Call for Entries Deadline:
Oct. 23, 2026
DOWNLOAD THE ENTRY KIT
RECOGNITION
EACH CATEGORY WINNER WILL RECEIVE:
AN ELEGANT TROPHY:
Display this shiny trophy for all to see. Go ahead, you’ve earned it.
EDITORIAL & SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE:
You’ll be featured on Ragan’s web sites Ragan.com and PRDaily.com, on our social platforms and in our eletters, reaching more than 250,000 communicators and marketers.
MARKETING & PR:
Leverage your win in your marketing materials, press releases and other messaging.
DIGITAL BADGE:
Add the Winners badge to your email signature and your web site.
PRESS RELEASE:
We’ll provide you with a quote for your press release plus we’ll post your organization’s award release on our site to boost recognition.
Behind every sold-out stadium, unforgettable fan moment and iconic sports brand is a communications and marketing team making it happen.
They're building partnerships that drive revenue, creating campaigns that unite fan bases, protecting reputations when the spotlight burns brightest and finding new ways to turn every game, athlete and moment into lasting brand value.
Often, that work happens behind the scenes.
The Ragan Sports Marketing Awards were created to change that.
These awards recognize the teams, campaigns and leaders redefining sports marketing, communications and public relations. From championship-winning activations and breakthrough sponsorships to crisis leadership, social media innovation and fan engagement, we'll honor the work that delivers measurable business impact.
Whether you represent a global brand, professional team, league, college athletics program or agency, this is your opportunity to earn recognition from the industry's most trusted voice in communications and marketing.
Honorees receive unparalleled visibility through Ragan's editorial, marketing, PR and social channels, along with a trophy, digital winner badge, team promotional package and other resources to help celebrate and promote your success.
Main Categories:
- Campaigns & Activations
- Communications & Reputation
- Content & Social
- Digital & Innovation
- Fan Experience & Engagement
- Leadership & Teams
- Grand Prix (Best in Class)
CATEGORIES
CAMPAIGNS & ACTIVATIONS
Advertising Campaign
Honors a paid advertising campaign that promoted a sports brand, team, league, athlete, event, product or service. Entries may feature television, streaming, digital, print, audio, social or out-of-home advertising and should show how creative strategy, audience targeting and media choices produced meaningful results.
Brand Collaboration
Celebrates a collaboration between two or more brands that used sports to connect with shared audiences or create new value. Submissions might include co-branded content, products, experiences, promotions or campaigns, with clear evidence of each partner’s role and the collaboration’s impact.
Brand/Team Partnership
Recognizes a partnership between a brand and a sports team, league, athlete, athletic department or other sports organization. Entries may cover integrated campaigns, content, experiences, promotions or community programs that met shared goals and benefited both partners.
Community Impact Campaign
Honors a sports marketing or communications campaign that created a meaningful benefit for a community. Strong entries will connect the initiative to a clear community need and provide evidence of participation, awareness, resources delivered, behavior change or lasting results.
Fan Engagement Campaign
Celebrates a campaign designed to increase fan participation, interaction or connection with a team, league, athlete, event or brand. Entries may span social media, digital platforms, contests, content, live activations or direct marketing and should show measurable audience response.
Game-Day/Live Event Marketing
Recognizes marketing created for a game, tournament, race, match, draft, championship or other live sports event. Submissions may include event promotion, on-site activations, sponsor programs, entertainment, signage or digital extensions that strengthened attendance, engagement or brand value.
Licensing Campaign/Partnership
Honors a campaign or partnership built around licensed sports intellectual property, merchandise, collectibles, media or retail products. Entries should explain how the licensing strategy connected rights holders, partners and fans while producing measurable commercial or audience results.
Product Launch
Celebrates the launch of a sports-related product, service, technology, apparel line, merchandise collection or fan offering. Submissions may include launch strategy, creative, media, partnerships, events and sales support, along with evidence of awareness, adoption, demand or revenue.
