In a Manhattan park, a basketball hoop rains money on unsuspecting New Yorkers whenever a player makes a shot.

To promote the New York Lottery’s Champions of Cash—an immersive, 3D scratch-off sports game for mobile devices—advertising agency McCann wanted to surprise New Yorkers with a basketball hoop that showered players with money. McCann reached out to Patten Studio’s talented team of artists and technologists to “make it rain.”

New Yorkers hitting a public park in Manhattan for some exercise were amazed to have their games disrupted by money falling from the sky. Triggered by a wireless remote control, a custom mechanism shot money out of two slots in the hoop’s backboard: one for dollar coins, another for paper bills. A custom motor control board and other bespoke Patten Studio technologies brought McCann’s vision to life.

Footage of the Cash Court brand activation was captured by McCann as part of an integrated campaign that spanned multiple media, including TV, digital, social, and retail. The campaign received extensive industry coverage and praise in outlets such as AdAge. The video advertisement created using footage of the activation was first runner up for the Batchy Award for TV Advertising – Instant Games for the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries.