Minor League Baseball Promotions -- Got Ideas?

Sublimity · 12-15-2005, 01:17 PM

Hey guys, what do you think would be some good ideas for a minor league baseball team to do to help increase attendance?

boilermaker · 12-15-2005, 01:25 PM

Has dollar beer night ever failed?

GCCWolverine · 12-15-2005, 02:08 PM

There are two types of things that work best...

1) Gimmicky things - video games replacing the game for the first two innings, lawyer appreciation day, where any lawyer is charged by the half-inning, etc...
2) Family oriented specials...let kids accompany the players onto the field, cup-stacking contest, race the mascot around the bases...most importantly, keeping the prices low so that a family of four won't go into debt to see a game as an activity.

phenom · 12-15-2005, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boilermaker

Has dollar beer night ever failed?

Or dollar hooker night?

Sublimity · 12-15-2005, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GCCWolverine

There are two types of things that work best...

1) Gimmicky things - video games replacing the game for the first two innings, lawyer appreciation day, where any lawyer is charged by the half-inning, etc...
2) Family oriented specials...let kids accompany the players onto the field, cup-stacking contest, race the mascot around the bases...most importantly, keeping the prices low so that a family of four won't go into debt to see a game as an activity.

Yeah, I agree with you there. I was just wondering if people had good specific ideas. It's a real problem, I think, especially when a lot of teams don't want to do promotions that involve lower prices, because if you don't draw a lot more fans, it hurts you in the short run, and it's debatable how much it helps you in the long run (will a fan only willing to go to a game because of a single night with a good price be a good return customer?), so they don't want to do many of those if any.

CONN CHRIS · 12-15-2005, 02:49 PM

Sign a midget and have him pinch-hit.

Tell everyone to bring a disco album to hurl into the outfield and be blown-up between DH games.

Give the fans play cards and allow them to vote for managerial decisions throughout the game.

Give away live farm animals.

Schedule early morning games to coinside with late shift workers' quitting times.

All original ideas, I swear.

ctorg · 12-15-2005, 02:54 PM

Do a Google search for the name Veeck.

Sublimity · 12-15-2005, 02:54 PM

And yet they sound so familiar...

andjbock · 12-15-2005, 03:41 PM

I worked for the Lowell Spinners (Red Sox A-affiliate, NY-Penn League) for 3 years. Some of the promos we had were:

Bingo
Wedding
Christmas in July
Singles Night (this may have just been an idea)
The Blues Brothers
Jerry Lewis
Kids day: get to run the bases. Clowns, balloons, face painting, etc
Raffles: including "copter drop" - Drop $X from a helicopter and people run around on the field scooping up cash
Standard giveaways: magnetic schedules, bobble heads, etc

andjbock · 12-15-2005, 03:44 PM

Also certain teams list their promotions.

http://www.lowellspinners.com/schedule_promotions.shtml

theasfl · 12-15-2005, 05:45 PM

A good idea that Ive seen done (never in person yet) is to have the traditional promotion running for a certain night during the season, like $3 hotdog Tuesdays or something like that...if you get the run on customers each night then it will help the club out in theory. I think I saw something like this with Lakeland last year or maybe Daytona...I cant remember.

you workin for any of the FSL teams?

Sublimity · 12-15-2005, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theasfl

A good idea that Ive seen done (never in person yet) is to have the traditional promotion running for a certain night during the season, like $3 hotdog Tuesdays or something like that...if you get the run on customers each night then it will help the club out in theory. I think I saw something like this with Lakeland last year or maybe Daytona...I cant remember.

you workin for any of the FSL teams?

Nah, I volunteered with the Palm Beach Cards and Jupiter Hammerheads some this past summer (both are in Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, so they just always had me work for whoever is having a home game). Now I'm trying to get an internship and they wanted to see what kind of ideas I can generate. The teams I was with had a number of promotions they did kinda like that: every Friday was fireworks night, every Tuesday was family day (with a good price on a package for a family of four that included a bunch of stuff), every Wednesday was "Guaranteed Win Wednesday" so if the team lost you could redeem your ticket stub for a ticket for some other game. The two teams in one stadium makes all of that a lot better, too, since there was a home game pretty much every day, and the promotions were for whatever team was there that night.

