White Sox To Move Weeknight Start Times to 7:11pm After Inking Deal with 7-Eleven

This is a story that made me laugh when I read it this morning. Its actually pretty creative. The Chicago White Sox will start weeknight home games at 7:11pm as part of a new sponsorship deal with the 7-Eleven convenience store chain. The agreement between the White Sox and the Dallas-based 7-Eleven is for three years The new start time won't be much different for fans attending White Sox home games at U.S. Cellular Field. Games this season started at 7:07pm.   To me this is a fun sports - corporate partnership. 7-Eleven thought outside the box" on this one and I would expect that this deal will create hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars in media exposure for them. It's unique and quirky enough to get mentions from the mainstream media and those mentions will do nothing but good for the 7-Eleven brand. It will also get fans in Chicago talking and thinking about 7-Eleven because when they get their season ticket packets and look at their tickets the start time will say 7:11pm. Its great water cooler conversation for fans. The possible promotions between the White Sox and 7-Eleven are numerous as well. How about 7-Eleven giving a coupon for a free slurpee to every fan in attendance if the White Sox score more than 7 runs or accumulate at least 11 hits in a game next season? Could get expensive but those are the types of activities that engage fans with a sponsor because all fans want something for free.   Margaret Chabris a spokeswoman 7-Eleven said the company has been trying to develop sponsorships with other teams and entertainment venues. The Chicago area was targeted because of its more than 180 7-Eleven stores. "Every time the media announces the game's start time it will be a gentle reminder of our sponsorship " Chabris told the Associated Press. "

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