Introducing the ESPN Ditch Days contest, where your best excuses for ditching work could win you tickets for an upcoming MLB® day game.
Want in? Entering is easy:
Come up with a clever excuse to get the day off. Like jury duty. Emergency hair removal. Alien invasion. Use your imagination.
Scroll down and choose the team you want to see play, then Tweet your best Ditch Days excuse along with your team's contest hashtag.
Fans with the most original excuses will score two tickets for an upcoming MLB® day game.
Make sure your Twitter account is public so ESPN can let you know if you've won.
NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
DESCRIPTION: The “Ditch Day Contest” ("Contest") begins on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at 7:00 pm Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on Monday, September 24, 2018 at 3:00 pm ET (“Contest Period”). The Contest Period is separated into six (6) entry periods (each an “Entry Period”), offering a total of thirty (30) prize-specific entry pools (each an “Entry Pool”) as described in the chart in Section 4. The Contest provides eligible entrants (each, an “Entrant” and collectively, “Entrants”) with the opportunity to share their own original “Ditch Day Excuse” via Twitter (the “Submission”) for consideration as described below. For this Contest, a “Ditch Day Excuse” is defined as the Entrant’s imagined explanation for why he or she is unable to fulfill previous obligations (such as work, school, or a family obligation) to accept the prize. The Sponsor of this Contest is ESPN Internet Ventures ("Sponsor"), 77 W. 66th Street, New York, NY 10023. The administrator of this Contest is Creative Zing Promotion Group ("Administrator"), 189 South Orange Avenue, Suite 1130A, Orlando, FL 32801. The Sponsor, ESPN, Inc., and Administrator shall collectively be referred to as the “Contest Entities”. Twitter shall be referred to as the “Social Media Platform”. Void in Quebec and where restricted or prohibited by law. This Contest is in no way sponsored, administered, offered, executed or produced by the “MLB Entities” (as defined in Section 2 below), Twitter, or any of their respective affiliates, officers, directors, agents and employees.
ENTRANT ELIGIBILITY: For an Entrant to be eligible to participate in the Contest and to be considered as a potential winner, the Entrant must meet the following eligibility criteria:
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Each prize-specific Submission must be received in accordance with the Entry & Prizing Chart in Section 4 and meet the criteria below.
Submissions must meet the following criteria:
Submissions are subject to the following Content Restrictions and each Entrant represents and warrants as follows:
Contest Entities reserve the right to edit or request that an Entrant edit or completely remove any content that, in the Sponsor’s sole discretion, may intentionally or unintentionally violate these Official Rules and Entrants must promptly comply with any such request. Contest Entities will determine in their sole discretion which Submissions have satisfied the requirements of these Official Rules. Sponsor reserves the right to waive the Contest entry requirements set forth herein in its reasonable discretion. Without in any way limiting the effect of the rest of these Official Rules, any Entrant who incorporates any intellectual property owned by a third party into his or her Submission without permission is solely responsible for any such use of the intellectual property and such Submission shall be disqualified from the Contest.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE: The Contest offers eligible Entrants an opportunity to post a Submission to progress to the Contest Judging phase.
The Contest will operate as follows:
Entrant may only submit one (1) Submission per Entry Pool and each individual Submission must be unique. Entrant may not repost the same Submission multiple times for more than one Entry Pool. Any Entrant who is awarded a prize in any Entry Pool will not be eligible to win again during the Contest Period. Submissions must be received in accordance with the Entry & Prizing Chart. Use of the Entry Hashtag and entry of a Submission into the Contest constitutes Entrant's understanding of, full and unconditional agreement to, and acceptance of these Official Rules. Sponsor’s decisions are final in all matter relating to this Contest. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Entrant that Sponsor determines to be in violation of any term contained in these Official Rules. Sponsor's decision not to enforce a specific provision of these Official Rules does not constitute a waiver of that provision or of the Official Rules generally. ELIGIBLE ENTRANTS MUST ENTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE OFFICIAL RULES. NO OTHER METHOD OF SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED. Sponsor has the right to change the Contest Period, an Entry Period and all other dates or deadlines set in connection with this Contest, at any time and in its sole discretion, and if applicable, notice will be posted by ESPN’s Twitter account.
