Fordham Athletics Earns Gold Medal in NACMA "Best Of" Awards Program

The Fordham athletic department received a gold medal for its Courtside Cuts promotion during the 2015 men's basketball season, partnering with Maximum Barbershop. The honor was announced at the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) 'Best Of' Awards Program at 26th annual NACMA Convention on Wednesday afternoon at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas.

The award marks the first time ever that the Rams have medaled at the NACMA "Best Of" awards.  Fordham received its gold medal in the category of Sponsorship Activation (Group II).

"We are honored to be recognized by NAMCA for our work here at Fordham Athletics and Fordham Sports Properties," said James Osborne, General Manager of Fordham Sports Properties.  "Our goal has always been to connect local, regional and national brands to the passion and excitement of Fordham Athletics.  We are particularly grateful for corporate partners like Maximum Barber Shop, companies that are integral in our ongoing effort to engage fans and create the best possible game day atmosphere.  It is because of these partners, as well as the creativity and hard work of the Fordham Athletics marketing department, that we are able to support the growth of our student-athletes and provide a fun atmosphere for Fordham students, alumni and fans."
The objective of the Courtside Cuts program was to encourage fan engagement, showcase the talent of the shop's stylists, increase the shop's following on social media and drive student traffic to the Fordham Road location. During a pair of men's basketball games, Maximum Barbershop had a barber's chair and signage inside Rose Hill Gym in an area visible from the television and streaming cameras.
 
Fordham executed a social media campaign in which students, alumni and fans were encouraged to tag selfies. Promotional support for the campaign included customized messaging on the Rose Hill Gym video boards, a live shot of each promotional winner in the barber's chair and PA announcements. 

Awards are presented in 13 categories, with each category divided into three groups based upon school size and conference affiliations to promote fairness. An association record of more than 1,000 awards entries were received for the 2015-16 year.

NACMA is the first organization of its kind to provide educational and networking opportunities; enhancement of acceptable operating standards and ethics; and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of athletics marketing administrators. For more information about NACMA, please visit www.nacma.com. NACMA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 51st year. For more information on NACDA and the 15 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.