The Thunder Create The Blue Alliance to Drive Fan Engagement

The Oklahoma City Thunder teamed up with Old Hat Creative to create a brilliant online and community fan engagement strategy - The Thunder Blue Alliance - that allows fans from all areas of Oklahoma to become team ambassadors for their communities.

Fans interested in participating in the Blue Alliance initiative simply have to:

• Log on to the official Blue Alliance landing page
• View an interactive map of the state of Oklahoma and click on a flag that designates the area of the state that they live in (or apply to represent their city)
• Submit their testimonial video or photos and an essay telling the Thunder why they would be a great Blue Alliance Captain for their home town  

Once fans are selected as Blue Alliance Captains, they are tasked with representing the team in their hometown via:

• Organizing team watch parties
• Monitoring a Facebook community page (each fan club area of the state is provided a Facebook community page)
• Assist with local team-oriented promotional initiatives
• Communicate with fellow members

Blue Alliance Captains receive a number of perks for representing their hometown, including:

• Welcome letter
• Game ticket voucher
• Personalized Thunder ID card
• Thunder yard flag and pole flag
• License plate frame
• Embroidered Blue Alliance polo
• Opportunity to attend semi-annual Blue Alliance meetings and special events

The Thunder Blue Alliance has been rolled out in a two (2) phase strategy, with the first phase generating a tremendous response from fans looking for new ways to engage with the team, demonstrate their avidity, and take a leadership role in their community. The platform's strategic use of Facebook groups allows it to be easily manageable for team stakeholders, community leaders, and participants.

Looking for more teams to roll out similar platforms to engage fans statewide, nationwide, and across the globe!

   

April 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter

Thank you for your continued interest in Partnership Activation and taking the time to come check out the new April 2011 Issue of the Partnership Activation 2.0 newsletter. I hope you enjoy the content in this issue, as it's the most extensive newsletter that we have released to date!

After reviewing the newsletter, we would really appreciate it if you would be willing to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other channels of communication. To keep things simple, here is a shortened URL that you can use: http://bit.ly/hY1cGj

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

• Virtual Advertising
• Brands with a Presence at Bracket Town in 2011
• Creative Sports Business Tactics from the Barclays Premier League
• Activation Tactic of the Month: Hooters' Spring Training Activation
• Conxeo / PropertyPort
• Great Sports Marketing Tactics in the News
• SportsPro Magazine
• Creativity in the Sports Marketplace
• April 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
• Ticketing Watch - St. Louis Cardinals
• Social Media Watch - Cleveland Indians
• The 2011 Powerade Jam Fest
• 5 #SportsBiz Professionals You Must Follow on Twitter
• Activation and Branding from the 2011 Final Four
• The 2011 Cricket World Cup... At a Glance
• Technology That May Soon Save You Money On Staffing Expenses
• Major League Soccer... Like You've Never Seen It Before
• Idea Box

Click here to check out the April 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing. 

Virgin Mobile and Lady Gaga Team Up To Form a True Partnership

Since 2009, Virgin Mobile has done an incredible job leveraging its presenting sponsorship of Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour. While sponsors commonly sponsor a musician/tour to generate awareness and buzz amongst a core consumer base in major markets nationwide, Virgin Mobile has gone to extra lengths to ensure that its partnership with Gaga delivers much, much more.

The prepaid cell phone company has teamed up with Gaga to promote a number of cause related initiatives, including efforts to combat youth homelessness (specifically LGBT youth) and encourage consumers to become volunteers. Virgin Mobile also reaps value from the partnership via live concert integration, tour branding elements, VIP initiatives, and more.

Over the past three (3) years, Virgin Mobile's activation tactics have included:

