Bradenton (Fla.) Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Exec Dir Elliott Falcione yesterday "took the blame" for the $6,000 decision to "place Bradenton-area advertising on 20,000 of the Penguins' yellow rally towels, sparking an uproar by Lightning fans," according to a front-page piece by Janelle O'Dea of the BRADENTON HERALD. He said, "I stand here being the sole responsible person who negotiated and cut the advertising deal." Though many of Bradenton's Lightning fans "were disgusted to see the name of their town on yellow rally towels, Falcione stressed the keepsake value of the towel to 'Pittsburghers' is what made it a smart advertising buy." The bureau in FY '16 "budgeted $100,000 to spend" during Lightning games, "including banners behind the Bolts' bench, online promotion and in-game video displays." Falcione said that the $6,000 for the towels "came from the bureau's advertising budget line item where they had money 'still available.'" He explained how Penguins team reps "reached out to him at the end of April with an advertising opportunity and advised him to act quickly." He said, "They offered advertising space on one of their rally towels. I needed to react quickly; it was a spontaneous decision, so I went with it and we bought it." Falcione said he "didn't think of who the opponent would be" when he made the decision (BRADENTON HERALD, 5/17).
IN THE LINE OF FIRE: In Pittsburgh, Gary Rotstein notes Falcione "essentially threw himself at the mercy of a rabid fan base whose feelings he admits failing to consider last week while in pursuit of savvy marketing." Falcione said that marketing efforts with the Pittsburgh teams "are among the factors helping grow the number of Pittsburgh visitors to Bradenton" by 37% between '14 and '15. But Falcione said that he will "handle the advertising situation differently, in the event of critical sports matchups in the future involving his area" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/17).
TOO HOT FOR A PENGUIN: In Pittsburgh, Elizabeth Bloom reports local design shop Commonwealth Press has responded to the Lightning’s restrictions on Penguins gear at Amalie Arena "with a vengeance -- and a bit of style." The company "released a blue and white T-shirt that reads: 'This is not a PGH Penguins Tshirt.' Every word except 'PGH' and 'Penguins' is in fine print." Commonwealth Press Owner Dan Rugh said that as of last night he "had sold 'a couple' shirts" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/17).
