Industry Profiler: Activator

In December 2010, Partnership Activation began an Industry Profiler Series that is designed to provide sports business professionals with an in-depth look at some of the industry’s finest sponsorship tools and services. The 2^nd feature of the Industry Profiler Series will center on Activator, a cloud-based enterprise system that Turnkey Sports & Entertainment is set to formally launch in the first and second quarters of 2011.

The Activator platform was designed to serve as a central library for information and two-way communication amongst properties, brands, and agencies. The system allows parties on both sides of a marketing partnership to engage in a seamless manner, using tools that are provided to collaborate, analyze adjust partnership tactics, monitor inventory, share presentations, and have a clear focus on optimizing a healthy return from their partnerships.

To develop a sponsorship solution that properly serves brands, properties, and agencies, Turnkey designated the Chicago Bears organization as a development partner and worked hand-in-hand with their corporate partnership activation team to test and refine the functionalities of the Activator platform. Turnkey also made the Activator platform available to ten (10) teams and brands and their marketing partners across the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, NASCAR, and MLS during a BETA phase to garner additional feedback, ideas, and solutions.

Activator supports two categories of users – patrons (paid users) and recipients (parties that are invited to use Activator by a partner). The two (2) parties have many of the same capabilities but there are a few key differences. Activator patrons can also upload and share content across all of their partners in the system (versus recipients, who can only upload and share with one, direct party at a time).  Also, patrons are able to view content purchased from outside Data Service Providers (DSPs) directly within Activator (recipients are not afforded this capability).

Here is a quick look at the platform's features and functionality:

THE INTERFACE AND FUNCTIONALITY OF ACTIVATOR

The interface of the Activator system was designed with the end user in mind. The interface resembles a Facebook profile page, with a very clean look that features a list of tools in the left-hand column and a Wall that serves as a centralized area for communication where users can post text, images, and video. One unique feature of the Activator system is a feedback function that allows parties to share direct feedback about partnership performance on an event by event basis. Users can also share interactive presentations (including audio/video) using SlideRocket’s   presentation tool without ever having to leave the Activator platform. These presentations can also be shared with outside parties via simple URL’s that can be sent in emails.     

PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT

Within the Activator system, parties can upload their contractual agreements (to monitor assets on an ongoing basis) using a simple Excel template that Turnkey shares with users. Once contracts are uploaded into the system (which is password protected and permission-based), users can track performance metrics, inventory utilization, and more. One of the most intriguing features of Activator is an Apps tool that allows patrons to access information directly from Data Service Providers (Arbitron, Nielsen, Repucom, Turnkey, etc.). Users can also use Activator to set up custom RSS feeds, convert video files, and build out a list of contact information for corporate partners.

PRICING

Turnkey S&E has made Activator a fairly affordable tool for its patrons:

Note: Some additional Upgrades & Services fees include: 10GB Storage Upgrade ($20/month), Additional SlideRocket Seat ($24/month), Telephone Support ($150/30min), Telephone Training Session ($500/120min session), In-Person Training Day ($2,500 + expenses), and Quick Start Consulting Package ($2,500 for 10 hours as needed within the first 30 days of use).

Enclosed are some screenshots of the Activator platform. Check out the Turnkey Sports &Entertainment website for more information on Activator and additional services they offer for stakeholders in the sports marketplace.

Note: Partnership Activation is not affiliated with Turnkey Sports & Entertainment and the Activator platform in any manner. Please feel free to leave sentiments in the Comments section below about your experiences trialing the Activator platform.

Miller High Life Sponsors Fans Across America

The folks at Miller High Life recently launched a brilliant sponsorship strategy that has been well received by the general public. Nicknamed the Champagne of Beers, Miller High Life unveiled a new campaign entitled, "Official Beer of You" that allows consumers ages 21+ to sign an endorsement contract with the brand on its official website and receive a $1 signing bonus in return (in the form of a $1 coupon or a $1 check that can be donated to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America).

As part of the initiative, consumers receive a downloadable sponsorship kit with a personalized logo and the opportunity to purchase personalized Miller High Life gear. On the brand's website, consumers can also share photos and stories of how they live the High Life for the chance to be featured in a brand advertisement or on the Official Miller High Life Facebook page.

The strategy is a terrific way to engage with beer drinking sports fans across the nation without paying large sums of dollars to sponsor professional leagues, players, or organizations. The PR stunt may be very short lived, but will generate enough impact (and media impressions) to make a timely splash prior to the Super Bowl.

