No surprise that the only minor-league team to play in a LEED-certified facility would win Minor League Baseball's "Best Green Promotion" of 2009.The trio of entertaining environmental advocates at State College Spikes (short season; NY-Penn League) games known as “Gang Green” has been named Minor League Baseball’s “Best Green Promotion” of 2009. The award was voted upon by representatives from other Minor League Baseball clubs and was announced this past Saturday during the final day of the 2009 MILB Promotional Seminar in New Orleans. Spikes’ Director of Promotions & Community Relations, Jen Crispell, made a presentation prior to the voting and was on hand to accept the award.
The Spikes’ “Gang Green” was selected as the industry’s “Best Green Promotion” among five finalists. Other finalists included “Zero Waste Pre All-Star Game Party” by the Lake Elsinore Storm (High Class A; California League), the Portland Beavers' “Nothing Night,” the Rome Braves’ (Low Class A; Sally League) “Love the Braves, Love the Earth” campaign and “Recycle Man” from the Spokane Indians (short season; Northwest League).
“Gang Green,” which debuted this past season as part of the nightly entertainment at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, consisted of three characters dressed in funny, eye-catching green costumes who performed a skit during a designated inning each game. Following the on-field skit, “Gang Green” roamed the crowd, collecting recyclable items from fans. The promotion was designed to not only entertain fans through the antics of the characters, but to also tie into promoting recycling and the many other green initiatives the Spikes have become known for throughout the industry.
“Even though the concept of Gang Green is somewhat silly on the surface and was certainly created to contribute to the fun, family atmosphere at each Spikes home game, it is also the perfect illustration of using entertainment to promote an important cause, such as recycling and our other green initiatives,” said Jason Dambach, Spikes’ General Manager. “Because Medlar Field at Lubrano Park is the first LEED-certified ballpark in the country and because of our location on the campus of such a progressive, forward-thinking university such as Penn State, we are very serious about educating our fans and the community about the importance of the green movement in a fun way.”
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