Top 5 Craziest Minor League Baseball Promotions
There is a fine line between being creative and down right crazy in sports marketing. Minor League Baseball does more than push the envelope with promotions. Even though I have never worked in Minor League Baseball I am always amazed at some of the promotions they brazenly pull off. Guys like Mike Veeck have made a successful living by having fun with unusual promotions that would never fly anywhere else. Without further ado I present to you the Top 5 Minor League Baseball Promotions that is in no particular order other than they were worthy of being in the stratosphere of insane and hilarious.
- Awful Night
The Altoona Curve run a promotion that serves to provide their fan base with the worst possible experience they could receive by attending a game. From male greeters dressed in drag, spam sandwiches at the concession stand, and of course consistent clips of David Hasselhoff movies to fire up the crowd. A night so awfully successful that the Altoona Curve run this promotion yearly. Who woulda thought intentionally poor customer service could sell? I wonder if they have less customer complaints for this game than others.
- Mustache Growing Contest
The Vero Beach Devil Rays held a contest that had clean shaven fans come to the game, have their pictures taken, and return for a game the following week. The fan that grew the best mustache was declared the winner. Gotta give it to these guys for having a promotion that would entice fans to return for essentially a “to-be-continued” promotion.
- Used Car Night
Tell him what he’s won Bob! A very used car! Congratulations you are now the proud owner of a 1990 Cadillac Deville (I actually own one of those). The San Antonio Missions actually give away 12 used cars, including the Caddy, to fans. My question is how many of the fans actually accept the cars? Kudos to the Missions for going off the deep end and finding marketing success.
- G-String Night
A Mike Veeck special. Like the title of his book, Fun Is Good for the Charleston RiverDogs. They actually gave away g-strings to select fans. Picture going into your bosses office and pitching this promotion with a straight face. Could you do it?
- Funeral Night
If you attended this promotional night for the Hagerstown Suns you would have had a chance to a win a funeral valued at $6,500. Seriously, a funeral. Enough said.
