New Orleans Hornets Use KickApps to Bring Fan Participation to Web
NBA Team Launches Social Network for Fans to Extend Reach; Taps
Fans to Name the Network
NEW YORK (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) November 19, 2008 --
KickApps (http://www.kickapps.com),
the industry’s leading on-demand social media, video player and widget
platform, today announced that the New Orleans Hornets (http://www.nba.com/hornets/interact/socialnetwork.html)
have launched a social network for fans of the team powered by KickApps.
The website is a destination for the supporters of one of the most
popular professional basketball teams in the U.S. to gather online with
other fans to share their passion for the Hornets and NBA basketball,
create, share and discover fan submitted photos, videos and blogs, and
interact exclusively with official club content.
Using social media, the Hornets capitalize on an opportunity to increase
their connection with fans by extending the Hornets experience beyond
the basketball court. The new website features its own social network
with video and photo sharing functionality, forums, and the ability for
members to take video and photos from the site to other social networks,
blogs and websites using Hornets branded video and photo widgets.
“The New Orleans Hornets have some of the most dedicated and faithful
fans in the world, so creating an online destination that is social,
interactive and participatory is high on our priorities,” said Matt
Rose, Web Services Manager, New Orleans Hornets. “Our new fan social
network will enable us to bring people together before and after games
to let their love for the Hornets and the game of basketball flourish
regardless of where in the world they are. Throughout this season and in
the off-season we’ll be able to keep our fans engaged with each other
and with their favorite players.”
To tip-off participation and activity on the site, the Hornets are
holding a competition for fans to name the social network. Fans simply
join the network and leave a comment with their proposed name and why
they chose it. Additionally, the team has uploaded behind the scenes
videos of the Honeybee cheerleaders and press conferences, with
additional unique programming planned.
The New Orleans Hornets joins the Phoenix Suns’ Emmy Award winning
PlanetOrange.net (www.planetorange.net),
New York Knicks, Phoenix Mercury, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks,
New York Rangers and Arena Football League, as teams that have embraced
the KickApps Platform.
“Online communities have proven to be a very powerful and expected
medium for sports teams connect with their fans,” said Alex Blum, CEO of
KickApps. “Using social media will enable the New Orleans Hornets to
grow and reinforce the fan community, strengthen team and brand
affinities, and create new revenue opportunities through merchandising,
sponsorships and online advertising. As one of the leading brands in
professional basketball, the Hornets have taken the opportunity to
deliver an extremely engaging and viral resource for both official and
fan-created content.”
About KickApps
Selected by BusinessWeek readers as Best of the Web 2008,
KickApps provides on-demand social media, online video and widget
applications that enable web publishers and marketers to drive deeper
customer relationships, and grow, engage and monetize online audiences.
Its SaaS platform includes social networking, user-generated content,
programmable video players, drag-and-drop widget building, WidgeADs™ and
other applications that are tightly integrated with robust media
moderation, member management and reporting. Customers include: SOAPnet,
CW Television, Guinness World Records, Scripps Network Interactive, HBO,
Cinemax, Cox Television, the Phoenix Suns, the New York Knicks, the New
York Rangers and thousands of other sites. For more information, visit www.kickapps.com
and www.kickdeveloper.com.
See the original story at: http://eon.businesswire.com/releases/new_orleans/orleans_hornets/prweb1640674.htm
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