On January 24, UC Davis hosted the first UC Davis Health System Night for basketball. Through the partnership with the UC Davis Health System, the athletics department received 3,000 blue medical scrubs, which were distributed to the first 3,000 fans through the door. The scrubs were a huge hit with fans, including children and elderly community members.

Throughout the rest of the night, the promotions staff distributed dozens of Chevys Fresh Mex Burritos during "Shout for Chevys" madness, 20 Steve's Place Pizzas during "Scream for Steve's Place Pizza" madness and hundreds of tube socks shot out of tube sock cannons.

Two weeks before the event, organizers posted thousands of posters and flyers on campus and throughout the city of Davis. They also provided the UC Davis Medical Center with flyers promoting the event and donated tickets for patients and employees.

The promotion fueled one of the largest basketball attendances of the year. In fact, a line developed outside of the arena an hour beforehand with fans waiting to receive their scrubs.

Pack the MACC

High Point University
Chad Hartman, director of sports marketing

Sport: Men's and women's basketball.

Target: Local and High Point communities.

Promotion details: High Point had two television dates scheduled, one for men's and one for women's basketball. The object of the promotion was to maximize attendance at Millis Athletic Convocation Center while providing an exciting atmosphere for a televised game.

Organizers also combined the promotion with High Point's corporate partners, as well as prospective partners. The companies were Coca-Cola, Aramark, Krispy Kreme, Ham's Restaurants and WIST radio.

Coca-Cola provided a promotion called "Win Coke Every Day for One Year." Organizers had two contestants bowl using a basketball as a bowling ball and two-liter bottles as the pins. Coke signage also was available and used as a bowling lane. Coca-Cola also brought a music trailer that was playing music in front of the arena before the game to add atmosphere.

Aramark, the food-service provider, had 50-cent hot dogs available. Krispy Kreme gave 50 dozen doughnuts to pass out for free. Ham's Restaurants supplied Hammy Dollars (gift certificates) to hand out to all students. Tickets to the men's game were $4 and $3 for the women's game.

The event was promoted over WIST radio, with free giveaways and tickets available. Additional publicity was provided through newspapers, radio stations and television commercials.

The result was record attendance at Millis Athletic Convocation Center.

Howie's Prize Extravaganza

University of Hartford
Athletics marketing staff

With a need to increase student attendance at all men's and women's basketball home games for the 2003-04 season, the marketing department at Hartford saw the need to create a "students only" promotion. It was named Howie's Prize Extravaganza, after the school's Hawk mascot.

During the summer, research determined that students were more likely to attend home games if they had a physical ticket in hand even though admission to basketball games at Hartford is free for those with a valid student ID. Organizers came up with the idea of issuing student-only raffle tickets that made the holder eligible for four major prizes throughout a home basketball game.

"Howie Tickets," as they came to be called, could be picked up at specific locations in the days before a game, or even at the game.

Howie's Prize Extravaganza was an immediate success. The first night, a student successfully completed the grand-prize giveaway by making a lay-up, free throw, three-point field goal and half-court shot within the 45-second time limit. Once the first individual won the grand prize, the buzz around the campus increased. The promotion has increased attendance by about 350 to 400 students per game.