For those of you who want to leap into the future, I have posted the June Update a day early.  We have a lot of updates across the site, including an interview with a MLB.com writer.

While researching for promotions to add to our Promotions Database, one name kept popping up: Benjamin Hill. As it turns out, Benjamin is a writer for MLB.com who writes a great weekly column for minorleaguebaseball.com covering promotions around the minors.

We reached out to Benjamin to learn more about his weekly column and some of his favorite promotions in the June 2007 Gameops.com Interview.

Here is a sample of Benjamin’s promotional punditry:

Syracuse Chiefs (International League)
Appearance by Steve MacDonald, the World’s Strongest Man
In 2006, Pittsburgh native Steve MacDonald earned nationwide recognition when he won the American Strongman competition. He followed that up a few months later by setting a world record in the “Man Stone Lift,” as he picked up a massive rock weighing 552 pounds. On Friday, MacDonald will visit Syracuse’s Alliance Bank Stadium, where he will greet fans (handshakes not recommended, lest you be subjected to MacDonald’s crushing death grip), sign autographs and throw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch. He will then scowl menacingly at the visitors’ dugout until the ballgame is over.

Along with the background on Benjamin, we have added over 80 promotions to the Gameops.com promotion database….many from his writing. 

Don’t miss this month’s interview….or you may never know when Adam West (TV’s Batman) will be appearing next or where you can celebrate the storied History of Indoor Plumbing with fellow minor league baseball fans.

-Cudo

I was reviewing a lot of YouTube clips today, adding to our categorized list of over 400 game entertainment related videos when I found a great one from New York.

I wasn’t sure what category to log this one under (I picked scoreboard), since this is more of a marketing initiative than anything else.

While many teams are spending thousands on Giant Jerseys…the Rangers used some regular size jerseys on local statues (and those buskers who pretend to be statues) to great effect. 

See the video below…

-Cudo

(more…)

The Texas Rangers are starting a ball girl program. The ball girls will be sponsored by the online dating site True.com.

The Rangers are planning to hire a staff of six girls that are 18 years of age or older. To be known as the True.com Rangers Ball Girls, they will be positioned down the right and left field foul lines to field foul ball grounders and toss them to fans. Their uniforms will consist of Rangers jerseys bearing the True.com logo.

“The Texas Rangers are taking an initiative to celebrate and honor the female athlete through this program,” says Alicia Nevins, the team’s vice president of corporate sales. “This program will give young females the chance to interact with a professional baseball team as well as showcase their own knowledge and talent regarding the great game of baseball.”

This sounds similar to hockey teams who use “ice girls”.  It meets the in-game needs for having someone (anyone) staff these spots…but utilizes attractive women in the role, which is a logical nod to it’s male-dominated fan base.

Ice Girls have been spreading around since they debuted at least five years ago.  We talked to New York Islander Game Operations Manager Brad Preston in March of 2002 who shared the insights of their Ice Girls program.

-Cudo

The Charlotte Knights of Minor League Baseball are joining singer Sheryl Crow in helping the environment by discouraging unnecessary toilet paper usage.

The singer recently announced on her web site that everyone should use less toilet paper, and suggested a “one square per restroom visit” limit. In honor of Crow, the team will host “TP Night at the Ballpark” at their May 24 game. Fans who bring a roll of toilet paper will receive $1 off the ticket price. Every roll of toilet paper will be donated to a local shelter.

At every bathroom, attendants will be on hand to remind fans about their toilet paper usage. Fans will also be able to win prizes by playing “TP Trivia” between innings. Throughout the game the Knights will play only Crow’s music.

I like the integration of the music and the artist, like the enviromental message, and the discounted ticket angle….but I am having a tough time getting past the idea of only using one square per visit.

However, having an attendant in the bathroom discussing my usage might be enough to keep me away from the restroom and the ball game that night.

–Cudo

Calling all Bob L. Heads.

If your name fits that description, we’ve got an offer you can’t refuse.

In yet anotComing soon: Bob L. Head finalistsher innovative quest to find the ultimate bobblehead honoree, the Portland Beavers have launched a nationwide search to locate individuals named Bob L. Head to be considered for the team’s Esurance “Bob L. Head” bobblehead promotion that will take place at PGE Park on Saturday, Aug. 18.

The Beavers, the Triple-A Pacific Coast League affiliate of the San Diego Padres, have featured a number of creative bobblehead promotions over the years, including “Rodney McCray Bobblefence” in 2006 and a bobble version of hall-of-fame pitcher and former Beaver, Satchel Paige, in 2002. But this season, the team will honor the person most fitting to have his likeness cast for thousands of baseball fans to enjoy – Bob L. Head.

“Baseball teams have honored all sorts of stars over the years, but no one has given Bob L. Head his due,” said Jadira Ruiz, director of promotions for the Beavers. “It’s time the original gets his day in the sun.”

I am thinking about changing my name for this.

Note: This promotion has been nominated for a 2007 Best of Gameops.com Promotion.

-Cudo

P.S. leave it to a PSU Grad to come up with something this fantastic.

• Will the Real Bob L Head Stand Up?
• Beavers fans can vote for favorite Bob L. Head
• One Bob L. Head to be immortalized
• Coming soon: Bob L. Head finalists
• Beavers Narrow the Field to 3

Typically I write on Mondays and Thursdays, but I am feeling frisky and thought I would slip a Wednesday post in.  I was feeling inspired by another fabulous video from OkGo (the guys from the treadmill video).

These videos are really just creative tour de forces.  First you have to love that they have done two very different videos, that look nothing like what you may have seen before.  They have now done two at very different budgets, and they are also way outside the box as far as their marketing.

First, the creativity of dance was amazing on the first video.  I was also overwhelmed that it was all done on one continuous shot.  Now this new video (see below) is fresh and different as well.  They didn’t follow the success of the first with another long dance sequence on the stairmaster…they broke out a whole new look.

Second, I was struck by how they were able get the most out of both a large and a small budget.  I doubt the budget on first video was much more than a round of drinks when the shoot was over.  8 treadmills, a silver sheet, and a 10 minute digital tape?  The results were fantastic (if not brilliantly thrifty).  Clearly the budget on this second video was 100 times more, with elaborate costumes, props and toys.  I tend to admire people who can work both ways….it’s easy to throw money around and buy success, but often those people can’t make something out of nothing.  Conversely, some people when given a large budget don’t know how to utilize it.  These guys pulled both off.

Finally, I am impressed how they are using YouTube and MySpace to promote their music.  For years you have just heard the constant beat of how artists are getting ripped off in the age of digital music, these guys have just accepted the reality of the situation and made a name for themselves in other ways.  It’s somthing acts and teams) can learn from. 

Across the board, there is a lot to learn from these guys.

Enjoy the video below if you have not already seen it.

-Cudo (more…)