ESPN Releases Action Game for Facebook

January, 2012

ESPN has created an action-based video game for Facebook users. The game, titled ESPN Return Man, puts users in the shoes of an NFL kickoff returner. Users must find routes to take to avoid being tackled by the opponent. Within the game, users can select two playing modes: Season (where the user endures training camp, then plays for the chance to make it to the championship) or Blitz (where the user plays against friends and engages with new game levels as the weeks go on). Facebook Credits can be purchased to help users win by unlocking special moves. To see more about this game, please visit AllFacebook.com.

Super Bowl XLVI’s Social Media Command Center

January, 2012

For the XLVI Super Bowl, a social media command center will be set up in Indianapolis, IN. Sports strategists and analysts will man the center and monitor all communication regarding the biggest football game of the year. For football fans who tweet or post questions regarding to the actual game (including, “I can’t find parking anywhere!”), the command center will provide them with responses to make the event more enjoyable. The amount attention being paid to social media’s involvement in the event is a first, and marketers should expect to see more types of pop-ups like this happen as digital media continues to grow in importance within this generation. To learn more, please visit AllFacebook.com.

Nike’s “Basketball Never Stops” Via Social Media

November, 2011

Nike has created the #BasketballNeverStops campaign to continue sales of their basketball products despite the lock-out. Through Facebook, Twitter and a TV advertising spot, the company is pushing basketball through brand posts and a Facebook application. Posts ask consumers of all ages how they are continuing to be the best basketball player despite the professional league lock-out. The Facebook app asks fans to submit videos, photos and tweets about how basketball will live on in their lives if a lock-out does occur. Currently 133,776 fans have joined in the conversation. To learn more, please visit Facebook.com.

NFL Takes Over Social Media

October, 2011

The NFL, along with GM of NFL Digital Jeff Berman, is working to create a worldwide, 24/7 focus on the NFL. Berman plans to do this by increasing activity and content on all NFL social channels. Their nearly 4 million Facebook fans lead many to believe that they will achieve this goal. For more information, please see Mashable.

Vick’s Uses FB To Search For “Dedicated Fans”

September, 2011

Vick’s NyQuil and DayQuil will again search for the “Most Dedicated Fan” through their Facebook pages. Just in time for flu season, the company will award the most dedicated football fans with an opportunity to win a trip to the 2012 Super Bowl. For those hoping to enter, they must submit their personal fan rally cry. To learn more about this promotion, please visit Businesswire.com.

MillerCoors Scores With SMS Campaign

September, 2011

MillerCoors is connecting with global soccer fans through a new SMS campaign. Soccer fans can text in special codes they find on products the purchase at soccer events for chances to win a number of prizes. The more often the fans enter their codes, the more chances they have to win. In addition, if a soccer player scores a goal during the particular minute a fan enters their code, the fan automatically wins a prize. Steve Mura, digital marketing director at MillerCoors, Chicago, said “With the high adoption rate of smartphones among our core consumers, especially multicultural consumers, the phone is becoming the primary way many people are accessing digital tools. It also enables us to reinforce our brand messages with consumers who are increasingly distracted by multitasking.” To learn more, please visit MobileCommerceDaily.com.

V.S. Leverages Geo-Targeted Mobile Ads

September, 2011

In the hope of driving in-store visits and purchases, Victoria’s Secret is pushing geo-targeted ads on Pandora’s iPhone application. The company recently launched their NFL line of clothing and will use the ads to create awareness. When users click through on the ad, they are directed to the NFL section of the website. They can also view closest locations to purchase the products in-store. To learn more, please visit MobileMarketer.com.

SI Educates Football Fans with Mobile App

September, 2011

Sports Illustrated, in conjunction with Coke Zero, is promoting friendly competition with Football fanatics through their new multi-media mobile app, “Football Rivals”. Through the app, users view famous football rivalries, including the University of Missouri Tigers versus University of Kansas Jayhawks and the Pittsburg Steelers versus Cleveland Browns, and learn all about their rival histories. In addition to the historical content, users can also engage the “Rival Quiz” to see how much they know about their favorite teams. To learn more about this application, please visit MobileMarketer.com.

Asics Puts on a Different Shoe to Fight Racism

September, 2011

Asics recently teamed-up with Loco Abrue, the capatin of the Botafog team from Rio de Janerio, to campaign against racism. The idea was simple, that different colors can live together in the soccer (futbol) area. The strategy was to place two different colored Asics soccer cleats on Loco Abrue, as a symbol of peaceful protest against racism. The execution was carried out during a professionals league game, which was broadcast live throughout Brazil. To see a video of the results, or for more information, please see Asics and Abrue.

