Providence gets creative with NBA draft promotional ask
The Friars Forever Athletic Fund recently announced a promotion to generate some publicity for basketball star Marshon Brooks and his selection in the NBA draft. On June 17, Providence announced that they would be giving away two VIP luxury box tickets to each donor who correctly guessed Brooks’ draft pick number in the form of a financial contribution. For example, if a fan thought that Brooks would be drafted with the 20th pick, they would need to make a $20 contribution to the Friar Athletic Fund.
While on the surface this promotion does not look like a big way to generate revenue, it does serve a purpose. It allows the department to promote the recent success of the basketball program while also allowing fans a glimpse of the luxury box area. This can increase the number of prospects for the annual fund and box seats, as well as build some goodwill with fans in seats that might otherwise go unused.
In many ways this is a different way to ask for support from fans. Rather than giving admittance in to an annual fund structure with benefits, this promotion allows anyone to support the school and have the potential to be rewarded with luxury seats.
The Friars Forever Athletic Fund have yet to announce the winners of this promotion publicly.
Steve Napolillo, Associate AD at PC has done an amazing job with their gift giving program. He has orchestrated some of their most successful campaigns during a not so successful era for PC Basketball, which plays in the toughest conference in America. He will raise the bar again with Coach Cooley and Coach Leaman in place for their basketball and hockey programs.