Complete List

NSS is capable of handling all needs for several distinct groups: existing sports franchises, potential ownership groups and municipalities interested in creating a new franchise. For existing franchises NSS can assist in all areas of operations to improve efficiency and profits and also develop a new facility. For potential ownership groups NSS can identify additional investors, determine feasibility, procure financing, perform all due diligence and develop a new facility. For municipalities NSS can work to create a public/private financing plan and perform all of the services necessary to create a new franchise or relocate an existing one.

NSS comprehensive services are classified into the following 20 categories:

Accounting & tax services
National Sports Services staff and strategic partners include CPAs with experience in all levels of financial management for both public and private companies as well as major and minor league franchises. NSS is capable of effectively organizing your accounting system and creating tax plans that maximize liquidity and revenue.

Primary:

• Accounting systems development and implementation
• Annual audits
• Construction tax savings creation
• Tax planning
• Venue financing development and implementation

Secondary:

• Cost segregation studies
• Financial statements preparation
• Multi-state income tax analysis and reporting
• Project tax increment estimates
• Purchase price allocation support
• Sales, use and property tax consulting
• Tax return preparation

Budget planning & analysis
NSS understands the unique budgetary concerns of both major league and minor league sports. Our staff can design a budget that meets your needs to achieve your financial goals.

Primary:

• Franchise/facility business plan development and strategy
• Stadium and equipment lease evaluation/comparison
• Cash flow and venue financial model development
• Game revenue & expenses analysis
• Municipal revenues/expenses
• Revenue stream identification and development

Secondary:

• Cash flow analysis
• Financial forecasts and projections
• Management of cash needs during construction
• Construction project budgeting

Concessions & food services
Concessions revenues are critical to the overall success of any sports franchise. NSS has the knowledge to develop a concessions program that provides fans with intriguing and easily accessible options. NSS will help you make key concessions decisions to maximize this revenue stream.

• Concessionaire selection examination
• Concession marketing plan development
• Customer service enhancements for concessions
• Food service contract examination and development
• Menu and operations enhancements for revenue maximization and waste minimization
• Supervision, training and management of concessionaire personnel

Construction/contractor services
National Sports Services has decades of experience in working with contractors on behalf of franchises and others to develop new facilities. NSS’ strategic partners and affiliates in the area of construction represent the major sports construction firms and can insure that your development is coordinated smoothly. On-time, on-budget projects are the hallmark of any NSS facility development.

• Contractor and subcontractor pay request review
• Contractor selection and management
• New facility preconstruction and construction
• Project cost management
• Project schedule and budget review
• Trade work
• Logistical support
• Purchasing

Development & management services
National Sports Services has significant expertise in the area of construction project management. NSS can set and manage a construction schedule and budget as well as procure unique components such as scoreboards, seats and turf. We create processes that make your transition into your facility a smooth one.

• Pre-Construction Services
• Contractor and subcontractor pay request review with recommend approval/rejection
• Specialty item procurement (obtaining scoreboard, seats, etc.)
• Project cost management
• Project schedule and budget review
• Construction change order assessment and implementation
• Contractor and architect selection and management
• Third-party contract evaluation
• Multi-disciplinary project team management

Facility design/architecture
When creating a facility you are creating a face for your organization. NSS, in working with its strategic partners, can help to insure that this face includes a stunning architectural design that meets your goals and sets your facility apart while staying within the established budget.

Primary:

• Architect selection
• Architectural draw requests review with recommend approval/rejection
• Ballpark and redevelopment project strategic planning
• Interface with governmental entities
• Perform planning services
• Private land acquisition and site evaluation
• Program development and design review
• Project cost management
• Project schedule and budget ongoing review during design process
• Site infrastructure identification
• Venue design and functionality strategy and planning

Secondary:

• Proposal review
• Strategic planning support

Feasibility & economic impact analysis
Due diligence is the initial step to establishing or purchasing a franchise or facility. NSS provides expertise in determining if market demographics can support your project. Our firm can provide you with information to determine the feasibility of your project and its economic impact.

Primary:

• Evaluation of proposed project
• Market and financial feasibility evaluation
• Site evaluation/selection
• Stadium and /or team economic/fiscal impact analysis
• Stadium and redevelopment project economic/fiscal impact analysis
• Stadium deal structure/lease valuation comparison and analysis

Secondary:

• Facility expansion/renovation and reuse analysis
• Multi-variable sensitivity analysis
• Ticket pricing analysis

Finance procurement/fund development
NSS can provide a variety of financing options to help establish or grow your franchise. Our firm has the financial wherewithal to develop unique financing options that will minimize your cost of capital.

Primary:

• Public and private financing sources identification and procurement
• Finance plan development
• Financial institution and insurance credit negotiations
• Financial structure determination for team investment

Secondary:

• Bonding requirements review for compliance with lending requirements
• Construction and permanent financing
• Joint Venture and financing proposal evaluation
• Refinancing feasibility evaluation
• Venue buyout and new venue lease negotiations

Franchise sale/acquisition & ownership group assimilation
Whether you are looking to buy, sell or simply looking for opportunities in sports ownership, National Sports Services has the proven capabilities to work with all parties (individuals, leagues, ownership groups, municipalities and others) to close transactions. NSS helps to insure a successful transition into or out of franchise ownership.

