A Legacy of Passion and Pride
In Portland, the Trail Blazers are more than a basketball team—they’re part of the city’s DNA. As a child, Matt Watson watched Clyde Drexler and the Blazers with awe, forming memories that fueled a lifelong passion for sports. Decades later, having the opportunity to partner with the Trail Blazers on a fan engagement initiative felt like a full-circle moment.
Rip City’s fans are as unique as its culture, and the Blazers sought to create an experience that reflected that diversity. From casual viewers to die-hard season ticket holders, the team wanted every fan to feel seen and valued.
Watson designed a multi-role platform that delivered tailored experiences for different fan personas. Using advanced analytics, the team developed insights into fan behavior, enabling personalized messaging and rewards. The “Only at Rip City” feature became the cornerstone of the initiative, offering exclusive content like behind-the-scenes player stories, interactive game-day challenges, and limited-edition merchandise drops.
One of the standout features was integrating this experience into fans’ at-home viewing habits. Whether watching games on TV or streaming, fans could access real-time stats, polls, and highlights through the Blazers’ app, seamlessly blending live basketball with digital interactivity.
The campaign delivered outstanding results. Digital interactions increased by 27%, with fans actively engaging through the app and social media. Game-day participation grew by 23%, driven by enhanced pre-game activities and in-arena exclusives. Merchandise sales jumped by 22%, with “Only at Rip City” items becoming coveted collector’s pieces.
Matt Watson reflected on the journey: “Growing up cheering for the Blazers, I could never have imagined working with them one day. This project wasn’t just about creating a platform; it was about celebrating Rip City and giving back to the community that shaped me.”
Build from insight. Strategy isn’t guesswork—it’s groundwork. We listen, research, and distill what matters to guide smarter decisions and set a solid creative direction.
Make it meaningful. From naming to narratives, we create content that speaks with purpose—rooted in truth, tuned to your audience, and built to connect.
Design for behavior. We craft digital experiences that are intuitive, scalable, and aligned with how real people move, click, swipe, and search.
Bring brands to life. Physical spaces, moments, and memories matter. We design experiences that feel human—and stay with you long after the lights go out.
Drive connection. Our marketing approach blends data and instinct—getting the right message to the right people, in ways that actually move them.
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