Moving Target: Could There Be Backlash to Good Greek Sponsorships?

If you have watched or attended a professional or college sports event in the last three or so years in the state of Florida, you are probably familiar with Good Greek Moving & Storage, which has sponsorship deals with many of the top-tier properties in the Sunshine State.

More specifically, Good Greek is or has been the official mover of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Miami Heat, Florida Panthers, Inter Miami CF, the USL Tampa Bay Rowdies, the University of Florida, the University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University.

The company also had a brief stint as primary sponsor of a NASCAR Cup Series team fielded by StarCom Racing in a bid to support its planned expansion beyond Florida. The company has stated its plans to establish franchises in new locations including Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C.; Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas; Denver; Nashville, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City and Seattle.

Typically, an active sponsor moving into new markets would be a sure signal to rights holders to add the brand to partner prospect lists. But Good Greek comes with a caveat.

Outside of sports marketing, the company’s profile also has grown through its vocal support of and involvement with the State of Florida’s “Be a Florida Hero” program. Originated by Attorney General Ashley Moody and championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the initiative’s aim is to bolster the ranks of law enforcement in the state by persuading those working in the field elsewhere to relocate to Florida.

On its face, support for the recruitment and relocation effort makes good business sense for a Florida-based moving company such as Good Greek. As in many parts of the country, municipalities and other governmental units in the state face critical staffing shortages among law enforcement officers. Good Greek participating in the program by offering discounts and incentives aids an important local cause and builds business.

The caveat is that outside the state, the program takes on a different hue thanks to the fact that job recruiting is a zero-sum game. If “Be a Florida Hero” wins, it exacerbates law enforcement shortages elsewhere.

And in this regard, Good Greek is not a passive participant. The company is running TV spots in markets including New York City and Chicago—both of which are already facing severe law enforcement staffing shortages—promoting Florida’s program.

In an interview with CBS New York, company founder and CEO Spero Georgedakis said Good Greek is spending $20,000 a month on those ads. He added, “My goal here isn’t to deplete the NYPD of their officers. These are officers who are already contemplating leaving.”

It’s also worth noting that those 30-second spots end with a tag proclaiming the company as official mover of all the properties mentioned above except for the Jaguars.

New York and Chicago are not listed as expansion targets for Good Greek, but properties in other markets that may be contemplating pitching the company should be aware of the company’s advocacy of the “Be a Florida Hero” program and the potential implications, especially if DeSantis launches his expected presidential bid and elects to tout the program on the campaign trail.