FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Jennifer Beidle
314-607-9459
jflo90@yahoo.com
(St. Louis, March 28, 2011) – On Thursday, March 31, the St. Louis Cardinals will play against the San Diego Padres in the team’s home opener game. If it were up to local experiential marketing agency Switch, everyone would have the day off.
In 2010, Switch launched a campaign encouraging Governor Jay Nixon and St Louis Mayor Francis Slay to consider making Cardinals Opening Day an official holiday. Although Switch gathered nearly 5,000 digital petition signatures, 20,000 Facebook fans and an official governor’s proclamation encouraging folks to join in the festivities, Opening Day remains a holiday in spirit only.
For 2011, Switch has restarted its efforts with an online/viral campaign aimed at encouraging local employers to support the movement and allow employees to join the festivities downtown and at Busch Stadium.
“In an effort to maintain our campaign momentum, this year we are trying to do everything we can to help our Redbird Nation brethren stuck at their desks, offices or at home, break free and ‘Make It a Holiday,’” says Switch Agency Brand Manager, Andrew Mullins. “Our efforts this year are focused online, but we have partnered with the Brewhouse Historical Sports Bar in the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch to provide a home base for ‘Make It a Holiday’ fans. With incentives like the ‘Opening Day Excuse Generator,’ printable ‘Make It a Holiday’ office signs, and Hyatt offering free downtown meter parking as well as buy 1, get 1 free appetizer coupon at the Brewhouse for Opening Day fans, we hope to incentivize as many people as possible to join in the festivities.”
Cardinal fans, including City of St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, agree Opening Day in St. Louis is already an “unofficial” holiday, but many fans remain working and unable to attend. Switch feels Cardinal Nation should be free to celebrate this day on which camaraderie and fan-hood are more important than timesheets and weekly reports – a day where work comes second to play.
“We know this is ambitious, but with our campaign back underway and enough support, local employers might feel sympathetic and let us enjoy the afternoon off to celebrate Cardinals Opening Day together”, said Mullins. “If our efforts help get just one more person involved, our mission is accomplished.”
No Work, all Play … Make Cardinals Opening Day a Holiday.
Website: http://openingdayholiday.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/openingdayholiday
Twitter: http://twitter.com/opendayholiday
About Switch
Switch liberates brands from the confines of traditional media by engaging audiences to explore and learn through sensory experiences. Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, Switch creates and produces experiential marketing programs for clients worldwide; specializing in live events, field marketing, sponsorship activation, digital media, exhibits and environments.
For more information, visit www.liberateyourbrand.com.
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