Best Act:
The touring act or halftime show that excels in providing quality entertainment for your fans. Touring acts, halftime acts and non-mascot performers are considered. Consider drawing power, entertainment quality, cooperation of the act, ability of act to promote appearances, added media exposure for team, act innovation and value.
Winner: Cameron Hughes
Cameron Hughes must be experienced live to truly feel his effects. As his popularity grows, more and more fans know he’s a plant…but they get to see THAT GUY! The concern that fans are in the joke and the show will loose steam has been removed and teams are finding out it actually just enhances the reaction.
The Vegas Golden Knights used Cameron for 10 plus games and they built variation of his reveal that delighted fans and made his show even more fun.
One industry leader explained “I’m a big fan of Cameron and how he can work every single crowd. He has mastered reading the room and adjusting his act accordingly.” In recent years Cameron has refined his understanding of how his act works and leveraged that in every area to maximum effect.
Cameron Hughes is now a three-time defending champion in the category.
Honorable Mention: Tyler’s Amazing Balancing Act
Baseball executives across the country are raving about Tyler’s Amazing Balancing Act. Like Cameron, much of his value is his in-the-stands performance as he connect with small groups and delights with smaller interactions.
One nomination pointed out “Tyler had whole sections of 100+ people laughing one minute, and the next minute had all their jaws dropped by balancing a beer on top of a water bottle.”
Chaos is a laddah. pic.twitter.com/E1B9XBvZ7X
— MLB (@MLB) July 15, 2019
Tyler Scheuer shows a genuine joy for what he’s doing and often goes an entire game without a break. Another breakout season for Tyler who is becoming a top act across all of baseball and basketball and an Honorable Mention for Best Act of 2019.
Category Winners:
- Best of 2021 – TIE Christian and Scooby and Simon Sez Steve Max
- Best of 2020 – Tyler’s Amazing Balancing Act
- Best of 2019 – Cameron Hughes
- Best of 2018 – Cameron Hughes
- Best of 2017 – Cameron Hughes
- Best of 2016 – Red Panda Acrobat
- Best of 2015 – The Amazing Sladek
- Best of 2014 – Red Panda Acrobat
- Best of 2013 – Simon Sez Steve Max
- Best of 2012 – Cameron Hughes
- Best of 2011 – Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey
- Best of 2010 – Remote Kontrol
- Best of 2009 – King Firecrackers
- Best of 2008 – Quick Change
- Best of 2007 – Red Panda Acrobat
- Best of 2006 – Red Panda Acrobat
- Best of 2005 – Bucket Boys
- Best of 2004 – Red Panda Acrobat
- Best of 2003 – Quick Change
- Best of 2002 – Quick Change
- Best of 2001 – Blue Man Group
Listen to the Best of 2019 Audio Round Table discussing all the categories and winners with out panel of Jon Cudo, Amanda Greco, Pat Walker and Benjamin Hill. – December 2019 Party in the Back Podcast
Best Team Introductions:
Which team introduction is the best produced, executed, fresh and innovative. Consider creativity, value to fans, execution, quality of presentation, fan interaction and attention to detail. We level the playing field by considering budget constraints to minor league teams. The category will focus primarily on the standard introduction (opening night variations will be considered, but the focus is on the standard game production). Due to the category we will also rely heavily on video reviews (YouTube, etc.).
Winner: Vegas Golden Knights
At one time this category was getting easier to collect and review, with most teams posting their introductions online and the elite teams would capture a solid buzz around their efforts. Now it seems everyone has a version online (crowding the field) and many teams have 3-4 opens (some even have a new one every game) so pinpointing excellence has become more difficult.
In addition NBA and NHL teams are spending more than ever on lights, sound, video edits, interactive lights, lasers, smoke and pyrotechnics. The stimuli onslaught can be overwhelming for fans and hard to access on a YouTube clip. Despite these challenges, our panel all seemed to point west where the Vegas Golden Knights once again stood out for their theatrics and showmanship. The stories they told capture fan enthusiasm in a way that was unmatched. The team struck a balance with the expensive tools and the art of storytelling to produce powerful, memorable and unique introductions.
One industry leader plainly stated, “the Golden Knights stand alone in this category”.
You also know you are doing introductions right when you entire fan base comes early so they are sure not to miss the show before the game.
Honorable Mention: Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay earned an honorable mention for their thoughtful introductions which also tell a story while integrating high-end tools like a huge Tesla coil and the world’s largest indoor pipe organ into the show. The storytelling comes first and the tools enhance the spectacle.
Category Winners:
- Best of 2021 – Vegas Golden Knights
- Best of 2020 – Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns and Boston Bruins
- Best of 2019 – Vegas Golden Knights
- Best of 2018 – Vegas Golden Knights
- Best of 2017 – Atlanta United (MLS)
- Best of 2016 – Saint Paul Saints
- Best of 2015 – Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Pistons
- Best of 2014 -Chicago Blackhawks
- Best of 2013 -Chicago Wolves
- Best of 2012 – Miami Heat
- Best of 2011 – Colorado Eagles
- Best of 2010 – Portland Trail Blazers
- Best of 2009 -Wake Forest Basketball
- Best of 2008 -Philadelphia Flyers
Listen to the Best of 2019 Audio Round Table discussing all the categories and winners with out panel of Jon Cudo, Amanda Greco, Pat Walker and Benjamin Hill. – December 2019 Party in the Back Podcast
