Zoomph | Measure Threads Sponsorship Value and Content Performance With Zoomph

Measure Threads Sponsorship Value and Content Performance With Zoomph

Robert Lindner — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:00:02 +0000

Threads sponsorship measurement and content performance analytics is rapidly becoming a priority for sports brands as the platform emerges as a key channel for real-time, community-driven fan engagement.

As that adoption grows, so does the need for consistent performance tracking and reporting.

We consistently heard from customers that measuring Threads performance was a growing priority – not just to refine content strategy, but to report on brand exposure value for partners.

Based on that feedback, Zoomph now includes Threads tracking, providing customers with data and insights that can help improve strategy, optimize content and drive more sponsorship revenue.

“Threads has become a strong channel for sports brands to build passionate communities through authentic, real-time conversation with – and not at – their audience,” said Dan LaTorraca, Director of Marketing at Zoomph.

“As more properties embraced the platform, we heard consistent feedback from customers that they wanted the ability to track content performance and measure sponsor exposure – and our product team delivered.”

What You Can Do With Threads in Zoomph

Zoomph’s Threads tracking delivers the unified performance measurement that sports properties need to optimize strategy and understand sponsor exposure value:

Track Threads post performance over time and measure every unique engagement metric – likes, comments, quotes, shares, and reposts
Report media value and partner brand exposure using Zoomph’s proven valuation models
Save time with Zoomph’s AI-powered automated tagging and reporting functionality
Include Threads performance in executive reports, sponsorship recaps, rate cards, and dashboards

Threads data now sits alongside Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, Twitch, and YouTube within Zoomph’s unified reporting framework — enabling consistent measurement, faster reporting, clearer storytelling, stronger rate cards and more informed decision-making across social and partnerships teams.

Translating Engagement Into Sponsorship Value

Tracking engagement and optimizing content strategy is essential – but for corporate partnerships teams, Threads sponsorship measurement – translating content performance into clear, defensible financial value – is transformational.

“Threads has become an exciting space for us to engage Sharks fans in a more conversational and authentic way,” said Patrick Hooper, Senior Director of Content for the San Jose Sharks.

“We’re always exploring new platforms and trends where fans are gathering, and Threads has given us the freedom to experiment with our voice while finding creative ways to integrate partner messaging organically. With clearer performance insights and visibility into brand exposure, we’re able to continually refine our approach and unlock new opportunities for both our fans and our partners.”

What makes Threads sponsorship measurement particularly valuable is the precision it brings to decisions that used to involve a lot of guesswork. Zoomph’s AI-powered logo and asset detection identifies sponsor exposures directly within social content — from intentional logo overlays on sponsored content campaigns to sponsored assets that appear in content like jersey patches, signage, branded overlays, and more.

Zoomph and applies proven CPM, CPE, and CPV models to calculate their actual media value. That means no more estimating what a content series is worth. No more uncertainty around unsold inventory pricing. Just clear, accurate data that supports confident rate card development and stronger renewal conversations.

For organizations where social and partnerships teams are both working in Zoomph — which describes the majority of our sports property customers — this only enhances alignment.

The result is stronger sponsorship reporting, more accurate rate cards, better-valued inventory, and the kind of cross-departmental clarity that drives retention and revenue growth.

Bringing Threads Into the Bigger Picture

With Threads sponsorship measurement now live in Zoomph, properties can analyze performance alongside Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube within a single unified framework. As Threads continues to grow, organizations that can measure and communicate its impact will have a strategic advantage.

If you’re exploring ways to measure Threads analytics and quantify social media ROI, request a brief, personalized demo to see how Zoomph unifies engagement data and sponsorship valuation.

Current Zoomph customers: contact your Account Manager to get Threads tracking enabled and incorporated into your reporting workflows.

The post Measure Threads Sponsorship Value and Content Performance With Zoomph first appeared on Zoomph.

Threads Best Practices for Sports Brands: 7 Strategies That Work

Dan LaTorraca — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:13:00 +0000

Fans showed up on Threads ready to talk – not just to react to highlights or check scores – and to have real conversations about the topics – and sports – they love.

The feed may look familiar on the surface, and many sports brands initially utilized the platform as a place to repurpose content from other platforms, but that strategy misses what makes Threads fundamentally different: the brands winning on the platform show up to participate, not just publish.

With Zoomph’s Threads analytics and tracking, we took a close look at what is actually working across sports properties to put together a list of best practices for sports brands on Threads.

1. Threads Is Community-First. Your Strategy Should Be Too.

The algorithm on Threads is built around engagement depth and response frequency, not audience size or post volume. That means one-to-one replies, commenting often, conversational prompts, and accounts that feel genuinely human are rewarded with increased visibility. Accounts that just post and disappear won’t reap the full benefits that the platform offers.

Think of it this way: Instagram is your highlight reel. X is your press box. Threads is your digital sports bar – where lots of conversation and community discussion occurs.

The properties succeeding here are not just posting content. They are showing up in the comments, jumping into relevant conversations, and maintaining a voice that feels like a person, not a content calendar.

2. Cross-Posting Is Fine - But That Is The Baseline

It is completely fine to share final score graphics, highlights, jersey reveals, and milestone posts across platforms. But the caption should not be identical.

Threads copy should be conversational, easy to scan, written in short sentences, and leave room for discussion. Text-only posts perform exceptionally well here – often better than polished visual content – because they feel native to the platform.

Occasional longer-form posts can also work, especially when formatted with short paragraphs and smart spacing. The key is that every post, regardless of format, should feel like it belongs on Threads — not like it was copy-pasted from another social platform.

3. Develop a Voice That Feels Native to Threads - and Stick to It

Voice is the single biggest differentiator on Threads. The strongest sports accounts do not just repurpose content from other platforms – they reframe it through a lens that is distinctly conversational and platform-native.

Consider the difference between how the same moment lives on two platforms:

The Saints have become one of the strongest Threads accounts in the NFL — and the data backs it up. The same final score, posted on both platforms, tells the whole story. On X, 706 engagements across 1.6 million followers. On Threads, 740 engagements from just 330,000 — a 5x higher engagement rate with one fifth of the audience. A unique voice for your brand can help build a highly-engaged audience.

The difference is not market size or budget. It is voice, consistency, and a genuine commitment to the community.

TIP: Sports brands can take inspiration from non-sports brands that have cracked the Threads code like Calm and Beyond Meat.

4. Warm Up the Audience Before You Think About Monetization

Before layering in sponsorship integrations or traffic-driving content, invest in building engagement depth. This is not just good community practice – it is a strategy that makes everything else work better.

The more conversational your account is, the more visibility Threads gives your content. That visibility compounds over time and directly impacts follower growth, highlight performance, and the reach of sponsored posts.

Practical ways to build that foundation:

Ask genuine questions – not just “Who’s excited?” but questions fans actually want to answer
Build content that facilitates conversation and drives comments
Respond to comments thoughtfully and in your brand voice, not just a like
Engage in conversations outside your own posts – participate in the broader sports community
Post through underperforming content without hesitation — dud posts do not penalize your account on Threads

You are not punished for posts that do not perform. Consistency and responsiveness matter far more than perfection. Keep posting, keep engaging, keep refining the voice and building the community.

5. Turn Engagement Into Sponsorship Value

Most sports properties are already producing content with measurable sponsor exposure. From intentional campaigns like a “Photo of the Game” series with logo overlays, or indirect sponsor exposures like highlight packages that feature assets like jersey patches or on-court signage, Zoomph’s AI-powered detection tool will track, tag and measure all of it.

That content has real value that can be utilized for sponsor recaps, renewals and rate cards.

But how can you improve Threads performance and generate more sponsor value?

By building a passionate, highly engaged audience first.

A community built through consistent conversation and genuine responsiveness will engage more deeply with your content, including your sponsored content. Done right, that audience becomes an amplification engine.

Every comment and quote signals relevance to the algorithm, extending the lifespan and increasing the reach of a post, driving greater content performance sponsor exposure.

Threads also creates an opportunity for new and unique sponsored inventory. Simple, conversational fan prompts – the kind that tap into memory, identity, and emotion – can generate strong engagement on the platform.

Think posts like:

Who took you to your first game? What name was on the back of your first jersey? Where are you watching from tonight? Who was your favorite player when you were 10 years old?

