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  4. 5 Ways F&B Brands Score Big on Game Day

5 Ways F&B Brands Score Big on Game Day

She Shoots, She Pours!

Brand activations and fan events at and around sporting events create a can’t-miss opportunity to connect directly with sports fans. This cohort is unmatched in passion and engagement. Here are five ways brands score big with Ripples.

CELEBRATE THE BIG GAME LIVE

The numbers are in, and using Ripples for your activation means happy fans and higher social media reach. Ripples’ latest survey of bar patrons showed that 60% of customers that are served a printed drink will post it to social media. Then add sports – Budweiser’s 2022 World Cup activation with Ripples earned a Net Promoter Score of 96, meaning nearly every single person polled would recommend the fan event to their friends. Adding Ripples to your game day activities with team content, player selfies, and of course your own logo, is a sure-fire way to spread the impact of your activation beyond the big game.

Guinness and Budweiser executed fan activations during the World Cup in 2022

GET MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK WITH YOUR SPONSORSHIP ACTIVATIONS

In 2020, Guinness became the official beer for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Alumni and Fans. College Football is a huge deal in the Midwest United States, and Notre Dame’s alumni and fans are estimated to number at least 40 million, and they live all over the world.

Pairing the Notre Dame logo with the iconic Guinness pint glass is the perfect way for the brand to align with these stalwart fans as they support their team. #GoIrish☘️

Fans of the University of Notre Dame football team extend well past Indiana, and Guinness captures their attention in Dublin and beyond.

AN EXCLUSIVE HIGHLIGHT FOR VIPS

Whether you’re in the F1 Paddock Club, the VIP lounge at the World Cup, or in the Lavazza Suite at the US Open, Ripples is the perfect finishing touch to create that VIP experience for your guests and partners.

Ripples-topped drinks are served in VIP lounges at the World Cup in Qatar, at Formula 1 in Austria, and at the US Open in New York City

A WAY TO GIVE BACK TO FANS AND ASK FOR PARTICIPATION

The Atlanta Braves hosted a special month-long coffee pop-up shop with Costa Coffee and served special player-themed drinks named after 9 players on their roster, each one on the ballot for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. Players for this game are chosen through fan and player voting, and the Atlanta Braves brewed up this campaign to help get out the vote while giving free coffee and posters to their Praves (proud Braves fans).

HOMETOWN HEROES 

When your city is bursting with excitement because your team made the playoffs, or when it’s just a regular Saturday during football season, creating special treats and drinks for fans at game time is an easy way to boost sales and social media reach.

DON’T FOUL OUT WHEN YOU CREATE YOUR NEXT SPORTS CAMPAIGN!

What does an Oklahoma donut shop have in common with one of the biggest beer brands in the world? In the examples shared above, they were official partners or vendors for the team events whose logos they printed. Sports teams, events, and athlete likenesses are all trademarked and usage is heavily licensed and regulated. Businesses can have problems if they reference sporting events and players in their messaging without having an official relationship ($$) with the organizers. For the Olympics in 2024 you can’t say “Olympics” or “Paris 2024” or “Team GB” or use any image of the rings or the athletes. For the same reason, brands in the United States talk about “The Big Game” since “The Super Bowl” is trademarked.

Luckily, Ripples’ team of designers have created a ton of amazing sports designs – so you can get in on the spirit of the games without getting a call from any lawyers. (And of course, when you score that big sports sponsorship deal, they’ll be able to work with you to optimize content for the drinks at your activation).

Stephanie Morrison
Stephanie Morrison - September 7, 2023