A's Ad campaign draws national recognition

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Oakland A’s and their advertising agency, Hub Strategy of San Francisco, have been recognized nationally with a third-place finish in the 2012 National Sports Forum ADchievement Overall Award of Excellence competition.  An independent group of advertising experts determined the finalists and order of finish, with the announcement made during the National Sports Forum awards ceremony in Oklahoma City, Okla. last week.

The A’s marketing department, headed by Vice President of Sales & Marketing Jim Leahey, worked with Hub Strategy in the creation and execution of the 2011 “Green Collar Baseball” campaign, the second year of the fully-integrated program featuring television and radio commercials, and print, outdoor and digital advertisements.

The Milwaukee Brewers were selected the recipient of the 2012 National Sports Forum ADchievement Overall Award of Excellence, while other finalists included the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (second place), the A’s, Tampa Bay Lightning, Houston Texans and the Greenville Drive. 

Oakland won first place in two categories, Best Television and Best Social/Mobile Media.  In honor of Rickey Henderson’s 130 stolen base record, the social campaign, “Steal the Base,” encouraged fans to find, or “steal,” 130 mini-bases hidden throughout the East Bay, sending out hints to the base locations via social media.  Additionally, the A’s placed third in the Out-of-Home category and were named one of six finalists in Best Print.

The National Sports Forum is the largest annual cross gathering of the top sports marketing, sales, promotions and event entertainment executives from throughout the broad spectrum of teams and leagues in North America.  The leagues and organizations include Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA, NHL, minor leagues, racing and colleges.

This marks the second straight year that the A’s and Hub Strategy have won national acclaim at the NSF awards ceremony.  Their 2010 campaign earned NSF ADchievement finalist recognition in the print category, while winning the second place award in the television category.