The Simpsons House Giveaway: A Marketing Flop with a Happy Ending

In 1997, Kaufman and Broad, a homebuilding company, built a life-size replica of the Simpsons house as a promotional giveaway. The contest was simple: collect numbered game pieces from Pepsi products, and if your number matched the one revealed during the Season 9 premiere, you won the house. However, despite the elaborate setup and the winner's number being announced, the prize remained unclaimed. The video references Mark Stroman, VP of National Promotions at Fox in 1997, who oversaw the campaign and a production designer, Rick Floud, who meticulously recreated the Simpsons' home. The home's unique design, including Bart's treehouse, was a significant part of the appeal. Eventually, the house was sold to a woman named Danielle, who, according to Zillow, bought it for between $100,000 and $150,000. This story is a fascinating blend of marketing, pop culture, and unexpected outcomes. It highlights the unexpected challenges of large-scale promotional campaigns and the enduring popularity of The Simpsons.