Beef Promotion Goes Big at Baseball’s First-Ever Game at Bristol Motor Speedway
The Florida Beef Council is gearing up for a unique promotional opportunity this baseball season: the upcoming MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway. This historic event marks the first-ever Major League Baseball game held at the famed racetrack and will feature the Atlanta Braves facing off against the Cincinnati Reds.
Report by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet:
Beef in the Ballpark: A Multi-State Collaboration
Deanne Maples, Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Beef Council, expressed enthusiasm for the event, highlighting the once-in-a-lifetime transformation of a racetrack into a baseball field. “It’s not every day that you get to see a famed racetrack turned into a baseball field,” Maples said. “We are so excited to be part of the very first Major League Baseball game ever played at Bristol Motor Speedway.”
To capitalize on this unique stage, the Florida Beef Council will be joining forces with beef councils from Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, and Kentucky. Together, they will host an interactive booth in the fan zone where attendees can stop by to pick up:
- Beef recipes perfect for summer cookouts
- Grilling tips from beef experts
- Promotional items to commemorate the event
Digital Campaign Celebrates Summer, Baseball, and Beef
Beyond the booth, the councils are launching a regional digital campaign to tie in with the event. This effort celebrates both summer grilling and baseball, targeting fans’ mobile devices with beef-centric messages designed to inspire and engage.
Maples emphasized the efficiency of this multi-state effort, made possible through pooled beef checkoff funds. “When we’re able to pool together checkoff funds from several states that have limited funds to begin with, it really allows us to not only have a maximum reach with our program but also use that checkoff dollar efficiently,” she said. “We see a greater return on investment.”
Hitting a Home Run for Beef Promotion
Maples noted the strong camaraderie and teamwork among the southeastern beef councils, stating, “Most importantly, we really can go the distance. We can hit a home run—pardon the pun—in terms of beef promotion when we work together on things like this.”
This initiative underscores the value of strategic partnerships in extending the reach of beef promotion, especially during high-profile events like the MLB Speedway Classic.