Advertise on podcast: The Inches: A Podcast About Sports Sponsorship

Let's face it, historically the sponsorship world has been primarily built on impressions. The opportunity to BE a part of game day, usually with a logo or on field/court/ice activation. BUT the rest of the advertising world has shifted to a performance model. Results are everything in building your budget. So where do we go from here in the sponsorship world. How do we adapt? On this episode, we dive into the value of impressions vs. results and how the sponsorship industry can shift to drive more value & revenue. To download the College Sports Sponsorship Activation Benchmark Report referenced in the episode, Click HERE. ----- 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 of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds &  Coachella Valley Lakers and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

Sponsorship sales is hard enough. In a challenger sport, the deck is stacked against you, usually smaller audiences, less brand recognition, tighter budgets. So how do the best in the game still win? Today, Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, hands us the blueprint. We break down how to build a rock-solid foundation in challenger-sport sponsorships, the strategies that actually move deals forward, and the ways his organization punches above its weight to stand out in a crowded market. ----- 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 of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds &  Coachella Valley Lakers and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

The World Cup hit the US (and world). It is said to be the most successful financial World Cup of all time. But who won the sponsorships battle? And how did teams and sponsors keep up with the momentum after the confetti fell? On this Episode, we dive into our thoughts on the sponsorships side and momentum of the World Cup for brands and sports teams. ----- 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 of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds &  Coachella Valley Lakers and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

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 & event sponsorship and how digital is affecting the industry and landscape. Hosted by Rich Franklin, VP of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds &  Coachella Valley Lakers and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

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 of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds &  Coachella Valley Lakers and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

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 sponsorship and how digital is affecting the industry and landscape. Hosted by Rich Franklin, VP of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds &  Coachella Valley Lakers and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

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 sports & event sponsorship and how digital is affecting the industry and landscape. Hosted by Rich Franklin, VP of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds & Lakers and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

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. -- 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 of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

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's noticing around the event and how it can help you rethink your sponsorships. -- 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 of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

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 is a podcast that looks at sports & event sponsorship and how digital is affecting the industry and landscape. Hosted by Rich Franklin, VP of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

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.beehiiv.com/ -- 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 of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

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 sponsorship departments. -- 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 of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

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 that looks at sports & event sponsorship and how digital is affecting the industry and landscape. Hosted by Rich Franklin, VP of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

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 affecting the industry and landscape. Hosted by Rich Franklin, VP of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.

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 Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports & event sponsorship and how digital is affecting the industry and landscape. Hosted by Rich Franklin, VP of Partnerships at the Coachella Valley Firebirds and Nick Lawson, Co-founder of SQWAD.