Saturday September 30, 2023

Tortugas’ “Bob Ross Night” Was More Than Just a “Happy Little Promotion”

Front Office Sports Today

Donovan McNabb and the State of Football

From Taylor Swift to the Prime Effect, there's a lot going on in the world of football.
Listen Now
September 29, 2023 | Podcast
Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

From a 5k to a painting class, the team nailed it.

This Bob Ross Bobblehead was only a small part of the Daytona Tortugas’ stellar “Bob Ross Night” on July 15. Photo via the Daytona Tortugas.

If you’re 25 or older, chances are you’re familiar with painter Bob Ross. The legendary painter, known for painting “happy little trees” on his show “The Joy of Painting”, lived in the Daytona, Florida area- not far from where the Daytona Tortugas minor league baseball team plays.

To pay homage to the area-native, the Tortugas, Single-A Advanced Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, held a “Bob Ross Night” on June 15. Festivities included a pre-game painting class, a “Bob Ross Look-a-like” contest, a bobblehead giveaway, and Pictionary. There were also two ticket packages fans could purchase — one that came with a special “Bob Ross Night” t-shirt and one for a pre-game paint class.

Ryan Keur, President of the Tortugas, said the promotion was an immediate hit and really embodied what minor league promotions are all about.

“Immediately it got some really crazy attention all over the place. People were saying it’s one of the best promotions of the year and one of the best bobbleheads ever. Tickets were selling months in advance and people lined up for the bobblehead two-and-a-half hours before the gates opened. It was an awesome night that was really dedicated to Bob Ross.”

The idea for Bob Ross Night came during a “think tank”, a weekly to bi-weekly brainstorming session the Tortugas hold during the off-season. Keur said they’re always trying to think outside the box to put on unique promos that energize fans and gain recognition.

During a discussion about bobbleheads, someone threw out the idea of Bob Ross and “everyone stopped talking,” said Keur. After the front office member expanded on the idea, the whole staff took on the promotion and reached out to Bob Ross Incorporated. That five-minute phone call shaped the promotion and made the night extra special.

There were plenty of painting opportunities throughout the day for fans to take advantage of.

A “happy little 5k” in the morning had areas where participants could stop and paint during the run. A between-inning Pictionary promotion saw a few fans painting on canvases while other fans had to guess what they were painting. However, the painting highlight came during the pre-game paint class, where fans who purchased that ticket package were able to take a paint class taught by Bob Ross certified instructors.

If you have liked this, click the???? to the left or at the end so other people will see this here on Medium.

“We thought it would be really cool to have an event like the ‘wine and paint’ classes, so we decided to open up the gates early [for class participants] and have a class taught by certified instructors who teach how Bob Ross used to paint. It was set up like any paint class with easels and canvases, then after the hour-and-a-half instruction, fans got to walk out with a painting and enjoy a ball game,” Keur said.

One extra-special part of the night came when the Tortugas dedicated a “happy little tree” on their river walk that will “forever be a part of Jackie Robinson Ballpark”. Keur said the team strives to be a part of the community every day and give back, and that it will be cool to see the tree grow.

So how does a team build off a promotion as successful as this one? Two days after Bob Ross Night, on July 17, the Tortugas held “Vince Carter Night” (postponed due to rain), and on July 21, they’re holding “Craig Sager Night.”

As for a Bob Ross follow up, Keur said the Tortugas have already talked with Bob Ross Incorporated about possibly hosting their yearly reunion at the ballpark in 2018. Not only would that be a great sequel to the first Bob Ross night, it’s a great way to build on a partnership.

Be sure to follow the Tortugas to see what other promotions they have this year and find out what’s in store for next year’s Bob Ross Night.


Front Office Sports is a leading multi-platform publication and industry resource that covers the intersection of business and sports.

Want to learn more, or have a story featured about you or your organization? Contact us today.

Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning at Angel Stadium.

Shohei Ohtani Tops MLB Jersey Sales List For First Time

He's the first Japanese player to headline the list in MLB history
Alabama hitter Jim Jarvis dives back into first safely on a pickoff play against Troy at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday June 4, 2023, in the winners bracket game of the NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament.

Alabama Betting Scandal Figure Banned From Wagering in Indiana

The ban comes amid a crackdown on betting activity across college sports.
Savannah-Bananas

Savannah Bananas Break All The Rules To Hit The Mainstream

Team concludes 2023 tour with even-bigger plans for next year

Rob Manfred Gets Extension Amid MLB's Resurgence

Current MLB commissioner to stay in place until at least January 2029
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Donovan McNabb and the State of Football

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

Ryder Cup’s Future Hanging In The Balance Amid Saudi Disruption

An unexpected change could be coming to the Ryder Cup.
September 29, 2023

Colorado Has Become the Hollywood of College Football. This Weekend Proves It.

Folsom Field will welcome dozens of Hollywood stars on Saturday.
Toy Story
September 29, 2023

‘Toy Story’ Success Could Lead to More Disney-Branded NFL Kid-Casts

A successful ‘Toy Story’ game could open the door for other franchises.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on field after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
September 29, 2023

Taylor Swift Shaking Up Travis Kelce, Chiefs Prop Betting Market

Sportsbooks are capitalizing with Taylor Swift-themed prop bets.

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
Chicago Cubs
Chicago
Fanatics
New York
Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group, Inc.
USA - Multiple Locations
Oakland-A's

Oakland A’s Could Share Stadium with Triple-A Team

The Oakland A's could be searching for a place to play.
Sponsored

MLS’ Chris Schlosser on Pioneering the Digital-First Sports League with AI

Chris Schlosser discusses MLS's growth and digital transformation.
Titans stadium.
April 19, 2023

Titans' Historic New $2.1B Stadium One Step Closer to Reality

About $1.26B in public money would go toward the new stadium.
Crypto-markets-sports-sponsorship
May 20, 2022

Crypto Crash Impact on Sports Sponsorships

Prior to the last two weeks, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, exchanges, and a host…
Insights-Wearables-Consumers
March 11, 2022

The Evolution of Consumer Wearables

The wearables market has seen incredible amounts of growth since the onset of the pandemic. Trends like telemedicine and remote patient monitoring have helped spur adoption and inspired new consumer products that allow for the tracking and collection of biometric data.
February 11, 2022

The Role of Live Sports in Streaming

The streaming wars have intensified as the field is as competitive as ever. One way to retain customers? The answer might be live sports.
February 4, 2022

Super Bowl Ad Market Examined

The Super Bowl is now only one week away and the stakes…
February 3, 2022

Making Headlines

NFL: The Giants hired Laura Young as director of coaching operations. Young…