Contest Judging: Throughout and immediately following each Entry Period, eligible Submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Contest Entities to determine up to five (5) winners of each prize. Judging will take place in Orlando, Florida. Eligible Submissions will be judged in accordance with the following weighted criteria (“Judging Criteria”):
For each prize, the five (5) Entrants with the highest total score among all Judging Criteria will be deemed the potential winners and subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules, the potential winners will be declared the official winners. In the event of a tie, the tied Submissions will be re-evaluated by the Contest Entities in accordance with the aforementioned criteria and the Entrant with the highest rating on “Relevance to the Ditch Day Excuse Theme” will be deemed the potential winner. Judges decisions are final and binding. Final judging scores will not be revealed or publicly announced.
ENTRY & PRIZING CHART
ALL ENTRY PERIODS START ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 12 AT 7:00 PM ET
Entry Period | END DATE At 3:00 pm ET |
NOTIFICATION (on or about) |
ENTRY POOL & PRIZES (5 prizes available per Entry Period): Each prize consists of two (2) general admission tickets for winner and one (1) guest for the game detailed below for the corresponding Entry Period. Game times are reflected in local time. |
REQUIRED PRIZE-SPECIFIC HASHTAG |
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1 | Mon., Aug 13 | Tues., Aug 14 | Detroit Tigers home game at Comerica Park on August 15, 2018, at 1:10 pm | #TigersDitchDaysContest |
Philadelphia Phillies home game at Citizens Bank Park on August 16, 2018, at 4:05 pm | #PhilliesDitchDaysContest | |||
2 | Mon., Aug 20 | Tues., Aug 21 | Toronto Blue Jays home game at Rogers Centre on August 22, 2018, at 12:37 pm | #BlueJaysDitchDaysContest |
Seattle Mariners home game at Safeco Field on August 22, 2018, at 1:10 pm | #MarinersDitchDaysContest | |||
Milwaukee Brewers home game at Miller Park on August 22, 2018, at 1:10 pm | #BrewersDitchDaysContest | |||
New York Mets home game at Citi Field on August 23, 2018, at 1:10 pm | #MetsDitchDaysContest | |||
Boston Red Sox home game at Fenway Park on August 23, 2018, at 1:05 pm | #RedSoxDitchDaysContest | |||
Washington Nationals home game at Nationals Park on August 23, 2018, at 1:05 pm | #NationalsDitchDaysContest | |||
3 | Mon., Aug 27 | Tues., Aug 28 | Houston Astros home game at Minute Maid Park on August 29, 2018, at 1:10 pm | #AstrosDitchDaysContest |
Kansas City Royals home game at Kauffman Stadium on August 29, 2018, at 1:15 pm | #RoyalsDitchDaysContest | |||
San Diego Padres home game at PETCO Park on August 29, 2018, at 12:40 pm | #PadresDitchDaysContest | |||
Cincinnati Reds home game at Great American Ball Park on August 30, 2018, at 12:35pm | #RedsDitchDaysContest | |||
Pittsburgh Pirates home game at PNC Park on September 3, 2018, at 1:35 pm | #PiratesDitchDaysContest | |||
Miami Marlins home game at Marlins Park on September 3, 2018, at 1:10 pm | #MarlinsDitchDaysContest | |||
Atlanta Braves home game at SunTrust Park on September 5, 2018, at 12:10 pm | #BravesDitchDaysContest | |||
Cleveland Indians home game at Progressive Field on September 5, 2018, at 1:10 pm | #IndiansDitchDaysContest | |||
Los Angeles Dodgers home game at Dodger Stadium on September 5, 2018, at 4:35 pm | #DodgersDitchDaysContest | |||
4 | Mon., Sep 10 | Tues., Sept 11 | St. Louis Cardinals home game at Busch Stadium on September 12, 2018, at 12:15 pm | #CardinalsDitchDaysContest |
San Francisco Giants home game at AT&T Park on September 12, 2018, at 12:45 pm | #GiantsDitchDaysContest | |||
Chicago Cubs home game at Wrigley Field on September 14, 2018, at 1:20 pm | #CubsDitchDaysContest | |||
5 | Sun., Sep 16 | Mon., Sept 17 | New York Yankees home game at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2018, at 1:05 pm | #YankeesDitchDaysContest |
Texas Rangers home game at Globe Life Park in Arlington on September 19, 2018, at 1:05 pm | #RangersDitchDaysContest | |||
Oakland Athletics home game at Oakland Coliseum on September 20, 2018, at 12:35 pm | #AthleticsDitchDaysContest | |||
Chicago White Sox home game at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 21, 2018, at 3:10 pm | #WhiteSoxDitchDaysContest | |||
