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Just in Time for March Madness, Sheraton Partners Up With the NCAA

February 27, 2008 at 12:17 PM | 0 Comments

Is this a desperate attempt by Sheraton Hotels to target a younger generation? Possibly. But starting soon, you should notice Sheraton infiltrating your favorite college basketball team's televised games.

Sheraton hotels have unveiled a new :30 TV spot, "Belong," that airs during CBS Sports' regular-season coverage of NCAA basketball, the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship -- including the Men's Final Four® semifinal games -- and the National Championship game, through April 8.

That's not all. Sheraton is hoping to start the world's largest online wave at www.Sheraton.com/NCAA, "a site that features video clips of individuals who have filmed and uploaded their own creative version of the wave."

The clips will then be linked together to form a massive wave. People who submit their "waves" will be entered into a random drawing to win tickets to the 2009 NCAA Men's Final Four. Hmm...somethings are better left in the 80s.

But wait, there's even more. Aside from sponsorship signs galore (billboards, commercials, etc) Sheraton will be holding an NCAA-themed national promotion where guests can enter to win tickets to the Men's Final Four semifinal and Championship games, along with a four-night stay at Sheraton Gunter Hotel San Antonio.

This is a pretty sweet deal for Sheraton as they have landed "category exclusivity" in 23 NCAA sports, including basketball  and football which are the most watched. So don't expect any ads for Hyatt to come on during these games.

However, there's not so much here for hotel guests who are staying in a Sheraton. You can link from Sheraton.com and Starwoodhotels.com to NCAA message boards and blogs about your alma mater or favorite college sport but that's about it.

We just hope that all Sheratons across the nation will broadcast NCAA games in-room. It's the least they could do.

[Photo: ItsGreg]

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