MillerCoors supported the campaign by distributing a press release that included the headline, "Miller High Life Says 'No' to Multi-Million Dollar Sponsorships." Last year, Miller High Life made a similar splash around the Super Bowl when it aired several one-second ads that caused quite a stir in the industry.

 

Oakley Celebrates Its Partnership with Shaun White in Style

Oakley and Shaun White recently teamed up to present Shaun White Air & Style Beijing, the largest snowboarding event ever to be held in China. The event served as a terrific way for Oakley to leverage its partnership with White (which it has maintained over the past 10 years) to gain market share in China, an emerging market that is currently experiencing a cultural revolution.

The event attracted nearly 10,000 action sports enthusiasts and a collection of the world's finest snowboarders and is being recognized as a monumental occasion that will greatly enhance the growth of the sport in China. Check out two (2) terrific videos that showcase the magnitude of the event, which was held on December 4th in Beijing:

The Future of Stadium Signage - For Auto Partners

Honda recently teamed up with GT Media, JC Decaux, and Puca to develop an innovative outdoor messaging campaign designed to engage young, male consumers and demonstrate the innovative attributes of its automobiles.

To generate buzz around the launch of the new Civic R Series in Ireland, Honda displayed a large, interactive billboard in the trendy streets of Dublin that allowed consumers to actually start the car (featured on the billboard) by texting "START" to a designated shortcode (51500). Upon doing so, the call-to-action signalled the lights on the car to light up and smoke to exit from the car's exhaust pipes on the billboard.

Consumers that engaged with the billboard received a bounce back link to a Honda mobile brochure, providing additional details about the car, and also had an opportunity to receive a free ringtone of the car's engine roar if they engaged with the billboard via Bluetooth technology. The four-week campaign ran during June 2010.

Honda's innovative billboard technology serves as a great benchmark for sports organizations looking for new ways to take their signage to the next level, notably in baseball. While a billboard with interactive elements could not be run in-stadium during play, there is plenty of down time during games (between innings, pre-game, post-game, pitching changes, etc.) when brands could engage with fans via SMS technology without having to feature personnel on-site to operate the signage.

Look for a number of sports organizations to begin experimenting with SMS technology to take their stadium signage and brand activation to the next level!

Source: Puca

January 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter

Thank you for coming to check out the January 2011 Issue of the Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter. After checking out the newsletter/site, I hope you have some time available to spend with family and friends, for that is the most important thing in life.

Let's make 2011 a great year! Thank you again for your interest in Partnership Activation and I look forward to having the opportunity to connect with you in the near future!

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

• Marquette Athletics - BIGNOGGINS
• Creative Promotional Tactics From Across College Athletics
• Creating Concessions/Merchandise Apps that Benchmark the Carl's Jr. Happy Star Rewards
• Synergy Events' Activation on Behalf of Reebok at the NHL Winter Classic
• Hot Off the Press: Networking is a Contact Sport
• Creativity in the Sports Marketplace
• January 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
• Social Media Watch: Preseason/Post-Season SM Inventory
• Brand Activation at the 2010 China Open
• The Ashes Cricket Series
• Three Things You Need to See: Word Lens, Interactive Digital Signage, and Multiple Dance Cams
• Five #SportsBiz People You Must Follow on Twitter
• Activation and Branding from the NHL Winter Classic
• Creativity From the Idea Box

Click here to check out the January 2011 Newsletter and be sure to 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. 

Land Rover Challenges Fans With Activation at the Dubai Rugby Sevens

In December 2010, Land Rover signed on as an Official Partner of the Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby Sevens and leveraged its affiliation with several terrific fan engagement initiatives. Land Rover announced the partnership in conjunction with a global announcement that it would serve as an official sponsor of the Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

The Land Rover display at the Rugby Sevens featured a number of an interactive rugby-related games, including a Land Rover Scrum Down Challenge, Wheel Spin Challenges, and a Big Boot Challenge. Land Rover offered all participants a chance to enter to win a free Land Rover for a year.

Land Rover Scrum Down Challenge

The Land Rover Scrum Down Challenge truly tested the strength of rugby fans. Teams of consumers were challenged to see if they could push a Land Rover using a rugby scrum machine.

Wheel Spin Challenges

The Wheel Spin Challenged tested the passing accuracy of rugby fans. Consumers were challenged with throwing passes through a series of spinning car wheels.

Big Boot Challenge 

The Big Boot Challenge featured a select number of rugby players from the UAE competing to see who could drop kick a rugby ball through the goal posts during an on-field competition.

