Baseball promo items lead to big wins

Fans sport branded merch long after final out

By Jacki Averkamp

The Thrillville^® Thrillbillies^® opens in new window are a collegiate baseball team in Marion, Illinois. It’s one of 18 teams in the Prospect League^®, which gives college baseball players summer competition in a professional setting while also providing family-friendly entertainment across the Midwest.

Fan engagement is taken as seriously as the bottom of the ninth at the Thrillbillies’ home ballpark. The team store is no exception. Thrillville faithful buy merchandise that helps raise brand visibility in the local community. “Branded items have sold so much, we have to reorder regularly,” said Jackson Wiseman, assistant general manager and director of entertainment and promotions.

This past season, baseballs and foam fingers were among hot-selling baseball promo items. The balls were often paired with Sharpie^® markers for young fans to collect autographs.

Create fan engagement with promo products

“Beyond being a bestseller in the team store, the baseballs were a key feature in our ‘Field of Dreams’ package for youth teams who purchased group tickets and got to run onto the field with the Thrillbillies during pregame,” Wiseman said. “This created a ripple effect. When other children in the stands saw the ‘Field of Dreams’ participants with logo baseballs, they couldn’t wait to grab their own from the store.”

Wiseman said the foam fingers had an immediate impact as well. The bright oversized design made them visible across the stadium, turning them into must-have items for youngsters. With fan engagement a top priority, the foam fingers waving throughout the crowd added to the fun and festive ballpark environment.

Small keepsakes, like sunglasses, keychains and stress balls, were other clutch Thrillville performers. Wiseman said their location near the checkout—ideal for last-minute add-on purchases—was a winning strategy.

For a team with just two seasons of history, the exposure from these branded baseball promo items is critical. “The merchandise gets people talking,” Wiseman said. “It makes an impact. A lot of these products become like walking billboards for us. Even if it’s something small, like a keychain. When somebody goes out to lunch and their buddy sees it, they ask about it. And hopefully when they ask about it, we’ve provided a good enough fan experience that it helps them tell that story to their buddy and it creates excitement.”

Trademarks