Chapter 817: Leveraging the Momentum

For a sports team to win the recognition and support of its home city, it needed more than just outstanding results; it needed ample interaction with its fans.

After returning to Los Angeles, the newly crowned Super Bowl champion Raiders immediately held a massive victory parade on Tuesday.

The parade set off from the newly completed Lauder Stadium at the southern end of Los Angeles, cutting straight through downtown and passing by Los Angeles City Hall along the way.

Tom Brady held the Vince Lombardi Trophy in his hands, while Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joked that the city should now be nicknamed the "Black City of Angels."

Countless fans had donned the Raiders' black home jerseys.

Tens of thousands of fans gathered on both sides of the parade route to cheer for their heroes. Clad in black and white Raiders gear, they watched as confetti and streamers rained down from the high-rises lining the streets.

In front of City Hall, the team was introduced to the crowd amid thunderous applause. The Raiders players were awarded the symbolic key to the city. The moment Marshawn Lynch—the beastly running back who had scored the game-winning touchdown—accepted the key, the crowd's frenzy reached a boiling point.

During the parade, Duke didn't stand with the team. He had other plans.

The parade culminated back at Lauder Stadium. Once the team returned, they joined a massive victory rally prepared by Duke and the team's sponsors. As the players marched onto the field, the tens of thousands of fans already waiting inside erupted into a tsunami of cheers, matching the deafening roar of the Super Bowl itself.

The celebration drew over seventy thousand fans and was broadcast live on Warner Television. Another climax of the event came when the Avengers suddenly appeared in their iconic costumes to celebrate alongside the Raiders players.

Without a doubt, Duke was riding the massive wave of hype generated by the Raiders' Vince Lombardi Trophy win to promote The Avengers.

The Super Bowl's influence in North America was undeniable. The winning team briefly became the focus of the entire nation, and teaming them up with the Avengers was guaranteed to draw even more eyes.

As the release date drew closer, Marvel Pictures, Warner Brothers, and various brand sponsors launched a full-scale promotional blitz for The Avengers.

The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly revealed a new still from The Avengers.

In the still, readers could see a "fierce-looking" Captain America—played by Chris Evans, brimming with anger after waking from a nearly seventy-year slumber following World War II—standing alongside Hawkeye and Black Widow.

Hawkeye, played by Jeremy Renner, looked as sharp as ever with a bow and arrows strapped to his back. Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow wore a sleek black bodysuit; her gaze was cold and severe, the two holstered guns at her sides seemingly ready to fire at a moment's notice.

The renowned Wyndham Hotel Group had also become a partner for the Avengers. They teamed up with Warner Brothers to launch a website where fans could play games for a chance to win red-carpet tickets to the North American premiere of The Avengers. The site also featured a series of highly impressive solo desktop wallpapers for the superheroes.

At the same time, The Avengers showed off its family-friendly side at the recently held Kids' Choice Awards, premiering a "Little Avengers" promo video. Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, and Thor were transformed into adorable little boys teaming up to fight the villainous Loki.

This was obviously aimed at drawing in younger audiences.

Meanwhile, some of the film's merchandise hit the shelves early.

Peter Coe's company, which had been cooperating with Duke and Warner Brothers all along, had evolved into a full-fledged Hollywood merchandise manufacturer and distributor. After securing the licensing rights from Warner Brothers and Marvel Pictures, they produced a set of The Avengers movie tickets, bookmarks, and classic comic hero trading cards.

The trading card set featured every major character in the massive adventure film, complete with brand-new, individual stills from the movie. A full set ranged in price from $57 to $186, while single cards sold for $9 to $15.

"The moment the cards launched, nearly every store sold out," Peter Coe said.

In an office at Warner Studios, Peter Coe had come specifically to meet with Duke. Duke had invested in Coe's manufacturing company as well.

"Prices online have almost doubled due to scalping," Coe added.

Duke nodded and reminded him, "Pay attention to the pacing of the merchandise rollout. You have to follow Warner Brothers' schedule perfectly."

"I understand," Peter Coe said solemnly. "I'll coordinate with the film's overall promotional campaign."

Compared to a few years ago, his net worth had increased tenfold, all thanks to his partnership with Duke. If it weren't for the billionaire director sitting across from him, Coe never would have become a billionaire himself, nor would he have had the endless opportunities to date Hollywood actresses.

At that thought, Peter Coe's eyes drifted to the side. Sitting nearby was the latest actress he had managed to court: the niece of the famous Julia Roberts. If his net worth hadn't multiplied by ten, there was no way a girl who looked down her nose at everyone like that would have ever given him the time of day.

