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CB Sports and Fitness Review of I9 Sports
I9 Sports

I9 Sports review: illegal advertising signs - massive street spammer 3

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4:07 pm EST
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i9Sports, a for-profit franchised youth sports business, places illegal advertising signs on the side of public and private roads, rather than using paid advertising to support their for-profit sports leagues.

This is illegal in most if not all of the towns where they do it (it is certainly illegal in New York). These ugly eyesore signs distract drivers, hurt property values for property owners, and drain taxpayer resources for their removal - whether it's law enforcement, sanitation, or code enforcement, it costs taxpayers money.

My complaint specifically refers to their Westchester County, New York franchise. i9Sports franchisee Brent Bass is a bad corporate citizen, transfering his advertising costs to the community. Imagine if every business put signs on the side of the road! Your community would look like a garbage heap, especially after the signs blew away or got covered with mud, which they do if the municipalities don't have the funds to remove them. (PS - these signs are made of Coroplast - a non-recyclable material. So much plastic going to landfills, because a company isn't willing to foot its own advertising bill and instead puts it on the community.

Please contact Mr. Bass to ask him to stop: [protected]@i9sports.com / [protected]. And call the corporate headquarters too if this is taking place in your area of the US. [protected].

Proof of the local franchisee's actions is seen below in its current Craigslist ad looking for someone to place signs for them:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/etc/1595911450.html

Guerilla Marketing Driver (Westchester / Rockland County) Date: 2010-02-11, 9:02AM EST Reply to: see below
i9 Sports of Westchester and Rockland is searching for a mature individual, to work as a part time guerilla marketing staff member. The person in this position will have a flexible schedule (preferred evening) and will work primarily in placing our marketing materials throughout Westchester and Rockland County. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: Must have the ability to take direction and be organized. To do this job effectively this person should be physically fit, have a clean driving record, and be willing to both transport and place marketing materials in their personal car. This person should also be familiar with driving directions throughout Westchester County primarily. No Degree required for this opportunity. Email interest letter and resume by March 10th, 2010 to:

[protected]@i9sports.com Location: Westchester / Rockland County Compensation: Hourly / Contractual This is a part-time job. This is a contract job. Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster. Phone calls about this job are ok. Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests. PostingID: [protected]

Update by Char1ie W
Apr 09, 2010 3:28 pm EDT

kev44,

What is unfair about my comments? they are ALL TRUE. This man who you have such a strong opinion of is ROUTINELY BREAKING THE LAW. That is a FACT, not an opinion! It is not disparaging to make accurate factual statements about someone.

I spoke with Brent Bass, and asked him directly to stop posting his ILLEGAL EYESORE SIGNS. We were "disconnected" so I called back and he said to me, "Have a good day".

This man you think so highy of can certainly AFFORD to place LEGAL advertising in LEGAL, PAID MEDIA rather than putting ILLEGAL, UGLY, EYESORE, POLLUTING, signs up. IF he cared about the community in which he operated. He cares about $$$ - look it up, this is a profitable FOR-PROFIT business. He is transferring his advertising costs to the public in the areas in which he operates. He is also costing MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS which have to remove his ugly, distracting, eyesore, illegal signs.

I contacted the owner of i9 Sports too - and they fed me some baloney about how they have no control over what the franchisees do. However - they provide the templates for the ILLEGAL UGLY EYESORE signs.

This is a ROTTEN company - they are BREAKING THE LAW, and they do NOTHING about it when it is brought to their attention.

Charlie W.

Update by Char1ie W
May 31, 2010 9:05 am EDT

Chachi07,

Please spare me the name-calling. It is a sign of a weak argument.

Not that it is relevant but yes, I do volunteer work for a nonprofit, and yes, I also have a career which involves helping children (through education).

I am also a property owner and resident of Westchester County, New York who opposes the literal trashing of my area. I stated my reasons for opposing his actions above, no need to restate them here. Mr. Bass's actions are illegal - you are incorrect to state otherwise.

Mr. Bass can very well afford to pay for legal advertising for his business. There is no need for him to trash Westchester County with his illegal advertising.

Mr. Bass is simply transferring his advertising costs onto me and other residents and property owners of Westchester County.

I oppose his actions, but Iwill not stoop to your level by calling him, or you, names.

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Steve Carleview
Silver Spring, US
Jun 16, 2011 10:18 pm EDT

Same problem in my area, Maryland. The police say it is not illegal, but the signs are considered abdoned property. The officer winked his eye and said he had nothing against people removing those and similar signs. So they put them out, I take them down. I've run a small business for over thirty years, and we paid for all our ads. There's a name for putting things on other people's property without there permission--littering.

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Chachi07
Denver, US
May 29, 2010 12:33 am EDT
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Charlie W.

Dude you really need to get a life. First off if it was so ILLEGAL and BREAKING THE LAW don't you think the city would have stepped in and said something (I'm sure you have cried, pissed and moaned to them as well)?

Yes i9 Sports is FOR PROFIT business just like millions of other business. God forbid someone made a business successful and actually worked to make money...

What do you do for a living? I'm guessing it is not volunteering your time for a nonprofit origination?

It is Jack A@@es like you with way to much time on your hands who make it so hard for someone to step up and own a small business. Rather than being a [censored] bag, eat your own words and go make a positive difference is a child, elderly, homeless person’s life. Or are you to shallow to be seen in that setting?

At the end of the day Brent Bass is making a difference in several Childs lives. Each league, camp and clinic he offers he provides an outlet for children to be in a positive environment where it’s not all about winning and losing. The impact Brent Bass makes will change the lives of several children in such a positive way.

So once again I ask you, what have you done lately?

Sincerely,

Get A. Life

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kev44
, US
Apr 08, 2010 7:52 pm EDT

Brent Bass of i9 Sports is the most dedicated, kind, and fair individual. My children have been involved with him and i9 Sports for the past 3 years. It is by far the best sports organization we have ever been involved in. Please do not make disparaging remarks against him. I'm sure if you contacted the organization directly, rather than writing unfair comments, they would be more than happy to work with your complaints.