For years, the Portland Trail Blazers have been known for their special relationship with their rabid fanbase, a bond increasingly rare in today’s corporate landscape. However, several financially beneficial business decision over the last few years have impacted the uniqueness of the franchise.
Last week’s announcement of Biofreeze as the official corporate jersey sponsor of the team not only capped off a mostly miserable off-season for Blazers fans, but also showed just how out of touch the team is with its fans. Teasing a “big announcement” to a fanbase desperate for hope not only comes across as tone deaf, but begs the question as to why anyone in the organization thought a public proclamation of a pain reliever having their name plastered on the team’s uniform would get anybody excited in the first place?