Iowa Cubs Send Fans To The Plate


Selling It

December 19, 2007
Volume 6, Issue 21

Selling It is a bi-weekly e-newsletter dedicated to showcasing the best sports marketing and promotions. Every other week Selling It focuses on an outstanding program/initiative that a sports organization has implemented, which has either increased ticket sales or generated incremental sponsorship or non-traditional revenue. Would you like to join over 1600 sports executives and have the latest edition of Selling It delivered to your inbox for FREE every other week? Click here to subscribe

  
 

 NSF ADchievement Finalists

 

Principal Park- Fan Batting
Principal Park- Batting Practice for Fans

Contact:
Jeff Lantz
Director of Media Relations
Phone: (515) 243-6111
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.iowacubs.com
  
Organization: Iowa Cubs 

 
Program Title: Batting Practice for Fans Day
 
Objectives: The Iowa Cubs wanted to give their fans a chance to step on the playing field at Principal Park and take five swings at live pitching. The idea was strategically placed on August 31, 2007, the first game of a new home stand. It was part of an organizational goal to increase attendance, concessions and merchandise sales by opening the gates earlier.
     
Program Description: As the “dog days” of summer were winding down, the Cubs of Des Moines, Iowa gave fans an experience that they will never forget. When the Omaha Royals came to town to take on the Cubs, both teams were coming off of a travel day so neither took on-field batting practice prior to the game. This meant that the Iowa Cubs could open the gates early to give every “ticket-holding” fan the opportunity to take five swings on the field before the game against the Omaha Royals. Fans from three years old to 65 years of age were encouraged to participate and many did. They all filed into the batting cage around 4:00pm that evening, three hours before the players took the field for their scheduled game at 7:00pm.
 
Media:The promotion was advertised on the radio by way of local morning talk shows. The Iowa Cubs also promoted through local newspaper ads and community event calendars. It was also included in a TV spot promoting the final home stand.
  
Results: The promotion brought significant increases in areas of merchandise and concessions while increasing the attendance in the minor league facility, Principal Park by 400-500 people.
  
Looking Ahead: The Iowa Cubs claim that this event will definitely be on their promotional schedule again in 2008 as it does not cost anything to execute the promotion. The front office personnel with baseball experience provided the pitching and shagging, and the fans loved it. “This promotion was a really enjoyable experience for the fans that participated and was done at absolutely no cost to our organization. The fans love being able to say they got to take some swings at Principal Park, and for the fans that did homer (three) they can say they went deep in a professional stadium,” said Jeff Lantz, Director of Media Relations. 
 

If you like Selling It...
You'll love the Forum!
2008 National Sports Forum
Click the logo to learn more about
the 2008 National Sports Forum or call
1-800-232-3133 for more information.

The National Sports Forum salutes our Platinum Vendor:

NiFTy- Network Foundation Technologies

To learn more about Network Foundation Technologies,
click the logo.

The National Sports Forum
8419 La Mesa Blvd., Suite B
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619)469-4101
www.sports-forum.com

| Back to index...

Search Archive »





Browse by Month »

May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
December 2002
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
July 2002