Primary:

• Franchise and facility valuation
• Franchise and facility sale assistance
• Investor acquisition due diligence
• League approval and/or team relocation assistance
• Team acquisition due diligence and negotiation

Secondary:

• Dispute resolution
• Lease valuation
• Ownership application assistance
• Stadium acquisition due diligence

Graphic design/image consulting
NSS and its strategic partners have been involved with numerous branding campaigns that have included creating initial brand identity and rejuvenating an existing brand. Our firm can bring an energy and focus to your sports franchise’s identity. We can create comprehensive and compelling design elements from a franchise logo to the team’s web site or branding your entire facility.

• Brand identity development
• Marketing and advertising campaign development and execution
• Merchandise design and development
• Printing services
• Specialty and interior design architecture development
• Stadium atmosphere development
• Team name, logo design and mascot development

Information technology/audio-video technology
As technology becomes more sophisticated audio-visual elements are increasingly important to the overall fan experience. In today’s marketplace a sophisticated technology plan is needed for a franchise to be successful. NSS can develop sports industry IT solutions for business operations and cost-effective solutions to maximize the fan experience.

• Computerization of accounting records
• Database management
• Hardware and software selection
• Venue information technology development
• Web site development

Legal services
NSS has working relationships with law firms whose clientele include numerous sports franchises. NSS personnel along with our strategic partners can insure that legal matters are handled in a timely and cost-effective manner.

• Architect, contractor, and subcontractor contract negotiation
• Premium seating and sponsorship contract services
• Financial legal document drafting
• Principal city negotiation services
• Property tax appeal
• Value calculations in conjunction with litigation cases

Management/operations consulting services
The business operations of a sports franchise or facility can be a complex web. NSS can create solutions to the business challenges facing you today in a matter that will improve your bottom line.

Primary:

• Ancillary real estate development opportunities evaluation
• Ancillary recreational development (amusement park, ice rink, rec. center, etc.)
• Day-to-day operations management (inventory turnover, budgeting, sales, etc.)
• Franchise operational assistance
• Management/operations review and analysis
• Sales and acquisition advisory services
• Sports facilities strategic planning
• Team strategic planning

Secondary:

• Cash flow and revenue streams analysis
• Due diligence services
• Negotiation services
• Proof of performance

Marketing/promotions & ticket sales
NSS can develop a comprehensive marketing program that increases ticket revenues. The results speak for themselves as our involvement has been instrumental in achieving 35 franchise attendance records. Our marketing savvy includes creating memorable experiences for the fan by developing and implementing creative promotions and events.

Primary:

• Luxury suite and premium seating development
• Marketing collateral materials (media guide, brochures, etc.) design and printing
• Sales and marketing strategy including ticket sales and advertising campaign
• Season ticket holder retention and upgrade programs
• Ticket pricing

Secondary:

• Brand extension development
• Client & fan base development
• Corporate sales strategy development
• Database marketing
• Fan acquisition/development
• Group sales strategy development
• Market research
• New product development
• Resource allocation determination

Merchandising
National Sports Services is strongly committed to maximizing all revenue streams for our clients. We often see merchandise as an underutilized revenue stream. Our firm can develop lucrative merchandise arrangements that expand your merchandise opportunities to maximize this revenue.

• Merchandise creation and printing/purchasing
• Merchandising campaign development
• Restaurant and business retail development

Public/media/community relations
Public and community relations greatly impact an organization’s success. NSS has implemented numerous PR campaigns that have greatly increased interest in franchises. Our firm can also identify unique community relations opportunities that will endear your franchise to the local community.

• Community initiatives development
• Community outreach marketing
• Media planning & placement
• Media training
• Press conference scheduling and execution
• Public relations campaign development
• Stadium task force support
• Venue referendum campaign planning and implementation

Risk management
NSS and its strategic partners can make sure that risks are identified and your organization is adequately insured. We can handle the basic needs of an organization as well as the complex requirements surrounding design, construction and development of a new facility.

Primary:

• Construction and operation risk management analysis
• Contract drafting with suitable language to ensure protection
• Insurance review and recommendations for change
• Risk mitigation strategy development

Secondary:

• Broker review
• Insurer reviews
• Loan and lease and contract review
• Property management training
• Remuneration negotiation with insurance broker
• Risk management manual development

Sponsorship sales/advertising sales/naming rights
Sponsorships and naming rights represent critical revenues for the sports industry. NSS can help establish long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with the business community to maximize these revenues. Our firm has the ability to create unique opportunities and creative programs that will increase the value of your sponsorship inventory and be the envy of other organizations.

• Advertising/sponsorship agreements evaluation and negotiation
• Media (television/radio) contract evaluation and negotiation
• Naming rights transaction evaluation
• Sponsorship revenue development
• Sponsorship effectiveness survey

Staff & facility management
To succeed human resources must be a strength of your organization. NSS experience includes owning, being employed by and consulting with professional sports organizations over the past three decades. This experience has allowed us to achieve operational excellence that we can apply within your organization.

• Employee benefits analysis
• Employee manual creation
• Human resources best practices program creation and implementation
• Sports placement/executive recruiting services
• Stadium and field maintenance services
• Grounds keeping equipment acquisition

Wealth transfer planning
Long-term planning is important for all aspects of any business, including wealth transfer planning. As part of our comprehensive services, NSS has a strategic partner who is an industry leader in estate planning with a client list that includes several major league owners. NSS and our strategic partner can work with you to ensure that your concerns related to wealth transfer and estate plans are properly implemented.

• Wealth transfer planning and implementation
• Business succession planning
• Buy-sell agreement design and planning
• Executive compensation planning
• Estate planning coordination with attorneys and accounts
• Employee benefits planning