The Rugby Sevens attracted 120,000+ fans over a three-day span from December 2-4, 2010. As one can tell from the pictures depicted above, many rugby activation tactics can be applied in the NFL and college football (and vice versa). Check out a full video recap of Land Rover's Rugby Sevens activation below:

Source: Ameinfo.com

Rafael Nadal, Kia, and the Australian Open Team Up to Launch "The Open Drive"

Kia is leveraging its designation as an Official Partner of the 2011 Australian Open by creating a feature called "The Open Drive" that features the WTA's finest stars participating in video interviews filmed inside the sporty Kia Optima.

Kia filmed The Open Drive features with a state-of-the-art camera system that provides multiple camera angles of the tennis stars while they answer a series of questions presented via an iPad. Fans can suggest questions for the players to answer via Facebook/Twitter and can view the segments on the Official Australian Open website as well as Kia.com.au

The Open Drive feature serves as a terrific benchmark for tennis properties (and golf) to leverage automobile partners and engage players in new ways.

Check out Rafael Nadal's appearance in The Open Drive to kick off the 2011 Australian Open below:

For more information, check out a video overview of The Open Drive below:

TrendHunter Unveils 20 Marketing Trends to Watch in 2011

TrendHunter recently released a terrific list of the Top 20 Marketing/Advertising/Fashion Trends to Watch in 2011. The list includes some great insights that marketers need to be aware of.

The five (5) trends most relevant to sports marketers include projected publicity, wearable tech, tweetonomics, democratic selling, and real timing, but make sure that you read through all twenty trends to develop a better understanding for new opportunities in the marketing landscape.

Check out a breakdown of TrendHunter's Top 20 Trends below as well as their video feature: 

Top 20 Trends to Watch in 2011

1. Discrete Consumerism - Whether it's Starbucks disguising one of its chains as an India espresso bar or Absolut going label-less, consumers are shying away from traditional brands and labels in favor of creativity and differentiation. To thrive in a creative world, brands need to stop generic marketing and create experiences that are irresistible to a specific group of people
2. Tweetonomics - From hashtag-powered sites to Twittering shoes to social networking stockings, as long as Twitter continues to flourish so will all of the businesses smart enough to use social media for their own success. 2011 is the year that competitors will use social media to steal away your best customers 
3. Perpetual Adaptation - There is an ongoing demand for ever-evolving aesthetics. The world is changing so rapidly that consumers are now in love with change itself
4. Geriatric Couture - Embroidery and vintage fabrics are being resurrected from our grandparents' generation as styles continue to revolutionize
5. Luxury Lives On - Even though the markets may be down, indulgent consumers still crave luxury. The financial crisis caused many businesses to scale back but wealthy needs still exist
6. Modern Kidvertising - Marketers are focusing their efforts to where the money is - parents. Childrens campaigns are appealing to adult interests using eco-friendly textiles and Midwest decor. We are seeing a new era of sophisticated children's products
7. Rockstar Self-Expressionism - Rock'n'Roll culture still has a significant influence in a number of industries (Hard-edge hotel designs, rockstar fashion, rebellious product design)
8. Democratic Selling - Consumer votes, tweets, and Facebook likes are used to determine what retailers actually sell. The voice of the consumer has never been louder
9. Toddler Touchscreens - Using touchscreen platforms like the iPad and Android, developes are producing games and experiences that appeal to next generation parents and their tech savvy kids (Interactive film maps, recordable storybooks, pillow technology and interactive fairy tales)
10. Hyperrealism - Artists are striving to create their own accurate depictions of reality using their raw talent (outside of Photoshop)
11. Tangible Printing - Smaller businesses are using 3D printing to create fast, rapid prototypes of body armor, shoes, and clothing
12. Next Besting - Brand name products are taking a backseat to budget-friendly and more personalized alternatives; consumers are still buying things but they are becoming more conscious of what they actually need and why (and are in turn, seeking out the next best alternative)
13. Modern Cubism - In a cluttered world, people seek refuge in simplified design (cube lighting, square architecture, and cubic technology)
14. Real Timing - Businesses are incorporating Foursquare, Twitter, and live streaming to provide participants with instant gratification; social media has become the medium of choice for consumers
15. On the Spot Style - Established brands are satisfying consumer demand for real style; street style fashion is being amplified by a surge in unique niche fashion blogs  
16. Brand Reversion - Consumers are on a quest to satisfy their nostalgia (Princess phones, etc.); brands are going retro for revenue
17. Wearable Tech - How fashion and technology are converging to produce unique products (Earring telephones, holographic wristwear, and visual hearing aides)
18. Charitable Deviance - Using shock tactics in charitable marketing campaigns
19. Interactive Retail - Interactive shopping bags, iPad menus (how retail is differentiating is a social media savvy world)
20. Projected Publicity - Large scale, low-cost ultra viral mediums like projected billboards

Check out their 2011 Trends to Watch Video below:

The Red Sox Let Fans Sing Their Way to Fenway Park

The Boston Red Sox are hitting the road in January to visit all six (6) states in the New England Region as part of a 2011 Red Sox Road Trip campaign presented by Coca-Cola.

