When the San Francisco 49ers face off against the Kansas City Chiefs this Super Bowl Sunday, the team's brand will be in the best position that it's been in for decades.
But it's how the franchise thrives through good and bad times that defines success, 49ers CMO Alex Chang told Cheddar.
"A strong brand, whether it's in sports or outside of sports, needs to be able to thrive in times that are great and times that might be a little tougher," he said.
Not that winning doesn't help. Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara sold out every home game this year, and 90 percent of those seats were season ticket holders, according to Chang.
"This is one of the strongest brands in sports, but absolutely this season, with the success the team had and the performance on the field, we've seen that translate into great business off the field," he said.
Now the goal is to keep up the brand's momentum, regardless of what happens next Sunday or in the 2020 season.
One way the 49ers are doing that is improving the stadium experience by addressing the fan's second biggest concern next to performance on the field: the food and beverage experience.
"We think including the cost of food and beverages in their season ticket prices is a way to remove friction from that experience and provide great value," Chang said.
The new feature was announced as teams throughout the NFL struggled to keep up attendance. The 2019 season reached a 15-year low with an average of 66,648 fans attending per home game, according to Sports Business Daily.
"We're always looking for ways to make it more accessible," Chang said.
It's a tough time for the job market. Amid wider economic uncertainty, some analysts have said that businesses are at a “no-hire, no fire” standstill. At the same time, some sizeable layoffs have continued to pile up — raising worker anxieties across sectors. Some companies have pointed to rising operational costs due to U.S.'s new tariffs, while others have redirected money to artificial intelligence investments. Workers in the public sector have also been hit hard. Federal jobs were cut by the thousands earlier this year. And many workers are now going without pay as the U.S. government shutdown has now dragged on for more than a month.
Nvidia smashes earnings with record-breaking revenue and soaring Blackwell demand as shares slip this morning, Barron’s senior writer Adam Levine unpacks it all
Jeff Wagoner, CEO of Outrigger Hospitality Group, discusses the company’s coral preservation initiatives and sustainable practices at their hotels and resorts.
Dena Jalbert, Head of M&A at Align Advisory, discusses the state of mergers and acquisitions in 2025 and beyond, highlighting key trends and opportunities.
Kim Perell, author and entrepreneur, shares actionable tips and tricks to help current and aspiring entrepreneurs kick off 2026 with confidence and momentum.
Computer chipmaker Nvidia is poised to release a quarterly earnings report that is expected to either deepen a recent downturn in the stock market or prompt an ebullient sigh of relief among investors increasingly worried the world’s most valuable company is perched upon an artificial intelligence bubble about to burst.
Emera CEO Scott Balfour discusses soaring energy demand, AI-driven grid challenges, clean-power investments, and how the company is building a resilient future.
JB Mackenzie discusses Robinhood’s new entertainment prediction markets, letting users engage with pop culture, award shows, and more through low-stakes bets.
