It might be just a marketing effort but it shows that even in the distressing times of COVID-19 new formats of advertising can be enjoyable. 1,800 stars of South Park came do Empower Field at Mile High for last night's game.

Yesterday Denver Broncos were taking on Tampa Bay Buccaneers as part of their 2020 NFL campaign. While the hosts have lost, the game became historical in a way. It was visited by hundreds of stars of the 23 seasons of South Park.

1,800 cutouts of nearly all South Park citizens (plus the occasional alien, Satan or celebrity) have filled 5 sections of the upper south stand, just beneath the giant screen. The screen was also used to advertise the campaign.

© South Park

On the one hand, South Park got media exposure ahead of their first ever hour-long episode. On the other, the initiative spurred by Denver Broncos marketing team has done quite some good. Broncos didn't just lend the space at Empower Field, they sold it. Just like they sell life-sized cutouts to fans unable to attend games. The project earned $130,000, all of which is to be distributed among local charities.

While creative, the choice of partners seems quite obvious. South Park is a Colorado town, after all, and the 76,000-capacity stadium has starred in it, appearing for the first time in 2012.

As of today the live audience cap has been set at just 5,700 per game because of COVID-19 measures. It's unclear whether more people would be allowed future NFL fixtures.

© South Park

© South Park