http://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2016/07/sports-reference-ending-page-sponsorships/
So, yadda yadda, sponsorship revenues have declined to the point where it just makes more sense to put an ad in that spot. So, as they roll out a new site design shortly (hockey and pro football already have it), you will no longer be able to buy a new sponsorship.
But wait, there's a catch. They're not eliminating the sponsor messages, they're just burying them at the bottom, and they'll remain there for at least two years, but could potentially remain as vestiges indefinitely, like ear lobes. So, there's a window for a gamble. If you own a page or see an unclaimed page on baseball/basketball-reference, there's a chance you can throw up a message that will live on eternally by the goodwill and laziness of web developers, for just a one-time cost. I honestly think once it's buried at the bottom it really could hang around a looong time. Just food for thought.
So, yadda yadda, sponsorship revenues have declined to the point where it just makes more sense to put an ad in that spot. So, as they roll out a new site design shortly (hockey and pro football already have it), you will no longer be able to buy a new sponsorship.
But wait, there's a catch. They're not eliminating the sponsor messages, they're just burying them at the bottom, and they'll remain there for at least two years, but could potentially remain as vestiges indefinitely, like ear lobes. So, there's a window for a gamble. If you own a page or see an unclaimed page on baseball/basketball-reference, there's a chance you can throw up a message that will live on eternally by the goodwill and laziness of web developers, for just a one-time cost. I honestly think once it's buried at the bottom it really could hang around a looong time. Just food for thought.