• Virgin Mobile and Lady Gaga recently teamed up to create a promotional contest in which ten (10) bloggers are selected as official tour bloggers and are provided with exclusive access to the show and the venue
  • The promotion is designed to help Virgin Mobile reach one (1) million Facebook "likes" by the end of 2011
  • Contestants are encouraged to submit video entries to VirginMobileLive.com and then the general public has the chance to vote on them via Facebook
• Virgin Mobile and Lady Gaga are partnering with homeless youth organizations and other LGBT youth organizations to provide volunteers who are willing to donate eight (8) hours of their time to help LGBT youth with free concert tickets - read more here
• Virgin Mobile has completely wrapped the official Lady Gaga tour bus and created an official microsite in support of the partnership (LadyVirginMobile.com)
• Virgin Mobile and Lady Gaga have teamed up to create a FastPass initiative on LadyVirginMobile.com where consumers can sign up to be one (1) of 200 Monsters to skip the line with a special FastPass QR code and have their picture taken on the way in that is featured on the official tour site
• During live concerts, Virgin Mobile sponsors a segment where Lady Gaga calls one lucky fan in attendance, notifies the recipient that Virgin Mobile gives her $20,000 to donate the charity of her choice, and invites the lucky fan to come meet her backstage... in front of all fans in attendance. The live concert integration serves as a concept that sports organizations could look to replicate (having one alum call a lucky fan in the stands and reward them with free X while having it all captured live on the scoreboard). Check out the initiative below: 

The Portland Timbers Army Sing the National Anthem

The Portland Timbers kicked off their 2011 MLS season at home, the new Jeld-Wen Field, by allowing the Timbers Army (the team's fanbase) to sing the National Anthem.

Check out this incredible fan-friendly tactic that helped ring in a new era of soccer in Portland!

Portland Timbers Fans Enjoy Exclusive Benefits in The Axe Society

The Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer created an exclusive fan membership club called The Axe Society to celebrate the team's founding season ticket holders during the team's first year of existence. Fans who became Portland Timbers season ticket holders by December 31, 2010 were given a lifetime membership into The Axe Society - an entitlement that includes a number of exclusive benefits:

• Your name listed on a permanent display in the stadium
• Your name listed on PortlandTimbers.com
• Your name listed in the Portland Timbers souvenir program
• A commemorative inaugural-season gift exclusive to Axe Society members
• Access to exclusive Axe Society events
• Annual Axe Society membership card good for additional discounts at the Timbers team store
• Exclusive promotions that can be accessed only by Axe Society members

Note: For fans to maintain their exclusive Axe Society membership, the team has noted that they must invest each year in at least one (1) Timbers full-season seat.

While creating a fan club to honor fans during a team's inaugural year is not a relatively novel concept in sports, what's extraordinary in this instance is the Portland Timbers' execution of The Axe Society. The team has done an exceptional job bringing the program to life, featuring prominent displays throughout Jeld-Wen Field and delivering a number of exclusive benefits for fans.

The Portland Timbers have quickly emerged as a first-class organization and their new stadium facility is pretty remarkable. Check out some photos of Jeld-Wen Field here.

 

Partnership Activation Goes Live on the Row Show

If you have a few minutes available, check out the new episode of the Row Show, one of the premier sports business talk shows in sports! I had the privilege of being featured on the show as a guest speaker and would encourage you to check it out on a bi-weekly basis.

Jason Cole and Jonathan Dusing do an incredible job highlighting recent trends and technologies in the space - everything from social and mobile media to innovative marketing practices.

Here is a quick rundown of some recent guest speakers on the show:

Episode 43 - Brian Gainor, GMR Marketing and Partnership Activation

Episode 41 - Jamie Diloreto, Boston College Athletics

Episode 38 - Brian Bowsher, Marquette Athletics

Episode 36 - Craig Pintens, LSU Athletics

Episode 33 - Dan Harbison, Portland Trail Blazers

Episode 30 - Brendan Wilhide, Sports in 140

Episode 27 - Sam Taggart, Vaynermedia

Episode 25 - Jeramie McPeek, Phoenix Suns

Episode 20 - Russell Scibetti, New York Jets and TheBusinessofSports.com

Episode 12 - Andy Rentmeester, Oakland Raiders

LeBron James and HP Team Up to Create a New Cartoon Series, "The LeBrons"

LeBron James has teamed up with HP to create a new online cartoon series entitled "The LeBrons" that is designed to engage fans of all ages, but notably kids. LeBron has embarked on a brilliant online content strategy that allows him to integrate his corporate partners into the mix, with characters in the series wearing Nike apparel, using HP products, using Bing for web searches, and listening to Beats by Dre headphones.

In just 10 days, the first episode of The Lebrons has attracted nearly 800,000 views on YouTube and the second episode has attracted nearly 300,000 views in just a matter of days.

