Big Blue Beast
The Big Blue Beast was an advertising campaign run by Intercollegiate Athletics at Old Dominion University (ODU) during the 1982-1983 academic year, mostly at men’s and women’s basketball games.
Contents
History
With hopes of attracting more fans to support ODU basketball and enthusiasm during games at Norfolk Scope, ODU Athletics created the Big Blue Beast advertising campaign during the 1982-1983 season. Developed by George Fugate at Redman, Amundson and Rice Agency, Inc., featured a beast within a car that is hauled out during games with fierce claws protruding from inside. The campaign involved radio and television ads, along with bumper stickers, posters, and tee-shirts, that featured the beast peaking out from his lair at Norfolk Scope and roaring. The tagline for the beast was “I got bit by the Big Blue Beast. And I loved it.” The illustration of the Big Blue Beast was created by Dick Lovell, who was also known for his illustrations of the Lock Ness Monster roller coaster at Bush Gardens Williamsburg.
Resources
- Old Dominion University Photographic and Multimedia Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
References
- The Big Blue Beast, AlumNews, 1982 December, pg. 11, Old Dominion University.
- Clapp, Jojo and K.D. Farley. The Big Blue Beast: New Ad Campaign Will Have the Fans Roaring, Mace & Crown, 1982 November 22, pg. 4. Old Dominion University.