Seminar attracts sports executives to OKC

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Hundreds of sports executives from across the country gathered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this week to share best practices, exchange ideas and volunteer at the Minor League Baseball Promotional Seminar. Below is a recap of the week's activities:

The MiLB Charities Community Service Project, sponsored by Musco Sports Lighting, kicked off the 37th annual Promotional Seminar on Tuesday, Sept. 30. Approximately 80 attendees worked with The Children's Center Rehabilitation Hospital, a private non-profit hospital that offers 24-hour medical care, comprehensive rehabilitative therapies, respiratory care and special education. Volunteers received a tour of the center located in Bethany, Oklahoma and then played a baseball game with patients on a field at their facility. MiLB Charities also made a monetary donation and a gift of baseball equipment to the organization. Since 2009, attendees have participated in a community service project in each of the Promotional Seminar host cities.

The Cox Convention Center played host to the week's meetings and events from Tuesday to Thursday, including: a job fair for individuals seeking employment in the baseball industry; Around the Horn, where individuals from each team discussed their best and most challenging promotions from the previous season; Group Therapy, a series of open discussion sessions facilitated by a moderator; and Power Session segments consisting of a panel of experts identified by Minor League Baseball executives in a chosen area or topic. A new feature of this year's seminar was the Executive Summit, a closed-door group discussion led and attended by senior management in attendance.

The Cocktail Party & Silent Auction on Wednesday night featured sports memorabilia, among other items, up for bid. The auction raised $11,015 to benefit MiLB Charities, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to giving back to and enhancing the communities MiLB teams call home.

The seminar concluded on Thursday night with an outing at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, home of the Oklahoma City RedHawks, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The evening included food and hospitality, a ballpark tour and presentations of the 4th annual Golden Bobblehead Awards. The awards are presented for the best promotions in Minor League Baseball for that given year in a variety of categories, voted on by the seminar attendees. The winners of the five Golden Bobblehead Awards were as follows: Best Theme Night - "Seinfeld" Night, Brooklyn Cyclones; Best In-Game Promotion or Event - #DutchBroSelfieCam, Eugene Emeralds; Best Non-Gameday Event - Red, White & Boom, Lexington Legends and Best Charity Promotion or Event - HOPE Week, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Best Overall Promotion was awarded to the Brooklyn Cyclones for "Seinfeld" Night.

The site of the 2015 Minor League Baseball Promotional Seminar will be announced in the coming weeks.