But yeah, I agree, that kind of thing is great because it encourages repeat customers in an easy format: every Whateverday is this promotion.

theasfl · 12-15-2005, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sublimity

Nah, I volunteered with the Palm Beach Cards and Jupiter Hammerheads some this past summer (both are in Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, so they just always had me work for whoever is having a home game). Now I'm trying to get an internship and they wanted to see what kind of ideas I can generate. The teams I was with had a number of promotions they did kinda like that: every Friday was fireworks night, every Tuesday was family day (with a good price on a package for a family of four that included a bunch of stuff), every Wednesday was "Guaranteed Win Wednesday" so if the team lost you could redeem your ticket stub for a ticket for some other game. The two teams in one stadium makes all of that a lot better, too, since there was a home game pretty much every day, and the promotions were for whatever team was there that night.

But yeah, I agree, that kind of thing is great because it encourages repeat customers in an easy format: every Whateverday is this promotion.

yeah I almost went up there once or twice and I know one of them was for Fireworks night...just didnt have the energy when it came time to go. I usually follow the promotions around the FSL to see whats goin on.

MogulChamp · 12-15-2005, 06:41 PM

I live in Charleston, SC home of the Charleston Riverdogs. Mike Veeck (spelling) son of Bill Veeck (of Disco demolition fame) runs some strange promotions here.

Some memorable ones:

- "Silent Night" nobody was allowed to talk, cheer, etc. Signs were handed out which said clap, boo, etc.

- "Free Vasectomy Night" Im not sure of the specifics on this one.

- "Nobody Night" Not sure of how this one worked, but it set the record for lowest attendance ever.

There are a ton more which I cant really think of right now.

Of course my favorite is Traditonal Tuesdays. Which is just a baseball game. No extras. No midgets, clowns, gunfights, etc. I think they lower beer prices this night too.

andjbock · 12-15-2005, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MogulChamp

I live in Charleston, SC home of the Charleston Riverdogs. Mike Veeck (spelling) son of Bill Veeck (of Disco demolition fame) runs some strange promotions here.

Some memorable ones:

- "Silent Night" nobody was allowed to talk, cheer, etc. Signs were handed out which said clap, boo, etc.

- "Free Vasectomy Night" Im not sure of the specifics on this one.

- "Nobody Night" Not sure of how this one worked, but it set the record for lowest attendance ever.

There are a ton more which I cant really think of right now.

Of course my favorite is Traditonal Tuesdays. Which is just a baseball game. No extras. No midgets, clowns, gunfights, etc. I think they lower beer prices this night too.

Those are all bad ideas...well maybe not the vasectomy one.

MogulChamp · 12-15-2005, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andjbock

Those are all bad ideas...well maybe not the vasectomy one.

Apparently the fans think they aren't which I guess is all that matters. The Riverdogs have led the league (SAL) in attendance for about 4 straight years.

Sublimity · 12-15-2005, 09:15 PM

Yeah, I read up a lot on Mike Veeck while I was looking for stuff. And actually, he was the brainchild behind Disco Demolition Night. For the record, his father told him it was a promotion that worked too well. But it did get him fired from the White Sox and out of baseball for about ten years. He has some interesting ideas, and the underlying theme of it is not each individual promotion, but that there are so many the fans will go to the game to see what zaniness will be happening that night.

Among other things used are having mimes to recreate replays on top of the dugouts and having a nun give out back rubs during a game. There are a lot more, that's just what I can remember at the moment.

12-15-2005, 01:17 PM	#1
Sublimity Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: This thread. Posts: 3,199	Minor League Baseball Promotions -- Got Ideas? Hey guys, what do you think would be some good ideas for a minor league baseball team to do to help increase attendance? __________________ mrs ria: I hereby dub Sublimity the Glorious Upholder of the 5B3. Current leading vote-getter in the Worst Poster in OT History poll.

12-15-2005, 02:49 PM	#6
CONN CHRIS Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 29,014	Sign a midget and have him pinch-hit. Tell everyone to bring a disco album to hurl into the outfield and be blown-up between DH games. Give the fans play cards and allow them to vote for managerial decisions throughout the game. Give away live farm animals. Schedule early morning games to coinside with late shift workers' quitting times. All original ideas, I swear. __________________ Check Out My Cards!

