Sriracha Night Recap, Bobbleheads, and Other Food-Related Giveaways

Last night I attended the Mariners third annual Sriracha Night. 710 ESPN was the presenting sponsor, so a lot of the staff went. Our afternoon show had the opportunity to taste test the menu back in April and were given tickets in the Sriracha section. My coworker and I sat with them and were in charge of making sure they were in their seats at the end of the 4^th inning because they were going to be on the big screen. Two of the guys ended up not going and the one who was there disappeared in the middle of the 4^th, but luckily their producer was there and we brought fat heads of the two that didn’t make it. Being on Mariners Vision was hilarious and capped off a really fun night.

Since we had the special Sriracha Night tickets, we were able to get a Sriracha Beanie and a coupon for a free Sriracha menu item. We used our coupon on the Sriracha Strawberry Margarita, and it was delicious. It was on the rocks, which made it really spicy and reminded us of a Bloody Mary. Other menu items included mac ‘n cheese balls, garlic fries, fish and chips, and wings, all made with Sriracha. It’s a great promotion that brings together people who love baseball and the popular condiment, and adds a kick to the regular ballpark menu.

Now, for this weekend’s promotions…

Chipper Rescues Freddie ATV Bobblehead- Braves, 5/28: In 2014, Freddie Freeman got stuck in a snow storm in Atlanta. After being stuck in his car for five hours, Chipper Jones came to the rescue and brought Freddie home. I love that the Braves are turning this hilarious moment involving two franchise icons into a giveaway.

Source: braves.com/promotions

Kid’s Paint-Your-Own Bernie Brewer Bobblehead- Brewers, 5/29: Another great twist on a bobblead. Equipped with Brewers-colored paint, kids can decorate Bernie Brewer however they want. It’d be awesome if the Brewers had a social media campaign to go along with it so parents (or the kids) can share their creations.

Source: brewers.com/promotions

Backpack Cooler- Rays, 5/28: The Rays are giving fans a stylish way to support their team while keeping their beverages cold. The backpack cooler is perfect for hikes, picnics, and tailgating, and will be much easier to carry around than a regular cooler.

Source: rays.com/promotions

Taste of the World with Nationals Salt and Pepper Shakers- Nationals, 5/28: I love food and I love baseball. Much like Sriracha Night above, being able to try various worldly cuisines before a game sounds like heaven. In addition to trying the different foods, fans who purchase the special ticket also get a set of baseball salt and pepper shakers.

Source: nationals.com/promotions

Bobbleheads, Books, and Hampers

I’m pretty sure marketing departments throughout baseball collaborated to make this an unofficial bobblehead weekend, even though National Bobblehead Day was on January 7th. A lot of bobbleheads are being given away bobbleheads this weekend, but I picked my three favorites plus two non-bobblehead promotions. I was almost able to go to Cincinnati to visit a friend and attend the Ken Griffey Jr. Dual Bobblehead Night, but got a real job and didn’t have enough vacation saved up. It was a sad day, but there will be other games!

Ken Griffey Jr. Dual Bobblehead- Reds, 5/21: I’ve been excited about this bobblehead since it was announced. It worked out perfectly that the Reds and Mariners play each other the year Griffey goes into the Hall of Fame, giving Cincinnati the opportunity for one of the more unique giveaways this season. Rarely does a team do a promotion involving their opponent, but Ken Griffey Jr. meant a lot to both cities. Having played most of his career in these two cities, this bobblehead is a great way to honor the Hall of Famer while his former teams play each other.

Source: reds.com/promotions

Ichiro Hit Counter Bobblehead- Marlins, 5/22: My dad has been on Ichiro 3,000 hits watch since 2014. I’m not joking. He’s the person this bobblehead was meant for. The Mariners did a bobblehead like this in May of 2011, but I like that the Marlins are bringing it back. 3,000 hits is a huge milestone, and a hit count bobblehead is a great way to count down the number of hits on the way to 3,000. He’s at 2,950 hits right now, and I think there’s a chance he could get 3,000 before the All Star break.

Source: marlins.com/promotions

Phanatic Children’s Book- Phillies, 5/21: As part of their “Be a Phanatic About Reading” program, the Phillies are dedicating the day to encouraging kids to read. They are collecting new and gently used children’s books as people arrive to the game and all kids 14 and under get to take home a book about the Phanatic’s Galapagos Gang. The book is part of a series, so I’m sure kids who are Phillies fans can’t wait to read about the next adventure.

Source: phillies.com/promotions

Raise the Jolly Roger Bobblehead- Pirates, 5/21: I love that the Pirates are incorporating their mascot and wins catchphrase into a promotion. Mascots are beloved by all (although Lana Berry might disagree) and don’t get a lot of recognition in giveaways. This bobblehead lets fans “raise the jolly roger” after each Pirates win with the moveable flag. No word on whether or not Pirate Parrot has audio saying “raise the jolly roger!”

