Red Sox promotions, giveaways at Fenway Park during 2017 season
By Mike El-Far
Promotions are one of the most integral parts of the link between baseball and the fan experience. Here are some for Boston Red Sox fans to look forward to.
Every year, the Boston Red Sox release their promotional schedule, which highlights some of the items that they giveaway during select games. There are some obvious ones like bobbleheads and tote bags, but the Sox promotional team has added some great items to draw potential fans in.
One of the best promotions of the year appears in only the second game. On April 5th, the Red Sox play the Pittsburgh Pirates, and 12,000 fans will be taking home a special prize. It is a bobblehead of Rick Porcello, congratulating him on his Cy Young win.
But that is not the only award-centered bobblehead in the month of April. On the 14th, fans will receive a Mookie Betts Awards bobblehead, which praise the 24 year-old for his stellar 2016 season. Only six games into the season, and there are two great trinkets to put on your desk.
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The Sox don’t stop rolling out the hits in May, as one of their best promotions is on the 1st. Last year, they released a David Ortiz 500 Home Run Chain, and they kept the chain idea going. This year, it is a Hanley Ramirez “El Trece” chain.
In May, the Red Sox make sure that kids get their own promotion. They are releasing a Wally Toothbrush Holder on Mother’s Day (May 14th). And the season of bobbleheads continue, with a Craig Kimbrel one on the 24th against the Rangers. I would assume that he is in his traditional “eagle” stance on the mound for this bobblehead.
In June, the Sox decided to honor a new player and a former legend in, yes you guessed it, bobblehead form. On June 12th, Chris Sale will be forever immortalized in terms of a Red Sox bobblehead. Manny Ramirez, a man who left Boston on bad terms, will get a promotion in his honor. The game against the Twins on the 27th will have this promo, and hopefully it is Manny cutting off Johnny Damon.
With July taking almost a week off, it makes sense that it is the lightest month for promotions. Make sure to bring the kids on the 20th against the Blue Jays so they can get a replica helmet! As a former child myself, a 10 year-old me would be so excited to get my hands on one of those.
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Some things change, while some things stay the same. When the calendar turns to August, there is another bobblehead being distributed to the masses. This time, it is none other than the man who had a 29 game hit streak that captivated Red Sox Nation last year, Jackie Bradley Jr. Other than that, there are no promotions announced, as it is not hard to get fans in Fenway in August.
As the season winds down in September, some interesting promotions are coming out. First, a Dennis Eckersley hat on the 4th is something that is a very unique promotion. On the 13th, instead of a bobblehead, there is a Xander Bogaerts gnome that will fill the lawns of New England. Finally, for all the fitness-minded fans out there, the last promotion is a Red Sox gym bag.
Boston is not some mid-market that needs to figure out some circus-type ideas to get fans in the door. Likewise, these promotions are a good way to reward fans with a nice souvenir they can take home. I really like the high number of bobbleheads, as they are a classic promotional item.
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Also, some of the unconventional items like the hat and gnome are a good touch. Finally, the kid-centered promos are a way to tap into a young fanbase that will appreciate these items.