PPB October 2018

GROW by Jen Alexander Spo r t i ng Even t s And Venues In The Game Sports Fans By The Millions Follow Their Favorite Teams. Here’s How To Get In On The Action. 44 | OCTOBER 2018 | U nder the Friday night lights, sports fans cheer on their favorite teams from bleachers or folding chairs, munching on popcorn and nachos beneath the stars and retractable domes. The experience of attending a game in a massive stadium is unique and memorable, and the facilities themselves make every effort to keep fans coming back for more. Whether it’s a game-night bobblehead or a free foam finger, promotional products play a winning role in the success of sports venue marketing. Among the most popular marketing campaigns are game-night giveaways. Diehard fans love lining up for the latest in quirky, creative promotional items that help them celebrate their favorite teams long after the season has ended. Arizona Diamondbacks fans received Hawaiian shirts for a Father’s Day giveaway this season, while the first 20,000 visitors to a Milwaukee Brewers game in June received a miniature replica bullpen car. Colleges also tempt their fans with clever promotions; the women’s basketball program at Louisiana State University offered free tickets to local elementary school students and gave the first 5,000 to show up a branded LSU Lady Tigers pencil pouch. Thanks to America’s love for professional athletics, stadiums and arenas are known for being spacious—which is why they often serve as multipurpose venues that cater to events in music, the arts, comedy and more. Madison Square Garden, known as the world’s most famous arena, is as famous for its blowout music concerts as it is for hosting the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. In addition to merchandising and branding opportunities for the events themselves, these venues also cater to local businesses with on-site sponsorships and other forms of brand exposure.