The November Update has been posted.

The most exciting part is the final installment of the Six From Six series.  In 2006 we visited six teams across the country and did a live game review of each.  in these reviews we looked for six things each team did well and highlighted them.  After traveling across the US (literally from Portland to Tampa Bay) we have 36 ways you can enhance your game presentation.

The new Tampa Bay review also has a photo gallery and video from the trip. 

I hope you enjoyed the series as much as I have enjoyed visiting with teams and putting it together.  We are deep in the planning stages for 2007 to create another series of content, based around live game reviews. 

Also this month we feature cowbells.  After witnessing a great premium giveaway in Tampa we were inspired to showcase these loud (and sometimes obnoxious) noisemakers.

Finally, I encourage you to make a nomination for our sixth annual Best of Gameops.com Awards.  There are six categories and you can make a nomination now and get on our panel’s radar.  Deadline is Nov 17th for nominations.  Awards are announced on Dec 1st.

Thanks for visiting.

-Cudo

The Carolina Hurricanes have been using local legend and veteran professional wrestler Ric Flair with their goal song and arena-vision promotions.  His “Wooo!” has become trademark for their goals and is very popular with the fans.

Loyal Gameops.com reader Sean G from Boston sent along this clip from the local newspaper that spoofs the Geico commericals with the spokesperson for everyday people. 

The piece is great and really funny, and shows what can happen with your game presentation pieces take on a life of their own.

Here is the link: Wooo! 

-Cudo

This summer a few teams took part in a program that encouraged fans to send text messages to troops serving overseas.  The program sounds like a nice way to connect appreciative sports fans with American soldiers serving overseas.

Except the messages actually weren’t being sent to the troops.  It was a story that broke this summer on NPR, and I haven’t heard much since.  (Read and listen to the NPR Report here)….but had the potential to embarrass teams who might have been caught up in the potential DOD propaganda program.  

I suppose it would make a few teams think carefully about what they are signing up for, even when it seems for the best intentions.

You can view the America Supports You site to read more about their “programs”.  Or you can check the website of the company that was paid $2.7 million dollars for programs like this one.

• More info on Susan Davis International 
• PRWatch Questions the authenticity of ASY
• America Supports you Site
• The NPR Story

Somthing to consider on the next public relations opportunity.

–Cudo

The New Jersey Devils are changing their goal song and are using the web to poll fans.  It’s a great way to build consensus on a very important piece of music, as well as get your fans registered for the website.

The Devils have picked out twelve songs to choose from, but also added an “other” checkbox so fans can recommend a song.  Credit the Devils for having some fun with their list by including a Streisand song.  The selections are:

•  Crowd Chant - Joe Satriani 
•  Do It Again - Queens of the Stone Age  
•  Ole! - The Bouncing Souls  
•  Kern Kraft 400 - Zombie Nation 
•  Hey Man Nice Shot - Filter 
•  Song 2 - Blur 
•  Memory - Barbra Streisand  
•  Kick Start My Heart - Motley Crue  
•  Brohymn - Pennywise  
•  Elevation - U2  
•  Supercharger Heaven - White Zombie  
•  Other

Another key element for the poll (and any website interactive):  They have the poll prominently displayed on their home page.  Remember if it’s not important enough to put a link on your home page….it’s probably not important at all.

Just like political elections: Vote early, vote often.

http://www.newjerseydevils.com/2005/html/fanzone/contests/goalsong/index.php

-Cudo

PS: Thanks to Glen Gower and his great blog for this link.

Ice Girls Draft a success 

BOSTON - The Boston Bruins held their first ever Ice Girls Draft at Ristuccia Arena on Wednesday evening. Over 90 girls from all over the area came to the tryout for a chance to make the team. Only 20 will be kept.

http://www.bostonbruins.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=1695

The Ice Girls concept is spreading, I don’t have numbers on how many teams are doing this but its an idea that has been growing over the last couple years. 

We talked about it in the March 2002 Interview with the New York Islanders Brad Preston.  The Islanders had added the Pepsi Ice Girls as a clever solution to a new league mandate.  The Girls also created sponsor inventory and enhances the entertainment value of the game.

-Cudo

Not sure about that new halftime act because you’ve never seen then, can’t find their tape, or don’t remember what they looked like?

YouTube and other services to the rescue.

Now many halftime acts are expanding their web presence by adding video and posting their shows or show highlights on YouTube.

We found Project Playground on YouTube, which is a newer act and one of the newest acts listed on Gameops.com Act Listings. 

Their promo video is shown below:

(we add this “more” line so the main page of blog listings loads more quickly. If you want to see the video you can just click for the full blog post including the video). 

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