Arizona Diamondbacks home game at Chase Field on September 23, 2018, at 1:10 pm | #DiamondbacksDitchDaysContest | |||
6 | Mon., Sep 24 | Tues., Sept 25 | Tampa Bay Rays home game at Tropicana Field on September 27, 2018, at 1:10 pm | #RaysDitchDaysContest |
Colorado Rockies home game in Colorado on September 27, 2018, at 1:10 pm | #RockiesDitchDaysContest | |||
Minnesota Twins home game at Target Field on September 28, 2018, at 1:10 pm | #TwinsDitchDaysContest | |||
Baltimore Orioles home game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 30, 2018, at 3:05 pm | #OriolesDitchDaysContest | |||
Los Angeles Angels home game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 30, 2018, at 12:07 pm | #AngelsDitchDaysContest |
Prize Provisions: Limit one (1) prize per Household Member. The minimum approximate retail value (“ARV”) of each prize is $88.00. The minimum ARV for all prizes awarded hereunder is $13,200.00. Actual prize value may be greater depending on ticket demand, availability and other factors. Winners are solely responsible for any and all unspecified expenses in conjunction with acceptance and use of the prize, including but not limited to travel to and from the game, parking, souvenirs and concessions, if applicable. Prizes must be accepted as awarded. Prizes will be awarded in the name of the winners and are not transferrable, assignable or exchangeable for cash. Winners may not re-sell or otherwise transfer the prizes to any other individual or entity. Each winner will be required to present his or her government-issued identification card to claim the prize from the will-call location at the ballpark associated with the prize. If a prize cannot be awarded due to circumstances beyond the control of the Contest Entities a substitute prize of equal or greater retail value may be awarded. Other restrictions may apply. Any depictions of prizes are for illustrative purposes only. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL TAXES, AND ANY OTHER COSTS AND EXPENSES, ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF ANY PRIZE ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH INDIVIDUAL WINNER. TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM THE GAME, EVENT OR EXHIBITION AND LODGING NOT INCLUDED. Seat locations at the game shall be determined in the sole discretion of Sponsor. Each winner’s guest must be of legal age of majority in his/her jurisdiction of residence (and at least eighteen (18) years of age), unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Major League Baseball game, event and exhibition dates and times are determined in the sole discretion of the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball and/or the applicable Major League Baseball Club, as applicable, and may be subject to change. The terms and conditions of the tickets awarded as part of any prize will govern in the event a legal game, event or exhibition, as defined by Major League Baseball, is not played or held, as applicable, due to weather conditions, an act of God, an act of terrorism, civil disturbance or any other reason. Each winner and his/her guest agree to comply with all applicable ballpark and venue, as applicable, regulations in connection with the prize. Sponsor and the applicable MLB Entities reserve the right to remove or to deny entry to any winner and/or his/her guest who engage(s) in a non-sportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person at the game, event or exhibition. Sponsor and the MLB Entities will not be responsible for weather conditions, Acts of God, acts of terrorism, civil disturbances, work stoppage or any other natural disaster outside their control that may cause the cancellation or postponement of any Major League Baseball game, event or exhibition. Major League Baseball game, event and exhibition tickets awarded as prizes may not be resold or offered for resale or used for any commercial or promotional purpose whatsoever. Any such resale or commercial or promotional use may result in disqualification and prize forfeiture, and may invalidate the license granted by the game, event or exhibition tickets. Sponsor and the MLB Entities (a) make no warranty, guaranty or representation of any kind concerning any prize (or any portion thereof), and (b) disclaim any implied warranty.
