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In case you missed it Friday, Top Gun Events did something never seen before, or at least to this extent: a well-produced studio show live steamed on Facebook where teams for the 2020 Top Gun Invitational were unveiled in an NCAA basketball “March Madness” style show.
As the keystone in its stable of 22 showcase and tournament events, Top Gun rolled out its big guns (pun intended) Friday at noon Central Time as Robb Behmyer, co-owner of Top Gun and the face of the company, and Alexa DiSpirito, a Marketing Coordinator for Midwest Sports Productions, the company providing the production, tech capabilities and studio, spent over 20 minutes covering some of the major initiatives around the Invitational and other projects the company is spearheading.
Despite it being in the middle of a work and school day, the stream had at 300 people watching live at its peak and within two hours after the show’s completion had more than 1,500 people who had watched all or some of the production. As of Saturday morning the video had 127 shares and over 7,300 views.
One team who made the showcase field, Texas Elite – Bancroft 14U, even held a Watch Party to celebrate its entry into what is considered by many as one of the top five softball showcases in the summer season.
So why create such an elaborate production to simply announce what teams are in a showcase that’s six months away?
“We have the studio and tech abilities in-house through Midwest Sports Productions and we found a great story-teller in Alexa,” explained Behmyer. “We feel it’s a big deal for the kids, so we decided to do it in a big way.”
By the end of the show, it was announced that 360 teams across the nation had applied with 244 teams from 24 states making the cut for the Invitational. Four age division teams will participate— 18U, 16U, 14U and 12U – and over 3,200 athletes will take the fields in Kansas City next June 11-14.
The unique Top Gun Invitational “reveal” show was put together quickly as everything was pulled together in a span of just 10 days, including the video shoot and post-production. It was a big step up from how it was done in 2018.
“We tried it last year with Facebook Live,” recalls Behmyer, “and we did with a cell phone. This year we decided to invest money and make it look professional. We actually shot video, scripted what we’d say and put everything together with assets so it came out like a short movie production.”
Flashy media release of not, you still have to have a good product to sell and Top Gun has grown significantly in its eight-year history.
Jeff Wallace, Director of Marketing for MSP and Top Gun Events, believes that the Invitational is successful because the softball market appreciates the four areas where the event successfully hits the mark.
“We feel the key is the focus on the athletes,” he begins. “We give a world-class experience for the players, with world-class facilities, work-class umpires and overall provide a world-class experience.”
To see the complete list of all the teams in next summer’s Top Gun Invitational, click HERE
Adds Behymer: “We’re driven to do what’s best for the players.”
Both men say the true star of the Friday show was DisPirito. “She was the creative mind behind the production and made it happen,” Behmyer added. “Alexa wrote the script and did it all. She must have worked 36 hours straight to pull it all together.”
Over the course of its history, the Top Gun Invitational has become a popular draw for club teams and college coaches alike, especially in the middle part of the country.
One factor is the locations and fields are all relatively close to each other. The Maverick (top division) is held at one complex in the Kansas City area with 18 fields while the Viper division is played not far away with 12 fields so coaches aren’t driving all over the city or state.
And the college coaches do come: last year close to 150 head and representing 75 schools attended.
While the 20-minute studio show, which can be watched in its entirety below, was the focal point of the production and ended with the listing of the teams that will attend, the piece also had several other big announcements:
Folds of Honor
Behmyer served in the 101st Airborne Division of the Army so honoring and supporting fallen soldiers and their families is close to his heart. Last year, the event donated $3,000 to Folds of Honor but this year the plan is to go really, really big.
As part of the lead-up to the Top Gun Invitational, the event producers are encouraging each of the participating teams to hold fundraisers to raise $1,000 or more.
“This could bring in potentially $200,000 or more,” Behmyer says enthusiastically. “How great would that be?”
New Balance Sponsorship
Last week, it was announced that Easton would be a title sponsor for the Invitational, but Wallace pulled off another coup by getting New Balance to come in as well. Both will provide product to the winning teams of each of the four age divisions which will total $7,250 per champion or close to $29K in total donations.
“It’s a perfect match,” Wallace relayed, “as there’s no competing of boundaries in each other’s space.” Easton will have the bat and ball side and New Balance will cover the head-to-toe uniforms with jersey, pants, socks and cleats.”
Citizenship/Academic Scholarships
To date, Top Gun Events has provided $20,000 in scholarship money awarded to athletes and following this summer it will be $24K as four entrants will receive $1,000 each.
But it won’t be for play on the field, but rather for two important off-the-field criteria important to the company’s leadership team.
“The players are already competing on the field for athletic scholarships,” explains Behmyer. “We want to honor student-athletes who excel in citizenship and grades and reward them for these areas which has nothing to do with athletic ability. While we’ve honored younger players in the past, we concentrate primarily on the 18U age division.”
Those willing to be considered can fill out an application and submit letters of recommendation.
Top Gun Invitational Camp
The Invitational will be preceded by a camp on June 10, 2020 that will run from 8 am to 4 pm for the athletes in the grad classes of 2021 through 2025. Cost is $185.
Focusing on a mixture of college coaches split between Power 5, mid-major, DII and NAIA programs, Behymyer says that the coach-to-participant ration is 10-to-1.
College coaches confirmed to attend this year includes reps from DI schools like Oklahoma State, Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi State and South Dakota State with DII coaches confirmed from Wichita State, Missouri Western, Central Missouri and Pittsburgh State. Several other Big 12 and Big 10 coaches are expected to attend as well.
Those wishing to register or find more information can do so by clicking HERE.
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball