PHILLIES, NOT CITIZENS BANK, BIGGEST WINNERS IN STADIUM DEAL -- Who benefits most from the $95 million blockbuster deal giving Citizens Bank naming rights to the new Phillies ballpark? Not who you think, says Temple sports economist Michael Leeds, who, with two colleagues, is conducting research on stadium naming rights and the impact on firms that buy them. It's the teams, not the corporations or the municipalities, that generally reap the rewards of naming rights deals, says Leeds. "The money all goes into the Phillies' pockets," says Leeds. "It has become routine that naming rights are sold to the highest bidder, and those funds go to the team." So why do corporations seek naming rights at all? "Companies buy naming rights at an 'ego premium,'" he says. "Although they don't see an increase in their stock, companies still buy into the deals for the added perks such as tickets and luxury suites--and because it's the next best thing to buying the team."
NATURE BECKONS, BUT BE WARY WITH YOUR SUMMER WORKOUTS -- If you're having problems converting your exercise routine from the gym to the great outdoors, don't sweat it too much. Even Lance Armstrong wouldn't be able to handle it right away, according to Temple kinesiology professor C. Buz Swanik. "Anytime you change the mode of exercise you're used to, you're increasing your workload," Swanik says. "If you took the best cyclist in the world and put him on a treadmill, it'd be a lot harder." Although the lure of working out al fresco stirs many couch potatoes to action, Swanik warns that newbie runners should be mindful of several potential pitfalls when devising an exercise plan. "A person who's been sedentary all winter must be careful of the added stress to their bodies. It's just like the stories of heart attack sufferers who've been indoors during the winter and go out to try to shovel snow," says Swanik. "And for those who've been in the gym, the running surface outdoors is different and there's a lot more stress on the joints and bones. But the big thing is the heat. Most people don't stay hydrated." Swanik's advice for anyone modifying or starting a fitness program is to gradually build your stamina and phase in any changes to your routine.
KEEPING WORKERS FOCUSED IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME -- In this down economy, most companies can't afford to let employees slack off in the summer months. So how can you get the most from your employees in those lazy, hazy, crazy days? Temple human resource administration professor Gary Blau says it often starts with effective bosses who are able to find the right recipe to get the best work from their employees while also being flexible with workers' needs for time off for family time or good, old-fashioned R&R. "Without question, employers now are more aware of workers' issues at home," says Blau. "Because of efforts to retain the best people, and recognizing that we have more single parents and two-income families in the workforce, there is a greater sensitivity to non-work types of issues. But it's an exchange. The company also expects you to give your all, your very best effort, when you're there." Encouraging employees to take vacation time they've earned can help them come back refreshed and rejuvenated, says Blau. But even bosses who promote an occasional break during the work day--an afternoon off, a quick chat to find out how an employee's kid is doing in Little League, a late-day ice cream break--can work to boost morale and productivity, says Blau. "Just having the human touch does have an impact and can help to keep a stable workforce," he says.
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