PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Firestone Stadium is proud to be one of only four facilities in the United States that hosts a women’s professional fastpitch team. In the spring, Firestone Stadium brings high school softball games and tournaments as well as college softball tournaments including the Mid American Conference tournament. Just a few months later, in the summer, Firestone Stadium plays host to the Akron Racers, women’s professional softball team and even more youth tournaments.
Over 80,000 people come through the gates of Firestone Stadium each season for the various events hosted in the ballpark.
At Firestone Stadium, we take our partners very seriously. We believe in a proactive approach to partnerships through active engagement.
Outfield Billboards
Firestone Stadium Partner will receive a 7’ x 9’ billboard on the outfield wall. Crowds at every home game of the Akron Racers and at every event during the year will see your company’s logo or slogan on that Outfield Billboard. The signage will be viewed by fans at every home game, tournament and stadium event from April to October!
Scoreboard
Firestone Stadium Partner will appear at the bottom of the Scoreboard, located in centerfield. Signage will be produced prior to the season. The signage will be viewed by fans at every home game, tournament and stadium event from April to October!
Message Board
Firestone Stadium Partner will appear at the top of the scoreboard located in centerfield. The message will be viewed by all fans at Akron Racers home games and can be added to other events if this opportunity is made part of the package.
Light Poles
Firestone Stadium Partner will receive signage on all six (6) of our light poles in the ballpark. The signage will be viewed by fans at every home game, tournament and stadium event from April to October!
Bleacher Section
Firestone Stadium Partner will receive a banner that will appear on the top of the Bleacher Sections located behind the plate and down the left and right field lines. The signage will be viewed by fans at every home game, tournament and stadium event from April to October!
Picnic Area
Firestone Stadium Partner will receive a banner which will hang in the Racers Picnic Area and will be visible to all fans during every home game, tournament and stadium event from April to October!
Dugouts
Firestone Stadium Partner will receive a sign located on top of the team dugouts! In-game promotions, player introductions and more take place right in front of the dugouts, drawing the eyes of the fans to your signage. The signage will be viewed by fans at every home game, tournament and stadium event from April to October!
Stairways
Firestone Stadium Partner will receive a sign located within the stadium concourse stairways. These strategically placed ads are visible at eye-level for all fans traveling through specific stairways. The signage will be viewed by fans at every home game, tournament and stadium event from April to October!
Concourse Pillars
Firestone Stadium Partner will receive a sign strategically placed on one of our main concourse pillars. Every fan in the stadium wills see the signs as they walk through the concourse all year long. The signage will be viewed by fans at every home game, tournament and stadium event from April to October!
Ticket Office
Firestone Stadium Partner will be the EXCLUSIVE ticket office sponsor and receive signage over the ticket office windows at the front of the building.
Grass Berm
Firestone Stadium Partner will be the Title Sponsor of our Grass Berm located just beyond the outfield wall. Your brand logo will be visible to all fans in the ballpark. The signage will be viewed by fans at every home game, tournament and stadium event from April to October!
Grounds Crew
Firestone Stadium Partners will be the Title Sponsor of our Grounds Crew for the entire Akron Racers softball season (June – August). Your company’s logo will appear on the message board along with a PA announcement every time a tarp is pulled, the grounds crew takes the field for in-game, pre-game and post-game maintenance. ALL grounds crew will have your company’s logo on the front AND back of their uniform.
Seating Sections
Firestone Stadium Partner will be the Title Sponsor of a specific Seating Section for the entire season. The signage will be viewed by fans at every home game, tournament and stadium event from April to October!
1/2 Inning Sponsor
Firestone Stadium Sponsor will be the exclusive sponsor for one ½ inning at each home game for the Akron Racers. Just before the ½ inning, your company’s message will be read aloud on the PA system, there will be an introduction of your company as the ½ inning sponsor, and a 10-15 second PA will be read. Once the visiting batter steps into the batter’s box, the message board will present your company’s message for the entire ½ inning!
Mascot Sponsor – Wheelie
Firestone Stadium Partner will be the Title Sponsor of the Mascot for the Akron Racers. The mascot will wear your company’s logo on the uniform and every game a PA will announce the mascot is sponsored by your company.
