Rheann Engelke

Last night, some of the top basketball creators on social media were selected in the #NBADraft. Beginning a new era for the league’s marketing. Jared McCain, Rob Dillingham and Matas Buzelis are influencers who not only bring their athletic talent to the court but also offer: 1️⃣Exceptional content creation skills 2️⃣Expanded reach to a younger audience 3️⃣Broad appeal across diverse social media demographics 4️⃣Immediate boosts in viewership and jersey sales 5️⃣The ability to thrive in the spotlight _________________________________ These athletes make it effortless for the NBA's marketing team to leverage and further develop their brands, as unlike players in the past, already bring a substantial audience from their own social media presence. To check out our full marketing analysis on these Athlete-Creators and more, join our weekly report below ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eP_4enwc #NBA #WNBA #SportsBiz #SportsMarketing #InfluencerMarketing #SocialMedia

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@🇬🇧 @🇺🇸 sports organisations, are you taking note? Fanbase has just been selected as 1 of 10 companies globally to join the Techstars Sports Accelerator Powered by Indy. Techstars will invest 6 figures into Fanbase as well as putting us through our paces in Indianapolis over a 13-week mentorship-driven accelerator program that connects Fanbase with over 250 mentors from the sports industry, including venture-backed founders, celebrity athletes, angel investors, C-level executives from professional teams and more. Techstars has invested across nearly every tech-related sector, supporting hugely successful companies like Sendgrid, ClassPass and our friends at Edinburgh-based Player Data. So far, 121 companies backed by Techstars have reached a market capitalisation of over $100 million, with an incredible $27.9 billion raised by Techstars accelerator companies over the years. Let's go 🚀 🚀 🚀 #sportstech #techstars #fanengagement

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The truth about your identity as a Sports Business Executive: It’s probably not as impactful as it could be. Here’s why: Titles are easy.  Authenticity is hard. A clear, authentic brand identity? Worth 10x more than just an impressive title. Try this: 1. Define your values and what sets you apart. 2. Communicate those values consistently. 3. Make a website right now. 4. Adapt and refine your content. Stop posturing. Start building real influence. #brand #identity #sports #business #marketing

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#sportsbiz colleagues and friends, as I grow GRIT Public Relations, I want to connect with more reputable sports marketing agents who are comfortable operating in the #nameimagelikeness space. If anyone comes to mind, please tag them in the comments or share this post with your network. #LinkedInSports

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🏈 With EA SPORTS College Football 25 launching on July 19th, we used Nielsen’s Video Game Tracking to dive into gamer habits. 🏈 51% of gamers intend to play EA Sports College Football 25, with the most excitement centered on playing with Washington, Texas, Miami, ❤️ Florida State💛 and Ohio State teams! Let's go Noles! Discover insights on how you can leverage data to understand gamer trends by learning more about Nielsen’s Video Game Tracking here: https://bit.ly/4eTMg4G

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The 2024 WNBA Draft put up record ratings on Monday night with 2.4 million viewers. That represented a 300% increase from last year's WNBA Draft (572,000). That proves plenty, but let's dig a little deeper. Claire Watkins from Just Women's Sports offered up a bananas ratings stat on X: this was the largest WNBA TV audience for ANYTHING since 2000. That year, a Liberty-Comets game averaged 2.74 million viewers. Caitlin Clark joined the Indiana Fever last night and her first nationally televised game is the May 14 regular season opener at Connecticut on ESPN2. Their two preseason games will be on WNBA League Pass, but no national TV. We can expect ratings growth for Fever games this year, but I'm really curious to see how the carryover impacts the rest of the league. The Clark effect is real, but a month from now we'll start to see what kind of coattails it has for the rest of the league. We don't necessarily need to see monster growth across the board, but hopefully we see some solid improvement for non-Fever ratings with all this momentum heading into the 2024 season.

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Check out my first trend analysis for Ballpoint Sports Media! Here are some takeaways from my article, From Endorsements to Equity: The Rise of Athlete Ownership in Sports Apparel 1. Shift from Endorsements to Equity: Athletes are moving beyond traditional endorsements to pursue ownership stakes in brands, which provides them long-term financial benefits and influence. 2. Increased Influence on Brand Identity: Athlete-owners often help shape brand identity, aligning it with their personal values and audience, which deepens brand loyalty among fans. 3. Financial and Social Impact: By obtaining equity, athletes gain more control over their financial futures and contribute to the sports industry’s evolving business landscape. Let me know your thoughts below.