The LeBrons web series is just another example of how professional athletes can further build their brands into a complete empire using a variety of channels (social media, television, retail, etc.). Athletes no longer rely on the media to drive their brand - they drive it themselves. The Lebrons series is hosted on a designated YouTube page that features advertising courtesy of LeBron's portfolio of corporate partners (Bing, Sprite, Nike, HP, etc.).

The animated cartoon series features four (4) different versions of LeBron and effectively ties back to LeBron's kid-friendly Nike campaign that dates back a few years. Check out the first two episodes of "The LeBrons" below as well as a trailer that provides a sneak peak of other things you can expect from the series:

Dale Jr. Shows That Pranks Go a Long Way in the Shop

As sports organizations look to post compelling content on their social media channels, many have struck gold with behind-the-scenes tricks, skill shots, and pranks. While this content has become rather common with professional teams, who capture players during practice, team outings, and trips, we haven't seen it as much in the world of NASCAR - until now.

Dale Jr. and the JR Motorsports team recently played a prank on staff members at a Suave Men Production Day that caught many by surprise... and they captured it on camera. The crew set up a cooler that contained a fake giant snake that they knew would generate some excitement.

Check it out below:

Provide Fans with "Instant Rewards" for their Venue Check-Ins

As geolocation based services (Foursquare, Gowalla, and Facebook Places) begin to play a larger role in the sports space, sports organizations should consider ways to instantly reward fans for their actions. Fans commonly "check-in" while attending games for a number of reasons, including interaction with other fans in attendance, sharing stadium photos, tips, and insights, and browsing various "check-in" locations throughout the stadium.

But while this engagement is appealing to some, teams will likely need to begin providing fans with incentives to continue their actions, especially as geolocation based services remain in the early adoption phase. As sports organizations look to engage their corporate partners in their social media and geolocation based marketing efforts, a true opportunity exists with "instant rewards".

GranataPet Snack, a German-based pet food company, recently created an interactive billboard display that rewarded all consumers who "checked-in" on Foursquare while walking their dog in front of the area. The interactive dispenser, triggered by a sensor, engaged hundreds of consumers and created an instant case study for brands and organizations looking to reward consumers in real-time for their actions on Foursquare.

Teams can look to create a similar interactive display within the concourse (or adjacent to the ticket box office outside the stadium/arena during the off-season) that engages and rewards fans for their actions. Teams could provide a variety of low-budget items to consumers to create an element of surprise, including exclusive promotional giveaways, leftover premium items, autographed merchandise, t-shirts, mascot rewards, and products/services provided by corporate partners.

GrenataPet Snack reportedly worked with a German-based agency called Agenta to execute the campaign. We'll be on the lookout for vendors that can build and execute an interactive Foursquare-based prizing system!

Knicks Fans "Like" What They See with Splash Page on Knicks.com

As the New York Knicks head into the 2011 NBA Playoffs, the team is featuring a terrific splash page on its official website, http://www.nba.com/knicks (ala Knicks.com), that encourages fans to "like" their official Facebook page. The creative digital marketing tactic serves as an effective way to drive interest and awareness for the team's social media initatives amongst 200,000 unique site visitors per day (per Compete.com, the Knicks' website attracted 6.2MM unique visitors in February 2011).

To drive fan participation in their social media efforts, the Knicks are offering a variety of incentives, including access to an exclusive pre-sale for all playoff tickets, a chance to win a pair of free tickets to see the Knicks take on the Chicago Bulls on April 12th, and a chance to win a $50 gift card that is redeemable via the Knicks' official online team store.

Once fans click through the splash page, the Knicks are providing a call-to-action via interactive digital inventory on the team's official website. Since the Splash page was posted on March 12, "likes on the New York Knicks' Facebook page were up 27% (130K total) and their Monthly Active Users spiked 18%... pretty remarkable success.

Check out some visualizations of the campaign below. Hats off to the Knicks on executing such a terrific campaign!

A special thanks to Lowell Berg of Ohio University for his insights and contributions to this column!

 

 

If You Want to Get a Job in Sports - Read This.

When was the last time you came across a passage that you felt was so compelling that you wanted to share it with all of your friends and colleagues in the industry? For some, this exercise takes place every day. For others, just once or twice per year.

