Havasu float takes prize at Fiesta Bowl

A Lake Havasu lighthouse was a winner at the Fiesta Bowl.

The Lake Havasu City entry in last Saturday’s Fiesta Bowl Parade was the Sweepstakes Award winner for most outstanding float.

“We were very excited when we heard the news,” said Lake Havasu Convention and Visitors Bureau president Dan Cunning in a press release.

The float spotlighted the efforts of the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club, which installs replicas of North American lighthouses around the lake as both tourist attractions and navigational aids for boaters. The float also featured the London Bridge.

The float was part of a $40,000 sponsorship package contracted by the CVB. In addition to design and construction of the float, the CVB and the city secured sponsorship of an entertainment stage at the Fiesta Bowl Block Party, a full-page ad in the entertainment guide at all Fiesta Bowl events, other event marketing and about 10 tickets to the game.

“The biggest thing looked for in advertising is impressions, or the number of people that see the ad. The parade was seen by an estimated 400,000 people in person, the statewide TV coverage, not to mention the preview coverage. The block party was attended by an estimated 100,000 people, where again people were exposed to Lake Havasu City. The entertainment guide was seen by hundreds of thousands. Total all that together and you’re looking at well over one million impressions generated by this investment,” said CVB vice president Jarrod Lyman.

Walking next to the float in the parade were representatives from the Lake Havasu City Fire and Police departments and Lake Havasu City Magistrate Clyde Andress.

“The guys walking along said there was a huge, positive response from the crowd. Not just because of the float but the city itself. From people that have visited or plan to visit,” Lyman said.

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