Writing Assignment Option 10: Affinity marketing is when someone with an affinity for a brand (in this case a team) actually becomes a spokesperson for that team. When you buy logo'd apparel and wear it, you are essentially wearing your fandom for everyone to see - but you are also promoting the brand of that team as well. You are a walking billboard for their brand. Explain the notion of affinity marketing and how licensing (when a school sells its brand for use on apparel that is in turn sold to the public) can help promote brands. What are some ways in which you have seen effective licensing, whether it be on this campus or throughout the Birmingham community? What are some ways your favorite UAB team could grow its identity through licensing? This assignment will assess your understanding of the concepts of affinity fans and affinity marketing and how the business of trademark licensing can utilize affinity fans for the growth of sports affiliated businesses. Some supporting documents are below. Look at the first document and see how much money the University of Texas makes off of licensed apparel (affinity) sales - over $164 million. Now...think about that amount of revenue - how many tickets would you need to sell at $15 to make that much money? When you look at it in that comparison, you get a great sense for how big the business of collegiate licensing is and why it has become a priority over ticket sales for many athletic departments.

https://graphics.wsj.com/table/NCAA_2019(Links to an external site.)

https://businessofcollegesports.com/licensing-2/comparing-licensing-agreements-in-college-athletics/(Links to an external site.)

https://boardroom.tv/ncaa-football-apparel-brand-partners/(Links to an external site.)

https://www.licenseglobal.com/sports/clc-names-top-selling-universities(Links to an external site.)

https://businessofcollegesports.com/licensing-2/university-north-carolina-grows-royalty-revenue-new-primary-licensed-apparel-partner/(Links to an external site.)

https://news.sportsbusinessjournal.com/SB-Blogs/Newsletter-College/2021/07/06.aspx