12-15-2005, 02:54 PM	#7
ctorg Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 9,848	Do a Google search for the name Veeck. __________________ My music "When the trees blow back and forth, that's what makes the wind." - Steven Wright Fjord emena pancreas thorax fornicate marmalade morpheme proteolysis smaxa cabana offal srue vitriol grope hallelujah lentils

12-15-2005, 02:54 PM	#8
Sublimity Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: This thread. Posts: 3,199	And yet they sound so familiar... __________________ mrs ria: I hereby dub Sublimity the Glorious Upholder of the 5B3. Current leading vote-getter in the Worst Poster in OT History poll.

12-15-2005, 05:45 PM	#11
theasfl Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Coral Springs, FL or Orlando, FL (UCF) Posts: 7,988	A good idea that Ive seen done (never in person yet) is to have the traditional promotion running for a certain night during the season, like $3 hotdog Tuesdays or something like that...if you get the run on customers each night then it will help the club out in theory. I think I saw something like this with Lakeland last year or maybe Daytona...I cant remember. you workin for any of the FSL teams? __________________ All-Sports Fantasy League The ASFL 22 different games, 9 sports. Please check out the website (www.theasfl.com/asfl2/). The league is free- if you're interested please fill out the signup form and/or email the commissioner. Miami Talons (ABL): 2004, 2005 & 2008 Champs

12-15-2005, 01:25 PM	#2
boilermaker All Star Starter Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,956	Has dollar beer night ever failed?

12-15-2005, 02:08 PM	#3
GCCWolverine Minors (Double A) Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Amherst, NY Posts: 145	There are two types of things that work best... 1) Gimmicky things - video games replacing the game for the first two innings, lawyer appreciation day, where any lawyer is charged by the half-inning, etc... 2) Family oriented specials...let kids accompany the players onto the field, cup-stacking contest, race the mascot around the bases...most importantly, keeping the prices low so that a family of four won't go into debt to see a game as an activity.

12-15-2005, 03:41 PM	#9
andjbock Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Somerville, MA, USA Bats: Right Throws: Left Posts: 3,637	I worked for the Lowell Spinners (Red Sox A-affiliate, NY-Penn League) for 3 years. Some of the promos we had were: Bingo Wedding Christmas in July Singles Night (this may have just been an idea) The Blues Brothers Jerry Lewis Kids day: get to run the bases. Clowns, balloons, face painting, etc Raffles: including "copter drop" - Drop $X from a helicopter and people run around on the field scooping up cash Standard giveaways: magnetic schedules, bobble heads, etc

12-15-2005, 03:44 PM	#10
andjbock Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Somerville, MA, USA Bats: Right Throws: Left Posts: 3,637	Also certain teams list their promotions. http://www.lowellspinners.com/schedule_promotions.shtml

12-15-2005, 06:41 PM	#14
MogulChamp All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 656	I live in Charleston, SC home of the Charleston Riverdogs. Mike Veeck (spelling) son of Bill Veeck (of Disco demolition fame) runs some strange promotions here. Some memorable ones: - "Silent Night" nobody was allowed to talk, cheer, etc. Signs were handed out which said clap, boo, etc. - "Free Vasectomy Night" Im not sure of the specifics on this one. - "Nobody Night" Not sure of how this one worked, but it set the record for lowest attendance ever. There are a ton more which I cant really think of right now. Of course my favorite is Traditonal Tuesdays. Which is just a baseball game. No extras. No midgets, clowns, gunfights, etc. I think they lower beer prices this night too.

12-15-2005, 09:15 PM	#17
Sublimity Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: This thread. Posts: 3,199	Yeah, I read up a lot on Mike Veeck while I was looking for stuff. And actually, he was the brainchild behind Disco Demolition Night. For the record, his father told him it was a promotion that worked too well. But it did get him fired from the White Sox and out of baseball for about ten years. He has some interesting ideas, and the underlying theme of it is not each individual promotion, but that there are so many the fans will go to the game to see what zaniness will be happening that night. Among other things used are having mimes to recreate replays on top of the dugouts and having a nun give out back rubs during a game. There are a lot more, that's just what I can remember at the moment. __________________ mrs ria: I hereby dub Sublimity the Glorious Upholder of the 5B3. Current leading vote-getter in the Worst Poster in OT History poll.