At press time, sources said that D'Backs Managing
General Partner Jerry Colangelo and a fan picked randomly
from the stands will throw out the first pitch tonight for
the D'Backs' inaugural opener (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/31).
BIG BUCKS AT THE BOB: With the construction of Bank One
Ballpark (BOB), Colangelo "has put together the most
lucrative marketing package in sports history," according to
Ken Western of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. He is the architect of
a multiyear, $430M advertising partnership "with some 60
companies that are banking on the ballpark to boost their
bottom line." BOB was designed to showcase its sponsors
through ways such as calling the main concourse Fox Sports
Arizona Diamondtown. Ellerbe Becket VP & Project Manager
Mike Wright: "As much as anything, baseball is a game of
dollars as it is a sport. We tried to get as much potential
for revenue in the building." Such "heavy hitters" as
America West, APS, Miller Brewing, 76/Circle K, Nissan and
US West are spending up to $3.5M a year for the next 10-15
years for promotional packages. As "building partners,"
each of these companies gets a 60-by-60-foot swinging panel
in center field, among other signage. Outfield wall
advertising consists of Office Max, Fry's, Fox Sports and
Sun Pool & Spa Products. Other team partners, including
PepsiCo, McDonald's and Auto Zone, are spending up to $1M in
stadium advertising (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/31).
WHAT'S IN A NAME? FREE PARKING: KSLX-FM's morning team
is sponsoring a promo where fans attending the D'Backs
opener can get free parking one block from the stadium if
their first name is the same or any derivation of BOB -- ie.
Roberta, Bobby, Robbie, Bobette, etc (AZ REPUBLIC, 3/31).