The highlight of the Red Sox Road Trip initiative is a "Sing Your Way to Fenway" promotional initiative that allows fans a chance to audition for the opportunity to perform the National Anthem at Fenway Park during the 2011 Red Sox home season (think American Idol meets the Boston Red Sox). The team will select two (2) winners at each Road Trip stop and all twelve (12) of the Road Trip winners will qualify to compete in the "Sing Your Way to Fenway" finals at Fenway Park on February 9th.

The Red Sox are allowing contestants 90 seconds to perform their version of the National Anthem. At each tour stop location, the first (100) fans to arrive on time will be guaranteed the opportunity to audition. Entrants under the age of 18 must have a parent/guardian present to sign a release needed to participate.

At each of the tour stops, the Red Sox will also feature Wally the Green Monster, the 2004/2007 World Series Trophies, 2011 State Day game vouchers, and a promotion offering one (1) lucky winner the chance to take part in a Red Sox Road Trip Opening Weekend VIP Experience.

The "Sing Your Way to Fenway" promotion serves as a great idea for sports organizations looking for new ways to take their road trips and community engagement programs to new heights. The initiative allows the Red Sox to engage with neighboring states in a new way and strengthen its connection with fans attending games who have traveled from outside the state of Massachusetts. Based on the success of American Idol and the affinity that Red Sox fans have for the esteemed organization, Sing Your Way to Fenway will undoubtedly be a huge success.

The Red Sox will make tour stops at the following locations:

• XL Center (Connecticut) - Tuesday, January 18th (12pm-6pm EST)
• Curry Hicks Cage at UMASS (Massachusetts) - Wednesday, January 19th (10am-4pm EST)
• University Mall (Vermont) - Thursday, January 20th (11am-5pm EST)
• Muldoon Fitness Center at Rivier College (New Hampshire) - Friday, January 21st (12pm-6pm EST)
• Portland Sea Dogs Hadlock Field (Maine) - Saturday, January 22nd (10am-4pm EST)
• Woonsocket High School (Rhode Island) - Monday, January 24th (2pm-8pm EST)

Old Hat Creative Delivers a Terrific Recap of The Big Chill at the Big House

Sports properties looking to give their marketing materials, recaps, and videoboard vignettes some flair should take a close look at some of the work that Old Hat Creative is doing on behalf of their partners.

Old Hat did a tremendous job creating a collection of marketing materials for The Big Chill at the Big House, an outdoor hockey game between the University of Michigan and Michigan State that was played in front of an announced crowd of 104,000+ at Michigan Stadium in December.

To drive buzz around the event, Old Hat developed:

• The Big Chill at the Big House Microsite
• An Intro Video - Click Here to View               
• A Historical Tribute - Click Here to View
• A "Pump Up" Video - Click Here to View
• A Prelude - Click Here to View
• A Michigan 3D Video - Click Here to View

But Old Hat's finest work was their recap of The Big Chill at the Big House, which is one of the most original recaps that we have seen in some time! Check it out below:

Fans Get Digital Autographs with the New Australian Open iPad App

The Australian Open and IBM recently unveiled the first Official Grand Slam tennis iPad application for fans to enjoy at the tournament and for those watching at home.

The iPad app has a number of truly remarkable features but it's greatest is a digital autograph feature that allows fans to capture all of their favorite star players' autographs directly on their iPad and save them in a digital scrapbook. The iPad feature provides a glimpse into the potential future of virtual card autographs and memorabilia.

Fans can also use the iPad app to access real-time tournament and venue information, the Official Tournament Program, editorial features, tournament facts and figures, player tweets, schedules, weather updates, ticket information, video highlights, and more.

The iPad app is available for purchase on iTunes for just $4.99. Check it out below!

