events dc

Over the past several years Swanson Communications has assisted with the publicity needs of Events DC – the sports and entertainment arm of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Our agency has managed publicity efforts for some of the authority’s biggest and most widely attended events including: Nation’s Football Classic, RFK Stadium’s 50th Anniversary, Military Bowl, as well as numerous boxing events. Events DC has trusted Swanson Communications’ knowledge and familiarity with national, local and regional outlets to procure coverage for the various events.

Swanson Communications worked with Events DC to handle public relations for the Nation’s Football Classic™ (ATTNFC) in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The ATTNFC, which celebrated the rich history and culture of historically black colleges and universities, renewed the longstanding athletic rivalry between Howard University and Morehouse College in Washington, D.C. at the historic RFK Stadium. The Nation’s Football Classic tasked our team with creating a PR strategy that would generate interest in the game and encourage ticket sales. Through the use of traditional PR tactics such as the drafting press materials and pitching stories, as well as new media strategies, such as Twitter and Facebook contests and posts, our team was able to garner interest in the event three years in a row.

Additionally, to commemorate RFK Stadium’s 50th Anniversary milestone, our agency was brought on to spearhead efforts for “RFK Stadium Appreciation Day,” which took place on October 29, 2011, and included RFK Stadium tours and a booth at the Marine Corps Marathon Health and Fitness Expo featuring RFK Stadium-related artifacts and memorabilia. The agency was also asked to plan certain elements of the “RFK 50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner” for which the agency reached out to and secured two dozen former athletes with ties to RFK Stadium to attend.

Each spring, our team is also tapped to assist with Events DC's annual NY Media Mission. During the NY Media Mission, Events DC executives are given an opportunity to present the exciting happenings in the world of travel and tourism for the coming year. We're tasked with inviting and securing journalists to attend a luncheon where Events DC is joined by other hospitality and tourism entities from the District to present what is new and up and coming in the District. Additionally, our team looks to secure any media opportunity where CEO Greg O’Dell can discuss the future of Events DC, targeting outlets including FOX Business, CNBC, MSNBC, Forbes, Black Enterprise, Sports Business Journal, and more as well as desk side interviews with outlets such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Travel & Leisure, Hotel Business Magazine, BizBash, etc.

Photo Credit: Chris Galluzo/Nasdaq