***Update: As broke on the below story about the Jackets wearing a patch on their sweaters this year and an emblem put into the ice, the logo was revealed by the CBJ today.
I will be changing my avatar to this emblem as a small tribute for the things that Mr. Mac did for Columbus.
Here it is.
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Got a chance to get an interview with Marc Gregory, Vice President of Marketing for the Columbus Blue Jackets, to get some insight into some of the marketing and promotions the Jackets have planned for this year.
ES: Thank you Marc for giving me some time to go over what the Blue Jackets organization has planned for the upcoming year. First off I want to find out what the organization has planned for the slogan this year.
MG: Not a problem Eric. We have decided to keep the slogan of “Carry the Flag” that we introduced last year. Last year was the first year that we introduced the slogan and we got a very good response from the fans. Especially in the arena, the fans really gave a good response to the slogan. Fans liked the things that we did during the game such as the pre-game skate of the flag and the passing of the flag through the crowd. We are trying not to get into a habit of changing the slogan every year.
ES: The cannon was a huge success last year. Are you planning any further Civil War type promotions or in game events to happen this year?
MG: I wouldn’t say anything further on the promotion side. On the printed collateral that is going out, we will feature the cannon and additional Civil War imagery. Season tickets will have a picture of the cannon that will be printed on the tickets that wasn’t featured last year on the tickets.
ES: A lot of fans have e-mailed me asking me to ask if the opening song that the team comes out on the ice, Machinehead by Bush, will it be changed this year?
MG: You will have to talk to Event Production to find that out. (Followed up with the Director of Event Presentation/Production, Kimberly Kershaw and she said "No!")
ES: Also, a lot of interest in regards to a 3rd jersey. Any plans for this?
MG: Not for this season. Last year was the first year for the new crest or the old 3rd jersey crest and we really want to leave time to have it build this identity. We have had several changes to the jersey in the past with different shoulder patches and really just wanted to give the current design time for the fans get comfortable with. Doing a 3rd jersey this early wasn’t something that we had planned. A 3rd jersey in on the radar but no time table has been set for a release.
ES: The Pick 6 packages are being heavily marketed. I think the games are grouped together very well. How are they being received by the fans?
MG: They are being very well received. Especially the Premier Package (featuring Predators, Capitals, Flyers, Senators, Penguins and Wild) and the Saturday Package (featuring Flames, Islanders, Wild, Stars, Sharks and Ducks). Fans have told us they really like the preset packages and it has made it simpler for them.
ES: Is this the only way currently to guarantee to get into say the Penguins game?
MG: Yes until September 19th when single game tickets go on sale. You can guarantee now through either the Pick 6, 10 or 20 plans or buying a season ticket package.
ES: Tell me more about the 10 and 20 game plans.
MG: This is being well received also because it is the first time you can guarantee your seats for 10 or 20 games without having to pay for a PSL.
ES: I know the “All You Can Eat Nights” were very popular last year (of course they are popular we live in Ohio) and I see the Nashville Predators are going to do the same promotion this year. Are you planning on continuing the promotion this year?
MG: Yes we are going to continue the promotion this year. We are going to have 10 dates for this promotion in the AAA Sky Terrace. I believe the tickets will be $39 this year. We brought it back because of how popular it was last year.
ES: Are there any other promotions that you want to highlight?
MG: Mix 97.1 FM Family Packs will be back and are most popular single game ticket promotion. Jackets Night Out will be back that include the 2 tickets, 2 Donatos pizzas and 2 beers and they will cost $60. We will have team autograph session November 8th, White Out t-shirt night is scheduled for January 16th, team poster night which is done on the final home game. There will also be a team magnetic schedule give away October 21st. We are still working with corporate sponsors to add additional promotions.
ES: The Blue Jackets have always done a great job of getting corporate involvement with the team. How has the current economic situation affected that?
MG: We are still in the process of resigning and bringing in our new corporate sponsors. Between now and the beginning of training camp is a very busy time for us. I will know better and you could ask me after training camp is over.
ES: The Blue Jackets web-site is packed full of all kinds of features and different things for the fans. Is there any additional features of downloads that the fans should know about?
MG: We just have added some new wallpapers that fans can download. We are also going to have a schedule download that will go straight to your outlook that will also have inter-active links. This is being done by Infusion.
ES: Mr. McConnell was a very beloved owner with the fans and he will be greatly missed. How will the Jackets honor Mr. Mac this year?
MG: Yes we will. We will be having a tribute on opening night before the start of the game. There will also be a commemorative patch that will be worn on the jersey this year as well as the same design of the patch will be put into the ice this year. We are doing the patch and the design in the ice to honor Mr. McConnell all year long.
ES: Marc, I appreciate the time you have given me and the insight into what some of the things that the Blue Jackets have planned for this year.
MG: No problem Eric and I will be sure to keep you up to date as the season goes along.
Marc Gregory was named vice resident of marketing for the Columbus Blue Jackets in May 2006. He joined the organization as director of advertising and promotions in 1999 and was promoted to executive director of marketing in 2004. In his current role, he oversees all advertising, promotions and marketing initiatives, as well as the retail, creative services, broadcasting and fan development departments of the Blue Jackets and Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League.
Gregory came to Columbus after spending five years with the LPGA's Giant Eagle Classic. He began his stint as a sales/marketing & operations coordinator before serving as the senior tournament coordinator directing the sales, marketing, public relations and operations efforts surrounding the event.
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, he is a 1994 graduate of the University of Michigan, where he served as the hockey sports information director while working in the university's Athletic Department. He and his wife, Melissa, are the parents of daughters, Emerson and Kellyn, and reside in Powell.
***Note: Wanted to thank Ek, the fans and everyone else that has ever click on my stories by mistake that has allowed me to move to the middle of the site. I appreciate the opportunity that has been given to me but it also means I need to step up my game at the same time. I will try and do this and don't be afraid to call me out if you don't think I am holding up my end of the bargain.
As always...
Fire the Cannon!
Eric Smith
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Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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