Best Mascot:
The mascot whose work in was creative and enthusiastic, serving as a valuable tool for their team and in their community. All sports team characters and college mascots are eligible.

Rocky (Denver Nuggets)
Denver's mountain lion repeats his 2001 Best of Award with another year of excellence. Rocky's popularity in Denver is unrivaled and the performer continues to showcase the widest variety in sports.

There was a wide variety of names getting mentioned in this crowded field. Those receiving several mentions, in no particular order:

• Squatch (Seattle NBA)
• Phoenix Gorilla (NBA)
• Phillie Phanatic (MLB)
• Jaxson Deville (Jacksonville NFL)
• Clutch (Houston NBA)
• Hip Hop (Phil. NBA)
• Minor league baseball's masochistic Puffy Taco

Best Act:
The touring act or halftime show that excels in providing quality entertainment for your fans. Consider drawing power, quality, cooperation of the act, media, and value. All touring acts and non-team affiliated shows and performers are considered.

Quick Change
This Vegas-style act featuring mind-numbingly fast costume changes still is drawing fans and wowing crowds. A virtual guaranteed standing ovation.

Best Vendor:
The provider of quality services or products that are most helpful for game operations. Consider service, products offered, and value.

Alinco Costumes
A virtual staple for NBA performers, nearly 75% of NBA mascots are made here, and many use Alinco for props, costumes and maintenance.

Best Game Promotion:
What single game night promotion was most effective and creative. An example would be "President's Night" where a team builds an game day promotion around a them like "President's Night", perhaps handing out US flags and having namesakes like "George Washington, Richard Nixon, and George Bush" dropping the puck for a game held on President's Day. Consider creativity, entertainment value, media exposure, drawing power, and execution of the operations.

Still a difficult category to define, so we made a selection from a broad selection of nominees.

Atlanta Hawks Playoff Guarantee
Following Head Coach Lon Kruger’s passionate statements vowing that the Atlanta Hawks will positively participate in the 2003 NBA Playoffs and similar statements by key players, the Hawks announced an unprecedented playoff guarantee.

Recognizing the commitment shown by season ticket holders through several tough campaigns, the organization’s playoff guarantee providee fans the advantage of renewing their tickets at last season’s prices, and as a bonus, offer each full season ticket holder a ticket or tickets (depending on their purchase) - free of charge - to the Hawks’ first 2003 home playoff game. Should the team fail on its pledge to participate in the playoffs, full season ticket holders will receive a check for $125 for each full season ticket seat location on their account.

One of our panelists called the move, "Stunningly gutty", and we agree. The Hawks put their money where their mouth is and the media attention for the move was worth the costs on the outset. While it's entertainment value might be questioned, you have to factor in how difficult it is to entertain a half-filled arena. The Hawks were making a commiittment that should add to the season ticket holder base and the nightly crowds.

This category remains tricky to define and we received a wide range of entries. The Saints jumped out with two great giveaways that were extremely timely and funny. The Aeros were bold (fiscally and politically) in guaranteeing a hockey "Fight", and that's why we thought so highly of it. Interestingly the AHL later forced the team to cancel the event. So no free tickets, but a flurry of media attention was the result of the idea.

The execution of Arthur Anderson night in Portland was fantastic, especially playing in PGE Park (PGE is a local Enron subsidiary).

Best Contest or On-Field Promotion:
What promotion or contest is the most entertaining. For example, a "Chuck-a-puck" contest. This is a repeatable on-field promotion that is held in-game. Consider entertainment value, sponsorship possibilities, cost, and repeatability.

Parachute Drop - Perhaps one of the best visuals in sports promotions is 50 to 100 t-shirts softly falling into the outstretched arms of sports fans. The teams who use this promotion swear by it and it's a sight to behold for first-timers. One vendor even has sponsor logos on the inside of the chutes so your fans get a sponsor impression as they stare up into the prize. (* now offered from Gameops.com starting March 2003. See the Premium Spotlight.)

• Kiss The Girl Video
• Toy Scramble
• Hamster Ball *
• Rolling in Dough *

Best Team Operations:
Which team is doing the best job in their game operations and game presentation. Consider creativity, value to fans, overcoming sport and budget limitations, quality of presentation, and attention to detail. We level the playing field by considering budget constraints to minor league teams.

Saint Paul Saints
The Veeck-inspired Saints could probably win this every year with their dedication to fun and increasing entertainment value. They do more with less fiscally and they relish making a statement while they are at it. Their two in-season giveaways (see above) not only drew media attention, but also cemented their message as the fun-loving underdog.

• Miami Sol/Heat
• Indiana Pacers
• Round Rock Express