UO E-clips, Jan. 29

3 deadly business phrases to avoid (U.S. News and World Report article by Tim Berry, UO Instructor of Business): Earlier today I caught the top 10 myths about small business by blogger Wealthy Bag Lady. She proves with examples that you don't necessarily need megabucks, a certain minimum or maximum age, or fancy offices, but you do need to know how to sell, and you have to keep learning, and you can't do it all on your own. That reminded me of the myths I deal with way too often in the world of start-ups and small business. Several of them make me mad. (The three phrases are "be your own boss," "when I get financed" and "follow the plan." … details are in the article!)

Rompable, responsible (Eugene Weekly): No matter the skill with which Stevo Clay, Lizzie Malarkey, Devika Bakshi and Bobby Vrtis play the main characters; no matter how outrageously fun the costumes, the star of the UO’s new production of Around the World in 80 Days can’t help but be the remodeled Robinson Theatre. The UO Theatre folks’ renovated baby emerged from swaddling plastic looking lovely. The 300-person seating, raked at a much steeper angle than before, allows for full views of the stage below. Lighting and sound all seemed to work well the night I saw the play, and I imagine that the tech folk enjoy their new space tremendously.

Ducks fans fret about season tickets at new arena (Associated Press, appearing in the Oregonian): The University of Oregon athletic department says it will begin selling season tickets this summer for its new $227 million basketball arena. But many Ducks basketball fans who are more blue-collar than high-roller will likely have to wait until September or later. A plan to sell season tickets to the athletic department's biggest donors first is generating some anxiety, particularly among those who now have first- and second-row seats. They fear the wealthy will buy most of the good seats. The university says that with 12,500 seats, the arena will have more than enough tickets to go around. The Matthew Knight Arena is scheduled to open in early 2011.

Anheuser-Busch dials back exclusive sports deals to save money; Will competitors swoop in? (St. Louis Dispatch): Anheuser-Busch is known in the sports advertising world for locking up “exclusive” deals with teams, stadiums and leagues. Those deals, some of them quite expensive, gave A-B the sole sponsorship rights, locking out rivals such as Miller and Coors. But now, those deals are becoming a little less common, reports trade publication Advertising Age. ... “It’s common now to see brands try to blanket a facility and lock out their competitors, and, historically, you’d probably give [A-B] credit” for coming up with it, said Paul Swangard, director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon.