"The Phat 5" is a Madison Avenue 'Sports Marketing Dream'; Memorabilia Sales Could Hit the $500 Million-$1 Billion Mark, says Dunkadelic.com

Kentucky, N. Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, and Duke; "The Phat 5" of College Basketball 2006-07 season has the potential to eclipse the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, World Series, Daytona 500, and Final Four in merchandising and memorabilia sales. "The Phat 5" will be sports next 'Mega-Brand'.

(PRWEB) January 30, 2006 -- Sports memorabilia in America is a multi-billion dollar business that continues to grow. A Ty Cobb baseball card is valued at over $1 million. Wilt Chamberlains' 100 point basketball is valued at $500,000. Barry Bonds' 71st and 73rd Home Run ball can get you a retirement portfolio. If it's rare history the more the value it has. How much would Kobe Bryants' game worn 81 point jersey with his signature go for $100,000-$200,000? Next college basketball season rare history will happen again the first in US sports when the 5 best and, most celebrated college basketball programs of All-Time take the floor for 500 years of combined play. It's rare, it's historic and, it's valuable.

The name "The Phat 5" is cool and hip. "Phat" which means large, big, or something really great is an acronym for the 5 programs meaning "Producing History At the Tournament" (NCAA Final Four). "The Phat 5" has generated more NCAA Championship history than any of the other programs in college basketball.

To understand what "The Phat 5" means to the sports merchandising and memorabilia arena we have to look at the companies that will be contributing and how this mega-concept can evolve. First the 2 "Sneaker Giants" Nike and Adidas. Nike sponsors 3 of "The Phat 5" Kentucky, N. Carolina, and Duke. Adidas the other 2 "Phat 5" UCLA and Kansas. The Nike trio has 14 NCAA Championships UK-7, UNC-4, and Duke-3 compared to the 13 NCAA Championships of the Adidas duo UCLA-11 and Kansas-2. Both companies could design "The Phat 5" 500th Celebration sneaker for the footwear market. The Mega-Blockbuster movie Titanic grossed over 1 Billion at the Box Office. Paramount and 20th Century Fox came together to make the movie a record revenue success. Nike and Adidas would have to do the same for "The Phat 5".

Fortune 500 companies would marvel at the opportunity to associate their names and brands to the 500 years of play. There is one year of play for every Fortune 500 company in America. Just something to think about. Sport and soft drink brands Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Gatorade and, Powerade would jump in line to be part of the "500 Year Show". Wheaties could create a Special Collector's 5 box set of "The Phat 5" in celebration of the 500 years of play. Magazine and Special Collector's Edition books could be hot off the presses in book stores. All the major television networks CBS, the home of the Final Four, Fox Sports, ABC, NBC and, ESPN could dedicate special programing to "The Phat 5". Coin collection sets of the "The Phat 5" would become rare items of value along with all the other memorabilia assembled by different companies.

A "Special Collector's Basketball" with a 500th year logo seal, would make a great Christmas gift and become a collector's item. "The Phat 5" would play games with the special collector's basketball for the entire season. A 500th year jersey with a special 500th year logo that all of "The Phat 5" programs would wear during the season to celebrate the 500 years of play. Imagine a "Special Collection" of all 5 team jersey's for $500 a set (all 5) in both white and road colors. The 500th year ball and jersey's signed by the coaches of "The Phat 5" in a set (all 5) that goes for $2000 could be a collector's piece. The potential for this memorabilia and merchandise could set records in revenue sales. When there is a game that features a "Phat 5" vs. "Phat 5" program how much will that ticket go for to see them play during the 500th year season $2000-$5000 per seat. All the programs, banners, and soft drink cups could become collector's items.

Each of "The Phat 5" universities could select 5 former players or coaches who could be the Ambassadors for the entire 500th season. The 25 Ambassadors could be in groups of 5 and travel to different game sites as part of pre-game or halftime celebrations. Every "Phat 5" arena could hang a banner in honor of "The Phat 5" celebrating 500. NBA teams could also hang a special banner for the season to honor the accomplishments of "The Phat 5".

A sports rivalry can become a sports brand Army vs. Navy, NY Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox, Ohio St. vs. Michigan, and Duke vs. N. Carolina. They have an identity of their own that is consistent no matter what is going on between both teams. "The Phat 5" at 500 is in line to be the first sports brand that incorporates more than 2 teams as its rivalry. "The Big 5" of Philadelphia is a sports brand in Philly but doesn't garner national attention. The ACC, SEC, Big 12, Big 10, Pac 10, and Big East are sports brands for college athletics. "The Phat 5" will become a sports brand for the 5 best college basketball programs of All-Time . They will be a symbol of excellence and greatness.

"The Phat 5" of College Basketball; Kentucky, N. Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, and Duke will set a new standard of sports marketing that will result in them becoming the next 'Mega-Brand' in sports.

"The Phat 5" has a current record streak of 18 consecutive Final Four appearances from 1988-2005. 24 of the 72 Final Four spots the last 18 years have been occupied by "The Phat 5" an astounding 33%. Now that's Dunkadelic!

For more information or interview request on "The Phat 5", "The Phat 5" Mega-Brand, Final Four streak, or the Dunkadelic terminology contact Derrick E. Vaughan of Dunkadelic Inc.

# # #