The Secret To Cost-Effective Advertising At NFL Games September 16, 2014
Buying traditional media at NFL games can be expensive and competitive. Advertisers that have seasoned contracts with the networks typically get an advantage during ad buying season. If you’re new to the game, you might have a hard time squeezing yourself in among the herd. And then, there is the question of cost. Is it worth it? Television commercials, sponsorships, signage, merchandise, even digital overlays on the field (like Toyota did below) are costly, and in the case of Toyota, maybe a little obnoxious. (To read more about that story, click here.)
In an April 2014 article published by Variety, they reported that NBC’s Sunday Night Football runs the most expensive program for commercials in primetime television. No big surprise there, but the inflation rate of ad costs might surprise you. The average cost of a 30-second spot last season was estimated to be $628,000. In 2007, the same commercial rang in around $358,000. That’s a 75% increase over the last six TV seasons.
Furthermore, ESPN’s Monday Night Football, is only slightly less costly reports Variety. A 30-second spot here comes in around $408,000 and a 30-second spot in FOX’s Sunday-afternoon NFL reaches into the $600,000 range. That’s a lot of money to spend on only 30 seconds and the high likelihood of being skipped over by the DVR. I know what you’re thinking – Get to it already! – Here are two very visible ways to soar above your competitors and get noticed at some of the biggest sporting events across the country.
Option 1 – Aerial Banner Advertising
There’s no question that the tailgating hours leading up to the game are some of the best times to advertise to stadium attendees. Aerial banner advertising is a cost-effective way for small, medium, and large brands to rise above the clutter on the ground below and really make an impact. Having a ground team running a booth, or walking around throughout the crowd is a great way to support your aerial banner’s messaging. If you’re looking to raise brand awareness, aerial advertising can’t be beat. On average, 9 out of 10 stadium attendees remember seeing the message on an aerial banner. Is your messaging better suited for sky writing or a helicopter banner? We’ve got you covered. Our staff is standing by to answer all of your questions, contact us today.
Option 2 – Blimp Advertising
It’s time to think big…really, really big. For companies looking to boost brand awareness, blimp advertising is a prime choice. One of our former blimp clients, Whitman’s Chocolates, used a blimp to generate brand awareness in Australia, a market where they had little to no presence. Following the launch of their blimp, public awareness of Whitman’s reached 90 percent in Melbourne within 4 months and product sales exceeded budgets by 240%. The Whitman’s Lightship is credited as the marketing prime mover in this remarkable success.
Brand awareness isn’t the only perk that blimp advertising brings to the table. If you’re a big brand that has saturated the market like, Verizon, Old Spice, Budweiser, GEICO, or McDonalds, blimp advertising offers a larger-than-life way to keep your brand top of mind. If you’re on the cusp of surpassing a competitor, blimp advertising is the perfect vehicle to get customers to make the switch.
Plus, by choosing an advertising blimp, you will cement your brand name with some of the most iconic advertisers in history. Why waste your entire marketing budget on a 30-second commercial, when you could get the same type of exposure from on-site stadium views and a shout-out from the television broadcaster during the show.
Whichever option you decide to use, Van Wagner Aerial Media is here to help you achieve it. Our team of aerial advertising experts have decades of experience. We can help you choose which advertising option is right for your campaign, help you decide what type of creative to use, and flawlessly execute your flight. If you have any questions about aerial banners, sky writing, helicopter advertising, or blimp advertising contact Van Wagner Aerial Media today, or click below for a free quote.
To learn more about which events are best for aerial advertising, download our free guide below!