Akron Racers Program Ad
Firestone Stadium Partner will receive a color advertisement in the Akron Racers program. The programs are 5.5” x 8.5” and produced in full color for each home series. The advertisement will run in each issue produced during the 2012 year. Every program is sold at home games and is available at all stadium events. The program will contain profiles, feature stories, stadium information, action photographs and fun pages to keep fans engaged.
Akron Racers Program Insert
Firestone Stadium Partner will be able to provide an insert to be stuffed into the Akron Racers souvenir programs. The programs offer a great opportunity to get your message to our fans. Partial season inserts are available as well.
Pocket Schedule
Firestone Stadium Partner will be a sponsor in the 2013 pocket schedule for the Akron Racers. An entire panel of the pocket schedule will be an advertisement for your company. Pocket schedules are included in the season ticket holder mailings, enclosed in each envelope with tickets that are purchased at individual games, distributed to members of our Kids Club, distributed to all local businesses and several area schools, and distributed by the Akron Beacon Journal newspaper to reach a wide array of businesses. All in all, over 90,000 pocket schedules are produced and distributed each season.
Lil'Sparkplus Kids Club
Firestone Stadium Partner will be a sponsor of the Lil'Sparplugs Kids Club at Firestone Stadium for the entire 2013 season. Lil'Sparplugs Kids Club is a group of young Akron Racers’ fans up to the age of 12 who will receive special membership benefits for every Sunday home game during the 2013 season at Firestone Stadium. This is a great opportunity to reach the families and offer them special incentives. As a sponsor, each Sunday Night you’ll receive the following:
· Opportunity to hang a banner on the gate where fans enter the stadium
· 10 Stadium Section tickets
· Logo inclusion on all flyers/applications distributed to current and potential members
· Logo included on the back of each membership t-shirt
· Recognition through stadium promotional tools (logo and link on kids page of website, email newsletters, PA announcements)
Game Day Giveaways
Firestone Stadium Partner will sponsor a giveaway during an Akron Racers home game and receive the following:
· Logo recognition on the giveaway item along with the home team’s logo
· Opportunity to throw out a first pitch prior to the game
· Opportunity to hang a banner on the entrance gate the night of the game
· 20 Stadium Section tickets to the game
· Mention in press release that is sent out the week of the game
· Mention in any Radio or TV spots that are produced
· Logo on the team’s website
· Mention on promotional calendar distributed at each game and a PA announcement that’s read for 3 games, including the day of the game mentioning your company as the sponsor of the giveaway. Stadium staff and/or ushers will hold up the giveaway item and display it to fans for 3 games, leading up to the giveaway game.
Examples of Giveaways include but are not limited to:
· Automobile sunshade
· Mini bat
· Bobblehead dolls, Statues
· Seat cushions
· Team card sets
· Whatever fits your business! (approval required)
On-field Promotions
Firestone Stadium Partner will sponsor an on-field promotion during Akron Racers games. The 2013 season consists of 28 regular season games played at home. The following are examples of on-field promotions;
· Dizzy Bat Spin/Race
· Race the Bases vs. Mascot
· Target Toss
· Whatever fits your business! (approval required)
As the Sponsor of the designated on-field promotion, your company will receive:
· Naming rights to the promotion that will take place once per game in between innings at each home game of the season
· Message will appear on Message Board during the promotion
· PA will be read during the promotion describing what’s taking place on-field
· Sponsor may supply a 15-second script to be read before, during or after the promotion
Fireworks Night
Firestone Stadium Partner will be the EXCLUSIVE sponsor for one of our Fireworks Nights during the 2013 season. Your company’s logo will appear on all Firestone Stadium collateral pieces and advertisements promoting the event.
As part of a Fireworks Night sponsor, your company will receive the following elements:
· In Stadium Marketing – three days prior to the event your company will be promoted in PA’s, website, email blasts, print, information both, etc.
· Print – logo recognition in print ads that run in the newspaper the day of the game
· Radio – your company will be mentioned during any radio spots promoting the night as the sponsor of the fireworks
· Game Night – a 15-second PA to be read during the game. During the PA your company’s message will appear on the message board during the PA and also during the fireworks
· First-Pitch – a member of your company or a vender may throw out the first pitch of the Fireworks Night
· Signage – your company will have the opportunity to hang a banner on the main gate for fans in attendance to see
· Tickets – your company will get up to 30 Stadium Section tickets with food vouchers to watch the game, as well as fireworks, in style.
