Portland Pilots Bring Big Off Season Energy with Highlight Video Poll

Here's an example of how the University of Portland Pilots (NCAA Division I) take a super high energy approach to promote a spring (off-season) match. The Pilots posted a poll on Facebook (screenshot below) asking fans to vote on the Best Goal of 2012. Watch the highlight reel here and see if you get as fired up as I did. What's great about this execution is that it gets fans excited about the program during the normally more low-key off-season. Not only that but they are driving soccer fans to their website at a time of year where there is normally less traffic.

Fans have incentive to participate because they benefit by having a chance to win a hot item - season tickets. The Pilots women's program has led the nation in attendance for eight-years in a row, averaging 3,502 fans a match, and filled Merlo Field to capacity with sell-out crowds three times last season.

Finally, I love how the Pilots have linked this promotion to a community partner, the new women's professional team in town, the NWSL's Portland Thorns FC. There's a good chance the two teams will share fans, since their season's don't overlap (much) and several Portland Pilot alum are starring on the Thorns FC roster.

Related posts: Timbers FC Leading Sport Through Fan Polling