Public Relations in Major League Baseball

        

    

         Public relations and marketing is vital for teams in the MLB. This is because finding your target audience and then trying to reach them is key to the success of driving fans though the gates and increasing ticket sales. Some MLB teams do a very nice job and other not, which shows by the amount of fans attending their games. An article on Forbes said, “As with any marketing strategy, it's important for MLB to understand its target audience. The organization recently started showing exit velocity and launch angles on its television broadcasts, as well as new statistics even savvy fans struggle to understand, like ISO (isolated power), OPS (on-base plus slugging) and SLG (slugging percentage). And while these new metrics delight the diehard fans, there's a chance they could lessen the appeal and slow the growth of a new, younger fanbase….A good marketing strategy understands which parts of the customer experience fans do notice, like the rising costs of tickets and draft beer. Understanding what's paramount to your target audience and incorporating into the overall marketing strategy is always a good idea.” Promotion of things like tickets, merchandise on your website and social media outlets is also very important. It’s vital to reach the younger audiences because they are the future of your brand. Millennials just want to know they are going to have a good time. MLB could focus more on promoting fan experiences through its television commercials. For example, ads could show four young people sitting in the stands, drinking beers, laughing and cheering on their team.” These millennials are what drives ticket and concession sales because they aren’t afraid to spend money in order to have a good time. “Say what you want about millennials, but they are not cheap. Millennials gladly shell out $12 for their Moscow mules and fancy IPA beers and eat at the trendiest restaurants. Again, they just want to have a good time, so why not promote the fan experience?” Baseball can be a mediocre sport to watch at times, but with good marketing techniques, MLB teams can get their fans more involved and make coming to games more fun and enjoyable.