New Oshkosh Brand Revealed at Community Event

(Oshkosh, WI) Oshkosh’s new brand, “Oshkosh, Wisconsin’s Event City,” was unveiled Thursday, August 19th at a community launch event.  The announcement marks the next step in building a unified, competitive brand strategy that will provide greater synergy among the partners marketing Oshkosh.

The Oshkosh branding initiative followed the Oshkosh visioning process and was the second step in developing a strategic course in Oshkosh’s future. After more than two years of research and discovery, it was apparent that Oshkosh is Wisconsin’s Event City.  When people think of Oshkosh, they think of events—or more specifically, the sheer number of events, the variety of events and the excitement pertaining to events.  These events are one of the key elements in making Oshkosh a great place to live, work, study and visit. 

Whether visitors are lured by the thrill of aviation, the sounds of some of the nation’s best musicians, fascinating museum exhibitions and classical performances, opportunities to study fascinating subjects, challenging sporting competitions or the desire to express faith with thousands of others, Oshkosh hosts the most accessible, affordable, and diverse selection of events in Wisconsin. These events are the gateways through which visitors are introduced to Oshkosh and discover and enjoy its historic districts, museums, waterways, university, arts and culture.

The Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB), as the City’s Destination Management Organization will be responsible for overseeing the brand’s identity, usage and long-term continuation on behalf of the community.  “We didn’t just create the brand ‘Oshkosh Wisconsin’s Event City,’ we uncovered what was already there,” said Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Wendy Hielsberg.  “We’ve earned the title as ‘Wisconsin’s Event City’ because Oshkosh hosts hundreds of events each year, and we do it well!”

The Oshkosh branding process was a collaborative effort that was funded through a public-private partnership including nine Oshkosh businesses and organizations—all different sectors and interests around the Community, including, the City of Oshkosh, Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh, Mercy Health Foundation/Affinity Health System, the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Oshkosh Northwestern, Propel, and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. 

The Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau was awarded nearly $40,000 in a Joint Effort Marketing Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to assist in promoting this new brand.  The implementation of the new brand throughout the City will be a phase in process.  A continuous effort of support by the entire community will be essential for the brand’s success.  Please contact the OCVB for more information. 

Close to 400 people waited in anticipation to find out what the new brand would be at a Community Brand Launch Event on Thursday, August 19, 2010.