The show business of basketball

On Saturday I went to see a basketball game. I was invited by a friend who is also a business partner working for Comexis. The game was in Charleroi, where the local team was host to the team holding the second spot in this year's championship. No particular challenge as Charleroi had a terrible year apparently and missed the mark for the play-offs for the first time in 15 years. The game was good fun, although Belgium is not amongst Europe's best places for basketball. Actually I was really impressed by the way the event was managed. Very professionally done. Lots of energy, music, dance... a real show and great fun for the public; the picture is from the show before the game. From a business and marketing standpoint I believe it is actually quite remarkably done. The guys who run the business of the basketball club of Charleroi are definitely offering a great experience to their supporters. And I think it's a very good example of what needs to be done to place customers and their subjective experience at the center of business and marketing strategies. Business is about people and talent.