Planned Parenthood unveils billboards advertising vasectomies outside the NCAA Final Four
Basketball fans flooding Glendale’s State Farm Stadium this weekend are in for a double dribble of surprise when they catch sight of billboards pitching a form of male birth control.
PPAZ cheers on vasectomies on the sidelines at NCAA Final Four / Credit: Planned Parenthood
As March Madness sweeps the nation, it seems that Planned Parenthood isn’t content to sit idly on the sidelines. New billboards advertising vasectomies have touched down in Arizona, just in time for the NCAA Final Four face-off this weekend.
This morning, commuters were greeted with eye-catching out-of-home work urging them to consider a vasectomy. “The ball’s in your court; vasectomies happen here,” reads one cheeky slogan. “Total game changer, get a vasectomy,” reads another.
The signs are strategically placed along the highway route to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, where the Final Four showdown will take place.
With the tournament drawing in hoards of basketball enthusiasts – predominantly male – Planned Parenthood Arizona (PPAZ) saw an opportunity to spread awareness about its newly launched vasectomy services in Phoenix and Tuscon. Jennifer Rivera, the creative communication coordinator at PPAZ, and Alison Swift, marketing manager for Planned Parenthood Arizon, are the brains behind the operation.
But why vasectomies? Arizonans have reportedly been clamoring for more male-focused contraception options, especially in light of recent legal developments.
With the US Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision stirring up uncertainty around abortion access in the state, many residents are seeking alternative methods of family planning.
According to The Guardian, abortion is banned in Arizona after 15 weeks, which currently affects 1.6 million women of reproductive age.
Of course, this isn’t your typical Planned Parenthood campaign. It’s bold, it’s brash, and it’s bound to get people talking. But if it gets the message across and encourages more people to consider their contraceptive options, perhaps it’s a slam-dunk marketing strategy.
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