Minor league sports advertising guide

How minor league sports advertising works

Minor league clubs and venues own their advertising inventory: video board time, LED boards, PA reads, promotional nights, hospitality and sampling rights. Each club sells its own inventory at its own rates.

A planning partner such as AAAA Sports researches which clubs fit your markets, requests current availability and rates, negotiates with each club and puts everything into one plan, one insertion order, one invoice and one proof of performance report.

AAAA Sports plans cover three groups: digital (video boards, LED boards and PA announcements), sampling and promotions (sampling, giveaways and theme nights) and hospitality (suites, group events and presenting sponsorships).

When to buy

Baseball seasons generally run April to September; hockey and G League basketball run from October or November into April; arena and indoor football play in the spring and summer.

Plan baseball in the fall and winter and hockey in the summer for the widest choice. Season-long digital packages are usually committed in the off-season, while single-night promotions can often be added in season.

What it costs

Rates vary by market size, classification, asset and commitment length. A PA read in a small market and a season-long video board and LED package at a large Triple-A park are priced very differently.

Plans run from local budgets under $10,000 to national programs of $1,000,000 or more. Because clubs set their own rates, AAAA Sports returns pricing in a verified plan rather than publishing rate cards.

How results are measured

You get one proof of performance report built from what each club provides: spot logs, photos and attendance as reported by the team. Brands add response measurement with unique offer codes, QR codes, landing pages and redemption tracking.

No one can guarantee attendance, impressions or sales. Treat any guaranteed-reach claim with caution and ask how a number was calculated.

Sampling and giveaway rules

Venues have concession contracts, category exclusives, food-safety requirements and security rules. Sampling must be approved by each venue in advance.

Giveaways for families must meet applicable product safety rules, and promotions directed at children must follow federal and state law and industry guidelines.

Using team and league marks

Team names, logos and mascots belong to the clubs and leagues. Advertisers may not use them in creative without written permission, even when sponsoring the club.

Some packages include limited co-branding rights. If they do, the rights are spelled out in the club's agreement.

Sweepstakes and contests

In-game trivia, prize drawings and trip giveaways must be run under official rules with no purchase necessary and must follow state registration and bonding rules where they apply.

Alcohol, cannabis, gambling and similar categories carry additional legal and venue restrictions. Ask before planning.