Source: AustralianOpen.com

NBA Teams Get Creative With Their All-Star Game Campaigns

The 2011 NBA All-Star Game is right around the corner and NBA teams are doing everything in their power to persuade fans to vote for their star players. As seen in past years, NBA teams have begun to take a very creative approach to their campaigns, as demonstrated with the two "best in class" examples featured below:

New York Knicks - "#1 Reason to Vote Knicks" Remix

The Knicks took a creative approach with their All-Star campaign, putting their celebrity fans in control.

The spot features Donald Trump, Tracy Morgan, cast members from the Jersey Shore, Fabolous, The Miz, Drake, Entourage cast members, Whoopi Goldberg, and fans among others encouraging viewers to get out and vote for Amar'e Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, and Danilo Gallinari into the 2011 NBA All-Star Game. Check out the terrific clip, which has generated 46K+ views, below:

Memphis Grizzlies - "The Most Interesting Man in the NBA"

The Memphis Grizzlies created a spoof of Dos Equis' ever-popular commercial campaign featuring "The Most Interesting Man in the World" in an effort to tout Rudy Gay as a deserving candidate for a 2011 NBA All-Star Game nomination. The humorous clip, which includes the tagline "Keep Voting, my friends", uses creativity to effectively escape the clutter of standard All-Star Game campaigns, giving casual basketball fans a reason to vote. Check it out below (30K+ views thus far):

Look for more creative NBA All-Star campaigns to come!

Nike Uses Laser Projections to Support Oregon in BCS Title Game

Nike created a splash on the eve of the 2011 BCS National Championship game by projecting a laser image of the University of Oregon logo onto the side of Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Nike teamed up with Wieden + Kennedy, SportsOne, Inc., Lightwave International, and MacDonald Media to project a giant Oregon logo and the slogan "Just Do It" onto the side of Camelback Mountain for approximately five (5) hours on Sunday night. On the day of the game, Nike was planning on projecting the laser image on the Jobing.com Arena, located across the street from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

Interesting enough, the distance between the light projection (located at the Bud Light Fiesta Grounds in Scottsdale) and the mountain was a full two (2) miles. The direct diode lasers used were four (4) times the power of typical lasers seen at concerts and large events and were considered the most powerful lasers that Lightwave International had ever projected to date.

Check out a video detailing the amazing visual illustration below:

Source: The Oregonian

Texas Sports Entities Turn to Branded Tanker Trucks for the "Wow-Factor"

A company called Frontier Mobile Media is creatively driving interest and excitement around three (3) Texas sports entities in a totally new way - tanker trucks. Frontier has created unique tanker wraps for Cowboys Stadium, Longhorns Energy, and Mustangs Energy, a move that has generated a lot of attention amongst fans of all ages.

The branded tanker trucks serve as mobile billboards that can peak the interest of fans on campus, inside the tailgate lots, and along the highway during the season. The tanker wraps are creatively designed, as the Cowboys Stadium tanker even features a call-to-action for fans to follow the venue on Facebook and Twitter (although it should include details of the Twitter handle and Facebook Fan Page domain). The tankers serve as a great tie-back for oil/energy sponsors to drive awareness of their affiliation with a sports entity.

Check out some photos of the branded tankers below:

Agency: Frontier Mobile Media

Photography: Wade Griffith, Getty Images (Website / Flickr Gallery)

Partner: Cowboys Stadium

Agency: Frontier Mobile Media

Photographer: Wade Griffith, Getty Images (Website / Flickr Gallery)

Partner: Texas Longhorns Energy (University of Texas Athletics)

Agency: Frontier Mobile Media

Photographer: Wade Griffith, Getty Images (Website / Flickr Gallery)

Partner: Mustangs Energy (SMU Athletics)

  

Bud Light Throws the Ultimate BCS Bash for College Football Fans

Bud Light is treating college fans attending the 2011 BCS National Championship to an ultimate fiesta in Scottsdale, Arizona this weekend. Bud Light partnered with 18 entities to create the ultimate BCS Bash for Auburn, Oregon, and other college football fans and alumni to enjoy.

Bud Light leased out a 3-acre space at the Scottsdale Waterfront to host team pep rallies, plenty of food and drinks, live music, and live ESPN broadcasts the week of January 3-9. Bud Light partnered with several top-notch partners to host the event, including Safeway, Nike, The Pat Tillman Foundation, P.F. Changs, Delta, Johnsonville, Dos Gringos, Jani King, and The Phoenician Resort.