I recently had an opportunity to read Seth Godin's latest New York Times bestseller, Linchpin, and there was one particular section that I felt was truly insightful and applicable to all sports business professionals, notably job seekers and those looking to take that "next step" in their career.

Enjoy.

I wanted to send a special thanks to Jason Belzer of GAME, Inc. for thinking of me and sharing Linchpin - what a terrific read. If you have a moment, check out all of the terrific things that Jason is doing with GAME Inc., including the launch of a company new website! 

Do You Need a Resume?

This is controversial, but here it goes: if you’re remarkable, amazing, or just plain spectacular, you probably shouldn’t have a resume at all. If you’ve got experience in doing the things that make you a linchpin, a resume hides that fact. A resume gives the employer everything that she needs to reject you.

Once you send me your resume, I can say, “Oh they’re missing this or they’re missing that,” and boom, you’re out. Having a resume begs for you to get a job as a cog in a giant machine. More fodder for the corporate behemoth. That might be fine for average folks looking for a average job, but is that what you deserve?

The very system that produced standardized tests and command-and-control model that chokes us also invented the resume. The system, the industrialists, the factory … they want us to be cogs in their machine – easily replaceable, hopeless, cheap cogs.

If you don’t have a resume, what do you have? How about three extraordinary letters of recommendation from people the employer knows or respects? Or a sophisticated project an employer can see or touch? Or a reputation that precedes you? Or a blog that is so compelling and insightful that they have no choice but to follow up?

Some say, “Well that’s fine, but I don’t have those those.” Yea, that’s my point. If you don’t have these things, what leads you to believe that you are remarkable, amazing, or just plain spectacular? It sounds to be like if you don’t have more than a resume, you’ve been brainwashed into compliance.

Great jobs, world-class jobs, jobs people kill for – those jobs don’t get filled by people emailing in resumes.

The only way to prove (as opposed to assert) that you are an indispensible linchpin – someone worth recruiting, moving to the top of the pile, and hiring – is to show, not tell. Projects are the new resumes. If your Google search isn’t what you want (need) it to be, then change it.

Change it through your actions and connections and generosity. Change it by so over-delivering that people post about you. Change it by creating a blog that is so insightful about your area of expertise that others refer to it. And change it by helping other people online.

WWE Delivers a Memorable Experience for Sponsors and Fans at Wrestlemania Axxess

When it comes to putting on marquee events, WWE is widely considered to be one of the best in the business. WWE showcased its prowess on Sunday when it attracted a record-setting 71,617 fans to the Georgia Dome for Wrestlemania XXVII.

The event grossed $6.6 million in ticket sales and attracted avid wrestling fans from all 50 states and 30 countries worldwide, including Snookie and several other pop-culture icons. Millions of consumers tuned in to watch the live PPV broadcast, which was aired in 100+ countries and 20 different languages.

From a consumer engagement standpoint, WWE teamed up with several promotional partners to create a WrestleMania Axxess event that serves as the ultimate fan fest for wrestling enthusiasts. At the event, fans were treated to meet-n-greets with their favorite WWE personalities, several photo booth displays (Vince McMahon's office, etc.), live ringside entertainment, Q&A's, memorabilia stands, and more. It's important that all the entertainment came at a price for fans too - admission is $35 for the 4-day event leading up to the marquee Wrestlemania event on Sunday evening.

From a promotional partner standpoint, enclosed is a quick breakdown of the on-site activity at WrestleMania Axxess:

• The National Guard - As the presenting sponsor, featured a tent display, showcars, etc.
• Slim Jim - Displayed a Slim Jim Spicy Town climbing wall as part of a larger footprint
• THQ - Featured an extensive WWE All-Stars Video Game Zone
• XFINITY - Featured video game displays, Plinko, information kiosks, and more
• Skittles - Featured an mechanical Skittles candy package (that consumers could try to ride)
• TWIX - Featured a WWE Superstars autograph booth
• Mattel - Displayed a full collection of action figures

Click here to see a complete gallery of photos detailing activation and entertainment at the WrestleMania Axxess event!  

 

A special thanks to Chris Boggs of GMR Marketing for his insights and contributions to this column!

UT Chattanooga Uses April Fools Prank to Drive Ticket Sales

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics Department played a clever trick on their loyal fanbase on Friday, April 1st (April Fools Day) that served as a great way to generate excitement around the upcoming football season.