All of this can be sponsored. Tag your partner in the copy, include their logo on the creative, and now the sponsor lives inside a high-engagement thread. The more fans respond, the more visibility the sponsor gets – well beyond the initial impression. And all of it is measurable with Zoomph.

6. What Sports Media Brands Should Do Differently

Sports media brands have an advantage on Threads that sports teams simply do not: freedom.

A sports team’s Threads presence can be tied to wins, losses, and the emotional temperature of their fanbase. A media brand can go anywhere. Pop culture. Sports history. Cross-sport debates. Nostalgic moments. The kind of conversations that fans want to have but that a team account cannot always lead.

That is a significant opportunity – and the media brands that capitalize can build audiences that are hard to replicate.
The content that works best is not recaps or link dumps. It is conversation starters that tap into shared identity and genuine curiosity. Who was the greatest dynasty of all time? What moment made you a sports fan? Which team has the best throwback logo? These are the threads that take on a life of their own.

Sports media brands also have the credibility to weigh in across sports, not just one team – which means a wider net, a more diverse audience, and more entry points into conversation every single day. Link-dumping consistently underperforms. Summarize, spark discussion, and let the conversation do the work.

Leverage this wide range of content topics to create sponsored content series that resonate with your audience and help drive growth and visibility.

7. Measure What You Are Building

As Threads matures, experimentation will give way to accountability. Being active on the platform will not be enough – especially when sponsorship revenue is on the line. Properties will need to demonstrate impact in clear, defensible terms. They will also need to factor sponsored content performance into rate cards.

On Threads, real impact goes beyond just impressions. It lives in engagement depth: replies per post, conversation velocity during live moments, sponsor visibility inside high-engagement threads, and the media value generated by owned content over time. Focusing on these metrics will help drive impressions, follower growth, and sponsorship revenue over time.

The properties that build both a strong Threads presence and a consistent measurement framework now will be in the best position to turn that engagement into revenue — and to make the case to partners at renewal time.

Threads is not just another distribution channel. It is a conversation-driven sponsorship amplifier. Conversation does not just build community. It builds value.

Bring Threads Into Your Reporting

Zoomph supports authenticated Threads tracking – giving sports properties a unified view of account performance, post-level engagement and sponsorship value alongside every other owned social channel. Threads data sits alongside Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube in the same reporting framework your team already trusts.

If you’re ready to measure your Threads presence and bring it into your sponsorship valuation models, request a demo to see it in action. Zoomph customers can connect with their account manager for more info.

The post Threads Best Practices for Sports Brands: 7 Strategies That Work first appeared on Zoomph.

Healthcare Sports Sponsorship: What’s Working Right Now

Dan LaTorraca — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:21:35 +0000

Healthcare sports sponsorship is one of the fastest-growing categories in professional sports partnerships – and one of the least understood.

Health systems, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, pharmacy chains, and regional medical brands are quietly becoming some of the most active sponsors across the NBA, WNBA, MLS, NWSL, and MLB. But unlike consumer brands that have decades of sports marketing playbooks to draw from, most healthcare organizations are still figuring out where to invest, what actually works, and how to prove it’s working at all.

Zoomph is helping to change that.

Using real sponsorship data from Zoomph’s measurement platform — which tracks everything from logo visibility and content performance across social media and broadcast to calculate what each brand impression is actually worth — we’re breaking down four high-value activation types for healthcare brands, with real dollar figures from real partnerships.

Whether you’re a sponsorship professional evaluating where your next dollar should go, a healthcare marketer trying to build a business case internally, or a brand that already is investing in sports sponsorships, this post is designed to help provide valuable perspective.

Why Sports Sponsorships Work Differently for Healthcare Brands

Healthcare marketing faces structural challenges that most other categories don’t. Privacy regulations limit digital targeting. Ad platform restrictions constrain healthcare-specific messaging. And the nature of healthcare decision-making — slow, trust-driven, household-level — makes high-frequency performance advertising a poor fit.

Sports sponsorships can help avoid most of these challanges. Here’s why the fit is so strong:

Community trust: Hospitals and health brands are pillars of their local communities — the same communities sports teams serve. Sponsorship reinforces that trust at scale rather than manufacturing it from scratch.
Broad reach: Sports audiences span age groups, income levels, and household roles. Healthcare brands need to reach patients and caregivers alike — sports delivers both.
Authentic alignment: There’s a natural connection between sports performance and healthcare. Sideline branding, team physician relationships, and wellness content activations feel native rather than interruptive.
Measurable ROI: Every social media post containing your logo generates measurable brand value. For the first time, healthcare executives can see exactly what a sponsorship investment is worth — post by post, platform by platform.

The brands generating the highest ROI from sports sponsorships aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets. They’re the ones measuring most precisely.

Four Proven Activations for Healthcare Brands

Walk into any professional sports venue and you’ll see dozens of brand placements competing for attention — rotating LED boards, tunnel signage, digital overlays, branded cups. Not all of it travels beyond the building.

The activations that generate the most value for healthcare brands are the ones that show up consistently in the content fans actually share and engage with — on social media, in highlight clips, across league and media accounts. A jersey logo that appears in every team post. A court apron that’s visible in every wide-angle game photo. A backstop sign that’s in frame for every pitch of a 162-game season. Sponsored content where the brand is given dedicated space in posts the team’s own audience is already watching.

Each works differently, and each serves a different strategic purpose. The sections below break down what the data shows for healthcare brands across all four.

1. Jersey Sponsorships: The Highest-Reach Activation in Sports

A jersey follows a player everywhere. Every team post, every league highlight, every media clip, every fan photo — if a player is in it, your logo is in it. No other physical placement travels as far or earns exposure from as many different account types.

Two sports dominate for different reasons. Basketball teams have the largest social accounts and highest post frequency, driving exceptional reach per activation. Soccer jerseys position logos prominently — usually centered on the chest — resulting in high logo quality scores by Zoomph, which accounts for factors like logo size and clarity.

The Lilly and Indiana Fever partnership is the most valuable healthcare brand jersey sponsorship in professional sports. The Fever’s explosive social growth, driven by Caitlin Clark’s arrival and the broader rise of the WNBA, has made their jersey one of the most valuable pieces of brand real estate in sports today.

A single birthday Facebook post for Caitlin Clark generated $101,119 in brand value for Eli Lilly. An additional Facebook post announcing the re-signing of Kelsey Mitchell also generated $18,617 in brand exposure.

Neither were part of a sponsored content series, but these routine social content posts generated impressive brand exposure value because of the Fever’s account size and engagement rate.

The WNBA’s rapid growth has created a genuine sponsorship opportunity for healthcare brands across the league. Rising viewership, expanding social audiences, and deeper fan engagement mean jersey placements are delivering strong returns – and the brands that moved early are already seeing it in the data.

Orlando Health’s dual-team strategy – spanning both the NWSL’s Orlando Pride and MLS’s Orlando City SC — is a textbook example of local market ownership. By holding jersey real estate on both teams, they achieve near-unavoidable visibility for anyone consuming Orlando sports content.

The standout result: a league-level NWSL Facebook post generated $45,483 for Orlando Health — nearly five times the value of a typical team-level post. When the league itself amplifies your sponsor content, the reach multiplier is dramatic.

This is the league amplification effect: your jersey appears not just in the partner team’s content, but in opponent content, league content, media content, and fan accounts. The sponsoring team is just the starting point.

CVS’s presence on the Washington Spirit jersey demonstrates that national healthcare brands can generate meaningful brand value through NWSL partnerships.

For a national brand like CVS, this isn’t purely a dollars-per-post calculation. It’s consistent brand presence alongside high-integrity women’s sports content in a key market — in a space where healthcare competitors are not yet dominant. The value of early category positioning in an emerging sponsorship space compounds over time.

League amplification plays a role in driving additional brand exposure value, but content produced by the club is also driving considerable brand exposure for CVS in a strong market.

2. Sponsored Content: Brand Placement Within Content Your Audience Already Wants

Sponsored content is any post where the healthcare brand gets dedicated placement within the team’s own social content — score graphics, game clips, practice footage, player interview series, or milestone announcements with the brand prominently featured.

The key advantage: the team’s production quality and audience relationship does the work. Your brand rides along on content people already want to engage with.

