March Madness is in full swing as the words “seed” and “bracket” become a part of everyday conversation. The NCAA tournament is a time of year when fans outside the universities become part of the universities. This is a true competition, not the type between the fans and the players brawling in the seats.
But what makes this tourney so appealing to the male species across the country? Could it be a college athlete’s heart and love for the game? Is it the crazy college fans? Maybe the greatest interest lies outside the court…in offices, bars and living rooms across the country. It’s the brackets!
In the PR world, sometimes gimmicks are a good thing. It’s a hook to reel in a viewer or a reader. In this case, are the tournament brackets a gimmick, something that was developed to stir an excitement that wasn’t as strong during the season? Either way, this piece of paper becomes a part of each fan involved. The paper never leaves their side, always checking and confirming.
If every brand had a gimmick, would it work as consistently as the NCAA? Would it cause this much attention? Well, maybe, didn’t a company come out with a razor with like 15 blades?
