December 4, 2002
Volume 1, Issue 11

Lightning Fans 'Bolt' for Charity & Tickets

Tampa Bay sells over 1800 tickets & $15,000 in sponsorship with charity promotion

The 8th Annual National Sports Forum will be held in Pittsburgh, PA, January 20-22 2003. Speakers include, Kevin McClatchy, Pittsburgh Pirates; Art Rooney II, Pittsburgh Steelers; Tom Rooney, Pittsburgh Penguins; Tony Ponturo, Anheuser-Busch; Rick Welts, Phoenix Suns; Tod Leiweke, Minnesota Wild; Robert Cramer, MasterCard International; Brett Yormark, NASCAR, Steve Violetta, San Diego Padres; Andy Dolich, Memphis Grizzlies; Rob Gallas, Chicago White Sox; Jamey Rootes, Houston Texans; and many more! To check out the rest of our outstanding line-up for Pittsburgh CLICK HERE, or for more information contact Dave Mullins at 800-232-3133 ext. 204

Contact: Brent Stehlik, Director of Group Sales

Organization: Tampa Bay Lightning

Program Title: Bolt Run

Objectives: To raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and establish a large Group Sales opportunity while creating a positive PR buzz in the community.

Program Description: The Tampa Bay Lightning teamed up with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to create a win-win situation with the Lightning's 'Bolt Run' promotion. The 'Bolt Run' is a charity race broken down into three categories - 5-mile, 5k and the 1-mile family fun walk. All three race courses weaved through downtown Tampa and began and ended at the arena. For just $20 or $25 per person (depending on their date of registration) participants in the event received entry into the race, one ticket to the Lightning game that evening, a race t-shirt, a goodie bag and a post race party outside the arena. For every registration, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society received $5, and the team received one ticket sold per runner. The Society provided nearly 100 volunteers to work the race and ensure that it went smoothly.

Sponsorship Package: Sponsors of the Inaugural 'Bolt Run', which was held earlier this year, received a logo inclusion on all registration forms, posters and t-shirts associated with the race. The Lightning also successfully drove traffic directly to their sponsors' locations by giving participants the opportunity to pick up their race packets a week before the event.

Results: The promotion raised thousands of dollars for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and sold over 1800 tickets to a B level game. It also led to a new sponsor opportunity which generated $15,000 in the initial year of the program. Plus, the promotion successfully created a PR buzz and exposed new fans to the Lightning. 

Looking Ahead: To date, the Lightning have already sold more than $25,000 in sponsorships to the 2nd Annual 'Bolt Run' taking place in March 2003 - including a title sponsor, Harborside Mortgage of Florida, Inc. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is already on board again, and they're planning on making this event part of their yearly fundraising schedule.

Contact: For more information about this program contact Brent Stehlik at [email protected] or 813.301.6522

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