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You may remember an article I wrote a while back about Kobe Bryant’s official website. The media ate it up and published it all over the web. Titled “Kobe’s People Have Lost their Mind” I wrote about the changes that were made to KB24.com.
When the site was launched years ago, it included a blog and forum that was free and gave all the Kobe Bryant fans the chance to follow along with his daily activities, a few videos of his workouts, chat on his forums, and be a part of many other cool Kobe related things.
Last year, either Kobe or his people decided to make a change to the site. They began charging to use the site. The fee was $49.95.
According to the site, this included:
- An exclusive KB24 T-Shirt
- Access to exclusive content including videos, audio and photos
- Members-only access to exclusive contests.
- Access to exclusive KB24 events
- Access to member only messageboards, blogs, social network.
- Exclusive access to KB24 events (chat/blogs/live video/listening party, meet & greets etc).
- Much More.
I spent a good amount of time criticizing the site and feel that it is truly unfair to charge fans to be loyal to a player, especially when said player is making over $20 million per year. The money should not be an issue for the player, and although $49.95 per fan can add up to a large sum, it’s absurd that an athlete with an image as big as his would do this.
With all this said, I have an udpate for all of you. Kobe Bryant’s website has now lowered the cost of membership to the site. Have they squeezed out the $49.95 from everyone who can afford it? Are they giving a chance to the slightly less fortunate ones to become members now?
Membership price has dropped to a low cost of $24.95 and will include the same features.
Here is my question: do the people that paid $49.95 get a refund? What caused Kobe to make this decision to lower the price? Is this a fair price? Is it reasonable to charge this? Is it reasonable to charge at all? What does Kobe’s site offer that Sasha Vujacic or Lamar Odom or Derek Fisher or Jordan Farmar sites don’t offer?
Although I am still quite unhappy with the fact that Kobe’s site charge for membership, I must give them some credit for making the price slightly more reasonable compared to what they were.
I do have great news for you all though that feel the same way as I do and don’t want to pay for Kobe’s site. Knowing perfectly well that there is a large Kobe Bryant fan base, an enormous Lakers fan base, and a ginormous NBA fan base, I have started a LABallTalk Forum for all of you to leave your thoughts in. Come join in and let’s get these conversations underway!!
Leave a Comment
August 11th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
If you can’t afford $25 a year stop working at McDonalds, get a better education and get a better job. FYI, when the site first started charging members a fee, everyone who joined within a week that the site made its transition got a free year of subscription. So everyone who’s been a member since October 2008 didn’t have to pay a dime. Get your facts straight before you post informed, idiotic stuff like this.
August 11th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Well, thank you for the comments Mike. I greatly appreciate your input. With that said, as you can see by this site, I don’t work at McDonalds and as you misunderstood, this article isn’t about the value of the site or about the money. The article is about the simple principle behind charging fans to be a part of your fan site. There are no others athletes that do this and there is no reason Kobe should do it. Whether he provides one year for free or two years for free or the next ten years for free, there should be no price to being a fan. He already makes a nice size commission of his Jersey sales, which we all own, including myself, his shoes, and all his other endorsements. He has the #1 selling jersey, obviously the man has fans. The problem is the loyalty of the fans compared to the athletes loyalty to his fans in return.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
There are other reasons besides revenue to charge a fee. If KB wanted to have an exclusive fan club where its members can enjoy certain privileges such as meet and greets or converse on a forum w/o worrying about trolls, a fee can be established to make it feasible. Also, is this a one time fee of $25?
August 12th, 2009 at 3:28 am
Thanks for the post, I totally agree. As of today, I have never bought nor plan to buy any of kobe’s gear. I am not a hater, I just perfer to spend my money elsewhere. I would rather take that $25/$50 or even shoe or jersey cost and invest it or spend on items that will benefit myself. As for charging to be a fan, I find that somewhat absurd. It doesn’t matter if you were a fan before Oct 2008 or not. Its the idea that if I decided to be one now, I have to pay rather than have been one less than 1 year ago. I would never pay to be someone’s fan. People like him need to appreicate things more. Grant Hill (who by the way is a class act player – got to meet him) truly appreciates the fans, the game, and life. It just goes to show how much of this game has to change to “Show Me The Money.” Its funny how I hear stories of the great ball players who made crap for money, held summer jobs and always shared rooms with teammates. Those are the players that truly appreciated the fans and the game. Today’s players need to embrace that.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:57 am
Come on, you can do better than this. It’s an extra access fee, not a standard use fee. Anybody can register – for free – and use the forums, watch videos, post blogs, etc. Pay the fee and you have the ability to participate in meet & greets and other exclusive events. Maybe the communication on the site is unclear, but let’s be accurate whenever possible.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Kobe has never been and never will be as great as Michael Jordan. Jordan would never do something like this.
August 12th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
The bottom line is that we are all fans. I’m one of Kobe’s biggest supporter and get mad when he doesn’t get a call on the court, even when he doesn’t deserve one. I’m die hard. With that said, you still can’t argue that charging for a forum and blog is ridiculous. I run this site with forum and blog and it costs practically nothing. I do this out of love and don’t get paid for it. I provide more content than Kobe’s site and I don’t charge. Does that mean you will pay me $50 since I post at least twice as often as his site?
August 12th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
well i agree daniel, i think it’s not an appropriate act to such things (fee) for fans to access some stuff, i agree with jason kb cannot be like michael and kb never will,! i think kb well be aware of this, common man, you earn more than enough!
August 13th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
WOW. It’s not $25 to go to the site, geez…they came up with a “fan club” type of thing and are charging people for THAT. Like, check out Linkin Park’s “LP Underground”. Same type of thing. What’s the problem??? Oh wait, it’s Kobe. My bad.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I don’t see the complaint here. While the original price was certainly expensive, are you saying that things like a T-Shirt or specific events to meet Kobe should be open to everyone that wants to sign up? Generally, most of the site is available to anyone to browse for free. The items features for a cost aren’t any different from fan clubs for various music Bands or personalities that are out there.
Think of it this way, would you pay $25 for a Kobe shirt? That’s pretty reasonable given the prices for misc Nike T’s.