PROMOTIONS
UFO NIGHT
UFO Night was definetly one to remember in the marketing and sales department. This night started as a simple idea, and grew into a controversy that ran through Charleston for a few hours. Three days before game day, I got the idea to fake a UFO abduction with our female mascot, Chelsea. Due to COVID we hadn't had a preformer in her suite the entire year, so we thought this was the perfect opportunity to bring her back. I created a fake press release post saying Chelsea had gone missing... and it went viral. People were sharing and in the comments frantic to know what happened. Some people took it too seriously and had the news calling our broadcaster asking for a statement. We later released the video where it was obvious it was all fake.
Let me tell you though.. it worked! Sales skyrocketed through the roof. The social media campaign drove 75% of ticket sales that totaled over 18K alone. It secured my nomination for Minor League Baseball's Future Star Award.
BOILED PEANUTS NIGHT
Boiled Peanuts is an alternate identity of The Charleston RiverDogs. I had the idea to illustrate our players as Peanuts characters to bring a unique touch to the promotion.
FIGHT NIGHT
Bite Night 2022! After discovering that professional pillow fighting was a real sport, we knew we had to bring it to The Joe. While reviewing the promotional calendar, we realized the perfect opportunity—holding the event on the anniversary of Mike Tyson biting off Evander Holyfield's ear. After the game, professional pillow fighters took the ring to showcase their skills. We also held a corn-shucking race, and with the support of an ENT, we gave away ear-shaped stress balls.
RIVERDOGS FOOD TRUCK
While the food truck wasn’t technically a promotional night, it played a major role in the overall marketing strategy at the ballpark. After COVID, we were finally able to move the project forward. The final design was far from my first choice. My original vision for the truck was to bring the fun and energy the RiverDogs are known for out into Charleston. I wanted the blank side of the truck to feature a giant focal point—something people could take pictures in front of and create an “Instagram moment.” With Charleston becoming such a trendy place to live, I hoped to capitalize on that momentum.
There are a few technical issues I have with the final design. For example, the logo is completely cut in half when the window is open, and unless you see the back, there’s no clear indication of whose truck it is. Overall, it feels a bit too generic and doesn’t fully reflect the unique vibe the RiverDogs bring to any occasion. That said, I was more than happy to deliver what our ownership group and GM requested—a simple navy truck with the primary logo on both sides. The truck has been a huge success, and I’m proud to have played a small role in it.
in-between inning games
The start of the 2021 season was especially challenging due to COVID. We had to follow strict rules regarding fan and player interactions, which meant we could no longer bring fans onto the field for in-between-inning games. Instead, we had to get creative with the video board.
Growing up, my brother and I played Duck Hunt every chance we got. So when I saw the Down East Wood Ducks on our schedule, I knew I had to recreate the iconic Duck Hunt dog as Charlie. We covered the screen with ducks and let kids play the classic game from the stands. I was relieved—and thrilled—when it not only worked but became so popular that fans started requesting it even after the series with Down East ended.
At the time, our promotions manager was a big basketball fan. He had seen an NBA team play a higher/lower card game on their jumbotron and wanted to recreate it. I was immediately excited—I had always wanted to design the back of a playing card but had never found the right inspiration until this project. To this day, it remains one of my favorite things I’ve ever made. Unfortunately, due to MiLB’s licensing deal with certain merchandise companies, we weren’t able to produce the cards for sale in our team store.