The Kentucky Derby Festival is pleased to announce a new partnership with CW Multimedia that allows Festival fans to send text messages from their cell phones at selected events. The promotion kicked off earlier this month as patrons texted “THUNDER†to 59454 for the opportunity to win VIP seats at Thunder Over Louisville. Approximately 2,060 messages were received at Thunder on April 12 and 23 advertising spots were aired on the JumboTron screen in Waterfront Park. At the adidas Derby Festival Basketball Classic on April 19 at Freedom Hall, spectators voted for the “FanFave Award†via text messaging (University of Kentucky recruit DeAndre Liggins was the winner), in addition to sending hundreds of messages that were shown on the scoreboard screen at the arena.
The Fifth Third Bank Derby Festival $1 Million Hole in One Golf Contest is now open at the Water Tower on Zorn Avenue and participants can check daily results by texting “53HIO†to 59454. The 53rd and 153rd individuals to text in will win a prize package from Fifth Third Bank. Attendees at the Republic Bank Parade Preview on April 29 at the Kentucky Exposition Center can text to vote for their favorite parade float. Information on texting will be available at the venue.
Another opportunity for Derby Festival fans to send “text 2 screen†messages will be during concerts at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront, which opens Thursday, April 24. Point of Grace will kick off the national music shows on Sunday, April 27, followed by Morris Day & The Time on April 29, Mason Jennings, Brett Dennen and Scott Miller on April 30, Craig Morgan on May 1 and the B-52s at the Derby Eve Jam on May 2. Standard text-messaging rates apply for all calls and messages will be displayed on the JumboTron screen at the venue. By texting KDF to 59454, patrons can receive Derby Festival event results and other information.
Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people in a two- week period and has a local economic impact of more than $90 million. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.
Kentucky Derby Festival Press Office
1001 S. Third Street
Louisville, KY 40203
Phone: (502) 584-6383
Fax: (502) 589-4674
www.kdf.org