WINNER NOTIFICATION: On or about the notification date for each Entry Period, each potential winner will be notified in the form of a direct message on Twitter. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE WHEN AWARDING THESE PRIZES. Each potential winner will be required to respond (as directed) within two (2) hours of the notification. Each potential winner will be provided with a link to complete a digital prize acceptance form (the “Prize Acceptance Form”). Failure to respond or complete the digital Prize Acceptance Form within the stated time period may result in forfeiture of the prize. If a potential winner forfeits, is found to be ineligible, or if he or she has not complied with these Official Rules or declines the prize for any reason prior to award, such potential winner will be disqualified and an alternate potential winner may be selected based on the judging results, at the sole discretion of the Sponsor and/or Administrator in accordance with the aforementioned procedure. If time permits, the Administrator will attempt to contact up to three (3) potential winners of each prize in accordance with the above procedure, after which the prize in question may go unawarded if it remains unclaimed. If a prize is awarded but goes unclaimed or is forfeited by recipient, such prize may not be re-awarded, in Contest Entities’ sole discretion. Sponsor and the MLB Entities are not responsible for any change of email address or social media account information of potential winners. Sponsor’s decisions shall be final in all matters relating to this Contest.
Sponsor, in its sole discretion, reserves the option to prominently feature select Submissions and the associated Materials (as defined in Section 6) in future advertising campaigns. If requested and unless prohibited by law, Entrants (including winners) associated with such Submissions may be required to complete an additional publicity release and may be required to provide their SSN or SIN and consent to a background check. Such background check may include (but is not limited to) investigation of criminal or other arrest or conviction record, and any other factor deemed relevant by the Sponsor to help ensure that any winner will not, in the Sponsor’s sole discretion, bring Contest Entities into public disrepute, risk, contempt, scandal or ridicule or reflect unfavorably on the Contest Entities or the game of baseball. If requested, the Entrant (including winner) agrees to sign forms authorizing the release of personal and background information.
MATERIALS/RIGHTS IN SUBMISSIONS/PUBLICITY RIGHTS: In consideration of a Submission being reviewed and evaluated for this Contest, each Entrant (including each winner) hereby grants to the Sponsor, and its designees, licensees, successors and assigns, the non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, irrevocable, fully paid, universal right and license to use, license, distribute, incorporate, broadcast, telecast, webcast, distribute, re-use, publish, re-publish, perform, edit, transmit, composite, morph, scan, duplicate, create derivative works of or alter, sell, and otherwise exploit (a) such Submission (and to permit others to do the same), or any portion thereof, (b) to the extent applicable any information or content, including name, social media handle, social media photo, biographical or personal data, image, likeness and voice, included in any Submission submitted by Entrant in connection with the Contest; and (c) all graphics, photos, voice recordings, statements, quotations and any other creative materials of or by the Entrant, or winner as part of this Contest (collectively the “Materials”), in any media now known or hereafter devised, including, but not limited to, all forms of electronic media, print media and all forms of internet and wireless protocol. Each Entrant (including the winner) understands that his or her name and other Materials may be posted on the Sponsor’s website, social media channels or elsewhere in any media in the Contest Entities’ sole discretion. Entrant agrees that the Sponsor has no obligation to post a Submission or any Materials on Sponsor’s website, social media channels or elsewhere. Each Entrant (including the winner) agrees and acknowledges that participation in the Contest, including, without limitation, the decision to post any Submissions for purposes of the Contest, shall not give rise to any confidential, fiduciary, implied-in-fact, implied-in-law, or other special relationship between the Contest Entities and Entrant, or winner does not place the Contest Entities in a position that is any different from the position held by members of the general public with regard to the Submissions, and that the only contracts, express or implied, are as set forth in these Official Rules, and the Prize Acceptance Form (as described above).
CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION: Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may designate the Administrator to handle winner selection, notification and fulfillment tasks on Sponsor’s behalf. All federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations apply. By participating, each Entrant agrees to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Contest Entities, which shall be final in all respects.
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES; RELEASE; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: By participating in this Contest and/or by accepting any prize, each Entrant agrees to release the Contest Entities, MLB Entities, Twitter and each of their respective advertising agencies, successors, employees, agents, representatives and assigns (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any and all actions, claims, losses or damages arising in any manner, directly or indirectly, from participation in this Contest and/or acceptance or use or misuse of a prize. The Released Parties shall not be liable for (i) any injuries, losses, liabilities or damages of any kind including personal injury or death caused by the prize or resulting from acceptance, possession or use or misuse of a prize including participation in any activity related thereto, or from participation in the Contest; (ii) telephone system, telephone or computer hardware, software or other technical or computer malfunctions, lost connections, disconnections, delays or transmission errors; (iii) data corruption, theft, destruction, unauthorized access to or alteration of entry or other materials; (iv) late, lost, delayed, stolen, misdirected, postage-due, incomplete, unreadable, inaccurate, garbled or unintelligible entries, communications or releases, regardless of the method of transmission; (v) any inability of winner to accept or use any prize (or portion thereof) for any reason and such prize or portion thereof shall be forfeited; (vi) any printing, typographical, human administrative or technological errors in any materials or activities associated with the Contest; or (vii) use of intellectual property in a Submission. Contest Entities and the MLB Entities disclaim any liability for damage to any computer or mobile system resulting from participating in or accessing or downloading information in connection with this Contest. Contest Entities reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel, modify or suspend the Contest (or any portion of the Contest) at any time for any reason or should fraud, a virus, bug, computer problem, unauthorized intervention, extenuating circumstance or other problem/cause corrupt or inhibit the administration, security or proper play of the Contest and, in such situation, will determine winners from among all eligible non-suspect Submissions received prior to and/or after such action or in such manner as deemed fair and appropriate by the Contest Entities. Contest Entities may prohibit Entrant from participating in the Contest or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines Entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, hacking, deception, or any other unfair practices or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other Entrants or Contest Entities or MLB Entities representatives.
GOVERNING LAW: Except where prohibited, each Entrant agrees that (i) all issues and questions concerning these Official Rules shall be governed by New York law without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law of any jurisdiction; (ii) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to this Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class actions; and filed only in the state or federal courts situated in New York County, New York state, i.e., Manhattan, and Entrant hereby consents and submits to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purposes of litigating any such disputes, claims or causes of action; (iii) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (iv) under no circumstances will any Entrant be permitted to obtain awards for and hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental, special, consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.
PRIVACY POLICY: The personal information provided by Entrants may be used as provided in Sponsor’s privacy policy or these Official Rules. See Sponsor’s privacy policy at https://privacy.thewaltdisneycompany.com/en/ for details regarding use of the personal information collected in connection with this Contest. In the event of any conflict between these Official Rules and such Privacy Policy, these Official Rules shall control. If you are selected as a winner, your first name, last initial, and prize may also be included in a publicly available list.
LIST OF WINNERS/OFFICIAL RULES: To obtain the winners’ names or a copy of these Official Rules, send a request along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to “Ditch Day Contest”, 189 S. Orange Ave, Suite 1130a, Orlando FL 32801. Requests for the name of the winner must be received no later September 30, 2018.
The Contest is a skill contest designed to increase consumer awareness of and interest in Major League Baseball. This Contest may not be used for, or in connection with, any form of gambling.
Major League Baseball trademarks, service marks and copyrights are proprietary to the MLB Entities. All rights reserved.