It’s now a new year and even though I’ve been blogging for almost 7 years, I’m now incorporating my posts directly into this new American Sweepstakes & Promotions Company blog. So Welcome to all those who may be new to our blog.
A new Super Bowl is also just around the corner. Each year I like to cover the ads and promotional campaigns associated with this event that gets bigger and bigger each year. So I’m continuing my tradition here as well. This year Super Bowl XLVIII will be played outside in MetLife Stadium, home of the NY Giants and the NY Jets, in the Meadowlands. Or, what is also referred to as the swamps of New Jersey, located across the Hudson River in the shadows on NYC.
This images shows what the playoff picture looks like as of today. By the time the game is played on February 2 these eight teams will be narrowed down to just two. There is quite a bit of speculation now on who these two teams will be. But the big debate this year is all about the weather. If it’s anything like what we just experienced this week, especially in Green Bay, the Frozen Tundra, we’ll be setting some more records.
Super Bowl 48 is not just a one day event this year. It’s turned into Super Bowl Week. Super Bowl Boulevard “Engineered” by GMC will span 13 blocks on Broadway between 34th and 47th streets. Many free events will take place here Wednesday, Jan. 29 – Saturday, Feb. 1. People can register online here which allows them to pick-up their badge at Super Bowl Boulevard where they can then take a photo with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, receive autographs from NFL players, kick a field goal through NFL uprights, visit the broadcast sets of NFL Network, ESPN and FOX and ride the 60-foot toboggan ($5 per ride donated to Million Trees NYC). GMC is also sponsoring a sweepstakes for a chance to win 2 tickets to the Super Bowl Game. The potential winner will be drawn on January 31, so they won’t have much time to prepare to get there.
Last year Pepsi began sponsoring the Super Bowl halftime show which featured Beyonce. Pepsi is again this year’s halftime sponsor which will feature Bruno Mars and his band. Pepsi has already launched a marketing campaign that includes a TV ad promoting the halftime show along with a Sweepstakes giveaway for tickets to the show. Pepsi has been a Super Bowl advertiser nearly every year since 1986. This year the game is being broadcast on FOX. All the spots during the game have sold out at an estimated cost of $4 million for each 30-second spot.
Pepsi has also partnered up with “LIVE with Kelly and Michael”, one of my favorite talk shows. Their Web Trivia Game has been giving away chances each day to win 1 of 5 trips for 2 to NYC to be on the field for the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show. Participants just needed to watch “LIVE with Kelly and Michael” each weekday. Then visit either LIVE’s website or their Facebook page to answer the daily trivia question. As of today, they have now given out all the prizes.
PepsiCo is also the parent company of Doritos which is back again for their Annual Crash the Super Bowl Video Contest. They recently announced the 5 finalists, so take a look and vote. I won’t let you know yet which one I voted for. Check back here next week and we’ll review this contest and some others related to Super Bowl 48!