The LA Sparks Team Up to Promote Anti-Tobacco Campaign

The WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks teamed up with the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) to implement a terrific anti-tobacco campaign designed to to drive awareness and traffic around state resources to help smokers quit. The partnership leveraged the Sparks new head coach, Jennifer Gillom, as a spokesperson to effectively message to African American, Latino, and LGBT fans in attendance at Sparks games.

Activation tactics in support of the campaign included:

• A PA Announcement, featuring Coach Gillom, that was promoted through the team's various media channels (in-broadcast, online, and on the scoreboard)
• In-arena signage, including courtside rotational messaging and camera-visible underbelly signage prominently featured underneath the scoreboard
• Select community events
• Presenting sponsorship of select game nights, including the home opener and Gospel Night
• On-court contests, Jumbotron messaging, interactive concourse exhibits, and more

The campaign proved to be very successful for all parties involved and the LA County Tobacco Control and Prevention Program reported a significant increase in traffic to its website, http://www.NoExcusesLA.com, and call center hotline (1-800-NO BUTTS).

Check out Coach Gillom's special anti-tobacco announcement below:

Leverage Electronics Partners In-Game...

Are you looking for new ways to leverage electronics partners? Are you looking for new ways to entertain fans during periods of play?

The Orlando Magic featured a humorous "Name that TV Tune" video board segment that served as a fan-favorite during games in the '08-09 season. The Magic created a few simple vignettes featuring players and dance team members trying to sing the words to a recognizable tune on their iPod (with iPod imagery in the background).

The vignettes serve as a great way for sports organizations to integrate electronics retailers/manufacturers and music companies in a seamless, memorable in-game setting. Depending on the partner, properties can easily replace the iPod (featured in the videos below) with a state-of-the-art cell phone, computer, television (karaoke-style), or other device.

Teams can even drive excitement in-arena by assigning participating players/dance team members to designated sections in-venue and rewarding the section of fans assigned to the player who sings the most correct lyrics with a free cd/song download (which can be distributed w/ voucher, picked up a Will Call, etc.)

Check out the Orlando Magic's "Name that Tune" vignettes below:

PLAYERS

DANCE TEAM

PLAYER KARAOKE

In 2009, the Magic organization introduced a humorous "Player Karaoke" vignette... Check it out below: