Activations
We Connect for Good – BT & The FA/FAW/SFA/IFA
BT abruptly pivoted its activations to digital after the pandemic struck just a month after it launched a new, five-year ‘4-3-3’ Home Nations soccer sponsorship strategy in February 2020.
Ningún Hogar Sin Alimentos/No Home Without Food – CaixaBank & LaLiga clubs
In April 2020, eleven Spanish football clubs joined sponsor CaixaBank’s cause campaign, supporting food banks to meet the rising need during the Covid-19 lockdown crisis.
Welcome to Hell – Under Armour & FC St. Pauli
In summer 2016, for Under Armour’s first St. Pauli kit, supplier and club worked with agency Nordpol on a campaign that spanned social, PR and at-stadium strands and was led by an online film focused on a redesigned players tunnel.
5G Call & Shot of the Night – Oppo & the Fédération Française de Tennis
Chinese smartphone brand Oppo’s campaign around the 2020 French Open spanned online and on-site initiatives to promote the 5G Find X2 Pro handset, primarily targeting young adults.
Blind Match – Suzuki & Torino FC
Suzuki’s 2018-19 activation of its Torino shirt front deal was inspired by the increasing popularity of dating apps.
Marathon City – Tata Consultancy Services & the New York Road Runners
Given the limited capacity of the New York Marathon, title sponsor Tata Consultancy Services activated its rights in 2018 and 2019 with a 3D game letting visitors to the Marathon Expo compete over the marathon’s final 100m.
Back in the Game – Emirates & the Fédération Française de Tennis
Official airline Emirates activated its rights around the delayed 2020 French Open to promote the fact that, post lockdown, its Dubai-Paris flights had restarted.
Memotraits – Rakbank & FC Barcelona
Early in 2020, ‘Memotraits’ leveraged Rakbank’s rights in the UAE as a FC Barcelona regional partner by turning local Barca fan football memories into physical art.
The e-Open – Mastercard & the R&A
On the weekend that would have hosted the cancelled 2020 Open, Mastercard took presenting partner rights to the final of the R&A’s ‘e-Open’.
Our Colours, Our Skin – Joma & Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF and technical partner Joma’s July 2020 triple kit launch campaign leveraged lockdown social media creative trends and focused on digital assets to drive online sales.
#SauberesSpiel/#CleanGame – PreZero & TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
In October and November 2019, Hoffenheim naming rights partner PreZero ran an eco-focused activation around the club’s home game against Paderborn to deliver the first carbon-neutral Bundesliga match.
Trophy Tour/Heroes Walk/OMBC/Undeniable – Kia & Uefa
The pandemic forced Uefa Europe League partner Kia Motors to pivot its 2019-20 season marketing programme from in-person initiatives to online experiences.
Answer Time – StormGain & Newcastle United
Crypto trading platform StormGain leveraged its Newcastle United sleeve sponsorship in spring/summer 2020 with a video Q&A series featuring the Premier League club’s biggest stars.
Swing – Grant Thornton & the PGA Tour/The Players Championship
Grant Thornton leveraged its rights at the 2020 Players Championship with a Rickie Fowler-fronted ad campaign.
Priceless Wave – Mastercard & Uefa
For the 2020 Champions League’s return in August, Uefa partner Mastercard created a best practice example of how sponsors could switch physical experiences for virtual activations amid the pandemic.
No Fuss. Football as It Should Be – Nike & VfL Bochum
Bochum and Nike’s campaign promoting the club's 2020-21 jersey led to tripling the previous season’s shirt sales and generating record revenue even without fans in the stadium or the physical club shop.
The Match II – Cisco & Turner Sports
In May 2020, Cisco stepped in as a ‘content integration’ partner of ‘The Match: Champions for Charity’, the blockbuster live golf matchplay event featuring Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning.
No Stadium. No Problem – Hotels.com & Uefa
For the final stages of the 2020 Uefa Champions League, with matches played behind closed doors after the tournament’s pandemic-enforced shutdown, Hotels.com activated around the idea of watching the match from somewhere special.
One Nation, One Jersey (One Beer) – Castle Lager & the South African Football Association/SA Rugby/Cricket South Africa
In March 2019, Castle Lager leveraged its trio of South African national team sponsorships with a campaign revolving around a blended national team jersey, with live events, experiences, TV and social content and on-pack work.
Product of Our Earth – Adidas & CA Osasuna
Ahead of the 2020-21 season, CA Osasuna and kit supplier adidas rolled out an integrated online campaign promoting a trio of new centennial kits focusing on the local region, its land and symbols.
Deportivo Alavés – LEA & Deportivo Alavés
In 2018, men’s grooming brand LEA leveraged its partnership with Deportivo Alavés through a national online and print advertising campaign.
Netball v Football Exhibition Match – Telkom & Netball South Africa
To promote its new title sponsorship of South Africa’s Netball League in 2019, Telkom set out to grow support, attendance and awareness through an event-based campaign.
Patterns of Play – SAP & the WTA
In the second half of 2019, WTA official global partner SAP ran an activation showcasing how its technology supports the game via a virtual tennis presentation with animated infographics.
#MeriTeamMeriLeague – Yes Bank & the Indian Premier League
To leverage its 2019 IPL sponsorship, Yes Bank created an activation programme aimed at Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).