UFC Cares?

Just a few short years ago, there was a debate about the image being portrayed by the NBA.  Some felt that the image that the players exuded was not consistent with what was expected by the league's primary business-oriented customer base.  Interestingly, the highest profile aspect of the actions taken by the NBA turned out to be the dress code.  The union reps at the time famously demanded some sort of stipend for purchasing dress clothes.  I can understand how the media would have chosen to cover the hilarity of these claims about millionaires needing assistance to afford a suit.  But, what went largely unnoticed at the time was the other element of the attempt at addressing this image concern: The NBA Cares.  

Launched in 2005, the program's mission is as follows:

"NBA Cares is the league’s global community outreach initiative that addresses important social issues such as education, youth and family development, and health and wellness. The NBA, its teams, and players support a range of programs, partners and initiatives that strive to positively impact children and families worldwide."

Most impressive are the quantifiable results of the program's efforts:

"Since October 2005 when NBA Cares was launched, the league, players and teams have raised more than $145 million for charity, provided more than 1.4 million hours of hands-on service, and built more than 525 places where kids and families can live, learn or play in communities around the world."

As fans of basketball, we may not think about it very often, but the efforts of the NBA cares program have become an expected element of our favorite teams' broadcast.  Most fans can recall images of recognizable stars reading books to children in their local communities or handing out presents around Christmas time.  I would argue that such efforts are far more influential to the brand perception than the more highly publicized dress code.     

So, how does this apply to the UFC?  No, I'm not suggesting the UFC has an image problem.  In fact, the interesting paradox about the brand is that mass acceptance would actually harm its value in the long run.  There needs to be a sense of rebellion associate with the sport of MMA, or it loses a lot of its appeal.  But, I do feel very strongly that the UFC is missing out on an excellent chance to reach out to the communities it entertains in very meaningful ways.

More about potential action steps after the jump...