New Orleans Draft Lottery Invite

[JGib23]

This is not a Hornets rebrand thread.....

This is the gift the Hornets sent out to invite fans to their arena for the draft lottery party (a party to try and sell you season tickets).

Draft lottery.jpg

I think this is the kind of creative marketing that the Bobcats need to do to continue to reach out to fans. The $1 season tickets was a great move but, they are having a similar event at the Time warner Cable arena and I got a phone call... The ping pong ball with a logo on it would have been cheap and much better than an email & phone call.

Based on our pitiful performance in attendance and merchandise sales, it's obvious that the city doesn't have "Bobcats" fever. Outside of signing players and improving the team (this is obvious) What ideas do you guys have for ways the team could market their product to build a buzz and create excitement for for the team?(Pardon the pun.)

[superb1]

If are plan to rebrand, a campaign supporting it would be a great start. But that is another issue. I think we need a theme and stick with it. It seems we come up with one after the draft and it fades away. We need one that includes the movement we are heading but don't include players preferably due to everyone can be used as an asset, well maybe not a few though. idk.

[JGib23]

See here's my problem... we've got the most chances of getting the number 1 pick.... the draft lottery should be promoted throughout the city to get some freaking attention..... again look at what New Orleans is doing to drum up support for the lottery...

We are last in nearly every metric, we are 1 week away from what may be a historic day... The best day in the history of the team and what are we doing to hype it up



http://www.nba.com/hornets/news/horn...012_05_16.html

HORNETS LAUNCH MR. LOTTERY BALL CAMPAIGN, DRAFT LOTTERY WEBSITE
Excitement mounting for 2012 NBA Draft as Hornets have two Lottery picks
May 16, 2012

Amidst the excitement surrounding the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery, the New Orleans Hornets have launched a Mr. Lottery Ball campaign presented by Budweiser. In addition to www.MrLotteryBall.com, the team will host several fan contests and events through Hornets.com and the Hornets Twitter and Facebook pages.

Mr. Lottery Ball will be introduced to fans today on www.MrLotteryBall.com presented by Budweiser. Mr. Lottery Ball’s overall goal is to achieve the #1 pick for the Hornets. Fans can check the website leading up to the Lottery for more videos, including the official Mr. Lottery Ball announcement and ‘A Day in the Life of…’ feature.

The campaign will culminate on May 29 with a helicopter drop at Zephyr Field for the participants of the Lottery Ball Decoration Contest. The helicopter will drop all 1,000 fan-decorated lottery balls and the closest to the target will win a meet-and-greet with the Hornets 2012 draft picks and personalized jersey. Fans will have the opportunity to decorate the lottery balls at Hornets events and grassroots appearances leading up to the lottery or send in submissions of their own. Notable entries will be featured on www.MrLotteryBall.com and fans will have the opportunity to vote on the top three choices for prizes.

The Hornets will also host a Social Lottery Ball Pass in which 10 specially-numbered Hornets lottery balls will be distributed across the New Orleans market. Fans will take a photo of themselves with the lottery ball or the ball at different locations across the city and post their pictures on Twitter with the hash tag #mrlotteryball or post to the Hornets Facebook page. Through www.MrLotteryBall.com and the Hornets’ Twitter and Facebook accounts, fans will be able to track the travels of the lottery balls leading up to the NBA draft lottery.

The Hornets will also be taking submissions for a Draft Lottery Lucky Charm, and hosting a Draft Lottery Trivia challenge and an online register-to-win contest. Help from fans will be solicited for lucky charms as selected items will head off to New York City with the Hornets Draft Lottery representative.

The final two contests will consist of an enter-to-win and NBA Draft Lottery Trivia. For the enter-to-win contest, fans will have the opportunity to guess our two draft positions. A winner will be randomly selected from all correct entries to win a 2012 NBA Draft hat autographed by the Hornets first round picks. Draft Lottery trivia will be sent to fans through the Hornets’ Mobile Buzz on alternating days starting on May 16. Each winner will receive a Hornets prize pack for correct answers.

Rules and regulations for all contests can be found at www.MrLotteryBall.com. The Hornets will host a Draft Lottery Party for fans at Manning’s Restaurant (519 Fulton Street) on May 30 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

[spectre]

They actually called me yesterday about an invite but I haven't returned the call yet.

Guess I'll be holding out for a goodie bag now.

[Mustachio]

Become a season ticket holder and you get invited to more things than you want to go to.

[JGib23]

Become a season ticket holder and you get invited to more things than you want to go to.

My point is that they need to do something to attract season ticket holders. Im not sure of the number but, I read somewhere that we had one of the lowest amount of season ticket holders in the NBA.

The team needs to do some cool stuff to attract people that aren't coming to the games.

The season ticket holder stuff is great and needed to retain season ticket holders but, I think the team needs to do more to attract people that aren't going to the games.

We are a week away from the lottery and all I have heard about was a contest where they take a fan to NY (which is great), and a RSVP "for a very limited amount of people" to buy $1 season tickets.

In my opinion, the marketing should be over the top and in your face.... We have to do something to get this city excited about the team.

[dnbman]

My point is that they need to do something to attract season ticket holders. Im not sure of the number but, I read somewhere that we had one of the lowest amount of season ticket holders in the NBA.

Get good players and win. I heard not long ago that for the first time in years Indianapolis Colts season tickets are available. It has little to do with extras and has everything to do with who you'll be watching with those tickets and how they will perform.

[Mustachio]

My point is that they need to do something to attract season ticket holders. Im not sure of the number but, I read somewhere that we had one of the lowest amount of season ticket holders in the NBA.

The team needs to do some cool stuff to attract people that aren't coming to the games.

The season ticket holder stuff is great and needed to retain season ticket holders but, I think the team needs to do more to attract people that aren't going to the games.

We are a week away from the lottery and all I have heard about was a contest where they take a fan to NY (which is great), and a RSVP "for a very limited amount of people" to buy $1 season tickets.

In my opinion, the marketing should be over the top and in your face.... We have to do something to get this city excited about the team.

I feel you, but I guess its a matter of diminishing returns. marketing campaigns cost money, lots and lots of money. Something we aren't exactly flush with right now. And what is going to sell more tickets? Us going out and spending money on a deaf audience, or winning the lottery and gaining the number one pick?

If we continue the Bobcat's curse and get the number 2 pick in the lottery, then yeah I'm with you... they are going to have to double down on the marketing. but as for now, getting Anthony Davis will do the marketing for you.

[JGib23]

I agree landing Davis will be an instant marketing bonanza.... i just hate they missed an opportunity to build some excitement for the lottery.

I think they missed an opportunity...

I'm a huge Jordan fan (if the 23 in my screen name didn't give me away).... but, if he can't afford to run a simple marketing campaign I would give him the same advice he gave Abe Polan.....

[Plowright]

I think the bundle is a great idea... However getting the city and a Number 1 pick fever is a dangerous game. The Hornets have little to lose, we still have a 75% chance of not winning the lottery. What is the whole city was like "yeahhhh number pick lets do this!" and we end up with the 2nd or 3rd? People would just go, wtf was the point in that and it would bring more disappointment to the franchise.