It seems that advertising has covered nearly every corner of this planet, and it’s become incredibly difficult to avoid being inundated with ads everywhere you look.
Instead of using originality to catch people’s attention, companies are instead forcing every bit of advertising they can onto us, from commercials to billboards and now, NBA uniforms.
As of the 2017-2018 season, 2.5-inch square logos will be allowed to appear on the front left shoulders of players’ jerseys during games. Not only will every square inch of the arena be plastered with ads, but your favorite players will be too.
“Jersey sponsorships provide deeper engagement with partners looking to build a unique association with our teams, and the additional investment will help grow the game in exciting new ways,” according to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver,
In other words, the NBA, an already disgustingly rich organization, has found a way to make even more money. Helping “grow the game in exciting new ways” is just a fancy way of saying, “we’re gonna get paid!”
Seeing ads isn’t pleasant for basketball fans at all. Sure, it’s fun for Mr. Silver’s wallet, but it’s certainly not fun for anyone else.
This new rule is completely unacceptable. People watch basketball games as a way to escape their day-to-day lives, and now players’ jerseys — sacred to die-hard fans — have been tainted by the ever-growing presence of advertising. All these ads are exhausting, and now NBA fans won’t even be able to enjoy a game without being reminded to buy a Kia or a Pepsi.
I know times are tough for many Americans, but an organization that rakes in as much money as the NBA just doesn’t need to be searching for yet another revenue stream. The move just reflects the greed of these companies and organizations and, more frustratingly, takes away from the experiences of fans.
I understand the sporting arena is coated in ads, but it’s completely unnecessary to put ads on moving beings. We escape reality for a brief moment when we go to these live sporting events and now we’re being reminded to buy a Kia when Stephen Curry plants a 3-pointer.
Maybe I’m making too big a deal about this, but one thing I’ve learned is that when a large, influential organization like the NBA starts a trend, everyone eventually jumps on board and pretty soon we’re going to see the same change occur in other sports leagues.
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