One important data point: photos consistently outperform videos in this format. Photos give the logo 100% screen time for the entire view. Videos risk the logo appearing for only a fraction of the clip — especially in highlight-style edits where cuts are frequent.

The Warriors have one of the most engaged social audiences in the NBA and Kaiser Permanente’s sponsored activations span a number of content formats and social platforms. The Warriors also do an excellent job of showcasing the Kaiser Permanente logo in the content and including a text mention in the post copy, which helps drive additional brand exposure value.

Kaiser Permanente leverages static graphic overlays attached to milestone and high affinity moments in order to generate incredibly strong sponsorship ROI. Final score graphics, while unpredictable, are a worthwhile investment because of the potential reach and volume of posts across multiple platforms.

The $64,955 Instagram post is worth examining closely: this is a team milestone post (playoff clinch), not a custom healthcare campaign activation. Aligning with high affinity moments may cost more, but the value generated is stronger than many other campaigns.

Baptist Health × Inter Miami CF

Baptist Health is a South Florida regional health system. Inter Miami is a global sports property. This partnership gives Baptist Health something regional healthcare brands almost never have access to: a content distribution footprint that extends far beyond their home market.

Like the Warriors, Inter Miami CF positions Baptist Health for strong brand exposure value with a static logo overlay and paid partnership tag.

That sustained cadence of these posts — rather than not a single viral spike based on a milestone — is what a strong sponsored content program looks like in practice. Consistent value across an entire season of activations matters more than any one moment.

Additionally, Zoomph analysis shows that Instagram carousel content consistently drives stronger brand exposure and media performance for sports brands.

3. Basketball Sideline Court Apron: Always On Asset

Sideline court apron signage is the closest permanent logo to the playing surface in basketball – and that proximity is everything. It appears in wide-angle game photography, full-court highlight clips, bench moments, and player features without competing against rotating digital boards or in-game overlays.

The logos are large, the camera lingers, and nothing else is fighting for that real estate. For healthcare brands, the result is something rare in sponsorship: reliable, repeatable brand value from a single physical investment, earned across every piece of game content all season long.

AdventHealth’s Orlando Magic partnership shows what steady, predictable court apron value looks like across a full season — with a bold, readable logo on a high-contrast background that consistently appears in NBA game highlights.

UCHealth’s partnership with the Denver Nuggets illustrates the same upside. Court apron placement ensures the logo gained visibility well beyond the Nuggets’ owned social accounts: in both cases, the NBA league account published highlight content that prominently featured the asset, reaching an audience far beyond what any single team’s following can deliver.

That’s the multiplier effect of premium court placement: one logo on the court, earning value across the entire league’s content ecosystem.

4. Baseball Backstop: Maximum Broadcast Screen Time

In baseball, the backstop position — directly behind home plate — gets more continuous screen time than any other signage placement in the stadium. Every pitch, every at-bat, every batter-pitcher matchup puts it in frame. That sustained visibility translates directly into brand value, and because the placement is so central to the action, it’s also the most likely stadium asset to show up in social clips shared by teams, league accounts, and media.

Single post values here are more modest than basketball placements — $2,069 for MedStar Health via a Mets Facebook video, $1,531 for Orlando Health via an MLB X post. But backstop value is cumulative by nature. Across a 162-game season, with content generated by teams, the league, and media on every game day, a well-placed backstop logo earns consistent exposure from opening day through the playoffs. The value is in the aggregate, not any single post.

How Zoomph Gives Healthcare Brands the Upper Hand

You’re investing across multiple properties, assets, and events – jerseys, court logos, broadcast placements, sponsored content, in-venue signage. Without the right measurement infrastructure, you’re flying blind on which of those investments are actually working.

Zoomph gives healthcare brand marketers a single platform to see it all, defend it all, and act on it.

See the full value of every sponsorship in one place. Zoomph consolidates every partner, every asset, and every activation so you can compare performance across your entire portfolio and make confident decisions about where to invest more and where to pull back.
Capture every brand exposure — including the ones you didn’t pay for. Logo appearances in broadcast clips, viral moments, star player posts, in-venue assets — if your brand showed up, Zoomph makes sure you get credit for it.
Get independent data you can actually defend. Your partners report their own numbers, and those numbers are inherently optimistic. Zoomph gives you consistent, third-party measurement you can bring to your CFO and your renewal conversations with confidence.
Know which assets are working — and which ones aren’t. Jersey patch versus court logo versus sponsored content — Zoomph breaks performance down by asset so you can stop overpaying for what isn’t delivering and double down on what is.
Benchmark yourself against the market. Zoomph shows you how other brands are activating in the healthcare sponsorship space so you know what good actually looks like — and where you have room to grow.

Sponsorship ROI is no longer a gut feel. Every impression is measurable. Every activation has a dollar value. Healthcare brands that aren’t measuring are making decisions blind.

The data in this post is just a small sample of what Zoomph tracks every day. Request a short, personalized demo to see what we’re measuring for healthcare brands like yours.

The post Healthcare Sports Sponsorship: What’s Working Right Now first appeared on Zoomph.

March Madness Sponsors: Top Brands At The NCAA Tournament

Robert Lindner — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:38:55 +0000

March Madness is one of the most valuable sponsorship platforms in sports, delivering weeks of continuous exposure across broadcast, social media, and live events.

The NCAA operates a unique sponsorship model through its Corporate Champions and Corporate Partners Program, a structure that provides brands with exclusive rights, category protection, and access to all 90 NCAA championships. Through partnerships negotiated by TNT Sports and CBS Sports, these brands gain access to one of the largest and most engaged audiences in sports – anchored by the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments.

That scale is driven by the NCAA’s massive media rights deal with CBS and Turner. In 2026, the men’s basketball tournament will generate more than $1 billion in broadcast rights revenue for the first time, according to Sportico, underscoring the event’s central role in the NCAA’s business and its unmatched reach across sports.

With more than 120 games played across both tournaments over three weeks, March Madness creates one of the most sustained and dynamic exposure environments in sports – where brands can capture value not just during live broadcasts, but across the social and digital moments that extend far beyond the final buzzer.

NCAA Corporate Champion Partners

The NCAA’s top-tier sponsors—Corporate Champions—receive premium visibility and category exclusivity, with integrated activations across NCAA championships, including March Madness.

Capital One

Capital One maintains one of the most visible presences in March Madness as the presenting sponsor of both the Men’s and Women’s Bracket Challenges, now fully integrated across NCAA March Madness Live, the app, and NCAA.com. The brand also brings its long-running “Road Trip” campaign back for its 16th year, featuring talent like Charles Barkley, Samuel L. Jackson, Magic Johnson, and Caitlin Clark—keeping Capital One at the center of tournament conversation. Beyond digital engagement, Capital One activates through marquee fan events, including March Madness Fan Fest and the March Madness Music Festival during Final Four weekend.

AT&T

AT&T’s partnership spans both the men’s and women’s tournaments, centered around powering the real-time connections that define March Madness. Its 2026 campaign positions the tournament as a “giant group chat,” with fans streaming, sharing, and reacting to every moment, while sponsorship of the Men’s and Women’s Bracket Managers on CBS Sports keeps the brand embedded throughout the fan experience. During Final Four weekend, AT&T extends that presence through marquee events like the Block Party and Super Saturday Concert.

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola blends traditional advertising with fan engagement through interactive campaigns like its 2026 March Madness promotion, where fans can win instant prizes and a trip to the Final Four by participating throughout the tournament. The company also benefits from its Powerade brand, which appears prominently on sidelines, benches, and in-game hydration moments—creating consistent, always-on broadcast exposure.

NCAA Corporate Champion Partners

Beyond the Champions tier, NCAA Corporate Partners activate across broadcast, social, in-venue, and digital channels.

GEICO

GEICO activates around March Madness through its “Miles That Matter” docuseries, using storytelling to connect with fans while extending its presence through fan experiences, youth events like the Women’s Final Four Bounce, and community activations tied to the Final Four.

Marriott Bonvoy

As the Official Hotel Partner of the NCAA, Marriott Bonvoy activates around March Madness by connecting travel and fandom, using its “Where Gameday Checks In” campaign and loyalty experiences to highlight the moments around the game that extend fan engagement beyond the court.

