The D-backs Host a Most Valuable Partner Awards Night

It has become a common practice in the sports space for teams to host Sponsor Summits to recap their seasons, share ideas, insights and best practices, drive B2B opportunities, and reward partners with a memorable experience that builds their connection with the team.

While most teams make slight tweaks to evolve their Sponsor Summits each year, the Arizona Diamondbacks have developed a new approach that could soon become an industry benchmark. The Diamondbacks recently announced that they will be hosting a Most Valuable Partner Awards Night on January 19th for nearly 300 corporate partners and select guests. 

The team has planned a night filled with entertainment and celebration at the Wild Horse Pass & Casino  for all their partners and extended family. The event will kick off with a red carpet event at 6pm, followed by an opening musical number and monologue, "DB Awards" given out by the team, and plenty of humorous vignettes produced by the Diamondbacks' Game Operations and Multimedia Productions department.

The Diamondbacks have called on Team President & CEO Derrick Hall to emcee the event, with assistance from several players, legends, broadcasters, and Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick.

Throughout the night, the Diamondbacks will celebrate their partners' "business wins" with DB Awards representing eight different categories:

• Luis Gonzalez Gonzalez Community Champion Award - Given to the partner who truly makes a difference in the local community
• Brand Integration Award - Given to the partner that best uses the D-backs brand or logo to sell their product or seperate themselves from their competition
• D-backs Ambassador Award - Given to the company that best embraces the partnership by exposing it to their employees and customers
• Marketing Activation Award - Given to the partner who creates an innovative D-backs promotion to help build their brand or create direct response (either marketwide or in Chase Field)
• Rookie of the Year - Given to a first-year partner who immediately embraced the D-backs partnership culture and maximized their affiliation
• Lifetime Achievement Award - Given to a team partner who has been aligned with the team throughout its existence and helped define partnership as the team knows it.
• Most Valuable Partner of the Year - Given to the partner who encompasses everything in each MVP category (the award is given at a Silver Slugger Division level and a Gold Glove Division level)

The event serves as a great way to build relationships, incent partners to enhance their partnership efforts, and position the team as a first-class partner in Major League Baseball and the Phoenix DMA. It will be very encouraging to see how partners respond to the event and look to elevate their partnerships during the 2012 MLB season! Congrats to all involved on creating such a terrific concept.

December 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter

Welcome to the December 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter! Thank you for your continued interest and support for Partnership Activation and the monthly newsletter.

Here is a link to the December 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter.

After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc: http://bit.ly/tg9WZ3

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

• 20 Non-Traditional Bowl Game Sponsors in 2011-12
• 2012 - GMR Marketing's Social Media Channels
• Ohio University Center for Sports Administration
• 2012 National Sports Forum
• Navigate Research Industry Spotlight
• Barclays 20,000th Goal Celebration
• Sevilla Sells Space on Team Jerseys to Fans
• Adidas Launches an Augmented Reality Initiative in Scotland
• Audi Gives a Nod to the Barcelona-Real Madrid Rivalry in a Commercial
• Oregon Athletics Play Up the Civil War Rivalry
• All Blacks Fans Experience Rugby in a New Way
• The Manhattan Sports Business Academy
• Creativity In the Sports Marketplace
• December 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
• The Old Spice Classic's Social Media Efforts
• A Close Look at the 2011 Grey Cup
• 5 #SportsBiz Handles You Must Follow on Twitter
• 50 of the Most Creative Ideas in Sports Business in 2011
• Zlaty Bazant Beer Encourages Fans to Drink Responsibly
• Baylor IMG Gives Fans a Suite Seat for the Game
• The Western Bulldogs' Capture Their Brand Story
• The New BC Place Showcases the Future of Stadium Lighting
• Red Bull Soars Over Moses Mahiba Stadium
• Four (4) Creative Ways to Engage Fans with Interactive Walls
• Idea Box

Click here to check out the December 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.

Kraft Gets Creative to Engage Consumers Out-of-Home

Teams looking for new ways to leverage Kraft as a corporate partner should take a close look at two (2) of the company's innovative out-of-home marketing executions in recent years. 

In 2010, Kraft teamed up with Monster Media, MediaVest, and CP+B to create an interactive storefront that allowed consumers to see a virtual Kraft noodle smile whenever they smiled. Kraft installed grin detecting systems in ten (10) storefronts across the country that conveyed happiness in noodle form and allowed consumers an opportunity to dictate the interaction simply by smiling. 

