Are you looking for new ways to entice fans? Are you looking for the hottest new promotions in sports?

2K Sports recently announced that it is offering a $1 million prize to the first person who throws a perfect game in its new release, MLB 2K10. The skill-based challenge marked a unique way to engage fans and drive a significant amount of buzz around the release of the game on March 2nd.

The simple catch? Entrants must record the entirety of their game, either with a camera aimed at the television or recorded digitally. To ensure legitimacy of submissions, 2K Sports is working with Twin Galaxies, a worldwide sanctioning authority for video game high scores and records... And only one (1) person can win!

The chances of a perfect game happening in the Major Leagues? Just 16 perfect games have been thrown in Major League Baseball since 1901 (during a stretch of 160,000 regular season games).

The company created a special microsite to reveal the details around "The Battle for $1,000,000", which included a set of nine (9) detail instructions:

1. Get a copy of MLB 2K10 for XBox 360 or Playstation 3
2. Read the Perfect Game Official Contest Rules and Legal Rules Carefully
3. Print a Copy of The Perfect Game Checklist to Help Ensure You Don't Miss a Step
4. Set up a Recording Device to Record Your Perfect Game Attempt
5. Play Your Perfect Game Attempt in the MLB 2K10 Contest Mode in the MLB Today Section and You Must Use the Pitcher That is Set to Start the Game for That Particular Day
6. Throw a Perfect Game Without..
   1. Making any pitching substitutions
   2. Calling any coaching visits to the mound
   3. Pausing the game
   4. Delaying the game (waiting 60 seconds or more between pitches)
   5. Changing any of the control options. User must play using Total Control Pitching and Total Control Hitting (these modes are set to default when attempting the perfect game)
7. A Verification Code will Appear After Your Perfect Game - Input That on the Perfect Game Website
8. Print Two (2) Copies of the Verification Confirmation Page
9. Send Via Overnight Courier Your Recording Of Your Perfect Game on DVD Marked with Verification Code, Name, and Gamertag to 2k Sports Attn: MLB 2K10 Promotions Team 10 Hamilton Landing Novato, CA 94949

Check out the promotional trailer below:

Source: Kotaku.com

Are you looking for new ways to reward fans based on team performance? Are you looking for ways to make your tunnel signage interactive?

During the 2009 MLB season, Belle Tire and the Detroit Tigers teamed up to create a "Belle Tire Blast Contest" that ties an interactive promotion*to the corporate partner's tunnel signage at Comerica Park. Each time a Detroit Tiger hits a home run into the Belle Tire Blast Zone (the tunnel signage located in right field), one (1) lucky fan's name whose name is drawn that night can win an exclusive prize package.

For a chance to win, fans can either enter the drawing at online or at any Belle Tire location.The exclusiveprize package, valued at $750, includes:

• A family four (4) pack of tickets to a future Detroit Tigers Game
• A set of four (4) Goodyear Tires
• A gift certificate for an Amsoil Oil Change at Belle Tire
• Detroit Tigers merchandise
• An HD Car Connect Radio

* Click here for the official rules and information.

Are you looking for new ways to draw buzz and excitement during the offseason? Are you looking to create new promotional ideas at the ballpark?

The Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent Northern League and Hot 103, a local radio station, recently teamed up to create The Amazing Seat Race, a promotion that pitted three (3) select contestants against one another for the chance to win season tickets. The promotion challenged the contestants to sit in as many seats as possible during a 63 minute timeframe.

The winner? Pam Chubinski, a stay-at-home mom who managed to sit in 2,000+ seats using a sliding strategy to outperform the others. Craig Kuhlman, an inside sales rep, placed 2nd with 1,656 seats (a tough 2nd place finish to say the least). For the chance to take part in the promotion, Goldeyes fans were asked to fill out a three page entry form/questionnaire.

The promotion serves as a great way for sports properties to create an inexpensive promotion that leverages their existing assets (empty seats), yet is very engaging for consumers. Teams can benchmark this example by:

• Hosting a pre-game promotion prior to their 500th sellout by challenging their fans to see who can sit in 500 seats in the fastest amount of time
• Integrate a sponsor like 7-11 by creating a promotion pre-game/post-game where fans are timed sitting in their seats for 711 minutes for the chance to win a $500 shopping spree at a local 7-11 (all participants receive a takeaway) or see which fans can sit in 711 seats the fastest
• Create similar promotions that leverage fitness sponsors (by hosting a special challenge for local gym attendees for the chance to win free season tickets)

Check out a clip of the promotional execution below:

Are you looking for new ways to drive excitement at the ballpark? Are you looking to feature an enticing offer that draws new consumers to the ballpark?

The Class A Cedar Rapids Kernals recently offered a tremendous "Million Dollar Monday" promotion that turned the heads of baseball fans throughout the state of Iowa. The promotional night, deemed the "perfect promotion", offered fans attending the game the chance to win $1 million if the team's pitcher threw a complete-game perfect game (getting 27 consecutive outs).

While the chances to win are slim (Yahoo.com places the odds of a perfect game at 90,000-to-1), the offer seems irresistible to fans who have to pay just a few bucks to get into the ballpark to enjoy some quality entertainment. The Kernals were able to effectively tie in a sponsor - Perfect Game USA baseball club/scouting service - to help underwrite the costs involved with implementing the promotion.

While the team didn't end up throwing a complete game, the promotional night served as a great way to get some new fans out to the ballpark!

Are you looking to create a promotion that will drive fans wild? Are you looking for a way to leverage a Sherwin Williams partnership?

The San Angelo Colts of United League Baseball (ULB) are teaming up with Sherwin Williams to offer "Sure-Win Wednesdays". a tremendous promotion that is perhaps the biggest fan favorite at the park. To celebrate the team's tenth anniversary, the Colts are offering a "Sure-Win Wednesday" promotion where if the team loses, all fans in attendance receive a ticket for the next Wednesday's home game (a great branding play for Sherwin "Sure-Win" Williams). In 2008, the team went undefeated each time it held the promotion on a Monday.

Is the "Sure-Win Wednesday" concept more likely to work in the minor leagues? Yes. But would it be possible to implement such an idea in the professional ranks? Yes as well. Corporate partners who offer in-venue fan destinations (e.g. Dew Deck, Gehl Club, Miller Lite Party Deck) could feature a similar promotional tactics for select guests at the ballpark on a particular night. 

The promotional concept dates back to 2004 (the Rockford Riverhawks of the Frontier League ran the same promotion). Look for more teams offering a "Sure-Win Wednesday" promotion in the near future!

Source: OurSportsCentral.com