Invesco QQQ

Invesco QQQ activates around March Madness by aligning its brand with innovation and performance, using content-driven storytelling to connect the tournament’s biggest moments with the next generation of leading companies in the Nasdaq-100.

The Home Depot

As the Official Home Improvement Partner of March Madness, The Home Depot activates through digital and social content that taps into tournament excitement, using creative collaborations to connect with fans and extend brand visibility throughout the event.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings leans into its role as a go-to watch destination for March Madness, combining in-restaurant experiences with limited-time menu items and merchandise drops that tap into the culture and energy of the tournament.

Wendy’s

Wendy’s activates as the Official Dunks Partner of March Madness, tying its menu and app experience to one of the game’s most exciting moments through its “Dunks Menu,” in-app sweepstakes, and real-time offers triggered by key plays like the first dunk of the championship games.

Pizza Hut

As the Official Pizza Sponsor of March Madness, Pizza Hut activates with game-day bundles, app-based promotions, and limited-edition collaborations like its Space Jam campaign, using nostalgia and rewards to drive fan engagement and extend its presence across the tournament.

Reese’s

Reese’s activates around March Madness by turning busted brackets into a social-driven campaign, encouraging fans to share their picks and extending brand visibility through user-generated content tied to the tournament’s most relatable moments.

Great Clips

As the Official Hair Salon of March Madness, Great Clips activates with a tournament-themed campaign centered around a $10 haircut offer, amplified through TV, digital, and social content featuring talent like Mikey Day and college athletes.

Ritz

Ritz activates around March Madness through NIL partnerships with players like Purdue’s Braden Smith, using social-first content and fan promotions to extend brand visibility through player-driven moments and game-day snacking behavior.

Samsung Galaxy

As the official smartphone of the NCAA, Samsung Galaxy activates around March Madness by enhancing the fan experience through technology, combining live activations, social content, and broadcast integrations that help capture and amplify the tournament’s biggest moments.

Apparel and Equipment: The Always-On Winners

While not all apparel brands are official NCAA partners, they are among the biggest beneficiaries of March Madness exposure.

Brands like Nike, Jordan, Adidas, and Under Armour are embedded directly into gameplay through jerseys and on-court presence – giving them:

Continuous visibility throughout every possession
Inclusion in every highlight and viral clip
Exposure tied to player performance and breakout stars

Unlike traditional sponsors, whose visibility is tied to specific placements, apparel brands benefit from always-on exposure across both broadcast and social media – making them some of the most consistently visible brands throughout the tournament.

Wilson Sporting Goods, as the official basketball provider, also benefits from constant in-game visibility, appearing in every possession across both tournaments.

2026 March Madness: The Teams Driving the Most Engagement

While official sponsors benefit from structured visibility, team-driven social media plays a major role in amplifying brand exposure during March Madness.

Based on Zoomph data from the 2025–26 season, several programs entered the tournament with massive built-in audience reach and engagement:

Men’s Tournament Highlights

Duke led all programs with over 240M impressions and 10.6M engagements
UNC and Michigan followed, each generating massive national reach
The SEC and Big Ten dominated overall volume, reflecting the scale of their fan bases

Women’s Tournament Highlights

UConn led all programs with 10.4M engagements, nearly matching Duke’s total
Iowa and LSU continue to drive strong engagement through star-powered content
South Carolina demonstrated high efficiency, generating strong engagement relative to total impressions

How March Madness Sponsorships Show Up Across Platforms

March Madness sponsorships extend far beyond traditional advertising, with brands activating across multiple touchpoints:

Broadcast integrations
In-game signage, graphic overlays, replays, and studio segments remain a foundational layer of exposure, delivering consistent visibility throughout every game.
Social media content and highlights
Brands increasingly benefit from social amplification, where moments like buzzer-beaters and upsets are shared widely—often generating more total exposure than the live broadcast itself. Campaigns like Reese’s “busted bracket” activation and Ritz’s NIL partnerships show how brands are embedding directly into fan-driven content.
In-venue experiences and fan events
From Final Four activations to fan festivals and community events like GEICO’s Women’s Final Four Bounce, brands create immersive experiences that connect directly with fans on-site.
Digital platforms and second-screen engagement
Bracket challenges, mobile apps, and interactive campaigns—led by partners like Capital One, AT&T, and Wendy’s—keep fans engaged throughout the tournament and drive ongoing interaction beyond the game itself.
Content and storytelling integrations
Brands like GEICO and Marriott Bonvoy are investing in long-form and lifestyle content that highlights the moments around the game, while Samsung Galaxy uses technology and media integrations to capture and enhance the fan experience in real time.

Key Takeaways for Brands Investing in March Madness

1. Align with Moments, but Show Up in Them

The most valuable exposure comes from viral plays, upsets, and player-driven moments. But capturing that value depends on having visible broadcast assets in those moments—from on-court signage to on-screen integrations—so your brand is present when highlights are created and shared.

2. Social Amplification Multiplies Value

The biggest spikes in exposure happen after the play. As highlights and reactions spread across social, brands visible in those moments benefit from compounding reach and engagement, often exceeding the original broadcast audience.

3. Consistency Drives ROI

Always-on placements deliver the most cumulative value. Persistent visibility across broadcast and in-venue assets ensures brands are consistently captured in both live coverage and social content—leading to greater total exposure and more defensible ROI.

Final Thoughts

March Madness remains one of the most powerful stages in sports for brand exposure—but the way that value is created has fundamentally changed.

Today, it’s not just about where your brand appears—it’s about how often it’s seen, how far those moments travel, and how they translate into measurable impact across broadcast and social media.

That’s where Zoomph comes in.

Zoomph helps brands and rights holders track sponsorship performance across every touchpoint, capturing the moments that matter and turning them into clear, defensible value.

If you’re investing in sponsorships, you should be able to see, measure, and prove what’s working.

Ready to see how Zoomph measures sponsorship performance across broadcast and social? Request a demo to explore how you can capture the full value of every moment.

The post March Madness Sponsors: Top Brands At The NCAA Tournament first appeared on Zoomph.

Signal Boost: Carter Kennedy, Senior Account Executive, Slate

Robert Lindner — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:57:00 +0000

At Zoomph, we believe the most meaningful innovation is driven by people and their stories.

That’s why we’re excited to feature leaders and changemakers who are shaping the future of sports, technology, and culture. Our Signal Boost series highlights voices across the industry, offering thoughtful insights, personal experiences, and perspectives that inspire how we think about impact, creativity, and growth.

Get to know the leaders who are moving the industry forward—one conversation at a time.

Tell us a bit about your background leading up to the position at Slate:

I’m a Dallas native who shipped off to Asheville, NC for a volleyball scholarship. After interning with my athletic department and the San Diego Padres, I realized I wanted to work in sports full-time. So I relocated to Cincinnati, OH for my first big girl job with the Cincinnati Reds! In 3 years, I worked my way up to Senior Digital Designer and touched everything from social media to advertising to ballpark signage. Any graphic that @Reds posted between 2020 and 2022 came from me!

I decided I wanted a bit of a change going into 2023, so I accepted a fully remote offer from Slate that let me stay in the sports creative industry while better prioritizing my life outside of work.

Tell us about Slate and your role there:

I’m the Senior Account Executive at Slate! I work with social teams across the world’s top sports, media, and entertainment orgs to help them scale their branded content.

Because I used Slate at the Reds, I oversee our new sports & media partnerships! This means I’m meeting with content teams daily to understand their creative challenges and translate them into workflows that actually make their lives easier. My background in sports allows me to relate to the challenges these teams face daily and to focus on helping content creators stay on-brand even in high-pressure environments.

Can you share a professional accomplishment that you are extremely proud of?

With a design background, it still feels very strange to refer to numbers and statistics as a way to benchmark your success. The fact that I went from an entry-level design position to being the top-performing rep at Slate that’s closed over $2M in contracts with organizations like LaLiga, NASCAR, the NWSL, and The Athletic makes me want to wake up each morning and pinch myself to make sure I’m not still dreaming.

I’m extremely proud to have contributed so much to Slate’s success in 2025, and I’ll continue to celebrate even the smallest of wins – they’re all part of what allows us to support the hardest-working people in the business: the team behind the team.

What is your favorite part about working in your industry?

Working in the sports tech industry is genuinely so fulfilling. I get to spend my days with the people in the trenches — the ones creating, editing, posting, and reacting in real time — and nothing fills my bucket more than seeing their eyes light up when I show them a faster, easier, or smarter way to do their jobs.

I’ve found that it’s rare to find a role where your enthusiasm for the product matches the impact it has on the people using it. I truly believe in what we’re building, and I get to share that passion every single day with teams who deserve tools that make their lives easier.

What is a trend you are keeping an eye on in your industry?

Burnout.

Social teams are being asked to create more content, in more formats, on more platforms, with higher expectations and tighter deadlines. All while being chronically underpaid and understaffed compared to other industries. Working in sports often feels like you’re replaceable – not by AI, but by someone younger and greener who’s willing to perform your job for less money. It’s not sustainable.

What advice would you share with young professionals?

Everything is negotiable. Your starting salary, your title, your flexibility, all of it. And the negotiation process tells you a lot about the culture of a company, a department, and the person you’d be reporting to.

You always have the ability to advocate for yourself. Don’t settle for anything less than what you know you’re worth.

What is one skill you wish you had learned earlier in your career, and why?

I wish I’d learned how to negotiate earlier in my career. It’s really just learning how to advocate for yourself, and it’s a skill most of us never get taught. Knowing how to stand up for your value at any stage of your career will take you farther than almost anything else.

Do you have a favorite experience or memory from your career?

In 2022, while I was still at the Reds, I was given the privilege of illustrating a series of giveaway posters that were distributed to every single fan at three different games. Not only was it incredible seeing my digital work come to life, but 6 months after the giveaway, a young Reds fan specifically brought the Jonathan India poster I’d designed to a player meet-and-greet with India. Right in front of where I was standing while photographing the event, the little boy had India sign the poster he’d saved all that time for this very moment.

I also have framed copies of these posters in my apartment that were signed by the players. Really special career moment.

What is your favorite sports team?

I’m a fan of orange teams that notoriously break your heart (aka the Bengals and the Tennessee Vols). Most of my family went to Tennessee and have been mourning the graduation of Peyton Manning for as long as I can remember.

I’ve been rooting for the Bengals because the stadium is right next to the ballpark, and our content teams would always cross-promote each other. It’s easy to root for a team when you know the people behind the scenes making the magic happen.

Do you have any hobbies that you’d like to share?

Per cult guidelines, I’m contractually obligated to mention that I’ve been doing CrossFit for 5 years. I also play both indoor and beach volleyball 2-3x a week, on top of regular yoga! Can you tell I’m into fitness?

Did you participate in any sports in high school or college?

I’ve played volleyball for as long as I can remember, and was fortunate enough to play at the Division I level in Asheville, NC. As the resident team GPA-booster, I was a 2x All-Conference Scholar Athlete and was the 12th setter in program history to eclipse 1,000 assists.

What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

I can’t recommend Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin enough. Just read it.

Besides your own, what is one city you think everyone should visit at least once, and why?

Cape Town, South Africa. It might be my favorite city on this earth. Whether you prefer the mountains, beach, or city life – you’ve got it all in one place in Cape Town.

To learn more about Slate and how it helps sports teams quickly create, manage, and publish branded social media content, visit Slateteams.com.

The post Signal Boost: Carter Kennedy, Senior Account Executive, Slate first appeared on Zoomph.

The Ultimate Guide To NWSL Jersey Sponsors

Abby Piper — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:42:40 +0000

Like other soccer leagues in North America and abroad, the National Women’s Soccer League also sport sponsors on their uniforms. With huge growth across women’s sports, including the NWSL, this sponsorship opportunity gives brands a chance to associate with a league on the rise with value increasing every year.

With the most prominent placement on NWSL jerseys, front-of-kit sponsorship for NWSL teams is a high-value asset, allowing brands to tie themselves to these teams with big, bold visibility. Additionally, NWSL has expanded sponsorship opportunities on the jersey to include sleeve and back-of-kit placement. Every NWSL team features league partner Ally on the left sleeve, while the right sleeve is open for teams to sell. On the back, teams can have additional sponsors above and/or below the player number and name. With all of this real estate, there are brand exposure opportunities at all angles.

That new kit feeling

Proud to have @Ally on the sleeve of every matchday kit as they continue to elevate and invest in women’s sports. pic.twitter.com/RzEVUhV4tw
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) February 27, 2025

In 2024, the NWSL launched all new Nike home and away uniforms for every single team. In 2025, all 14 teams have at least one new uniform and several teams changed or added sponsors to their uniforms for the new season.

For this season, these are the current front-of-kit, back-of-kit and jersey sleeve sponsors for all 14 NWSL clubs.

Social media data is based on team X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube content during the last full regular season. Social value is calculated based on impressions, engagements and video views using industry standard CPM, CPE and CPV values. Follower count is combined X, Instagram and Facebook followers.

Want More Sponsorship Insights?

NWSL kit sponsors

Angel City FC: DoorDash

Back-of-Kit Sponsor: Sprouts Farmers Market | Sleeve Sponsor: NYX Professional Makeup

2025 Season Social Value: $1.47M | 2025 Season Impressions: 52M | Total Followers: 411K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Angel City FC (@weareangelcity)

90+2 | ALANNA KENNEDY SCREAMERRRRRR!!!!!#Volemos | #NWSL | #SDvLA 1-1 | #AngelCityFC pic.twitter.com/PpeJ7xw2iT
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) August 10, 2025

Bay FC: Sutter Health

Back-of-Kit Sponsors: Trader Joe’s & Sixth Street | Sleeve Sponsor: Visa

2025 Season Social Value: $1.13M | 2025 Season Impressions: 34.7M | Total Followers: 258K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bay Football Club (@wearebayfc)

Boston Legacy FC: TJ Maxx

Back-Of-Kit Sponor: Voya | Sleeve Sponsor: Hyundai

2026 Inaugural Season | Total Followers: 48.3K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Boston Legacy FC (@bostonlegacyfc)

Chicago Stars FC: Wintrust

Back-of-Kit Sponsors: Sloan | Sleeve Sponsor: Nella Spec

2025 Season Social Value: $631K | 2025 Season Impressions: 19.8M | Total Followers: 230K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chicago Stars FC (@thechicagostars)

Denver Summit FC: None

Back-Of-Kit: CommonSpirit Health | Sleeve Sponsor: Canvas Credit Union

2026 Inaugural Season | Total Followers: 59.8K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Denver Summit FC (@denversummit_fc)

Gotham FC: CarMax

Back-of-Kit Sponsor: Dove & Grüns

2025 Season Social Value: $2.27M | 2025 Season Impressions: 87.2M | Total Followers: 371K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gotham FC (@gothamfc)

Houston Dash: MD Anderson Cancer Center

Back-of-Kit Sponsor: Shell Energy | Sleeve Sponsor: Magellan

2025 Season Social Value: $1.06M | 2025 Season Impressions: 31.3M | Total Followers: 343K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Houston Dash (@houstondash)

KC Current: United Way

Back-of-Kit Sponsors: CVS Health & La Croix | Sleeve Sponsor: Blue Cross Blue Shield KC

2025 Season Social Value: $4.9M | 2025 Season Impressions: 153M | Total Followers: 602K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kansas City Current (@kccurrent)

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A post shared by Kansas City Current - y (@kccurrent)

North Carolina Courage: Merz Aesthetics

Back-Of-Kit Sponors: Inmar Intelligence | Sleeve Sponsor: Jump

2025 Season Social Value: $515K | 2025 Season Impressions: 16.8M | Total Followers: 170K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by North Carolina Courage (@thenccourage)

Orlando Pride: Orlando Health

Back-Of-Kit Sponsor: Publix | Sleeve Sponsor: United Way

2025 Season Social Value: $2.36M | 2025 Season Impressions: 75.7M | Total Followers: 863K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Orlando Pride (@orlpride)

Portland Thorns FC: Ring

Back-of-Kit Sponsor: La Croix & Alaska Airlines

2025 Season Social Value: $1.13M | 2025 Season Impressions: 37.7M | Total Followers: 480K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Portland Thorns FC (@thornsfc)