UT Chattanooga posted an announcement on their Athletics Website declaring that the University would be officially changing their school colors from traditional Blue to an environmentally friendly Green. The extensive writeup included mockups of the new school logo, quotes from UTC Athletic Director Rick Hart, and even an official "Blue + Gold = Green" tagline that supported the overall campaign.

The real trick was played on fans when they attempted to click on several hyperlinks throughout the official announcement to learn more. The hyperlinks were directed to a landing page declaring to readers that the campaign was an April Fools Joke and as a reward for their active participation, they would receive a special one-day ticket offer for the upcoming 2011 football season. Fans could receive (1) free meal voucher for each of UTC's home games during the 2011 season with the purchase of season tickets.

UTC's April Fools Day campaign was very clever and well-thought out... a simple way to generate some buzz around non-traditional holidays throughout the calendar year. Per GoMocs.com, the campaign generated 2,000 unique hits in the 16 hours it was featured live on the site - four (4) times the amount of traffic a non-preview/recap story would normally receive. The campaign ended up generating 31 new season ticket sales in 16 hours, which is a pretty notable figure given the fact that the University has a season ticketholder base just over 2,600.

Click here to learn more about the results of the campaign.

McDonald's Capitalizes on Cubs Fever with Clever Billboard

McDonald's is capitalizing on the buzz surrounding the 2011 Chicago Cubs baseball season with a terrific billboard display just outside Wrigley Field. The billboard uses McDonald's french fries to illustrate the laces of a baseball - an absolutely brilliant marketing campaign.

Look for more creative marketing tactics to come throughout the season!

Source: Kelly Hafermann's Flickr Photostream 

The Phillie Phanatic Treats Fans to a Lady Gaga Performance on Opening Day

The Philadelphia Phillies and their mascot, the Phillie Phanatic, treated their fans on Opening Day to a special performance from "Lady Pha Pha". For the second consecutive year, the Phillie Phanatic revealed his inner pop star through an elaborate Lady Gaga performance.

Heading into the sixth inning, a group of actors carried a large egg onto the field at Citizens Bank Park, only to have the Phillie Phanatic emerge to the delight of fans.

Check out the two acts below:

Opening Day 2011

Opening Day 2010

Huge Boss Lets Fans Design the Attire of McLaren Mercedes F1 Drivers

Hugo Boss and the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 team have partnered to launch a "Dress Me for the Finale" competition that allows consumers to design the overalls that Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button will wear during the F1 season finale in Brazil in November.

The two (2) collaborating parties teamed up with Germany-based branding agency Liganova to create the interactive online competition, which is also supported via retail promotions, branding, and point-of-sale activity within stores in markets across the world. The "Dress Me for the Finale" initiative will run in each country where an F1 race takes place, with a design being selected for the drivers to wear during each qualifying run.

The promotion is the centerpiece of Hugo Boss' 30-year sponsorship deal of the McLaren Mercedes F1 team, which it signed a short time ago. The partnership initiative is notable because most professional organizations in the United States are continuing to pursue lifestyle/designer apparel deals to complement their team apparel partnerships. Look for similar initiatives to soon arise in NASCAR, IndyCar, and across the Big Four leagues.

   

Nike Turns to Fans on Twitter to Devise a Slogan for US Soccer

Nike looked to capitalize on the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team's recent international friendly against a renowned Argentina team at the New Meadowlands Stadium by creating an expansive "Red All Over" campaign.

A few weeks leading up to the match, Nike turned to soccer fans on Twitter to create a motto that would serve as the focal point of its "Red All Over" campaign. Nike encouraged soccer enthusiasts from across the world to submit their ideas over a five-day period using the hashtag #redallover. The campaign proved to be extremely successful, with thousands of entries pouring each day.

Ultimately, Nike found their answer for the campaign - a slogan that stood out from all the rest. The slogan, "Indivisible", was submitted by William Bachmann II of Orlando, FL, who uses the Twitter handle @WBachmann2. The slogan came from an unlikely source but proved to be exactly what Nike was looking for with the campaign. The slogan was sewn onto the jerseys of all the U.S. players for the match and soon became a storyline that captured the world's attention.

