FANS FARE WELL IN PRO SPORTS CONTESTS

Pro sporting events get even more exciting when the teams aren't the only winners. SCA Promotions recently raised the stakes at several games, awarding cash and cars to sports fans.

Super Bowl Sunday was a big night for Yancey Marketing where the sports and broadcast marketing specialist held its Big Return SweepstakesTM in five Michigan markets. The program awards prizes to registered fans when a big return, such as an interception, fumble, punt or kickoff, is made for a touchdown in the designated game.

CBS TV stations in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint, Lansing and Traverse City, Mich., promoted the Super Bowl sweepstakes to their viewers, urging them to register at participating McDonald's locations throughout January. Super Bowl XXXV was a big night in Michigan when after an interception for a touchdown, two back-to-back kickoffs were returned for touchdowns. In each of the five markets two names were drawn to receive brand new cars-a total of ten cars valued at $300,000 in one night- with SCA paying for the prizes.

“That was the biggest 35 seconds in the history of our company,” said Yancey Marketing’s Dick Yancey, referring to the back-to-back returns. “But since SCA was covering the cost of those new cars, we were just as excited as the fans. Having all those winners was a big return for our program, thanks to
SCA.”

At halftime during some New York Knicks home games this season, lucky fans have the opportunity to win $50,000. The contest is being promoted by MSG Network, which televises the basketball team’s games.

Fans can mail or e-mail entries to MSG, which picks five names at random and puts them on the screen during select broadcast games. The first selected fan to call in, wins two tickets to the next Knicks home game and a chance to shoot from center court at Madison Square Garden during halftime.

On Nov. 19, Thomas Maniscalco of Hartsdale, N.Y., became the first fan to make the half-court shot and took home $50,000.

Just a few days earlier, a lucky football fan scored a new car, thanks in part to SCA Promotions. WBUS FM 93.7 in State College, Pa, sponsored the contest. The station’s listeners registered for the contest at State College Ford prior to each Monday Night Football game.

On Monday night, on-air talent from the radio station brought the registered names to Champs restaurant, where listeners and fans gathered to watch the football game. One name was chosen as the contestant for the night.

From there on out, it was up to the football teams. If a punt was blocked and returned for a touchdown, that night’s contestant would win a new car.

On Nov. 13, during the second half of the game between the Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders, Denver rookie linebacker Ian Gold blocked a punt by Oakland’s Shane Lechler. Gold then returned the ball for a tie-breaking touchdown.

But the Broncos were not the only ones to win that night. David Coval of Boalsburg, Pa, took home a new car, courtesy of SCA.