Bruins Make Twitter's Top Trends Wednesday

By Zach Baru

The power of Twitter, it really is amazing.  Our very own Boston Bruins saw this first-hand Wednesday night, as they reached global popularity on social media.  

Not one, but four of Twitter's most popular worldwide trends on Wednesday were associated with the Bruins.  The media-hyped controversy over the hit by Boston's Milan Lucic on Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller 12 days ago lead up to hockey theater on Wednesday night in Buffalo.  As soon at the game started, Twitter was flooded by people weighing in on their thoughts on the game.  

The result: instant exposure for the Bruins.  From a marketing standpoint, this is priceless.  Having the Bruins trending on Twitter creates excellent international exposure for the brand, and at a minimal cost to the franchise.  This right here is the power of Twitter, keeping an entire network of social media users in touch with the Bruins' product, and reaching out to new potential fans.

So just what were the four Bruins-related trends topping Twitter's worldwide list on Wednesday?  The first two occurred during the game, and were the expected hashtag "#Bruins" followed by the surprising hashtag "#dontpokethebear".  The last two trends were not hashtags, and occurred immediately following the game.  They were of course "Tim Thomas", and unexpectedly followed by, that's right, "Jack Edwards".

For those of you wondering what in the world a hashtag might be, all you need to know is that it's just a small example of the undeniable power of Twitter, and the ever-changing medium it represents.  For years, the sports business industry has had a unique opportunity to adapt and embrace social media.  There is still more work to be done, and more potential for sports franchises to market their brands.  Social media has been, and will be the new way of marketing.  And it is not going anywhere.

Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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How They Rank: Top Boston-Area Stadiums and Arenas

By Zach Baru

As the seventh largest media market in the U.S., Boston is a favorite for event promoters.  But just what are the top venues in the area?  It is more than just visual appeal and amenities that make a venue important, it's convenience and the over-all fan experience.  Using these factors, and after visiting the venues, here's how I rank the top 5 stadiums and arenas in the Boston market:

#5: TD Garden

The Garden is for the most part modern, however, it lacks any sort of character.  One of the best features of this venue is the HDX video scoreboard, which offers stunning high definition resolution at 1080p.  The Garden offers some of the best access to public transportation in Boston, as it sits above North Station, with service from MBTA Commuter Rail, Amtrak, and subways.  For a large arena that seats 17,565 for hockey, there are not too many bad views, making this arena a great place to see sports and concerts.

#4: Agganis Arena

The intimacy of the 6,150 seats for hockey ensures that any seat can be close to the action.  The accessibility of the Green Line subway makes getting to the game easy and hassle-free.  The six year-old building is extremely modern, and is located in the John Hancock Student Village, a very lively area on the Boston University Campus.

#3: Harvard Stadium

No venue in the region has character quite like Harvard Stadium.  Built in 1903, the stadium has historical charm, yet also modern innovations such as a video board and a new public address system in 2008, FieldTurf in 2007 and a major infrastructure renovation in 1984.  While many stadiums are simply "venues" for the game, this stadium can be the main attraction itself.  It is easy to loose your focus, and appreciate all the history that surrounds you.

#2: Fenway Park

Fenway is intended to preserve its century-old history while offering the modern amenities fans expect when they attend an event.  Fenway does an excellent job balancing these initiatives, and offers easy public transportation options.  The Green Line subway and the MBTA Commuter Rail both have stations in the Fenway area.  While the concourses lack the width of newer stadiums, many older seats have been replaced, and three new LED video boards were installed for the 2011 season.  The ability to watch replays and other video in high definiton is a major addition to the fan experience at the ballpark.  

#1: Gillette Stadium

As beautiful and well designed as a stadium Gillette is, what really makes the 68,756 seat stadium so special is the fact that it is located at Patriot Place.  The entertainment and lifestyle center includes anything a fan, family or tourist could ever want. Centered around a Mariott Courtyard hotel, Patriot Place has plenty of upscale and casual dining restaurants, bars, shopping and even activities for children.  What makes Gillette Stadium stand out from the other venues is that it is not an attraction, it is a destination.

Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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