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, creativity, local connections, sponsorship possibilities, cost, and repeatability.

Winner: Washington National Presidents Race

Seems every year we have one category with a run-away winner and in 2012 the Washington Nationals ran away with their live Presidents Race.

This race has become a featured entertainment break at Nationals game, featuring the four Mount Rushmore Presidents in a live costumed race.  For years the Nats have created a back-story that Teddy Roosevelt was unable to win, leaving him without a victory in over 500 races.  The story of Teddy’s plight includes a website that tracks his efforts (LetTeddyWin.com) and in 2012 ESPN created a 30 for 30 Special chronicling the storyline losing streak.

Upon clinching the team’s first playoff berth, Teddy finally broke through and won his first race (in 538 tries*), gaining national headlines and the roaring approval of a delighted Nationals crowd.

One panelist noted: “Game after game The Presidents continue to come up with creative and entertaining programming.  You’d think something like this would start to become stale by now but the Nationals deserve credit for keeping it fresh season after season.”

The Nationals Presidents race has become the standard bearer for Live Racing and on-field promotions…at least in 2012.

Past Winners:

• Best of 2011 – Sue Bird Racing
• Best of 2010 – Kiss Cam (MN Twins)
• Best of 2009 – Sausage Race (Milwaukee Brewers )/Presidents Race (Washington Nationals)
• Best of 2008 – Chuck-a-Puck(Fort Wayne Komets)
• Best of 2007 – Presidents Race (Washington Nationals)
• Best of 2006 – Inflat-a-Bull Races (Chicago Bulls)
• Best of 2005 – Florida Lottery Beach Ball Promotion (Orlando Magic)
• Best of 2004 – Human Sling Shot Hockey Puck
• Best of 2003 – Sausage Race (Milwaukee Brewers)
• Best of 2002 – Parachute Prize Drop

Also on Gameops.com

Listen to the Best of 2012 Audio Round Table discussing all the categories and winners with out panel of Cudo, Walker, Carter and Hill. Also on Gameops.com

See The Store at Gameops.com where we have many turn-key sponsor-friendly promotions and game entertainment resources available, like Build-a-Burger, Parachute Drops, Chuck-a-Puck and the World’s Largest Cornhole Game.

* The 538 Race total is in some dispute, see LetTeddyWin.com for their official take on the matter.