Racing Louisville FC: GE Appliances

Back-Of-Kit Sponsor: PNC Bank | Sleeve Sponsor: Toyota

2025 Season Social Value: $498K | 2025 Season Impressions: 17M | Total Followers: 111K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Arin Wright {gilliland} (@agilli16)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Racing Louisville FC (@racinglouisvillefc)

San Diego wave FC: Kaiser Permanente

Sleeve Sponsor: Dexcom

2025 Season Social Value: $2.83M | 2025 Season Impressions: 82.7M | Total Followers: 418K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc)

Seattle Reign FC: Trupanion Pet Insurance

Back-Of-Kit Sponsor: Paula’s Choice Skincare | Sleeve Sponsor: CVS Health

2025 Season Social Value: $692K | 2025 Season Impressions: 22.7M | Total Followers: 367K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sports on Prime (@sportsonprime)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Seattle Reign FC (@reignfc)

Utah Royals FC: America First Credit Union

Back-Of-Kit Sponsor: SME Industries | Sleeve Sponsor: Intermountain Health

2025 Season Social Value: $418K | 2025 Season Impressions: 14.8M | Total Followers: 137K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Utah Royals FC (@utahroyalsfc)

Washington Spirit: CVS Health

Back-Of-Kit Sponsor: Events DC & American Beverage | Sleeve Sponsor: Iams

2025 Season Social Value: $2M | 2025 Season Impressions: 49M | Total Followers: 357K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Washington Spirit (@washingtonspirit)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Trinity Rodman (@trinity_rodman)

Dozens of brands are already all over NWSL jerseys, and with two more teams joining in 2026 the list of partners across the league continues to increase. With new markets and the continued growth of the league, current and new sponsors will have ample opportunity to build on their existing deals or join the expanding league as kit sponsors.

Photo Credit: @weareangelcity

The post The Ultimate Guide To NWSL Jersey Sponsors first appeared on Zoomph.

Beyond The Metrics: Alex Kopilow, Founder, Sponcon Sports

Robert Lindner — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:45:17 +0000

At Zoomph, we champion the power of partnerships, marketing, business intelligence, and social media. Our Q&A series puts the spotlight on industry leaders, giving you an inside look at their expertise, strategies, and perspectives – beyond the numbers. Join us as we uncover valuable insights straight from the minds shaping the industry.

Tell us a bit more about your background

I grew up on Long Island and went to Ohio State, where I studied journalism. After college, I became a local sports anchor and worked in markets across the country, from Sioux Falls, SD, and Lawton, O,K to upstate New York and Knoxville, TN.

At 27, I pivoted to agency work, starting as an intern. That stretch became my unofficial master’s in digital marketing, where I focused on organic and paid social, creator marketing, and a full 360 strategy for brands like McDonald’s, Walmart, Cardinal Health, and Ulta Beauty.

I broke into the team side in 2021 as the Chicago White Sox’s first Digital Partnerships Manager, and that’s where everything clicked. I got to stay in content without being on 24/7, and got to work in partnerships without needing to hunt for and entertain clients. Plus, I love that my job is measurable and impacts the bottom line.

Since then, I’ve had stops at Madison Square Garden, Sports Illustrated (via The Arena Group), and the New York Mets. Today, I’m the founder of Sponcon Sports, a digital consultancy and newsletter (launched 10/2023) that is read by nearly 4,000 sports marketing professionals worldwide.

Tell us about your current role! We love to hear about your goals, focuses, and responsibilities:

I work directly with professional teams, leagues, and brands to uncover undervalued digital inventory and install the systems, workflows, and valuation frameworks that turn digital into a consistent, scalable revenue engine.

There’s a long-standing belief in sports that sponsored content doesn’t work. My view is simple: the issue isn’t sponsorship, it’s execution. Sponsored content should be held to the same creative standard as everything else in the ecosystem. I help organizations drive revenue across their entire digital footprint — organic and paid social, email, web, app, SMS — by building partner integrations fans actually want to engage with.

Share a professional accomplishment that you are extremely proud of, or share a campaign, organizational success, or win that you are proud of:

One accomplishment I’m especially proud of came during my time with the New York Mets, where our mandate extended beyond traditional sponsorship sales.

We set out to prove that sports inventory could attract media buyers, not just brand partnership teams. That required a lot of market education, as many media buyers weren’t used to thinking of teams as scalable digital media platforms.

What ultimately moved the needle was the data. We led with audience insights, reach, and engagement generated in-venue, on TV, and across owned and earned digital channels. It showed how teams could deliver scale comparable to other media channels.

It didn’t replace the traditional long-term sponsorship model, but it created a complementary revenue stream. Media buyers tend to transact in flighted deals, which adds flexibility and incremental spend when the infrastructure is in place. Proving that out, and helping open a new category of demand for team-side inventory, is something I’m really proud of and think more organizations should explore. There’s also a big opportunity to grow existing business by engaging the media buying teams of current partners.

What is your favorite part about working in the sports industry?

Sports have always been a personal passion of mine, so getting to build a career around them makes the work more meaningful.

But the simplest way I explain it is this: in most industries, if you’re working late, it’s usually because something went wrong. In sports, if you’re working late, there’s a good chance it’s because something exciting is happening. There’s an energy around live moments, big games, and cultural relevance that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. Being part of that is what makes it special.

What is a trend you are keeping an eye on in the sports industry?

Episodic social shows have become one of the most effective formats over the last year. Instead of one-off posts, brands are building recurring, personality-driven series that give audiences a reason to come back. Visa is a great example. Through its VCARB and 49ers partnerships, it built mockumentary-style social shows that generated millions of views and proved the format can scale across properties.

We’re also seeing publishers like House of Highlights launch standalone show accounts, such as Clash, built entirely around repeatable debate formats. They tested the format, validated it, and then expanded.

For teams and leagues, the opportunity is worth testing. These formats are replicable, creator-friendly, and highly monetizable. When you treat digital like programming instead of posts, you create inventory that compounds over time. That shift from selling moments to building franchises is where I think the industry could be headed.

What advice would you share with young professionals who want to work in the sports industry?

The sports industry is extremely competitive. You can’t control when you get in, but you can control how prepared you are when the opportunity comes. Start by figuring out what you actually want to do, and remember, you don’t need to work for a team to build those skills. There are leagues, agencies, brands, tech companies, hospitality groups — plenty of paths into the business.

Networking matters, but it has to be done thoughtfully. Reach out on LinkedIn when you don’t need anything, and ask something specific about someone’s role or experience. Skip vague asks like “Can I pick your brain?” People are generous with their time when they see you’ve done your homework.

Also, don’t underestimate LinkedIn commenting. Thoughtful comments on posts can get as much visibility as publishing your own content. Once people see your name regularly, your cold outreach becomes much warmer. Just skip “totally agree” and aim to add value, even if it’s just a sharp question.

What is your favorite product feature or specific use case of Zoomph that you’ve used at previous stops in your career?

One feature I see underused in Zoomph is tracking open inventory, not just active sponsored campaigns. Tagging unsold content gives you the data to measure reach, engagement, and viewership before a brand even buys it. That data is critical for setting value and pricing, and for convincing a partner why they should invest.

Too often, organizations rely on a “built-if-sold” model, only creating content once a brand commits. The problem is, untested content is a harder sell unless your reputation is ironclad. A better approach is “built-to-sell”: test it first, measure it, then present it with confidence. It turns digital inventory into a predictable, monetizable asset.

Do you have a favorite experience or memory from your time working in the sports industry?

One of my favorite memories comes from my first season with the White Sox. Game three of the playoffs was the first time fans were in the stands for a playoff game since 2008, and the atmosphere against the Astros was electric. The team came back to win and it was easily one of the best games I’ve ever attended.

On top of that, we captured sponsored mic’d-up content from a player on the bench — approvals were tricky (but the organization was bought in!), and it was only for the first half — but it perfectly captured the moment when the team overcame a deficit to take the lead. That content performed incredibly well across channels and set the tone for a season-long partnership the next year. It was one of those moments where the energy, the fan experience, and the business impact all aligned.

Outside of the region you currently live in, what is one city or region you think everyone should visit at least once, and why?

Portugal! Especially if you’re on the East Coast, is slightly longer than a cross-country flight. Lisbon was my favorite city. Three must-hit spots for food: Manteigaria (for Pastel de nata), Ramiro (for seafood), and Frangasuiera (for Piri Piri chicken).

