Idea of the Day: M.C. Hammer's Spinning Bobblehead

The Oakland Athletics recently hosted an M.C. Hammer Bobblehead Night that generated a significant amount of awareness for the club's "80's Weekend" at the ballpark. The A's celebrated Hammer's duties as a team clubhouse assistant from 1973-1980 by distributing a replica bobblehead that actually spins - a simple, yet brilliant idea!

Check out the bobblehead below:

7 Great Promotional Ideas From Minor League Baseball

Minor League Baseball delivers some of the finest, unconventional ideas in all of sports. Here are seven (7) great promotional and entertainment ideas that teams from all leagues can consider benchmarking to enhance the game day fan experience at their venue.

I. Durham Bulls "Rock On" Promotion

The Durham Bulls created an entertaining segment where fans seated along the 3rd base line engaged in a singing competition against fans sitting along the first base line. The team played some commonly recognized rock songs that were easily embraced by the crowd. We should see more of this in Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball! Simple, yet effective. 

II. Live Rain Delay Theater Entertainment (Miscellaneous MiLB Teams)

The following clip demonstrates how a series of MiLB teams used a splash of creativity to entertain fans during rain delays and stoppages of play. The performances require some pre-game planning but serve as a great way to demonstrate additional entertainment value for fans.

III. Lake County Captains - "Are You Smarter Than an Umpire?" Promotion Presented by the Ohio Lottery

The Lake County Captains created a promotion replicating the popular show, "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" by creating a promotion where fans can test their sports IQ head-to-head against an umpire between innings.

IV. Charlotte Stone Crabs - Closest to the Pin Contest on Golfer's Appreciation Night

The Charlotte Stone Crabs attracted golfers in the local marketplace out to the ballpark by offering a post-game closest to the pin contest that allowed golfers to test their skills hitting a shot from home plate out to a flag in deep center field.

 

V. Lake County Captains - "The Price is Right" Promotion Presented by BJ's

The Lake County Captains did an excellent job creating a promotion replicating The Price is Right that features three (3) lucky fans being called out of the stands and onto the field to participate for a chance to win prizes.

 

VI. Lake County Captains - "Build El Burrito" Promotion Presented by Chipotle

The Lake County Captains created a simple on-field promotion where fans have to race to use a series of ingredients to build a burrito. The promotion, presented by Chipotle, served as a great awareness driver that also enhances the fan experience between innings.

VII. Lake County Captains - Michigan International Speedway Tire Race

The Captains teamed up with Michigan International Speedway to create a competition where two (2) contestants had to race head-to-head rolling actual tires used in NASCAR races around the infield for the chance to win ten (10) free tickets to an upcoming race.

The Cleveland Indians and BP Capitalize on Pre-Game Inventory

The Cleveland Indians recently announced a partnership with BP that is highlighted by a series of promotions in-stadium and at retail.

As the Official Fuel of the Cleveland Indians, BP receives the exclusive naming rights of Indians batting practice and the company is taking full advantage of the designation to enhance the fan experience:

• Fans can win free BP gift cards by catching specially marked balls into the outfield stands during batting practice
• The first 100 fans who arrive for pre-game batting practice receive a limited edition Indians t-shirt at Gate A
• BP will reward select fans with VIP batting practice experiences at 40 home games. The experience includes special on-field access and a gift bag of promotional items

From a retail standpoint, the Indians and BP are teaming up to execute a pretty standard fill-up and win promotion across 215 BP locations in Northeast Ohio. From June 1st to August 30th, fans who fill-up their cars with ten (10) gallons of gas can receive a scratch-off card that provides a unique code. Fans are encouraged to register five (5) unique codes on BPIndiansBaseball.com to receive two (2) free Mezzanine tickets to an Indians game online at www.indians.com/BP.

The Brewers Drive Season Ticket Sales By Offering 40 Fantastic Prizes

The Milwaukee Brewers are supporting their 2011 season ticket sales efforts with a "Fantastic 40" initiative that rewards 40 season ticket holders with 40 unique prizes and experiences over the course of 40 days (January 17th - February 15th). The terrific concept rewards all fans who sign up to become season ticket holders with the organization. Once fans' payments are received in full, they are automatically entered in the promotion, which offers some truly incredible prizes and experiences.

The Brewers are promoting the initiative by announcing the daily winners on a digital billboard in Milwaukee and posting an announcement, including a photo of the custom billboard, on their official Facebook page. The live billboard, complemented by a daily Facebook post, serve as a great call-to-action to entice fans and drive buzz in the weeks leading up to the season.

