BASEBALL

Prepared  by:  

Bri-any  Stark  Corporate  Account  Manager  

January  12,  2015  

BASEBALL

Although  we  know  the  benefits  of  partnering  with  a  brand  such  as  ours,  we  want  you  to  know  them  too.  You  obviously  know  your  brand  and  what  is  important  to  your  business.    

We  want  you  to  understand  how  we  can  help,  and  how  we  can  start  to  build  a  great  relaJonship.  Below  are  some  quesJons  for  you  to  be  thinking  about  when  reviewing  this  proposal.  

1.  Are  the  Express  a  popular  team?  2.  Does  the  partnership  help  you  meet  your  adverJsing  

goals?  3.  Is  the  partnership  creaJve  and  unique  to  Highland  

Fitness?  4.  Is  there  enough  depth  to  cover  all  of  your  bases  in  the  

partnership?  

If  you  are  leaning  towards  yes  on  these  four  quesJons  aUer  reviewing  the  proposal,  then  a  partnership  between  the  Express  and  Highland  Fitness  might  be  a  great  fit.  

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BASEBALL

Pretend  for  a  minute  that  professional  baseball  is  like  the  business  world.  To  gain  experience  in  the  business  world,  many  students  take  internships  while  they  are  in  college.  In  baseball,  playing  in  a  collegiate  summer  league  is  like  the  baseball  player’s  internship.    

Similar  to  an  internship,  Northwoods  League  players  are  being  evaluated  throughout  their  Jme  here.  Major  League  scouts  a-end  Northwoods  League  games  to  scout  these  players  for  the  upcoming  draU  on  a  daily  basis.  The  league  has  18  teams  and  models  the  complete  Minor  League  experience  for  these  players.    

Northwoods  League  players  play  a  72  game  season,  take  long  road  trips  and  use  wood  bats.  The  league  is  designed  to  prepare  these  young  athletes  to  be  successful  at  the  Minor  League  and  Major  League  levels.    

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The  2014  season  was  the  ten  year  anniversary  season  of  Northwoods  League  baseball  in  Eau  Claire.  In  that  Jme,  the  response  to  what  we  have  been  able  to  provide  has  been  very  posiJve.    

The  achievements  of  the  Express  over  this  Jme  include:  

•  Consistent  a-endance  success:  The  Express  has  averaged  more  than  2,000  fans  per  game  in  seven  of  ten  seasons  in  the  league.  This  has  ranked  the  team  in  the  top  three  teams  in  the  Northwoods  League  in  seven  seasons.  Total  a-endance  has  topped  60,000  in  nine  seasons,  with  a  record  80,000  (including  playoffs)  in  2010.  

•  Events  for  the  whole  family:  Whether  it’s  a  fireworks  night,  bobblehead  giveaway  or  appearance  by  a  celebrity,  the  Express  have  become  known  for  providing  something  for  the  enJre  family.    

•  Player  development:  With  66  former  players  appearing  in  the  Minor  or  Major  Leagues  at  one  point  or  another,  the  Express  is  doing  what  it  has  set  out  to  do.  

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•  CompeJJve  baseball:  While  the  main  goal  of  the  organizaJon  is  to  develop  players,  the  Express  have  won  a  fair  amount  of  games  along  the  way.  The  Express  has  qualified  for  the  Northwoods  League  postseason  three  Jmes,  winning  the  league  championship  in  2010  aUer  a  48  win  regular  season.  

•  Affordable  entertainment:  The  mission  of  the  Express  from  day  one  has  been  to  provide  affordable  entertainment  to  the  Chippewa  Valley.  A  family  of  four  can  a-end  an  Express  game  and  buy  a  hot  dog  and  soda  for  less  than  $50,  which  is    a  unique  offering  for  a  sports  franchise.  

The  2015  season  is  sure  to  be  another  exciJng  chapter  in  Express  history.  While  it’s  early  in  the  planning  process  for  the  season,  there  are  exciJng  changes  that  are  in  store.  The  promoJonal  schedule  is  currently  being  put  together  and  will  include  five  fireworks  nights,  numerous  new  giveaway  items,  creaJve  entertainment  acts  and  shows  and  likely  a  celebrity  appearance  or  two.  Whether  it’s  quality  baseball  or  off-­‐the-­‐field  entertainment,  the  2015  season  is  sure  to  saJsfy  the  “fix”  of  many  residents  of  the  Chippewa  Valley  once  again!    

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BASEBALL

When  puhng  together  a  partnership  proposal,  it  is  our  goal  to  provide  our  sponsors  with  a  package  that  will  best  uJlize  the  promoJonal  opportuniJes  that  we  have  to  offer.  

We  preach  to  our  staff  to  provide  the  best  fan  experience  possible.  When  fans  leave  Carson  Park,  we  want  them  looking  forward  to  the  next  game  as  much  as  we  are.    

The  following  pages  will  explain  how  we  will  have  fans  thinking  about  Highland  Fitness  as  a  major  part  of  that  fan  experience.  

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You  will  get  adverJsing  on  the  radio,  newspaper,  Express  website,  and  Express  social  media  plaiorms.  You  get  300  general  admission  Jckets  to  give  to  your  members,  family,  friends,  or  whoever  you  see  fit.  Inclusion  in  40,000  pocket  schedules,  name  recogniJon  on  every  Jcket  sold  for  your  sponsor  night,  a  live  interview  on  Mix  98.1  FM  and  an  opportunity  to  throw  out  a  ceremonial  first  pitch  is  included  in  your  sponsorship  night.    

Have  your  company  adverJsed  on  all  72  Express  games  through  the  summer  on  Mix  98.1  FM.  With  65  mile  radius  out  reach  you  are  sure  to  get  your  message  out  to  a  large  audience.      

Have  year  long  visibility  on  the  Eau  Claire  Express  website,  updated  for  every  home  game,  adverJse  for  mulJple  demographics,  great  for  community  involvement,  gives  you  the  ability  to  give  out  a  promo  code  for  instore  or  online  coupons    

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Staff  a  booth  during  an  Express  home  game  and  have  the  ability  to  display  your  logo,  engage  prospecJve  customers,  hand  out  promoJonal  materials,  and  move  to  mulJple  locaJons  around  the  park.