Source: pirates.com/promotions

Buster Posey Kids’ Hamper- Giants, 5/22: This is the giveaway that completes your kid’s baseball-themed bedroom. I like how the Giant’s Marketing Department thought outside the box with this kids’ promotion, instead of going with the usual poster or t-shirt. Hopefully things don’t get too out of hand if kids start chucking their clothes pretending they’re throwing someone out at the plate…

Source: sfgiants.com/promotions

Play Ball! Weekend, Cornhole, Yoga, and Portable Speakers

Play Ball Day, Wiffle Ball/Bat Set- MLB Home Teams, 5/15: Last year, Commissioner Rob Manfred started the “Play Ball!” initiative to encourage today’s youth to play baseball and bring them closer to the game. This weekend, all home teams are giving away wiffle ball and bat sets to kids 14 and under, while some are also allowing kids to run the bases after games or are recognizing Little League teams. Another fun part of the weekend MLB is doing is posting pictures of players from their Little League days. They’re holding a contest through the Play Ball Twitter account that gives fans a chance to win prizes by correctly guessing a player based on their Little League picture. More details about weekend events and the initiative can be found here.

Cornhole Classic- Phillies, 5/14: This is the third year the Phillies have held a tournament for the popular backyard/tailgate game. The $100 ticket package, limited to 128 teams and has sold out, includes entry for one two-person team, two tickets to game against the Reds, and two drawstring bags. There are even prizes for the Top 8 finishers, varying from cash and seat upgrades to gift cards. This definitely sounds like a fun way to spend the afternoon!

Nationals Music Speaker- Nationals, 5/14: I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s been a victim of not having speakers when you need them. The Nationals are helping solve that problem by giving away portable speakers to the first 25,000 fans at Saturday’s game. Now you’ll have an easier time playing that new song you love for your friends or listening to music/games while tailgating.

Source: nationals.com/promotions

Yoga in the Outfield- Nationals, 5/15: The Nationals are providing one of the more unique ways to experience the ballpark by giving fans the opportunity to take a 45-minute yoga class after their game against the Marlins. Fans who want to participate need to purchase a special ticket package that includes a Nationals yoga mat. Another added bonus? Waiting out post-game traffic!

Cinco de Mayo, Selfie Sticks, and a Children’s Book

Happy Cinco de Mayo! A few teams are celebrating at their games tonight, but I picked two to highlight because they seemed to have the most “bang for your buck.” As many of you know, yesterday was Star Wars Day. Lots of teams celebrated the day by promoting their Star Wars Theme Night. Because so many teams are having a Star Wars Night, you’ll probably see a post later in the season about it. I would like to say the best part of yesterday came during the Cub-Pirates game when the Cubs were up 3-0. The score was coincidentally the name of the popular Star Wars character C3P0. How cool is that!? On that note, here are my choices for this week’s top promotions.

Mighty Miggy Children’s Book- Tigers, 5/8: The Tigers went above and beyond with this one. Writing a story about a player is easy when it’s based on a game, but not as easy when it’s fiction. They haven’t revealed the plot, but I can’t wait to hear what it’s about.

Source: tigers.com/promotions

Selfie Stick- Angels, 5/7: When I first heard about this giveaway, I couldn’t help but think of this Mariners commercial from 2015. I also never thought I’d see the day selfie sticks were distributed to fans at a sporting event. It will be an interesting night at Angel Stadium with this giveaway because they will also be trying to break the Guinness World Record for “largest gathering of people using selfie sticks.” It’s the seventh year in a row the Angels will make an attempt at a world record, succeeding previously with sombreros, wigs, cowboy hats, fleece blankets, Santa hats, and masks.

Source: angels.com/promotions

Cinco de Miller- White Sox; 5/5: It’s Cinco de Mayo, and the White Sox want to help you celebrate. They’ve partnered with Miller Lite for a pre-game celebration with music, food, a “Cinco de Miller” t-shirt, and  “party shop” for purchasing Mexican party wear. I like that they tied the sponsor into the name and have the event open to everyone. Here’s the full list of details:

Source: whitesox.com/promotions

Cinco de Mayo at the Ballpark- Giants, 5/5: For this celebration, the Giants are becoming Los Gigantes de San Francisco. As a special event/theme night, fans need to purchase a special ticket package, which have already sold out according to their website. Fans who purchased the ticket package get to attend a pre-game fiesta with cultural music and food/drinks available for purchase, as well as an awesome Lou Seal Cinco de Mayo-themed bobblehead. That alone makes the ticket worth it.

Source: sfgiants.com/promotions