Food and snack brands
Food and snack advertising where fans are already eating
Ballparks and arenas are snack destinations. Sampling, video board and PA features and family nights let fans taste your product in a setting built around food.
Why it works
A minor league game is one of the few places where people expect to eat for three hours and are happy to try something new. That makes the venue a natural trial engine for packaged food, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, especially for regional brands entering a new market or national brands supporting a retail push.
We package sampling with media, giveaways and retail offers so a first taste on the concourse has a clear path to a purchase at a nearby grocery or convenience partner. Venues have concession agreements and category exclusives, so every concept is checked against the club's existing partners and food-safety rules before it goes into your plan.
Images on this page are AI-generated and illustrative. They do not show a specific club, venue, event or past campaign.
Formats
What you can include
Mix and match. We confirm every item with the club before you sign.
Video board spots
Spots that show the product in hand, timed to the innings or periods when the sampling table is open, so fans know where to go.
LED boards
Short, high-contrast messages on ribbon and fascia boards that repeat the product name and the retail offer all game.
PA announcements
Reads that point fans to the sampling location and name the stores where the product is sold.
Gate and concourse sampling
Single-serve samples handed out as fans enter, during the game or on the way out, subject to venue food-safety and concession rules.
Theme nights
A family, fireworks or kids' night where your snack is part of the fun rather than a sign on the wall.
Hospitality tastings
Suites or picnic areas where retail buyers, distributors and brokers taste the product and see the activation live.
Every plan is confirmed with the club or venue before you commit. Inventory, rates and dates are subject to team approval and availability.
Illustrative program structure (not a past campaign)
A regional snack launch across four ballparks
An example of how a plan could be structured, so you can see the moving parts. It does not describe a past campaign, and every element is subject to club approval.
Build-up
Video board spots and PA reads at home games in each market introduce the product and name the local grocery partner.
Sampling night
Gate sampling on a family night in each ballpark, with a market-coded coupon in every sample bag.
Retail follow-through
The coupon or QR offer is redeemed at the grocery partner, and redemptions are counted in the retailer's or your own systems.
Report
One proof of performance report across the four markets: spot logs, photos and club-reported attendance, next to the redemption counts you share with us.
Selling window
When to plan
Sampling plans need lead time for venue approvals, product handling and retail coordination, so start before the season you want to sample in.
Baseball
Seasons run from early April through September. Season-long packages are usually committed in the fall and winter, and 2027 baseball promotional calendars are being set now.
Hockey
Regular seasons generally run from October to April. Season packages are usually committed before the season starts; theme nights can often be added during the year.
G League basketball
Seasons run from November into April, alongside hockey. Planning before the season gives you the widest choice of nights and placements.
Arena and indoor football
Seasons run in the spring and summer. Clubs, venues and schedules change from year to year, so we confirm them early.
Recommended package
Theme Night Presenting
Theme Night Presenting fits a sampling-led launch: one to five markets, one night each, with sampling at the gates as an optional add-on. Brands supporting a full season at retail can step up to Season Presence.
- Built for
- Regional and category brands
- Structure
- One to five markets, one night each
Core
- Pre-event video board and PA flight
- Presenting recognition on the night
- LED moment during the game
Optional add-ons
- Sampling or giveaway at the gates
- Hospitality area for guests
Buyer questions
Frequently asked questions
Can we sample in every ballpark?
Not always. Venues have concession contracts and exclusive partners. We confirm what each venue allows before including sampling in your plan.
Can we get category exclusivity?
It depends on the club. Many venues already have a snack or beverage partner, and some will not accept a competing brand at all. We identify conflicts before a plan is final, and any exclusivity a club offers is written into your proposal.
What rules apply to food sampling?
Samples should be in finished, labeled packaging with the product's normal ingredient and allergen information. Each venue sets its own food-safety, handling and storage rules, some require sampling to go through their concessionaire, and local health rules can apply to unwrapped food. We confirm the rules for each venue in writing.
How do we measure a sampling program?
Count samples distributed, use a market-coded coupon or QR offer to track redemptions in your systems, and use the proof of performance report to document what ran in each venue. We do not guarantee attendance or sales.
Can sampling be tied to a retail promotion?
Yes. Coupons, QR offers and retailer tie-ins can extend a sampling night into store visits, subject to the retailer's and venue's approval.
Keep exploring
Related programs
Tell us your markets. We'll build the lineup.
Pick leagues, markets, placements and budget. Download a preliminary plan right away. A strategist then confirms clubs, dates and rates with each club.
Prefer to talk? Call (970) 289-9064