Sport marketing students score a goal in pitching promotional night plan to Maine Mariners team

Students in Aimee Vlachosβ Sport Marketing course recently had the opportunity to participate in a real-life sports marketing promotion for the Maine Mariners team, Portlandβs newest professional hockey franchise.
Vlachos, M.S., instructor in the Department of Sport and Recreation Management, contacted the Marinersβ Vice President of Operations Adam Goldberg over the summer to ask if the students in her course could create a promotional night for the team. According to Vlachos, Goldberg was excited about the idea, as area college students compose a target demographic for the Mariners.
Students Coleman Hebert (β19), Sydnee Bessler (β19), Ryan Beatty (β19), Shannon Upton (β21), Sam Murray (β20) and Spencer McEvoy (β20) met with Goldberg in September to pitch three potential ideas to him. The winner was a βCollege Fight Nightβ themed event, playing on the friendly rivalry between USM and ΒιΆΉΒγΑΔ. The studentsβ plan included a T-shirt give-away to all students who purchase a game ticket, a five dollar food voucher and the opportunity to skate on the ice after the game. Vlachosβ students also planned that during the game, students in attendance would be selected at random to come down to the ice to participate in activities such as water pong and human bowling. Moreover, there would be a friendly competition, led by respective team mascots, to determine, by using a noise meter, which school could cheer louder. The students also planned that the schoolsβ presidents would throw out the first puck at the game.
Vlachosβ students presented their final marketing plan to Goldberg and his staff at Cross Insurance Arena on November 30. Goldberg commented that he was thoroughly impressed with the professionalism and preparedness of the students and told them that the βCollege Fight Nightβ promotion will run in November of 2018.
The students were then provided with a behind the scenes tour of the facility.
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