Bud Light teamed up with SportsOne Inc., based in Portland, OR to execute the event. SportsOne served as the event manager and sponsorship sales agency after winning an RFP solicited by the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau to produce the event. SportsOne served as the backbone of the festivities - developing the concept, selling the title naming rights to Bud Light, and managing the entire execution.

Check out a few videos that provide an in-depth look at the Ford Fiesta below:

Nike Displays the Future of Customization in Japan

In recent years, Nike has done an incredible job creating online and offline NIKEiD portals that enable consumers to customize all of their products and apparel.

To drive traffic and interest to its flagship location in Fukouka, Japan, Nike developed a NIKEiD Generator tool that utilizes a color analyzing programmed camera to transform the colors of clothers that consumers visiting the store are wearing (or visiting the store's website online using a webcam) into a color pallette to create a shoe with an original color design.

Over 18,000 consumers tested out the NIKEiD Generator tool at the Nike Fukuoka location within four days of the launch of the campaign and another 40,000 consumers visited the NIKEiD Generator online platform over a two-week period. Nike encouraged fans using the platform to share their color designs to share them with friends using a collection of online widgets that were made available.

The NIKEiD Generator just goes to show how we will likely be able to produce customize products and apparel within a matter of seconds in the coming years.

Check out the NIKEiD Generator below and click here for more information:

Leverage Spin & Win Animations to Engage Sections of Fans

Sports organizations looking to create new scoreboard entertainment features should take a close look at the "Spin & Win" slot machine animation created by the Austin Toros of the NBA D-League.

Teams can create similar, engaging animations to serve several purposes:

• Create a "chance to win" / "scoreboard surprise" moment in-game that (from a perception standpoint) fairly selects and rewards one (1) lucky section in arena 
• Effectively leverage a casino partner (in countries/markets where gambling activity can be actively promoted in-arena) with an engaging scoreboard promotion that serves as a great engagement and affiliation awareness play
• Promote a team/corporate partner donation to a select charity on behalf of a designated section
• Actively promote a section in the stadium/arena receiving a special discount on concessions during the game (or a select period of time during the game)

Check it out below:

Kellogg's Gives Its Ironman Series Signage a Purpose

Kellogg's is leveraging its partnership with the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series with a terrific, multi-purpose experiential branding campaign.

Kellogg's teamed up with Ooh! Media, JWT, and Mindshare to create a series of custom-built mobile billboards that provide branding as well as house lockers for 120 beachgoers to use at each of the Ironman events. The units will be traveling to each of the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series events taking place along on the East Coast.

Similar multi-purpose units would be perfect for golf events (along the course, allowing fans to store items), outdoor hockey events, intramurals, youth sports events, 3-on-3 basketball tournaments, and beach volleyball events.

Check out two (2) pictures of the unique experiential branding display below:

Sources: AdNews, @SynergyEvents, CampaignBrief.com

The Indiana Pacers Get Fuzzy With Their Vodka Partner

In November, the Indiana Pacers announced a special partnership with Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka, a vodka label created by golf legend Fuzzy Zoeller who is well known as a great Hoosier golfer, citizen, and businessman.

The Pacers celebrated the partnership on Saturday, November 20th by hosting a special promotional night where Zoeller served as the honorary captain of the game and held an exclusive meet-and-greet with the first 200 Pacers fans who purchased a special $95 ticket package to the game that included a Krieg DeVault Club Level Ticket, an autographed Fuzzy hat, one (1) drink voucher, and access to the chef's table.

Zoeller opted to align his vodka label brand with the Pacers organization in an effort to drive awareness and avidity amongst Pacers fans in the state of Indiana. As part of the partnership, the Pacers and Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka will feature two (2) bars in the concourse, Fuzzy's Garage and Fuzzy's 19th Holes (as shown below), and will feature custom courtside LED and a variety of other branding and hospitality elements at games. 

Check out a few photos of their terrific concourse buildouts and activation elements below: 

 

 

 

Federer and Nadal Kick off the 2011 ATP Tour on Water Court

The ATP kicked off its 2011 World Tour by creating a memorable PR event that will generate millions of impressions. The ATP called on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to play a game of tennis on a water court in the Doha Bay (Doha is the capital city of Qatar).  

The PR event featured the world's two (2) highest ranked players playing a game of tennis while the sun set over the city of Doha. The event kicked off the 2011 ATP World Tour, which began this weekend with the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.

The stunt showcases how sports properties can leverage out-of-the-box locales to drive a significant amount of media impressions around premier events, key athletes, and season/product launches.

Check out some amazing pictures of the event that were posted on Roger Federer's Official Website (copyright of the ATP):