Best of 2009: The Gameops.com Review (continued)     

Best Entertainment Group:

Performance Group whose work was fresh, creative and interesting, serving as a valuable tool for their team and in their community. Providing quality entertainment and additional value for fans. All sports team performance groups are eligible. Consider quality, uniqueness, and marketplace value.

Winner:  Rim Rockers (Milwaukee NBA)

Following up their Honorable Mention finish in 2008, The Rim Rockers have taken their high-flying show to record heights....literally.

On Saturday December 20th, 2008, the Rim Rockers broke three Guinness World Records:

1. Highest Forward Flip Trampoline Slam Dunk (11 feet, 6 inches – previous mark, 10 feet, 9 inches, held by High Arial Squad member Jerry Burrell, USA, at the NBA All-Star Jam Session in New Orleans, LA, on February 17, 2008)
2. Most Slam Dunk Bounce Passes In 30 Seconds (36 – previous mark, 21)
3. Furthest Forward Flip Trampoline Slam Dunk (20 feet – previous mark, 19 feet, 2 inches)

The Bucks showcase this team at about half of their home games and they have become a popular act outside the Bradley Center as well.

 

Honorable Mention:  The Drag Kings (Fresno Grizzlies) and PHX Percussion (Phoenix Suns)

The Drag Kings

The Drag Kings continue to provide more than a smooth playing surface for the Grizzlies.  These dancing groundskeepers entertain the fans with unique and interesting dances, focused on comedy while not neglecting the quality of dancing.

 

PHX Percussion

As one NBA expert on our panel noted, "there are a number of drum lines in the NBA, but PHX Percussion is leading the way in elevating this style of entertainment group."  Hard to say it better.  PHX leads the way and has created a style that everyone else is trying to emulate.

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Best Team Introductions:

Which team introduction is the best produced, executed, fresh and innovative. Consider creativity, value to fans, execution, quality of presentation, fan interaction and attention to detail. We level the playing field by considering budget constraints to minor league teams. The category will consider focus primarily on the standard introduction (opening night variations will be considered, but the focus is on the standard game production).

Winner:  Wake Forest College Basketball

For this category our panel relied on YouTube to see what is happening in arenas across the country.   This is becoming a very competitive category, and the videos that are available are giving every team a chance to been seen.  This year we had finalists from the NHL, NBA, minor league baseball, and college basketball and a healthy field of comments from all our panelists.

This year's winner created not just an introduction, but a fully interactive experience for it's fans. This eye catching spectacle is also done at a fraction of what a lot of teams spend lesser results.  While one panelist thought Wake Forest's attempt to incorporate their mascot fell flat a majority felt their enthusiastic student body more than made up for it.

 

Honorable Mention:  Calgary Flames

If you favor an over-the-top spectacle of video and live elements, you'll love the Calgary Flames full-ice presentation.  As one hockey panelist noted you wont find a consistently louder and more-hyped atmosphere than in Calgary.