Check out Kraft's interactive outdoor display below and consider ways that you can replicate this offering within your venue to engage fans! Examples can include:

• Create a Kids display in the concourse where young fans can smile to see their favorite team mascot smile back
• Create an interactive wall of televisions where fans can smile at virtual headshots of their favorite players and have them smile back at them (or wave, blink, etc.)
• Create an interactive wall of fan faces that change throughout the game based on how well the team is performing

In 2010, Kraft teamed up with Crispin Porter + Bogusky to transport a giant noodle to large outdoor events to provide warmth to fans in a creative way. Prior to games at Lambeau Field, Wrigley Field, and other iconic venues and events, Kraft featured a giant noodle on-hand that was equipped with a heating system to warm fans up in the tailgate lots. The "You Know You Love It" noodle served as an engaging branding play that definitely resonated with fans in attendance. 

This tactic would also work well for teams looking to promote utility partners, pizza companies, and fast-food chains (promoting new menu offerings) in cold environments. Teams competing in warm environments during the summer months could mirror Kraft's OOH tactic to promote "ice cold" products (e.g. feature a giant Coors Light bottle on-site that always stays super cold). 

Check out Kraft's outdoor execution below:

Lambeau Field

Daytona International Speedway

AT&T Park

  

June 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 June 2011 Issue of the Partnership Activation 2.0 newsletter.

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/kEwld3

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

• Ford Focus Cam
• A List of Official Partners and Suppliers of the 2011 French Open
• Creative Tactics From Across Major League Baseball
• Manchester City FC's Lift The FA Cup Initiative
• Trinity Displays
• Nike's People's Republic of Corinthians
• The Mercedes-Benz Performance Center
• The Durex Guerrilla Marketing Soccer Campaign
• The Vodafone Recharge Truck
• Enticing Fans with QR Code Prizing
• The Cynopsis Sports Newsletter
• June 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
• Major League Soccer's National Sales Center
• Mountain Dew's Pinball Machine Skate Park
• Ole Miss Athletics' "100 Things in 100 Days" Campaign
• A Close Look at the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Finals
• A Look at the 2011 UEFA Champions League Finals
• Adidas' "Football Paintball" Initiative
• Red Bull USA's Cubed Pipe
• Sports Like You've Never Seen It Before
• Idea Box 

Click here to check out the June 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. 

 

St. George Bank Uses a Vault to Engage Fans On-Site

St. George Bank recently teamed up with Traffik, Australia's leading experiential marketing agency, to create a terrific bank vault activation display in support of its official naming rights sponsorship of the St. George Bank Dragons, a professional Australian rugby team.

St. George Bank and Traffik devised a "Bolt for the Vault" halftime entertainment challenge that provides fans a chance to crack the code of a massive 2m x 2m bank vault for the chance to instantly win $5,000. Once the vault is launched at the team's Round 8 National Rugby match against the Parramatta Eels, it will remain a permanent fixture in the stadium at home Dragons games throughout the 2011 season.

St. George Bank has been a proud sponsor of the team for 30+ years and has worked with Traffik to create engaging experiential campaigns for over ten years.

The bank vault concept serves as a great way for financial partners to engage and reward fans on-site at sporting events, whether it's a part of halftime entertainment or an activation display. By creating an element of suspense along with providing a chance to win, banks can easily win over a fan base looking for additional entertainment value at live sporting events. Check out some photos of Traffik's execution below!

2011 Sports and Social Media Predictions

Jason Peck recently teamed up with a number of sports and social media industry thought leaders to create an insightful ebook that details Sports and Social Media Predictions for 2011.

I highly encourage you to take a few minutes to read through the free piece, as I am sure you will gain some valuable nuggets of information that you can share with clients, colleagues, and friends. The 2011 Sports and Social Predictions document features opinions, thoughts, and predictions from 17 industry professionals.

Check out Jason Peck's site, Take a Peck, as well, which serves as a tremendous industry resoure for all professionals working in sports and social media. Hats off to Jason, Ash Read, and all the thought leaders who contributed to create yet another terrific industry resource!

November 2010 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter

Thank you for coming to check out PartnershipActivation.com. I am excited to share with you the November 2010 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter and hope that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and family.

Thank you for your continued support and willingness to share the newsletter and content featured on the site with your friends and colleagues. It's remarkable that in just 2+ years, newsletter readership has spread to 60+ countries across the globe- a true testament to your support!