Do you have any hobbies that you’d like to share?

I love to cook and bake. Alison Roman’s recipes are my go-to for most occasions. Just search Alison Roman + The Stew or Alison Roman + The Cookies and you’re all set.

Is there a brand that deserves a shout-out? Let us know who they are and what they are doing well!

I’ve been a big fan of what Cerave has been doing over the last year in sports, whether it was the Heads of Cerave campaign with Anthony Davis, Paige Bueckers, and Adrian Wojnarowski, their NBA partnership, or their recent activation with Kevin Durant. What they get right is how they engage with basketball fans everywhere they spend their time (as a fan), going beyond teams and leagues and partnering with media members and fan/parody accounts.

Did you participate in any sports in high school or college? If so, what are they – are there any facts or accomplishments you want to include?

I was on the baseball team and bowling team in high school (yes, there was a bowling team, haha). My high score is 279, but I haven’t bowled competitively or in a league since I left for college.

The post Beyond The Metrics: Alex Kopilow, Founder, Sponcon Sports first appeared on Zoomph.

Signal Boost: Priya Narasimhan, CEO & Founder, YinzCam

Dan LaTorraca — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:29:48 +0000

At Zoomph, we believe the most meaningful innovation is driven by people and their stories.

Get to know the leaders who are moving the industry forward—one conversation at a time.

Tell us a bit about your background leading up to the creation of YinzCam:

I grew up in India and in Zambia (Africa). I have a Master’s and a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering. I am also a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, where I continue to advise and teach undergraduate/Master’s/doctoral students in the areas of distributed systems, reliability, and sports technology. I started YinzCam 17 years ago in Pittsburgh.

Tell us about YinzCam:

I started YinzCam 17 years ago as a sports fan who loved solving hard problems. The company began in a research lab at Carnegie Mellon University, where a group of PhDs believed technology could fundamentally improve how fans connect with their teams.

We built some of the first mobile apps for professional sports teams when smartphones were still new — and we’ve been innovating in the digital fan experience ever since.

Outside of building one of the most successful mobile app companies in sports and entertainment, can you share a professional accomplishment that you are extremely proud of?

I am proud of our annual Global Sports Summits, gatherings that bring together the best minds in the industry for two full days of innovation, brainstorming, friendships, and sharing best practices. It’s a roomful of people I love, respect, admire, and am extremely thankful for.

What is your favorite part about working in your industry?

The people I get to work with, and the memories of what we have built together. People taking a chance on me, have been the defining arc of my life. There are clients who have had my back for more than a decade. Just genuinely good people who I love deeply, and who’ve hung in there with me, who fight for me, whose kindness and loyalty move me, and whom I don’t see as just clients, but as trusted advisors and friends who believed in me when I didn’t give them reason to.

There are my own people who have had my back for over a decade, and who have been with me through every high and every low. People who’ve poured over a decade of their life and their hearts into building YinzCam with me, who’ve fought so many battles by my side, and who continue to do incredible things for us beyond what they joined YinzCam for.

My favorite part is always all of my people—my clients and my YinzCam team. It has been the biggest privilege of my life to serve both of them.

What is a trend you are keeping an eye on in your industry?

The idea of ensuring that human emotion, human creativity, and human ingenuity is not lost in the shuffle of “let’s AI this,” and “let’s AI that.” Ultimately, what makes us intensely human is what makes each of us unique, great, and special. I never want to forget that. An AI prompt can make you feel powerful as a creator, but it can’t make you feel the wealth of emotion that a human creator can express in their writing, art, humanity, and range of expression.

What advice would you share with young professionals?

Don’t fear AI. AI is not a threat. AI is a tool. Use it for what it’s good for, but not as a substitute for deep thinking and intuition.

What is one skill you wish you had learned earlier in your career, and why?

Sales. I came to it later in life.

What is your favorite product feature or specific use case of Zoomph?

The fact that you focus on impact, and not just the numbers.

Do you have a favorite experience or memory from your career?

The first time our product went live on February 6, 2009. That gave me goosebumps, and still remains a powerful moment that reminds me of the kindness of people. Dave Soltesz, the Senior VP of Marketing and Sales at the Pittsburgh Penguins, took a shot on me, an unknown engineering professor out of Carnegie Mellon University. I have benefited from the generosity, kindness, and grace of countless individuals who have given me their time, their energy, and their assistance when I needed it the most.

What is your favorite dessert?

Sticky toffee pudding. Genuine hot mess. Absolutely delicious.

Is there any brand that has caught your attention lately that you want to shout out?

Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. And all of the food banks around the world. I love their tag line of “feeding people, feeding hope.” Food poverty is real, and I think the ability to put your efforts into feeding others, without needing/wanting anything back, is magnificent.

Besides your own, what is one city you think everyone should visit at least once, and why?

Athens. For centuries of history that you get to still walk on.

What was your favorite cartoon when you were in elementary school?

Wile E. Coyote!

What is your favorite sports team?

The Pittsburgh Penguins, I’ve been a fan since 2008. My favorite sports experience to this day is also the opportunity the Penguins gave YinzCam in the early days of the company.

To learn more about YinzCam and how they power the digital fan experience for sports organizations around the world, visit YinzCam.com.

The post Signal Boost: Priya Narasimhan, CEO & Founder, YinzCam first appeared on Zoomph.

The Ultimate Guide To MLS Jersey Sponsors

Abby Piper — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:57:31 +0000

Long before other other sports began following suit, football/soccer was the pioneer in adding sponsorship to jerseys, and Major League Soccer has continued that tradition, years ahead of the other North American leagues that now have uniform sponsors.

Like international football, front-of-kit logo placement for MLS teams is one of the most lucrative assets for brands and teams. Kits are visible on social media, live broadcasts, in-person and on the merchandise fans buy. MLS also makes a big deal of their kits and even has a Jersey Week ahead of each new season for every team to debut new designs.

On top of the primary partners featured on the front, every single MLS jersey also has an Apple TV logo patch on their left sleeve, promoting their exclusive MLS Season Pass streaming partner.

Celebrating 30 seasons of MLS with reimagined sleeve patches that draw inspiration from each club’s crest. The 2025 season kicks off February 22 with #MLSSeasonPass on Apple TV. pic.twitter.com/ph0cjWHVYw
— Apple TV (@AppleTV) February 18, 2025

On the right sleeve, 20 of the 30 MLS teams feature another partner, maximizing the valuable real-estate available on kits with a smaller logo placement, but one that still appears often on social media and close up TV shots.

For this season, these are the current front-of-kit and jersey sleeve sponsors for all 30 MLS clubs.

Social media data is for the the team’s X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube content during the 2025 regular season. Social value is calculated based on impressions, engagements and video views using industry standard CPM, CPE and CPV values. Follower count is combined X, Instagram and Facebook followers.

Want More Sponsorship Insights?

MLS Jersey sponsors

Atlanta United FC: American Family Insurance

Sleeve Sponsor: Emory Health

2025 Team Season Social Value: $2.52M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 91.5M | Total Followers: 2M5

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Atlanta United FC (@atlutd)

Austin FC: YETI

Sleeve Sponsor: Siete Foods

2025 Team Season Social Value: $1.7M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 56.3M | Total Followers: 595K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Austin FC (@austinfc)

CF Montreal: BMO

Sleeve Sponsor: Telus

2025 Team Season Social Value: $1.77M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 73.9M | Total Followers: 1.1M

Nos légendes les ont portées.

