OUR WORK

Ideas Inspiring Action

A selection of partnerships, campaigns and media programs built to deliver real business outcomes for the brands we work with.

Amtrak

Accelerating Northeast Corridor travel through strategic sports sponsorships.

Sports MarketingMediaCreative
Objective

Amtrak wants to consistently inspire Northeast Corridor train travel by heightening awareness and consideration of the brand, leveraging the passion of sports fans to drive increases in train ridership.

Approach

We craft integrated partnerships and activations with teams and media properties across the NBA, MLB, WNBA and NHL that deliver awareness through high-impact venue signage and team social branding programs, consideration through custom influencer content, social sweepstakes, on-site venue promotions and targeted email campaigns, and conversion by using highly valuable team IP in targeted digital and social media campaigns.

Results
Record ridership and revenue in 2024 and 2025
Takeaways
  • Full-funnel activation drives measurable outcomes.
  • Sports create positive brand equity while also delivering exceptional ROI.
  • Multi-year partnerships compound results.
CohnReznick

Elevating a challenger advisory firm through sports partnerships & content.

StrategyMediaCreativeSports Marketing
Objective

Heighten awareness, elevate perception and increase market credibility of a top-10 national accounting and advisory firm to better compete with the established "Big 4" firms.

Approach

We position the firm as being "at the forefront" and differentiate the brand through sports, creating partnerships with properties that reach the firm's C-Suite target and provide authentic storytelling opportunities, while leveraging the language and imagery of sports in an omni-channel brand campaign.

Results
Significant increases in brand awareness and firm revenue
Takeaways
  • Sports-related content consistently outperforms general firm content among targeted digital audiences.
  • Sports hospitality assets provide relationship-building opportunities that are hard to replicate.
Investors Bank

Building a regional banking powerhouse.

StrategyMediaCreativeSports Marketing
Objective

Achieve significance in the NY/NJ metro area by elevating the position of Investors Bank from a local bank to a major regional bank.

Approach

We developed partnerships with the Prudential Center, New Jersey Devils, New York Giants, Eli Manning, Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms to project significance and ownership throughout the market, leveraging these arena, team and athlete partnerships to tell the bank's brand story in all forms of media and to authentically engage with internal stakeholders, current B2C and B2B customers and potential new customers.

Results
+25%lift in brand awareness
$3.5Bacquisition by Citizens
Takeaways
  • Athlete credibility is a force multiplier when the match is authentic.
  • Sponsorships serve as strategic business tools, not just signage.
Wise Snacks

Increasing market & mind-share for a challenger snack brand in key markets.

Sports MarketingCreative
Objective

Reverse declining consumer sales in the bodega & convenience store market while also rebuilding distributor relationships throughout key markets.

Approach

We developed partnerships with the Nets, Liberty, Jets, Giants, Braves, Mets and Red Sox that provide venue distribution and sampling opportunities, while creating unique promotions that activate the deals on-site and at retail.

Results
+30%bodega market share
+8%grocery market share
Takeaways
  • Becoming ingrained in local communities, even when you're not the biggest brand in the category, can be a powerful business driver.
Netflix

Setting up a rom-com hit with MLB's National Kissing Day.

Sports MarketingCreative
Objective

Drive viewership and attendance of a new feature film release, Set It Up.

Approach

We created original branded content called "The Love Assistants" featuring the film's stars, Glen Powell and Zoey Deutch, extending the movie's playful premise into engaging social content. We also developed partnerships with six MLB teams in key markets to become the presenting sponsor of "National Kissing Day," supported with custom ballpark Kiss Cam features, stadium signage, on-site singles events and media promotion on both MLB and team digital and social channels.

Results
4M+promotional impressions
A hit on Netflix that helped revive the romantic comedy category on the platform
Takeaways
  • Tying a release to a culturally relevant sports moment turns sponsorship into entertainment fans want to share.
  • Extending a film's premise into original content keeps the story going well beyond the trailer.
Subway

Growing franchise markets one footlong at a time.

StrategyMediaCreativeSports Marketing
Objective

Subway Restaurants and their franchisees faced growing competition in the QSR marketplace and needed marketing support and ideas to help build their brand and their business in several key markets around the United States.

Approach

We brought our full-service capabilities to the table and worked with Subway Restaurants for over 18 years, representing 31 markets and over 5,500 franchise locations. Source was tapped for everything from in-store point-of-sale materials to media strategy and buying, creative campaign development and sports marketing partnerships. We also ideated and led some of Subway's original athlete marketing initiatives, developing relationships with and executing creative programs with stars like Joe Torre, Cris Carter, CC Sabathia, Justin Tuck, Ryan Howard and John Cena.

Results
+5.5%AUV increase
+17.6%gross profit
6 of 11best-performing markets represented
Takeaways
  • Local fans respond more positively to creative specifically built for them.
  • Sponsorships are maximized when complemented with targeted media in local markets.
  • Activating sports IP in stores not only engages fans, but also motivates and excites employees.
BBQGuys.com

Driving e-commerce growth with the first family of football.

StrategyMediaCreativeSports Marketing
Objective

Heighten brand awareness, elevate brand perceptions and increase web traffic to drive e-commerce sales through a new brand campaign, complementing lower-funnel tactics.

Approach

We developed a new campaign that celebrated backyard living and the way it enhances family life with a larger-than-life family, the first family of football, the Mannings. Featuring Peyton, Eli, Archie and Cooper, we positioned the entire family as "Born to Grill," highlighting how they love to chill and grill together. This omni-channel campaign was supported by unique partnerships with the SEC and SEC Network, HGTV, Food Network and ESPN to drive continued association between the Manning family and BBQGuys.com.

Results
+80%lift in first-time branded web traffic
+19%marketing channel direct entry
Takeaways
  • Upper-funnel brand building makes performance marketing work harder.
  • An authentic talent fit makes a brand story instantly memorable.
UFC

Bringing Netflix blockbusters into the Octagon.

Sports MarketingCreative
Objective

UFC needed support in developing and activating partnership ideas for its partner, Netflix, who wanted to generate awareness and drive viewership for two upcoming film releases, Bright and Army of the Dead.

Approach

We ideated, developed and produced unique branded content that creatively intertwined UFC IP and talent with imagery and characters from each film, providing both UFC and Netflix with assets that activated the partnership successfully.

Results
11MUFC social views (a record as of 2017)
6.6Mengagements on UFC social platforms
Takeaways
  • Blending property IP and talent with a partner's storyline creates content fans actually want to watch.
  • Well-activated partnerships deliver value for both the property and the sponsor.
Lenny & Larry's

Launching a high-protein challenger with an American Ninja Warrior star.

StrategyMediaCreativeSports Marketing
Objective

Lenny & Larry's, an established leader in the healthy snack category, wanted to launch their new high-protein Boss Cookie to compete within the high-protein energy bar category.

Approach

We developed a new campaign featuring American Ninja Warrior star Jessie Graff, an influential voice in the world of fitness, health and nutrition. We leveraged Jessie in new campaign creative across media channels and digital and social content, followed by an interactive promotion called "The Boss Challenge" that encouraged aspiring Ninja athletes to upload their ninja-style workouts for a chance to win a private training session with Jessie, plus a whole bunch of Boss Cookies.

Results
+23%sales over plan goal
Takeaways
  • The right athlete voice brings instant credibility when entering a new category.
  • Interactive promotions turn awareness into participation and purchase.

Let's create your next success story.