SYRACUSE, N.Y. (CP) - An American Hockey League team is offering pop star Britney Spears a break from the party scene and paparazzi madness in Hollywood - an all-expenses paid trip to snowy Syracuse.

And fans of the Syracuse Crunch are also getting a Britney offer: women who shave their head will get into Saturday’s game against the visiting Manitoba Moose for free. Howard Dolgon, owner and president of the Crunch, said Tuesday he would be happy to fly Spears in, cover her hotel and meals and give her the best seats in the house at Crunch games.

The team said the invitation is an effort to “provide tranquillity” for the pop star’s “turbulent lifestyle.”  (full story)

Now that’s a fun promotion.  For those who have followed our Best of Gameops.com Awards for the last 6 years you know we consider creativity, entertainment value, media exposure, drawing power, and execution of the operations.  This promoiton is off to a great start with creativity, media exposure and (so far) great execution.  So far it’s a promotion that has cost nothing and generated a lot of buzz. 

Britney and ex-husband Kevin Federline seem to be favorite targets of not only the paparazzi, but of sport marketers.  There have been numberous promotions featuring (or mocking) the pair (Tattoo Spotlight featuring K-Fed), a trend I doubt will end soon….since they are ripe for mockery.

As for Britney, I might think about the offfer.  A snowy night in Syracuse sounds better than a month in treatment.

-Cudo

Note:  This promotion has been nominated for the 2007 Best of Gameops.com Awards.  If you have a nomination you can always send it to info@gameops.com or post a note in the Best of Section of the Editor’s Blog.

Thanks to Glen Gower for the link.