Note: As part of the campaign, fans were encouraged to wear red to New Meadowlands Stadium for the game on March 26th in support.

Check out a video detailing the promotional initiative below:

The Chicago Cubs See Value in Newborns

The Chicago Cubs offer a Newborn Fan Club that allows loyal Cubs fans to purchase a commemorative "Cub for Life" gift pack for future sluggers. The concept of a Newborn Fan Club serves as a terrific non-traditional revenue stream for sports properties that are able to seamlessly weave it into their digital offerings and manage fulfillment through the team shop and/or a third party.

The initiative allows consumers a chance to spend $45 to receive a customized commemorative photo announcing the baby's birth (complete with the baby's name, birthday, and birth weight), a Cubs baby stocking cap, a Cubs "Rookie of the Year" onesie, and an exclusive birth certificate to hang on display. The Cubs even provide fans an option to purchase a wooden frame for $25 to display their marquee photo or commemorative birth certificate. Fans can input all of the required information to customize the piece and manage shipping/handling online.

Teams can look to generate incremental revenue streams through said initiative by affiliating a corporate partner with ties to retail and/or baby supplies. In addition to exposure, corporate partners can also derive value by offering post-purchase discounts, etc.

Bud Light Capitalizes on the Madness with A Game of Basketball-Themed Quarters

Anheuser-Busch is capitalizing on the madness surrounding the 2011 NCAA Tournament with a Bud Light Shoot for the Championship tabletop quarter-bouncing game at select retail establishments across the country. Throughout the tournament, AB offered consumers ages 21+ an opportunity to compete to win a trip to Las Vegas for a Final Four competition with $25,000 on the line.

Anheuser-Busch produced March to the Championship themed tabletops and a quarters game with a creative basketball thematic. Check out two (2) pictures of their retail activation below:

 

Check out two (2) videos of Bud Light's activation in action here:

The Whitecaps Generate Fan Excitement For Their Season Launch with a 30-Day Countdown

The start of the 2011 Major League Soccer season marked a renewed rivalry series between the Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps, and the Portland Timbers. All three (3) soccer clubs have enjoyed 30+ years of history and success but haven't competed against one another since the days of the NASL... 31 years afgo.

Soccer has been a huge success for Major League Soccer in the Northwest over the past two years since the inception the Seattle Sounders FC. In 2010, the team attracted 36,173 fans on average and generated some of the league's highest television ratings. Soccer fever has surely spread to Portland and Vancouver, where both clubs are experiencing a significant amount of success selling season ticket packages as well as suites.

The Vancouver Whitecaps in particular embarked on an aggressive "30-Day Countdown" marketing initiative that featured thirty consecutive days of virals introducing the team to the city of Vancouver, decorating landmarks, interviewing celebrities, displaying 3D billboard projections, and more.

Check out the Whitecaps terrific 30-Day Countdown below ... notably videos #7, #1, $10, and #6!

• Day 30 - City Blitz
• Day 29 - Whitecaps Sushi Roll
• Day 28 - Forever Fans
• Day 27 - The Passion Fans Have for Soccer in Vancouver
• Day 26 - Freestylin' Players
• Day 25 - Just Imagine
• Day 24 - Grouse Ride
• Day 23 - Testing Fan IQ's
• Day 22 - Daniel Sedin Plays a Game of Keep-Up
• Day 21 - A Trip to Fratelli's
• Day 20 - Bryan Adams
• Day 19 - Who to Watch
• Day 18 - Lui Passaglia
• Day 17 - Umberto
• Day 16 - An Interview with Vancouver Legend Trevor Linden
• Day 15 - Ole!
• Day 14 - Office
• Day 13 - Kasey Keller
• Day 12 - Drums
• Day 11 - Show and Tell
• Day 10 - Whitecaps Kit
• Day 9 - Match Beat
• Day 8 - Les Buts
• Day 7 - Light It Up
• Day 6 - Whitecaps Idol
• Day 5 - Interview with Head Coach Teitur Thordarson
• Day 4 - EA Sports
• Day 3 - Youth Soccer
• Day 2 - Southsiders Bar Night
• Day 1 - Scarves
• Match Day

... And here's a great Sounders FC video to get you ready for the 2011 Major League Soccer season!

A special thanks to Aaron Brady for his insights and contributions to this column.