Au tour d’une nouvelle génération de se les approprier #CFMTL @BMOfr @adidasfootball pic.twitter.com/HIGxHTt7VX
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) February 13, 2025

Charlotte FC: Ally

Sleeve Sponsor: rugs.com

2025 Team Season Social Value: $3.43M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 106M | Total Followers: 550K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Charlotte FC (@charlottefc)

Chicago Fire: Carvana

Sleeve Sponsor: Magellan

2025 Team Season Social Value: $1.27M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 48.3M | Total Followers: 1M

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chicago Fire FC (@chicagofire)

Colorado Rapids: UCHealth

Sleeve Sponsor: Kiewit

2025 Team Season Social Value: $1.24M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 31.8M | Total Followers: 487K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Colorado Rapids (@coloradorapids)

Columbus Crew: Nationwide

Sleeve Sponsor: DHL Supply Chain

2025 Team Season Social Value: $3.1M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 102M | Total Followers: 841K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Columbus Crew (@columbuscrew)

DC United: Guidehouse

Sleeve Sponsor: The Fruitist

2025 Team Season Social Value: $1.18M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 40.8M | Total Followers: 796K

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by D.C. United (@dcunited)

FC Cincinnati: Mercy Health

Sleeve Sponsor: Kroger

2025 Team Season Social Value: $2.9M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 98.4M | Total Followers: 485K

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FC Dallas: Children’s Health (Home) & UT Southwestern Medical Center (Away)

2025 Team Season Social Value: $2.2M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 69.4M | Total Followers: 1.14M

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Houston Dynamo FC: MD Anderson Cancer Center

2025 Team Season Social Value: $897K | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 39.8M | Total Followers: 980K

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Inter Miami CF: Royal Caribbean

Sleeve Sponsor: Lowe’s

2025 Team Season Social Value: $135M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 4.24B | Total Followers: 29.7M

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LA Galaxy: Herbalife

Sleeve Sponsor: RBC

2025 Team Season Social Value: $4.7M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 170M | Total Followers: 4.6M

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Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC): BMO

Sleeve Sponsor: Ford

2025 Team Season Social Value: $7.66M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 287M | Total Followers: 2.61M

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Minnesota United FC: Target

Sleeve Sponsor: NutriSource Pet Foods (Home) & Finley’s Pet Treats (Away)

2025 Team Season Social Value: $2.77M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 78.1M | Total Followers: 603K

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Nashville SC: Renasant

Sleeve Sponsor: Hyundai

2025 Team Season Social Value: $2.43M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 69.3M | Total Followers: 418K

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New England Revolution: Gillette

2025 Team Season Social Value: $2.14M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 74.4M | Total Followers: 533K

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New York City FC (NYCFC): Etihad Airways

Sleeve Sponsor: Capital Rx

2025 Team Season Social Value: $3.98M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 136M | Total Followers: 3.35M

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New York Red Bulls: Red Bull

Sleeve Sponsor: Oanda

2025 Team Season Social Value: $2.63M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 81.4M | Total Followers: 1.49M

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Orlando City SC: Orlando Health

2025 Team Season Social Value: $2.64M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 102M | Total Followers: 1.51M

Inspired by the raw intensity of Central Florida skies @orlandohealth | #VamosOrlando
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) February 12, 2025

Philadelphia Union: Bimbo bakeries (Home) & Thomas (Away)

Sleeve Sponsor: IBX (Independence Blue Cross)

2025 Team Season Social Value: $3.4M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 110M | Total Followers: 1M

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Portland Timbers: Bank Of America

Sleeve Sponsor: Tillamook

2025 Team Season Social Value: $4M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 122M | Total Followers: 861K

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Real Salt Lake: Intermountain health

Sleeve Sponsor: Select Health

2025 Team Season Social Value: $1.19M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 46.4M | Total Followers: 561K

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San Diego FC: DIRECTV

Sleeve Sponsor: Adriana’s Insurance

2025 Season Social Value: $3.86M | 2025 Season Impressions: 118M | Total Followers: 335K

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San Jose Earthquakes: El Camino health

2025 Team Season Social Value: $1.51M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 56.9M | Total Followers: 692K

Fresh threads for opening night pic.twitter.com/8skLXQKwE9
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) February 20, 2025

Seattle Sounder FC: Providence

Sleeve Sponsor: Emerald Queen Casino (Home) & Puyallup Tribe (Away)

2025 Team Season Social Value: $7.97M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 144M | Total Followers: 1.77M

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Sporting Kansas City: Compass Minerals

Sleeve Sponsor: Saint Luke’s

2025 Team Season Social Value: $1.11M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 43.9M | Total Followers: 952K

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St. Louis CITY SC: Purina

Sleeve Sponsor: BJC Health

2025 Team Season Social Value: $2.11M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 69M | Total Followers: 525K

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Toronto FC: BMO

Sleeve Sponsor: LG

2025 Team Season Social Value: $946K | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 36.5M | Total Followers: 1.17M

Love being back in all Red

New kits available at https://t.co/6oPDrbGgQq and Real Sports Apparel. pic.twitter.com/H5WK2xVd88
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) February 14, 2025

Vancouver Whitecaps FC: Telus

Sleeve Sponsor: Bordner Lavner Gervais LLP

2025 Team Season Social Value: $6.33M | 2025 Team Season Impressions: 169M | Total Followers: 992K

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The MLS continues to build on the long tradition of front-of-kit sponsorship in soccer, making these partners not just a sponsor, but an integral part of that team’s branding.

Photo Credit: @charlottefc

The post The Ultimate Guide To MLS Jersey Sponsors first appeared on Zoomph.

How Social Media and Data Are Reshaping College Athletics

Dan LaTorraca — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 20:22:59 +0000

Why College Athletic Departments Are Investing More in Social Media

College athletic departments are investing in social media and content production more than ever before — and it’s no longer just about highlights or hype videos.

As Front Office Sports recently reported in College Athletic Departments Are Wooing Recruits With Content Studios, schools are building in-house content teams that resemble professional media organizations. These departments are hiring specialized creative staff, increasing budgets, and producing content year-round to support recruiting, sponsorships, and brand growth.

The reason is simple: social media now plays a direct role in how college athletic departments compete.

How Social Media Drives Recruiting, Revenue, and Brand Growth

College athletics content investments are driven by several key priorities:

Recruiting and NIL: Recruits want visibility. Programs that showcase athlete storytelling, social growth, and digital reach have a clear advantage in the NIL era.
Sponsorship and Revenue Generation: Brands want measurable exposure across social, digital, and broadcast channels. Strong social performance is increasingly tied to sponsorship value and renewal conversations.
Fan and Donor Engagement: College sports audiences expect constant engagement — not just on game days. Social media has become a 24/7 channel for fans, alumni, and donors.
Accountability to Leadership: As content teams scale, athletic directors and university leadership want clear insight into what’s working and where resources are delivering impact.

The Measurement Challenge Facing College Athletic Departments

As content production grows, so does complexity. Most athletic departments manage more than just creative content production and social strategy. They handle:

Dozens of team and athlete accounts
Thousands of posts across platforms
Branded, recruiting, and NIL-focused content
Competitive pressure from peer institutions

Without the right tools, it becomes difficult to:

Measure the true impact of content
Share proven best-practices across programs
Compare performance across teams or competitors
Connect social media results to recruiting, NIL, or sponsorship outcomes

This is why investing in social media analytics and measurement platforms is now just as important as investing in content creation itself.

How Zoomph Supports College Athletics Social Media Strategy

Zoomph works with dozens of college athletic departments and several top conferences to help them easily measure, optimize, and monetize social media content at scale.

Measure Every Post Automatically: Zoomph tracks and tags every post across teams and platforms, enabling faster reporting and deeper analysis without manual effort.
Benchmark Performance Across Teams and Competitors: Departments can compare social media performance by team, program, conference, or nationally — helping identify trends and opportunities.
Monetize Content Through Sponsorship Measurement: With AI-powered logo detection and text recognition, Zoomph measures brand exposure across social and broadcast content, arming sales teams with data-backed rate cards and performance data for renewals.
Support Athletes and NIL Strategy: Zoomph provides athlete-level social insights that help departments support NIL initiatives and demonstrate how programs help athletes grow their personal brands. This has been a difference maker in recruiting efforts.

The Bottom Line

College athletic departments are investing heavily in social media because it directly impacts recruiting, revenue generation, NIL strategy, and brand growth.

To maximize that investment, departments need tools that help them:

Measure content performance at scale
Understand how they compare to competitors
Monetize digital and social assets
Support athletes in the NIL era

Zoomph provides the data foundation that allows college athletics content studios to operate with confidence — ensuring creativity is matched with clarity and impact.

Ready to see how Zoomph supports college athletic departments? Book a personalized demo to explore how programs use Zoomph to measure social performance, benchmark peers, and turn content into a recruiting and revenue advantage.

The post How Social Media and Data Are Reshaping College Athletics first appeared on Zoomph.