provide care for area people. An Elderly Nutrition Program provides supplementary food for church members and others in financial need. Through FISH Ministries our children receive a hot meal each school day. The meal includes the essential animal protein for early brain development.
To donate go to: www.christianvillehaiti.org
9-20-11: Time Warner Cable and the California Interscholastic Foundation (CIF) today announced that they have entered into a 15-year agreement for Time Warner Cable to become the official content distributor of CIF Regional and State Championship sports programming throughout the State of California beginning with the 2011-2012 season. This deal, one of the largest high school sports programming agreements in the country, gives Time Warner Cable broadcast rights to distribute high schools sports Regional and State Championships in California, including through cable television, internet and mobile platforms. Home Team Marketing helped to negotiate this deal for the CIF.
In the first year, a minimum of 60 games will be produced and in subsequent years, a minimum of 80 games will be produced for the life of the 15-year contract.
The CIF has grown to become one of the largest youth sports organizations in the nation and has a proud heritage of providing equitable athletic competition for more than 1,500 high schools in California. Through this new partnership, Time Warner Cable brings additional elements to the overall high school athletic experience benefiting more than 757,000 student athletes involved in CIF competitions.
6-27-11: HTM announces the launching of Home Team Marketing University (HTM University), a division of HTM. HTM University specializes in fully-integrated marketing campaigns for higher education institutions. In support of HTM University, a website has been created at the URL www.htmuniversity.com. The website will feature not only up-to-date information about HTM University, program benefits and compliance information; it will also feature an up-to-date client list
6-20-11: Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) and HTM have announced a three year renewal of their partnership agreement, with HTM continuing to serve as the official marketing representative for VISAA.
5-31-11: The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) and HTM have announced a three year renewal of their partnership agreement, with HTM serving as the official marketing representative for TAPPS.
3-31-11: Home Team Marketing is proud to announce our 18th association partner the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA)
3-31-11: Home Team Marketing is proud to announce the hiring of the following Account Executives: Ethan Guine (Los Angeles), Randy Newell (Cleveland), Mike Akers (Chicago) and Russ Wilson (Dallas).
3-16-11: Home Team Marketing (HTM) has been named a finalist for Sports Business Journal's 2011 Sports Business Award in the category of “Best in Property Consulting, Sales and Client Services”. The other finalists in the category of “Best in Property Consulting, Sales and Client Services” are: AEG Global Partnerships, CAA Sports and IMG.
“We are honored to be nominated for this prestigious award, especially in the company of the other outstanding finalists.” said Peter Fitzpatrick, President and Co-founder of Home Team Marketing. “When we started HTM, it was with a vision for creating a network of high schools throughout the country; a network that would bring revenues to high schools. Over the past 10 years we have seen not only our network grow, but also a substantial increase in the need for revenues by schools. We are proud to do what we do and we thank SBJ for recognizing our accomplishments.”
3-01-11: HTM and the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association announce their partnership. The MPSSAA is the leadership organization for public high school sports in Maryland. HTM will work in conjunction with the MPSSAA to develop relationships with corporate partners and to bring in additional funding sources for the association. HTM works successfully with 17 other state associations and the addition of Maryland expands HTM's presence in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
2-01-11: HTM announces the hiring of Andrea Essig as an Administrative Assistant in the Cleveland office. Essig is a 2010 graduate of Baldwin Wallace College where she majored in Public Relations and Sports Management.
1-26-11: HTM announces two promotions: Danny Chalhoub to Group Director-Schools and Maura McGrath to Senior Graphic Designer. In his new role, Chalhoub will focus on national growth and development with schools, while maintaining and managing current relationships. McGrath is responsible for creating HTM's image and branding, advertising and collateral, as well as formatting client artwork for the Production/Design department.
12-17-10: Congratulations to Home Team Marketing for being recognized as a Weatherhead 100 winner for 2010. Weatherhead recognizes the fastest growing companies in northeast Ohio.
11-19-10: Home Team Marketing is happy to announce that the August 28th High School Football Charity Game at Cleveland Browns Stadium raised over $150,000 benefiting participating schools and the Cleveland Browns Foundation. Thanks to all who supported this worthwhile event.
11-11-10: Home Team Marketing is proud to announce the hiring of Cheryl Roche and Bryan Simmerly in the Cleveland office. Roche will be an Account Supervisor and Simmerly has been hired as a Sales Assistant. HTM also announces the promotion of Eamon Fitzpatrick to Associate Account Supervisor. Congratulations to all!
10-28-10: Great story in today's Columbus Dispatch about Farmer's Insurance and their $1MM commitment to the OHSAA and their $10MM commitment to high school sports nationwide. Read the full story here http://tinyurl.com/3xlau7u.
10-4-10: Home Team Marketing is proud to announce our newest association partner the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association.
10-4-10: Home Team Marketing's Sarah Corrand Ken Laschinger are featured in this week's Sports Business Journal announcing their promotions. Crain's Cleveland Business lists Home Team Marketing as Cleveland's 4th largest marketing firm.
9-29-10: Home Team Marketing is a proud partner with Farmers Insurance. Read about Farmers in the latest issue of the Ohio High School Athletic Association's magazine. http://www.ohsaa.org/news/magazine/maghome.asp
9-21-10: Home Team Marketing is proud to be featured on the back cover of Sports Business Journal this week, in addition to a 2 page layout in the magazine. Check out the March Madness back cover ad here... www.hometeammarketing.com/sbj
9-17-10: Home Team Marketing is proud to announce the promotions of Sarah Corr, Ken Laschinger and Mike McGrath. Laschinger was promoted to VP-Accounts, Corr was promoted to Senior Account Manager and McGrath to Production Assistant. Read the full story in today's Sports Pro Media http://tinyurl.com/2eu93bp
9-14-10: Home Team Marketing and the Colorado High School Activities Association received some nice coverage about our new partnership. Read about it here http://tinyurl.com/2vdqq75 and here http://tinyurl.com/366lr87
8-26-10: Home Team Marketing is now in proud partnership with 17 state associations across the country. HTM's newest partners are the California Interscholastic Federation, the Colorado High School Activities Association and the Utah High School Activities Association.
8-26-10: Home Team Marketingreceived some great coverage by Ed Sherman from Crain's Chicago talking about the March Madness High School Basketball Platform which the IHSA is launching in partnership with Home Team Marketing. Check out the story http://www.chicagobusiness.com/section/blogs?blogID=business-of-sports&plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&uid=f5555513-c950-4657-a93a-80db16fdf4ad&plckPostId=Blog:f5555513-c950-4657-a93a-80db16fdf4adPost:6d00a677-fe49-400f-8f62-8113023b0ee7&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest
8-16-10: Great write up about Home Team Marketing in Sports Business Journal today regarding HTM's new partnership with the California Interscholastic Federation. The CIF is the largest state federation or association for high school sports in the country. Read about it here...http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/66454
8-9-10: Joel Hammond from Crain's Cleveland Business wrote a great profile on HTM in today's issue. Check out the full story http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20100813/SUB1/308139997
8-2-10: David Bourne from Sports Business Journal wrote an interesting story about youth marketing and interviewed HTM President Peter Fitzpatrick to get his insights. Story talked about HTM's partnership with Farmers Insurance. Read about it here http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/66410