"Peter..."

Duke glanced at Emma Roberts as well, completely unsurprised by her presence.

"Our manufacturing plants need to find cheaper contract manufacturers. Take a trip to Asia personally," he instructed Peter Coe.

"I've already booked the tickets," Peter Coe said.

He highly valued his partnership with Duke; it was the kind of opportunity countless people dreamed of.

"I'll head to India the day after tomorrow," he added.

It wasn't just Peter Coe's company getting in on the action. Hasbro had also obtained The Avengers licensing rights. The toy company announced on its website a new line developed specifically for the film. Hasbro would design fifteen character toys for The Avengers, each tied closely to the movie's plot, and every single one would come equipped with their signature weapons!

The moment Hasbro opened pre-orders, they received hundreds of thousands of orders.

As March rolled around, the official Avengers homepage was updated, formally announcing the assembly of the ultimate superhero team: "The Avengers."

The site instantly attracted the attention of countless moviegoers and comic fans. In just three days, web traffic surpassed 20 million visits.

Marvel Pictures also used the official site to release dozens of close-up stills of the six main characters for the first time, providing written commentary that outlined each character's role and position within the team.

Captain America: The Soul of The Avengers!

"Though born frail, the super-soldier serum transformed him into a perfect warrior. He possesses strong adaptability, maintaining a remarkably positive mindset for someone so utterly displaced from his own era. While his heart still holds a deep love for his country, he is not a man who prefers to live in the past."

"He may never be able to live as an ordinary man, but he doesn't let that tear him apart. The one thing he truly excels at is fighting, whether as a soldier or a superhero. His tactical brilliance and charismatic leadership make him the soul and core of the Avengers. No matter the time or place, he will always be Captain America."

Thor: The Avengers' Godly Powerhouse!

"Once banished to the mortal realm by Odin for his arrogance, that experience taught the young Thunder God about humility, love, and humanity. Though he returned to Asgard, Thor's connection to the mortal world was not severed—especially not when his brother Loki is plotting to conquer it. How could Thor just sit by and watch?"

"As the God of Thunder, Thor commands formidable combat strength, especially with his control over lightning... Within the Avengers, his power level is generally the highest. Yet even with all that might, facing Loki's army requires powerful backup..."

Iron Man: The Most Charismatic Hero in the Avengers.

"Tony Stark inherited not only his father's munitions empire, but also his father's historic ties to Captain America. He supplies S.H.I.E.L.D. with an array of high-tech weapons and equipment, while also assisting in their research and development. He inherited his father's adventurous spirit as well. For him, being Iron Man isn't just for the thrill; it is the ultimate fulfillment of his self-worth."

Hulk: The Fists of the Avengers!

"Dr. Bruce Banner is a brilliant scientist, but when pushed to anger, the once-meek Banner transforms into a ferocious monster. Hunted by the military because of this, he has been constantly on the run, hiding in the shadows while endlessly searching for a way to control himself."

"When faced with the onslaught of Loki's army, humanity's last hope is that this weapon of mass destruction will stand on their side..."

Black Widow: The Avengers' Lethal Weapon.

"Raised from childhood as a spy and an assassin, Natasha Romanoff is a master of numerous martial arts, proficient with a vast array of weapons, and deeply versed in espionage. A wartime comrade of Captain America during WWII, she is also the key figure who brings the Avengers together. She possesses an alluring figure, agile reflexes, and an unyielding will to fight."

Hawkeye: The Avengers' Observer and Master Archer.

"Born Clint Barton, he has no superpowers, but he is an unfailing master archer and an expert in close-quarters combat. Like Black Widow, he is a dedicated assassin for S.H.I.E.L.D., responsible for carrying out their most critical and deadly field missions."

In addition to the six highly anticipated Avengers, Marvel Pictures also released the profile for S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury.

Nick Fury: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Mastermind of the Avengers Initiative.

"A former CIA agent, he is currently the commanding officer of S.H.I.E.L.D. Since the organization's inception, he has been recruiting talent from all corners of the globe and researching various superpowers. He single-handedly forged the Avengers team, and he holds far more secrets than they know—including the lost Cosmic Cube once held by the Red Skull..."

The website updates triggered an intense response from moviegoers. After obtaining the necessary licensing, print media rushed to syndicate the profiles, sweeping the entire nation up in a renewed frenzy for the Avengers. Riding this massive wave of hype, Marvel Pictures and Warner Brothers dropped the first official trailer—personally edited by Duke.