The National Hockey League (NHL) teamed up with Twitter in June 2021 for a campaign called #StanleyTweets: an initiative based around a social post call-for-entry to engrave 52 tweets to the @StanleyCup account into a first-of-its kind installation at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
The installation went live in September ahead of the 2021/2 season start and amongst the notable names who’s tweets are displayed are President Joe Biden, National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Wade Boggs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, World Wrestling Entertainment Superstar Titus O’Neil and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Indeed, all 52 people whose tweets were used were contacted to request permission to do so, and each of them will receive their own smaller plaque as a keepsake.
The campaign marked the first time that authentic fan tweets were put on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame and a linked promotional campaign drives consumer’s to an online iteration of the initiative through a link to all 52 tweets.
The @StanleyCup asked, you tweeted!
Congrats to the 52 finalists who now have their #StanleyTweets showcased in the @HockeyHallFame. pic.twitter.com/kCjmm2vpEd
— NHL (@NHL) September 13, 2021
#StanleyTweets are now on display in the ‘Hockey in COVID’ exhibit! Check out all the winning Tweets and more this long weekend – we’re open 10:00am to 4:00pm every day including Monday! https://t.co/07XjH0SxEM@NHL @StanleyCup @keeperofthecup @Twitter @TwitterSports pic.twitter.com/m8TGglttGo
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) September 3, 2021
Commenting on the initiative, Hockey Hall of Fame Curator Phil Pritchard said that the original idea came from NHL chief marketing officer Heidi Browning and the key goal was to celebrate the game through the words of those who share a passion for hockey.
“It’s a big stride not only for the Hockey Hall of Fame, but for the NHL, as well, to get the fans interacting even more with the game itself,” explained Pritchard. “And I think that the league is going about it in a unique way because it provides a way for everyday people, whether famous or not, to be represented in the Hall of Fame and be part of hockey history. The pandemic meant that a lot of fans were disconnected from their teams because they couldn’t go to games, so this is a great way for them to be part of it and interact. Ideally, the hope is that this becomes an annual thing, with new tweets on display every year.”
Pritchard added that it was important the display wasn’t “just about famous people”, but that it was “a chance for everyday fans to have their voices heard, too”.
“From what I’ve seen on social media, the reaction from the fans whose tweets were used has been amazing,£ continued Pritchard. “It’s a chance for us to embrace social media as part of the Hall as it relates to the passion for the sport. Hopefully, it will be a regular thing.”
Comment:
Some might think that it is a strange world we live in when such a serious figure as a President tweets to an inanimate sports trophy and those digital comments are displayed on a brass plaque on the wall of a museum as an item of fan fascination and an important peice of hockey history.
But we will leave that up to you to you decide.
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