Blues Win Emmy for 2023-2024 Open Video

Ryval Studios and Blue Note Productions from the St. Louis Blues have won a Mid-America Regional Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for their 2023-24 pregame open video, “Are you ready for the Blues?”

The video won in the Sports Promotion category and was announced at the Mid-America Chapter Gala & Dinner on October 26 in Overland Park, KS. The Blues won this category over two other submissions, both by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Emmy awards are given out annually, recognizing the creative excellence in television news and the art of advertising in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana.

“Are you ready for the Blues?” was produced through a collaboration between Blue Note Productions, Germany-based music production company 2WEI, and St. Louis-based sports production company Ryval Studios which helped with the creative concept and day-of-production services. Featuring the song and music written by Blues music ambassador Marquise Knox, the video set the tone before each Blues game at Enterprise Center during the 2023-24 season. Shot in a ballroom at Stifel Theatre, the production took fans inside a speakeasy bar and married the setting with the smooth and building sounds of Knox’s electric guitar and the flashy images of Blues players. The vision and creative direction of the video was the visual and musical realization of the Blues’ marketing campaign that launched in 2023-24, ‘Rhythm and Blues.’

“This video was really the first time that we have been able to so closely match our pregame open with our marketing campaign,” said Blues Vice President/Executive Producer of Blue Note Productions Trevor Nickerson. "This was a full team effort from our Blues production staff, to Ryval, 2WEI, Marquise and our players, and it’s great that all the people involved are getting some well-deserved appreciation for their efforts.”

?"Working with the Blues the last two seasons to help produce their annual open video has been a great experience" said Jon Morgan, Founder and Executive Producer of Ryval Studios. "This year's concept to kickoff the Rhythm & Blues campaign was especially unique and we were excited to play a big role in its success alongside the Blue Note Productions team, Marquis Knox and 2WEI. It's a huge honor to see our collective work recognized on a regional level alongside some of the best creative work in the Midwest region."?

2024 marks the sixth regional Emmy Award for the Blues and the 4th for Ryval.?