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Rakuten House – Rakuten & the NBA
Rakuten House was a branded space erected in Chicago to leverage the ecommerce brand’s rights around the 2020 All-Star Weekend.
Racing for the Future/Pioneers – ABB & Formula E
Through the 2019 season, AAB activated its rights as the title partner of the Formula E racing series through a short-form content series based on solving contemporary urban challenges.
My Old Kentucky Home – Woodford Reserve & Churchill Downs Incorporated
Filmed at an empty Churchill Downs racecourse, Woodford Reserve’s ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ spot was an homage to the delayed 2020 Kentucky Derby.
Laundry Night – Tide & NFL
P&G detergent brand Tide used the start of the 2019 NFL – and its NBC media partnership – to kickstart a national debate about the best night to do laundry.
RBC Team Golf – Royal Bank of Canada & Golf Canada/PGA Tour
Longstanding Canadian golf sponsor RBC hit new marketing heights in 2019 with a season-long, multi-channel activation programme leveraging its two PGA Tour title sponsorships and its team of ambassadors.
Mount Olympus – Nike & the NBA
In July 2019, Nike leveraged its NBA supplier partnership and its endorser deal with Giannis Antetokounmpo to celebrate the player’s MVP award and promote the launch of his first signature shoe.
UltraShot – Michelob Ultra & PGA of America
To drive awareness ahead of the May 2019 PGA Championship, PGA Tour partner Michelob Ultra teamed up with ambassador Brooks Koepka for a trick shot stunt on New York City’s Hudson River.
Take Me Out & #BudLightHomers – Bud Light & MLB
Bud Light launched a campaign heralding the start of the MLB’s Covid-19-truncated season based around a reworking of the classic song ‘Take Me Out to The Ball Game’.
Lines: Spirit of the NBA – Hennessy & the NBA
In February 2020, Hennessy leveraged its new status as the official spirit of the NBA with an integrated campaign launched to coincide with the NBA All-Star Weekend.
Data Snapshot: Major League Soccer 2020
Major League Soccer’s commercial portfolio was worth between $195m (€173m) and $228m in 2020, across 22 deals.
Young Luxury – Genesis & the NFL
To drive awareness of the brand and promote its new GV80 SUV, premium auto maker Genesis activated at Super Bowl 2020 with a campaign starring John Legend and Chrissy Teigen.
Above & Beyond – Land Rover & US Equestrian/Equestrian Events Inc.
Land Rover's title sponsorship of the 2019 Kentucky Three-Day Event was activated with a programme that spanned content creation, media support, competitions and a range of on-site experiences and hospitality spaces for all ages – and their pets.
Not All Heroes Wear Capes – Bud Light & MLB
When a fan watching the 2019 World Series chose to be struck by a baseball rather than spill his beers, Bud Light sprang into action with a quick turnaround activation spanning online, offline and traditional paid advertising.
Purple Reign – Nike & the Minnesota Timberwolves
Nike and the Minnesota Timberwolves set new records for NBA social, web traffic, jersey sales and engagement statistics with the 2018-19 reveal campaign for the team’s Prince-inspired Nike ‘City Threads’ kit.
Drink Wiser – Budweiser & the NBA
November 2019 saw Budweiser celebrate the extension of its NBA official beer partnership with a responsible drinking campaign fronted by LA Lakers star Danny Green.
Jersey Assurance – American Express & the NBA
NBA sponsor American Express created an award-winning campaign during the 2018-19 season by allowing Amex members to swap their jersey for free if their favourite player switched clubs.
Data Snapshot: NBA 2019-20
The NBA’s central sponsorship portfolio is worth approximately $600m (€533m) in 2019-20, SportBusiness Sponsorship has found, of which about 60 per cent is marketing fees and the remainder is licensing royalties.
Super Bowl LIII Experiential – Hyundai & the NFL
In February 2019, Hyundai leveraged its on-site rights ahead of Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta to tell multiple brand and product stories through a range of communal and one-on-one experiences.
Home is What Unites Us – Lowes & the NFL
Lowe’s – NFL home improvement partner and presenting sponsors of the ESPN and NFL Network telecasts – activated around the 2020 Draft with a campaign that adapted to Covid-19 by talking about the importance of the home.
Boo the Commish – Budweiser & the NFL
Fans booing the Commissioner is an NFL Draft tradition, so when the 2020 draft was forced online by Covid-19, NFL official beer Bud Light collected boos online and amplified them socially.
King of the North – New Balance & the NBA
To leverage its endorsement of Kawhi Leonard during the Toronta Raptor’s journey to the 2019 NBA Finals, league footwear sponsor New Balance ran a digital outdoor campaign in Toronto and San
Crucial Catch – CHI Franciscan/Virginia Mason & the Seattle Seahawks
In October 2019, three NFL franchises and their healthcare partners activated their deals under the ‘Crucial Catch to Intercept Cancer’ platform.
Cheers to 100 – Budweiser & the NFL/Kansas City Chiefs
Jumping off the celebration of 100 years of professional football in the US in 2019, Bud Light created a once-in-a-lifetime experience for 100-year-old Kansas City Chiefs fan Melba Mills.
Cryceps – Dannon & the NFL
With the 2020 NFL Draft pushed online due to Covid-19, the NFL’s official yoghurt leveraged its rights via a digital campaign that poked fun at the idea of the uber-macho football star.