Evri Launches Realtime Sports App

September, 2011

Evri, the realtime content discovery engine, has developed a new sports app that promises updates as they occur. The app, named SportsStream, will run on iOS and Android devices and will be powered by its highly acclaimed platform. The NFL version of the app, SportStream Football, is available now. Along with realtime push notifications, SportsStream Football will also provide in-game commentary. For more information, please see SportsStream.

FedEx Promotes Ad on CBS Sports App

August, 2011

FedEx is pushing consumers to ship their golf clubs by creating awareness through a rich-media ad on CBS Sports’ mobile app. When on the app, a screen will pop up that appears to be an incoming call from their “golf clubs”. When users click on the ad, they are greeted with a message reminding them to take their clubs with them when vacationing and provides information about FedEx’s club shipping capabilities. If the users don’t click on the ad, they receive a message with a “voicemail” from their clubs asking them to bring them along next trip. To learn more, please visit MobileMarketer.com.

NY Giants Add Twitter into Game Conversation

August 2011

The New York Giants will be the first NFL organization to integrate live Twitter feeds into the final two preseason games. The Twitter feed will broadcast from NBC 4, appearing at the bottom of the screen after major plays. Additionally, Twitter will be integrated into the MetLife Stadium throughout the the season, allowing fans to display their thoughts and reactions during the game. Fans wills also be able to vote for the player of the game via hashtags for a chance to have the player’s merchandise discounted in team store the next week. For more information, please see Mashable.

MasterCard Rewards Facebook Checkins

August, 2011

MasterCard has partnered with Facebook Places to launch a campaign involving the original Yankee Stadium seats. Twenty seats have been scattered throughout New York City at places, including the New York Stock Exchange, for fans to locate and scan a QR code. The QR code checks the fan into Facebook Places where they have a chance to win VIP tickets to a 2011 Yankee game in MasterCard’s exclusive “Batter’s Eye Café”. This campaign is the launch of the MasterCard Priceless Cities program, which aims to rival the recent partnership of American Express and Foursquare. For more information, please visit Mashable.

Hitpost App Engages Sports Fans

July, 2011

Hitpost has released a free app for the iPhone that allows users to submit content on sports games as they watch and/or attend them. With the vast amount of tools in this application, users can become their own sports reporters for their favorite teams. Scores, news, commentary and photos of athletes can all be compiled on the application. For more information, please visit Tech Crunch.

Home Run Derby Interactions Via Twitter

July, 2011

For the 2011 All Stars Home Run Derby, fans had the opportunity to interact with their favorite batters via Twitter. Well-known players such as David “Big Papi” Ortiz and Jose Bautista had their accounts open during the event and were commenting on the competition between the National League and the American League. MLB allowed the interaction by pushing the tweets on their own website as well. To learn more, visit Mashable.com.

Jon Lester Pitches In 3D Mobile Game

June, 2011

In a new 3D game for mobile phones, Boston Red Sox pitcher, Jon Lester, challenges players to hit his hardball. The game has been created to mock his famed pitches. “Our focus is to create the most realistic and engaging game experience environment for mobile gamers,” said Jeremy Bargiel, CEO of Face the Ace Games. The app is currently free for download on both iPhone and Android devices. To learn more about this new 3D application, please visit MobileMarketer.com.

Yahoo’s Fantasy App Available On Androids

May, 2011

Yahoo’s Fantasy Baseball application is now available for Android devices. The application shares scores of on-going games, and allows users to check their current standings. In addition, users can manage their lineup directly from their phone. Users can download the app via the Android Market app store.

MLB Access from Volvo

April 2011

For 2011, Major League Baseball is providing live streams of its games to mobile users courtesy of Volvo. Volvo is funding an “At Bat ’11″ application for iPad, iPhone, and iTouch. Normally, games are only viewable for paying subscribers to MLB.com. MLB has also added other applications for subscribers such as accessing highlights and viewing archived games.

REEBOK Pressures Runs With Mobile App

April, 2011

Reebok is pushing its consumers to commit to their runs via the brand’s mobile app, “The Promise Keeper”. The app asks users to schedule run times, and whether the run happens or not, the result is published to friends on Facebook and Twitter. The app’s intention is to guilt-trip consumers in to keeping with their runs to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The app also pushes the brand’s latest shoe, the ZigTech.

Ndamukong Suh Tackles Twitter Record

April, 2011

The NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Lions DT, Ndamukong Suh, is attempting to break the Guiness World Record for the largest “Tweetup” on Saturday.  According to USA Today, a Tweetup, “is a gathering of people – often meeting for the first time – who are connected via their Twitter accounts.”  The previous record holder for the largest “Tweetup” is the Ford Motor Company with 1,149 people at an event in Los Angeles in 2009.

