Celebrity Bobbleheads
Last month the Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL) hockey team made big news with a bobblehead promotion. Instead of using a team player, coach, or mascot for their bobblehead they went another direction....and the fans waited in line for it, some more than 3 hours.
The bobbleheads were seen on eBay hours later selling for over $100.
Who was on their now infamous and valuable bobblehead?
It was the "Runaway Bride Any Similarity to Actual Persons is Unintended and Purely Coincidental" Bobblehead Doll, featuring a woman eerily similar to Duluth (GA) resident Jennifer Wilbanks whose disappearance last April, just days before her scheduled 600-guest wedding prompted a national search. She was later found in Albuquerque, New Mexico, claiming to have been abducted.
While most teams stay with their own players, some are venturing out into celebrities, past players, or local heroes (or villains).
Recently these teams have created bobblehead promotions around non-players:
There is no risk of these public figures being traded and it ties well into the local history, and promotions can be built logically into dates (birthday of the celebrity or national holidays, like Presidents on the Fourth of July).
We asked noted sports attorney Paul Loving for his advice on security the rights for using a celebrity image for your bobblehead promotion.
Paul Loving: "This is a state-by-state issue because state law controls rights of publicity -- there are statutes in many states that provides that a person who dies in that state has a post-mortem right of publicity -- ex. NY, Illinois, TX, CA. Most celebrities who have died in those states are represented by someone -- a licensing agency or lawyer. These folks routinely do deals with people who would like to use the image or likeness. They generally are not open to non-revenue deals ( e.g., proceeds are going to charity), but obviously this is a case-by-case issue.
Teams must identify the individual featured in the product and see whether they are covered and proceed forward cautiously to avoid expensive legal entanglements."
Celebrity bobbleheads are an interesting way to spark new interest in bobbleheads which remain the #1 most sought after premium item in sports. If you are looking to augment your list of bobbleheads, consider using a local celebrity or historical figure. The Gladiators have shown the promotion can be effective locally, as well as nationally.
Gameops.com features custom bobbleheads starting in quantities as low as 500.
Get the scoop on your next bobblehead by completing the form below. We will follow-up with pricing and ordering details.
Range listed for 7.5" bobble / 5,000 pieces, shipping not included in price
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Last month the Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL) hockey team made big news with a bobblehead promotion. Instead of using a team player, coach, or mascot for their bobblehead they went another direction....and the fans waited in line for it, some more than 3 hours.