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

• Nike Capitalizes on Live Moments
• Creative Promotional Tactics from Across the NBA
• Sports Properties Leveraging QR Codes to Deliver New Content for Fans
• Professional Bull Riders' Partnership Tactics
• The Dallas Mavericks' YouTube Channel
• Creativity in the Sports Marketplace
• A Look at the November 2010 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
• UTEP's "Orange-out" Week
• Incorporating Social Media in the GameDay Experience
• Activation at the Allstate Wrigleyville Classic
• The NFL International Series
• The Abu Dhabi Formula 1 FanZone
• Creative Activation Tactics
• Unique Ways to Leverage Johnny Walker as a Corporate Partner

Click here to check out the November 2010 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.

Bring Game Day Experiences to Life with 3D Photo Walls

Sports organizations looking to feature new entertainment options for fans on game day should consider investing in 3D photo walls. These fixtures provide great game day photo opportunities for fans and serve as a means to drive awareness for corporate sponsors.

While 3D photo walls are relatively uncommon in the United States marketplace, they are becoming a well recognized activation piece in global markets. In the United Kingdom, Global Games Sports has emerged as an industry leader producing the 3D photo wall fixtures. The company produces fixtures standing 6-7 feet high that are made of resign and fiber glass. These display pieces run approximately 2,000 euros but are very durable and can be customized to the exact specifications required by teams, sponsors, athletes, and fans.

3D photo walls can serve as a great, engaging way for sponsors to drive team affiliation awareness (via backdrops, props, adjoining signage, etc.) and awareness for jersey sponsorships.

Check out a few examples below: 

 

 

Give Fans an Experience They will Never Forget

Are you looking for new ways to connect with consumers via grassroots campaigns? Are you looking to re-energize a brand?

Too often we see sponsorship programs created with the consumer in mind that lack one integral component... the experience. The following clip for Converse Sport, which is actually a parody filmed for the 4As 2010 Institute of Advanced Advertising Studies, does a tremendous job demonstrating how companies can re-energize their brands by creating/re-creating a memorable experience for consumers:

The Big Game 2 Proved Huge for Samsung Mobile and Vodafone

Are you looking for effective ways to leverage premier sporting events? Are you looking to align with multiple brands to activate on-site?

Samsung Mobile and Vodafone teamed up to feature a tremendous activation campaign at the Big Game 2, a rugby match played between the Harlequins and Wasps at Twickenham Stadium in January. The two (2) brands aligned their activation efforts to support the launch of the Vodafone 360 Samsung H1 Handset, the first Samsung offering to deliver Vodafone's new social networking and entertainment Internet services.

Check out their on-site activation efforts in this terrific 5:30 video recap below!

Activation of the Day - STA Travel, Outback Bowl

Are you looking for new ways to promote supporting travel agency partners on game day? Are you looking for new ways to get fans excited about travel destinations?

STA Travel supported its partnership with the 2009 Outback Bowl by featuring an engaging display at the event's Fan Fest located near Gate D. The STA Travel display featured a football toss exhibit where fans could win free giveaways (t-shirts and koozies) by hitting a target in the center of a massive Australia map (which tied into the Outback Bowl thematic).

STA also held drawings on-site for free travel and have away some Outback Bowl mementos that fans could redeem for cash off their next travel purchase with STA. To drive interest in the football toss display, STA personnel displayed a giant scoreboard that tallied points scored by fans of each team.

For more information, check out STA Travel's official blog and Twitter profile.

Partnership Activation 2.0 - August Newsletter

Are you looking for the latest and great best practices in the sports marketplace? Are you looking for new ways to leverage corporate partners?

Take a moment to check out the August 2009 Partnership Activation 2.0 monthly newsletter. If you like what you see, please pass it along to three (3) friends in the industry who also may enjoy some of the insights shared in the newsletter.

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

• LCD Golf Bag Advertising
• The Puma Street Meet Tour
• Developing Ongoing Conversations with Fans
• ESPN The Magazine Partners with Crown Equipment Corp.
• Crowd ID Impacting the Sports Marketplace
• Joe Favorito's Sports Marketing & PR Pros Newsletter
• The August Recipients of the Partnership Activation Rising Stars Program
• Ways to Leverage a McDonald's Partnership
• The Carlton Draught Plastic Cup Race

*For those interested in subscribing/unsubscribing to the newsletter distribution list (who have not already done so), please send an email to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com and include "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" in the subject line. Please also include your full name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing.

Check out the August 2009 Issue now... and don't forget to pass it along to some friends!