Lindt Serves as Open Sponsor

April, 2011

Through their sponsorship of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, chocolatier Lindt USA has explored a variety of branding opportunities. During the event, Lindt will be offering chocolate samples and providing seat upgrades through “Sweet Seats” text promotions that occur during the event. Through the website, the brand will host an online sweepstakes, which includes a three-day trip to Zurich and lesser prizes. What’s more, they will take advantage of social media by implementing a Twitter promotion, where if users follow the brand and retweet a Lindt giveaway message, they have a chance to win more prizes. The sponsorship will also expand on Lindt’s partnership with Swiss tennis great Roger Federer.

Foursquare Integrates with US Open

March, 2011

The US Open is becoming the first fully integrated Foursquare Sporting event through the collaboration of Sony Eriksson and Foursquare. Check in fans will receive specific tennis fan badges and discounts on tickets. The fans who become “Mayor” of each court will help with the pre-match coin toss. This event is expected to trigger increased publicity and new users for Foursquare.

Step Inside with Johnnie Walker

February, 2011

Johnnie Walker gives their Facebook fans exclusive access to local racing activities, VIP parties and experiences and offers them coverage of exclusive events and interviews with their Gold Pass. From the perspective of a promotional agency who offers experiential marketing services, it’s great to see a brand that knows their target market so well and really capitalize on the relationship between Johnnie Walker consumers and their love for the racecar industry. Johnnie Walker knows their audience well and has done an impressive job in connecting with them.

Miller Lite’s College Basketball Promo

February, 2011 Miller Lite is doing a sweepstakes promotion just in time for NCAA men’s basketball tournament, otherwise known as March Madness.  The sweeps asks eligible consumers to text in a code to receive a a score (i.e. 61-61) along with a code (HOOPS10) that can be used for discounts at the Miller Lite store.  Contestants can also enter via a microsite (http://millerlite.com/hoops/).  If the score matches the score of any eligible games, then you win a prize.

Super Bowl XLV Reaches Out To Social Media

February, 2011

With around 700 million people on Facebook or Twitter, the NFL and other major brands are hoping to gain more viewers via social media efforts. The NFL currently has 2.4 million fans, and the league and teams will use their pages to send out promotions, offer game updates and engage fans in conversations. The NFL has a Twitter page for game updates, which is sponsored by Visa. In addition to the NFL, other companies are cashing in on the big game to reach consumers. Please view our previous post to see how Mercedes Benz is using social media to promote its new vehicles. To read more about this story, visit Dallas News.

GoDaddy to Promote .co During Super Bowl

January, 2011

GoDaddy will leverage the .co domain during the 2011 Super Bowl. Currently, over 600,000 domain names have been registered using the new .co domain. The website is hoping to leverage the millions of viewers the Super Bowl takes in to gain more interest in .co registrations.

Twitter, Visa and the Super Bowl

January, 2011

The Super Bowl always creates an enormous amount of buzz, especially on the internet, from the kickoff, to the commercials, the half-time show down to final two minutes.  This year, Twitter and Visa have come together to create a Visa sponsored webpage that captures all of the buzz in one place.  The site, which went live Wednesday, will feature tweets from players, media and NFL personnel and fans.  Twitter did something similar last year for Fashion Week with American Express.

Buffalo Wild Wings’ NBA SCVNGR Promo

January, 2011

Buffalo Wild Wings is teaming up with location-based gaming app SCVNGR to launch a basketball themed promotion.  Customers will be able to complete various challenges on their smartphones to win prizes that can be redeemed instantly.  Completing various challenges, such as taking a picture with a fan from a rival team, earns fans points toward a grand prize of a trip to see the NBA finals with ex-Bulls all-star, Scottie Pippen.

Coca-Cola Uses Cross-Platform Ad Buys

November, 2010

Coca-Cola is using cross-platform ad buys to promote the purchase of Coke Zero during football season. The company bought television spots on CBS sports programming, as well as CBS Pro Football mobile application. CBS is offering a number of CPG brands the opportunity to purchase packages that include mobile, TV and web advertising spots. With ad spots on the mobile application, brands ad buys may also include being the sponsor of the “Watch Live” section of the app.

DirecTV’s Sports Bar Finder App

September, 2010

DirecTV has launched a new app for sports fans who have had trouble finding their game on the big screen.  By using your phone’s GPS, the app shows you nearby sports bars.  The app is available on iPhone and Android mobile devices.