With an offseason of exciting acquisitions, ticket promotions, and fan-friendly incentives, the Brewers organization sold 1 million tickets for the 2011 season by January 19th, matching the earliest date that the club has ever reached that milestone. Season ticket and 9-Pack sales were deemed to be a priority for the club heading into the offseason.The Brewers tremendous "Fantastic 40" prize offerings include:

1. Sausage for a year delivered by the Klement's Famous Racing Sausages
2. Your photo on every single Brewers ticket for one game
3. A game with Brewers legend Gorman Thomas in a club suite
4. Groundskeeper at Miller Park during a game
5. Experience a friendly game of catch with a Milwaukee Brewers reliever (10 pitches)
6. Four (4) games of luxury seating in the Gehl Club, including a gourmet buffet
7. Autographed bat and jersey from your favorite Brewers player
8. Take the ultimate slide down Bernie's Slide at Miller Park
9. $500 in concessions vouchers
10. A game with nine (9) guests in the owner's suite with Brewers executives
11. Watch batting practice with five (5) friends in the bullpen
12. Co-present a jersey to a Brewers All-Star for the 2011 MLB All-Star game
13. Win a private party in the visitor's clubhouse with (19) guests
14. Announce the starting lineup over the Miller Park P.A. system
15. Surprise your sweetheart with roses from the Brewers mascot on Valentines Day
16. Take a tour and control the Miller Park roof
17. Sit in the owner's field level seats with (3) friends
18. Win an exclusive hitting lesson with tips from Brewers legend Dale Sveum
19. Win a trip to the 2011 MLB Draft, including airfare, hotel, and a spot at the Draft
20. Win a club suite for (20) with complimentary food
21. Win pizza for a year from Palermo's
22. Run the Klement's Sausage Race during a Brewers game
23. Win a $1,000 private shopping spree at the Brewers team store
24. A party with Brewers GM Doug Melvin and (9) guests in a club suite
25. Autographed baseballs signed by each member of the Brewers starting rotation
26. Opportunity to play video games on the Brewers new scoreboard
27. A fully catered tailgate for (20) guests, including tickets to a game
28. A party in the Dew Deck for (19) guests, including food and beverage
29. An opportunity to manage the Mini Sausage Race for a Sunday game
30. A chance to sit on a Wrigley Field rooftop with (3) friends for a Brewers/Cubs game
31. A chance to sit in the owner's box at Wrigley Field (including train fares to the game)
32. Experience a full broadcast in the Brewers TV booth, including the post-game show
33. A chance to get a photo taken with the entire Brewers baseball club
34. A VIP seat at the head table of the Brewers SSH Luncheon
35. A pre-game dinner and (3) innings of a game in the Brewers press box
36. A chance to watch a Brewers game live from the control room
37. Autographed baseballs from each Opening Day starter
38. A private party in the club level board room
39. A softball game at Helfaer Field, including food and beverage for (20) guests
40. A major league contract for a day, including a full uniform plus pay

 

The Dodgers Get Interactive with Digital Fan Billboards

Are you looking for new ways to engage fans prior to the season? Are you looking for new ways to drive fan engagement online?

The Los Angeles Dodgers recently teamed up with Channel 1 Media to create a terrific customized online campaign to engage fans prior to the start of the 2010 MLB season. The two parties created a really cool campaign that enables fans to create their own billboard... in a matter of seconds. The initiative, designed to drive fan interest and ticket sales, is a turnkey piece that can be implemented by teams from all leagues.

The campaign is really simple, yet very interactive and fun for consumers. The best part is the fact that it ties directly back to the Dodgers' terrific "This Is My Town" billboard messaging campaign from 2009 and truly lets fans be a part of the action. Channel 1 Media and the Dodgers also did a great job building in social media functionality to help the campaign go viral (see the Facebook, Twitter, and email functionality on the last picture below).

Check it out at http://channel1media.com/dodgers/2010/

Brewers Fans Receive Dollars for Dingers...

Are you looking for new ways to reward fans at the ballpark? Are you looking to create new ticket promotions based on team performance?

This season, the Milwaukee Brewers are running a "Dollars for Dingers" ticket promotion where fans can save $1 off a Loge Outfield ticket (regularly $28) for EACH Brewers home run hitover a 10-day stretch of the season. The promotion offers fans the chance to save a lot of money on their tickets based on the team's performance (if the team hit 28 home runs during the stretch, fans would receive tickets for free).

When the team offered the promotion from June 15 - June 25, the Brewers' power hitters slugged 12 home runs, discounting the price of the $28 loge seats to just $16 ($12 off) during a 2-game July homestand against the St. Louis Cardinals. Earlier this season, the team sold out their Dollars for Dingers ticket inventory in just 30 minutes, demonstratingthe strong support the promotion has received.

Look for more teams to showcase discounted tickets based on team performance!