Best Game Promotion
Since 2001 the Gameops.com Best of Awards have been awarded for excellence in game operations and entertainment. Over the years we have updated award categories and currently announce awards in seven categories.
Best Game Promotion:
What game night promotion was most effective and creative. An example would be President’s Night Game where a team builds an game day promotion around a theme like “Presidents”, perhaps handing out US flags, and having namesakes like “George Washington, Richard Nixon, and George Bush” dropping the puck for a game held on President’s Day. Consider creativity, entertainment value, media exposure, drawing power, and execution of the operations.
Past winners include: Bob L Head Giveaway, Awful Night, and Mullet Night
The 2008 co-Winner was the World’s Largest Pillow Fight (Kane County Cougars)
The Kane County Cougars held attempt to break the World’s Record for a Pillow Fight this July. 3,872 fans filled the stadium after the game in a well organized melee, including levels of aggression to keep people in areas where they would be interacting with people their age or level of aggression.
The team tried in 2007 to set the record and came up short. They decided immediately to try again in 2008 which helped build fan anticipation for the event and provided a natural storyline for the team to build on.
We are now accepting nominations for the 2009 Best Game Promotion. You can submit your nomination in the comment box below or by using a form on our Contact Us page.
–Cudo
Jon Cudo is the Editor of Gameops.com and a 21-year veteran in game presentation and the most tenured mascot in team sports. His blog covers everything from game night promotions, site news, mascotting, book reviews and more. Cudo's blog appears twice a week on Gameops.com.
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Tags: Altoona Curve, Awful night, Bob L Head, Kane County, kane county cougars, Mullet night, Pillow fight
Like every other team our fans were all affected by the down economy so we added Rebate Night to our schedule to do our part to stimulate the economy. To start the first 2,000 fans that entered the park received a Lucky (the mascot) piggy bank. As an added bonus some of the banks were stuffed with cash amounts ranging from $1 to $100. All told we gave out two-thousand dollars. During the game we ran money saving tips via public address announcements and video board messages.
Theme Night: Cleveland Sports History Night
Concession stands served 5 oz. beers for a nickel for one hour from the time gates opened through the first pitch. We incorporated some of the memorable Cleveland sports moments, such as “Red Right 88,” Earnest Byner’s “Fumble,” a contest modeled specifically after the infamous “home run” that Jose Canseco head-butted over the fence, and the mascot race paid homage to Orlando Brown’s horrible 2004 penalty flag injury into our in-game promotions. In addition, we had numerous, well-known Cleveland Sports personalities in attendance to sign autographs and meet fans. Celebrities included, Hanford Dixon, Len Barker, Jim “Mudcat” Grant, and Joe Charboneau.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnpxyFvCj5I
For additional information about this idea, please contact Jonathan Levey (jlevey@captainsbaseball.com).
Unique Giveaway: Seat Cushions presented by Hemorrhoid doctor
We found a local hemorrhoid doctor to sponsor the Seat Cushion giveaway for the first 1,000 adults to come through the gates on July 3, 2009. Hopefully, the Seat Cushions help fans reduce the pain and discomfort of hemorrhoids.
For additional information about this idea, please contact Jonathan Levey (jlevey@captainsbaseball.com).
I’d like to nominate the Fresno Grizzlies for Best Game Promotion for “As Seen on TV Night”. Please find the details below.
Theme Night: ‘As Seen On TV’ Night
With the infomercial phenomenon sweeping the nation, the Grizzlies hosted “As Seen On TV” Night to pay tribute to the products we’ve come to know and love through special one-time offers, crazy sales men and late night commercials. The Grizzlies unveiled this promotional night through the debut of their “Get Your Fitted On” video featuring the Grizzlies fitted caps through an infomercial style spot.
To kick off the night, the first 2,500 fans received their very own Grizzlies shammy cloth upon entrance to the park. The game featured headshots with all the Grizzlies players wearing Snuggies and the visiting team being transformed into Chia Pets. The evening also featured star pitchman Jonathan Gilbert of “Get Your Fitted On” doing live product demonstrations on the concourse outside the team store promoting the Grizzlies fitted caps.
To expand this night, we sold booths to TV stations that passed out information about making the digital transition.
The highlight of the game was the Snuggie, Shamwow, Life Alert relay race that took place between innings and was featured on ESPN’s SportsNation.
Snuggie/Shamwow/Life Alert Relay here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blEZv_Lt_3U
Get Your Fitted on here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEoiAlz9ppQ
Parker’s Mix-o-Matic Skit here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1mbHZO_Jeg
I would like to nominate the New Jersey Jackals for their Mortgage Monday promotion. It was featured on Fox News, as well as local media. Every Monday night home game (three in total), one lucky fan won 2 months of their mortgage or rent. The maximum amount allowed was $4,000 (total). There was nothing more to the promotion other than signing up and being present to win. The fans loved it. Especially those that won!