2023 NEBRASKA TOURISM INDUSTRY AWARDS - OUTSTANDING EVENT
Boys Town – College World Series
Boys Town's “One Boys Town” booth at the College World Series was a remarkable event that celebrated community, collaboration and innovation. Our success was made possible through a collaborative effort involving various Boys Town departments, including marketing, research, community engagement, tourism, design and print shop. The cooperation among these departments was instrumental in the event's planning, execution and ultimate success.
History of Baseball at Boys Town and the CWS:
The deep-rooted connection between Boys Town and baseball started over 100 years ago when Father Edward Flanagan founded Boys Town, believing all children, regardless of race, religion, gender or background deserved to feel valued and loved. One of the first sports at Boys Town was baseball, and Boys Town’s integrated team was one of the first in the Omaha area. The Boys Town baseball team's legacy includes notable moments, such as in 1949 when the Boys Town baseball team played the New York Orphan All Stars at the Polo Grounds in New York City, drawing thousands of people. Over the decades, many famous baseball players visited Boys Town, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams. This has long been a tourism draw for crowds visiting Omaha for the baseball tournament.
Additionally, the history of the College World Series in Omaha is intertwined with Boys Town. The tournament has been in Omaha since 1950, initially at Rosenblatt Stadium from 1950 to 2010 and subsequently moved to TD Ameritrade, now named Charles Schwab Field, in 2011.
Boys Town's presence at the 2023 College World Series was the culmination of decades of commitment to community engagement and philanthropy. Our booth aimed to celebrate the rich heritage of Boys Town while also contributing to the local culture of the host city.
"One Boys Town" Booth Layout
The success of our booth layout was a testament to the collaborative efforts of our design team, marketing team, and print shop. Through thoughtful design and compelling visuals, we effectively conveyed the importance of "One Boys Town." Our booth showcased all that Boys Town has to offer, ranging from medical specialties, youth and family services, and crisis hotlines. Visitors were able to gain a comprehensive understanding of Boys Town's multifaceted mission and interact with our displays, like the signed memorabilia from famous visiting players over the years; the Lou Gehrig bust; the Babe Ruth, Father Flanagan and Lou Gehrig life-size cutouts; the interactive “BlazePods” reaction board; and “put a pin where you’re from” on our giant map of the United States. We had visitors from nearly all 50 states and many international tourists as well!
Community Impact and "BlazePods" Success:
The Boys Town team developed an exhibit to not only be informative but also interactive to leave a profound impact on the community and to raise awareness of our mission and how Boys Town helps in communities across the country. Content was shared via social media, web and national TV such as ESPN.
The "BlazePods" Reaction Time Board was one standout element of our booth. Developed by The Center for Human Performance Optimization, this engaging activity was played close to 4,000 times and gained national recognition when it was featured on ESPN during a College World Series game, https://fb.watch/mTklCqQgYj/. The "BlazePods" board not only entertained visitors but also highlighted the importance of one of Boys Town's services and its commitment to innovation and interactive learning experiences. This allowed us to not only introduce a new generation to Boys Town and the many different ways Boys Town impacts their lives with our mission, but encourage many to visit our campus.
Attendance Growth: Over the course of the College World Series, our booth attracted over 15,000 visitors, indicating a significant increase in mission compared to previous years.
Community Population: The event took place in Omaha with a population close to 500,000. The involvement of Boys Town employees and volunteers showcased the event's strong ties to the community.
Annual Attendance: The 2023 College World Series marked a turning point, as they broke the attendance record before the final night. Sixteen games averaged 24,559 fans and totaled 392,946, the tournament’s most ever during its 73-year history in Omaha. This demonstrates the event’s potential for growth in the coming years.
Social Media Impact: Notably, our event made a significant impact on social media platforms. Over the week and a half of the College World Series tournament, our social media activity generated almost 29,000 impressions. This level of engagement demonstrates the event's far-reaching influence and the success of our online promotional efforts. In addition to the physical booth, we recognized the importance of including those who could not attend the CWS in person. To ensure that people from afar could also engage, we created a Boys Town CWS webpage boystown.org/cws. This webpage served as an extension to our event, offering Boys Town facts, news and a Boys Town baseball quiz. This initiative helped us connect with a wider audience and share our mission and impact beyond the event itself.
In conclusion, Boys Town's booth at the 2023 College World Series was a collaborative effort that involved multiple departments, celebrated community engagement and tourism, innovation and the theme of "One Boys Town." It also honored Boys Town's rich baseball history and its connection to the College World Series. We have adhered to all guidelines, and the impact of our event on the community, economy, attendees, social media platforms and online engagement is evident. We believe that this event is worthy of the "Outstanding Event of 2023" award, under Category 2 (Population 10,000 or above), and kindly request your consideration.
