Nationally Recognized Kentucky Derby Coverage
Opportunity
In April 2020, AERAS partnered with Pritchard Sports and Entertainment to sanitize Churchill Downs in advance of the 147th Kentucky Derby in May 2021. At the time, the 51,000 attendees made the 2021 Derby the largest sporting event since the start of the COVID pandemic.
Strategy
M:7 Agency created and launched a nationally recognized media campaign one week prior to the event, informing local and trade publications of AERAS’ newly obtained FAA clearances that made it the first company approved to use a drone for sanitization purposes outdoors. A targeted media campaign ensued, with national and international results.
A well-written narrative and strong visuals were the backbone of this award-winning campaign’s success. Leveraging pre-existing relationships with local and national media, M:7 secured two national placements with the Athletic, a placement in Africa’s oldest and largest aviation magazine and dozens of regional print and broadcast mentions.
Results
In less than 2 weeks, M:7 secured:
Placements
Conclusion
AERAS’ successful campaign is proof that strategic narrative and executives coached to be quotable and charismatic can take a simple media campaign to the next level.
M:7 Agency ultimately secured two international placements— The Athletic and World AIRNEWS (Africa’s oldest and largest aviation magazine) — and dozens of regional placements for AERAS.
Additionally, M:7’s AERAS/Derby Press Packet was nationally recognized in the 2021 Ragan Video, Visual & Virtual Awards.
