Lightning announce promotional partnership with Tampa International Airport
by Clark J Brooks on Oct 31, 2011 2:29 PM EDT
in Business of Hockey
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Visitors to Tampa Bay who have pre-conceived notions about the area's association with the sport of football might be surprised at how they're greeted at the airport. The Tampa Bay Lightning have taken another significant step in establishing their identity in the Tampa Bay community by entering a promotional partnership with Tampa International Airport (TIA).
"Going to a hockey game is a lot of fun, and we want to have some fun out here at the airport and bring some attention to one of Tampa Bay's favorite sports teams. Lightning fans love their hockey. We do, too." -- TIA CEO Joe Lopano
"I looked at our visiting team fans my first season, and at times, I saw too many visiting team fans. But, in fact, we believe that more people travel to come to see games here in Tampa Bay than perhaps any other city in the NHL and they come right here through this airport. Tourism is a huge deal to our community. So we've come all the way around. We actually support those visiting team fans and we encourage them to come here. Because Tourism is a critical, critical part of our economy." - Lightning CEO Tod Leiweke
The airside tram connecting the TIA's main terminal to "Airside A" has been wrapped in a "Go Bolts" theme and the recorded voice of Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier will greet passengers on that tram as they head to and from the terminal.
There are also opportunities for fans to win prizes. A pair of round-trip tickets from Edelweiss Air, the airport's newest international carrier was given away at the game on October 20th and another pair was given away through a "seek the seat" Twitter promotion the next day. Also, anyone parking at the airport is automatically eligible to win a four-pack of tickets to an upcoming Lightning game. One winner will be chosen each day from now until the end of the season at the exit to the airport parking garages. Paul Vlna of Wesley Chapel (pictured below) was the first winner, selected today as he left the airport after returning from a wedding in Ohio.
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Another great move
As Ted, Jeff & Co. slowly, but surely take over Tampa from the Bucs. And why the hell not? Well deserved.
Let's GO..Wings, Tigers, Lions, Wolverines (oh my!) & Bolts!!!!
by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Oct 31, 2011 3:24 PM EDT reply actions
Owners of Teams for all Sports
Take note: this is how you do successful marketing and brand recognition in your local market. And it’s mostly (if not all) Todd Lieweke.
This is going to reap huge dividends. As a Tampa resident that calls the greater Seattle area home, I’ve seen what Lieweke did with the Seahawks. The Seahawks—other than their Super Bowl run in 2006—have had a lukewarm team. The team is so recognized and loved in the Seattle area now that the stadium is near capacity during home games. I can easily see the same thing happening here.
Well done, Messrs. Vinik and Lieweke.
"The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect"
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
by MTBoltFan on Nov 1, 2011 8:10 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Don’t forget the Sounders. Leiweke was one of the mad geniuses behind making Seattle the center of soccer in North America. Talk about successful marketing…Tampa hasn’t seen anything yet.
"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone." -Herb Brooks
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Nov 1, 2011 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The NHL should come and take notes from the foot of the master.
"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone." -Herb Brooks
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Nov 1, 2011 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
The Gary’s ego prevents such a thing.
"The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect"
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
He’s just a figurehead – it’s the Board of Governor’s pulling the strings on that puppet.
"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone." -Herb Brooks
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Nov 1, 2011 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Absolutely
The Sounders are perhaps even a stronger example of Lieweke’s business savvy than the Seahawks.
"The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect"
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
I want to make a note
OK Hockey tried something along these lines, butthey marketed through transit locally — on Taxi cabs. Nice idea, nice implementation… But between the areas disdain for where the team was going under their leadership, and the fact no one uses cabs around here… well, it ended up an empty move. I wasn’t against i, like others have mocked since then, but I do think that it was a mis-aimed move.
That has nothing to do wth Tod Leiweke’s excellence. That’s just saying…
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Nov 1, 2011 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
You know, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I’d thought about Vinny meeting me at the airport…. ;o)
"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone." -Herb Brooks
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Nov 1, 2011 10:33 AM EDT reply actions
One of these days, I'll make it through that airport during hockey season
and this will be a welcome sight.
Until then, fantastic marketing!
Heel for school, Vol for life!
Bolts, Preds, Canes (childhood team, home state team, hometown team). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity!
by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 1, 2011 11:03 AM EDT reply actions
Does anybody have a problem with welcoming visiting fans?
Remember last year how embarrassed everyone was when the Red Wings came to town and it was basically a home game for Detroit? Giving jerseys to season ticket holders was supposed to be a part of keeping things like that from happening in the future. Does anybody take Leiweke’s remarks as an about face (he basically says that’s what it is) and does anybody mind?
I’m just wondering.
I don’t see it as an about-face as-so-much an admittance that the Forum sees a large number of ticket sales from out-of-town fans. Tourists. Be they Canadian or from other parts up north.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
The Caps owner, Ted Leonsis, hasn’t been shy in saying that he doesn’t want a single seat filled by a visiting team’s fans. He wants the entire arena to be Caps fans and no one else. Seems a little short-sighted to me, but I get what he’s saying, too.
"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone." -Herb Brooks
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Nov 1, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
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