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It was a nice surprise when, heading home for Thanksgiving, I learned I was featured in the winter edition of the On Wisconsin magazine for some of the work I've done with Athletes Unlimited's social media accounts. It's a great reminder that now more than ever we're seeing sports continue to grow in digital fandom, presence, and engagement -- and at AU we're staying at the forefront not only through our traditional social channels, but also through athlete-social media education, local influencer partnerships, and more. Whether you're for it or against it, there's no denying the importance that social and digital focused marketing has on the sports landscape. ▫️ If you're a sports marketing professional, now is the time to lean into social-forward marketing. ▫️ If you're an individual looking to get into sports marketing, you should be getting comfortable with managing and posting to social channels (even if they're your own). ▫️ If you're a sports fan in general, social media is the best atmosphere to find the newest headlines, stories, and conversations. 📷 On Wisconsin

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Sports' teams social media and video production departments are going to busy prepping for the NFL Schedule release coming on Wednesday. Teams get their schedules on Monday. The schedule release is one of the most popular days for the NFL. The socials and video team put together some creative stuff to market the top games on their schedule and I can't wait for what the clubs come up with next. As a Giants fan, I hope they take elements from the NYC to make their socials campaign. I have a few ideas. Games are going to be announced prior to the official schedule release next Wednesday May 15th. A game I want scheduled is: Week 16: Eagles @ Giants (Christmas Day) (4:25) Saquon coming back to MetLife after joining the Giants' most hated rival in the division in free agency. That's something the NFL can market and a game that should be highlighted. There's nothing worse that can irritate a fanbase more than signing with your most hated rival. For social media teams for Sports teams, how busy are y'all when it comes to these schedule releases?

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Building the Jayhawk brand 📲🔴🔵 As another successful sports season at Kansas wraps up, excited to share some of our YOY social growth! ————————————————————- Football Engagements: +100% • Following: +50% Olympic Sports Engagements: +85% • Following: +30% Women’s Sports Engagements: +65% • Following: +30% All Sports Engagements: +20% • Following: +20% ————————————————————- It’s all about investment. Our brand trajectory is a direct result of the investment currently being put into every area and every sport. Social team size in 2022-23: 3 Social team size in 2023-24: 8 (Includes students) The expansion of our social team to now manage all of our accounts has made a massive impact this year. In most cases, each sport now has a dedicated social “admin” tasked with driving their account forward every day. Responsibility creates ownership, and it’s been great to see our team rise to the challenge. And it’s only 🆙 from here…excited to lead the continued development of our social team and digital brand 📈 #RockChalk

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Each Major League Baseball (MLB) team plays 162 games a year. Every professional sport season is a grind in its own way. Baseball’s is the sheer number of games and all that comes with it. And while every game counts the same, some are just a bit more special.   We’ve been proud to partner with MLB on these special games. We brought the world the Apple Pie Hot Dog at the Field of Dreams game and paid tribute to the Negro Leagues at this year’s MLB at Rickwood Field game.  And we did it in a way that was uniquely American, uniquely Chevy.  Which brings us to today –  and an announcement that #Chevy will once again proudly be a part of. MLB announced next year’s special game – the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds are set to play on the infield at @Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway in Tennessee.  Pardon the non-baseball analogies here, but this one is a lay-up for us. Or an empty-netter. Baseball. It’s just a few hours away from the home of country music in Nashville. NASCAR. When you’re able to bring pillars of who we are together, it makes for not only a great event, but a definitively Chevy one at that. Can’t wait for next year, meanwhile, back to work … #IWorkForChevy https://lnkd.in/gNdEM8Ni

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Timely episode!

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CSB 5210 Assignment #3 In my opinion, sports sponsorship is one of the most effective forms of product placement because it incorporates brands directly into our everyday viewing experiences. When companies place logos on jerseys or stadiums, they use athletes and teams to carry their message into our homes. We often associate products with athletes we admire, making their influence on our purchasing decisions even stronger. I believe product placement through sports sponsorship helps us form long-term emotional connections with brands. This strategy specifically matches the brand with our personal passions and interests, building lasting loyalty. #marketing5210Fall2024 #CAUMarketing

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The current state of NCAA college athletics is marked by significant change, driven by ongoing legal, financial, and social developments that are reshaping the landscape.  Ticketing Operations Professionals are being asked by their Athletic Directors, Presidents, and External Operations to increase overall sales and creatively find new revenue streams. The CFP, NIL Collectives, the Transfer Portal, Conference Realignment, the DOJ's proposed Revenue Share, and Media Rights are all playing a role in transforming college athletics as we know it. Now more than ever a college athletics department needs partners that can provide data, analytics, and customizable solutions that lead to revenue optimization. vivenu is here to help ... our flexibility, partnerships, and willingness to find a solution that fits each of our client's needs are how we are assisting our clients. Get a hold of us today and see how we can help solve your business and ticketing-related issues. Overall, the current state of NCAA college athletics is characterized by transformation, with ongoing shifts in athlete rights, financial structures, governance, and the role of college sports within the broader higher education system. The future is uncertain, and the choices you make now will shape the direction of your college athletics department for decades to come.

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I wasn’t expecting a capacity crowd for last night’s Toronto Blue Jays-Detroit Tigers game, but then realized…the game was an Apple TV + exclusive broadcast. Though criticized, these broadcasts have an unintended benefit. Nothing like not being able to watch your team on TV to get you down to the ballpark! Not many recall the days of local TV blackouts in the 1970s that aimed to “force” people to attend games at the stadium. Some people blame the blackout policy for the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts losing a generation of fans in this market as fans gravitated to free-to-air NFL broadcasts on the Buffalo affiliates of U.S. TV networks. However, these occasional Apple TV games - beyond reaching cord cutter or cord never tech-savvy Gen Zers and Millennials - could also be having the positive effect of spiking game attendance. If Apple TV+ games can be strategically scheduled for nights and opponents that typically yield low attendance, the deal will have greater benefits than expected. Perhaps a moderated, as opposed to an absolute broadcast ban, would have achieved the desired effect of the blackout policy. However, in our current era of content demand, content discovery, brand building, and streaming service proliferation, the notion of intentional blackouts seems incomprehensible to me. #sportsmedia #nostalgia #streaming #blackout

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Most people will: - Watch sports - Cheer for their team - Notice brand logos - Feel connected to sponsors - Buy products linked to their favorite teams Most people will not realize. They are influenced. Sponsorships shape buying choices. They create AWARENESS. → My message to you: Brands use sports to connect with fans. The journey starts with exposure. Logos on jerseys. Ads in stadiums. Fans see these brands over and over. They start to trust them. → Next step: POSITIVE ASSOCIATION Fans love their teams. They trust sponsors. This trust transfers to the brands. → Then comes ENGAGEMENT Meet athletes. Join social media campaigns. Interact at events. Buy exclusive merchandise. These experiences deepen the bond. → Consideration and Preference Fans start preferring these brands. They feel a connection. They choose these products. → Finally, PURCHASE INTENT Fans are more likely to buy. Sponsorships boost buying intent by 10%. → Post-Purchase Reinforcement Fans continue to see the brand. They stick with their choice. Loyalty grows. Repeat purchases happen. → Brands guide fans from awareness to loyalty. They create meaningful connections. They tap into the passion of sports. → This is the power of sports sponsorships. "Let’s build something incredible together. Whether you’re looking to grow brand awareness, engage new audiences, or create unforgettable experiences, partnering with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx can take your brand to the next level. Shoot me a message or email to explore how we can make it happen. Let’s connect!"  E: [email protected] #SportsMarketing #SponsorshipStrategy #PartnershipMarketing #BrandPartnerships #SponsorshipOpportunities #CMOInsights #BrandStrategy #MarketingInnovation

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With WNBA viewership gaining a record-breaking 170% viewership increase on ESPN from 2023, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 athlete-influencers are benefitting the most: Caitlin Clark: Indiana Fever ➊ 𝟐𝟖𝟎% Instagram follower growth in 2024, 𝟑.𝟐𝐌 Avg. Reel Plays, 𝟏𝟕% engagement rate ➋ Starred in most-watched WNBA game on NBA TV (678,000 viewers) Kamila Cardoso: Chicago Sky ➊ Staggering 𝟕𝟐𝟑% Instagram follower growth this year, averaging 𝟓𝟏𝟗𝐊 Avg. Reel Plays ➋ 𝟑𝟔% Portuguese audience, offering global marketing potential Angel Reese: Chicago Sky ➊ 𝟔𝟎%+ Instagram follower growth this year ➋ Face of brands like Reese's and Reebok and launched show "Unapologetically Angel" 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬: ➊ Early Investment: Finding female players now in college and for next season can lead to long-term partnerships and authentic brand connections. ➋ Execute Social Media Deals: Increase visibility by leveraging athletes' growing platforms ➌ Invest Now: Women's basketball will continue to grow, secure deals at lower costs before the market fully matures. For all the latest news and insights in athlete-influencer marketing, subscribe to the Weekly Report below! ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eP_4enwc #NIL #WNBA #SportsMarketing #DigitalMedia #InfluencerMarketing #SocialMedia

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It's been a while since my last update, and the sports media landscape has seen plenty of action. Given my experience working with ESPN on the Little League World Series, I felt compelled to share insights on the upcoming NFL Flag Championships, happening this week at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The NFL seems to be drawing from the LLWS playbook for its Flag Championships event, aiming to foster a community-centric and grassroots atmosphere. Over 2,800 young athletes will participate, with the event receiving extensive coverage across Disney platforms. However, I'm somewhat skeptical about whether this initiative can replicate the unique charm and widespread appeal of the LLWS. Other sports, notably soccer, have tried to capture similar magic without the same level of success. Moreover, while American football is a dominant force in the U.S., its international appeal is more limited, primarily showcased during occasional NFL games abroad. The inclusion of flag football in the 2028 Olympics clearly signals the NFL's intent to globalize the sport. Having witnessed the impact of well-coordinated youth sports events firsthand, I’m curious to see if the NFL’s strategy will significantly boost flag football's popularity, both in the U.S. and globally. Is this initiative a genuine opportunity for growth, or merely an ambitious attempt with challenging odds? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Could this strategy effectively elevate flag football on the global sports stage?

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