Purpose-Driven Marketing Campaign
Recognizes a sports marketing campaign connected to a social, environmental or cultural purpose. Entries should demonstrate an authentic link between the cause, the organization and its audience, as well as tangible outcomes beyond visibility alone.
Rebrand Campaign
Honors the strategic repositioning or visual rebrand of a team, league, athlete, venue, sports property, product or organization. Submissions may cover research, identity, messaging, rollout and audience response, with evidence that the new brand supported clear business or reputation goals.
Season Launch
Celebrates a campaign that built anticipation and momentum for the start of a season. Entries may include schedule releases, ticketing, creative platforms, player or team storytelling, social content, media relations and fan activations that increased attention, participation or sales.
Sponsorship Activation
Recognizes an activation that brought a sports sponsorship to life for fans, customers, partners or communities. Submissions may include content, experiences, hospitality, retail, digital programs, promotions or community initiatives and should show how the activation delivered value beyond logo placement.
Women's Sports Marketing Campaign
Honors a campaign that grew awareness, fandom, participation, sponsorship or commercial interest in women’s sports. Entries may center on teams, leagues, athletes, events, products or media and should demonstrate respectful storytelling, clear audience strategy and measurable impact.
COMMUNICATIONS & REPUTATION
Crisis Communications
Recognizes a communications response to a crisis, controversy, incident, operational disruption or reputation threat involving a sports organization, brand, team, league, athlete or event. Entries should explain preparation, decision-making, stakeholder communication, media response and how the strategy protected trust or supported recovery.
Data-Driven Marketing
Honors a marketing campaign that used audience, fan, customer or performance data to guide strategy and improve results. Submissions may feature segmentation, personalization, predictive insights, media optimization or testing and should show how data informed decisions rather than simply reporting outcomes.
Executive Communications
Celebrates communications that strengthened the voice and visibility of a sports executive, owner, commissioner, athletic director, coach, business leader or athlete serving as a spokesperson. Entries may include speeches, thought leadership, internal messages, media preparation or social content tied to clear reputation and business goals.
Influencer Campaign
Recognizes a campaign that partnered with creators or online personalities to reach sports audiences and support a marketing or communications objective. Entries should explain partner selection, content strategy, disclosure and brand fit, plus results such as engagement, reach, sentiment, traffic or conversions.
Innovation & Strategy
Honors a new strategic approach that improved sports marketing, communications, reputation or audience growth. Submissions may feature a new operating model, channel strategy, partnership framework, research method or planning process and should show why the approach was needed and what it achieved.
Integrated Marketing Campaign (cross-channel)
Celebrates a coordinated sports marketing campaign delivered across multiple paid, earned, shared and owned channels. Entries should show how messaging, creative and audience strategy worked together across platforms to produce a unified experience and measurable results.
Internal Communications (Team/Org)
Recognizes communications that informed, aligned or engaged employees, staff, players, coaches, partners or other internal audiences within a sports organization. Entries may cover change, culture, leadership, operations, safety, values or major announcements and should demonstrate clear audience impact.
Media Relations Campaign
Honors a focused media relations effort that earned meaningful coverage and strengthened understanding of a sports organization, brand, campaign, athlete, event or issue. Submissions may include pitching, press events, briefings, spokesperson strategy and relationship building, supported by quality coverage and audience outcomes.
PR Campaign
Celebrates a public relations campaign that built awareness, credibility, trust or support for a sports-related organization, initiative, person or brand. Entries may combine media relations, thought leadership, events, partnerships, content and stakeholder outreach, with clear objectives and measurable results.
Use of AI
Recognizes the responsible use of artificial intelligence in sports marketing or communications. Entries may include audience insights, personalization, content support, media monitoring, workflow tools, measurement or campaign optimization and should explain human oversight, practical application and measurable value.
DIGITAL & INNOVATION
AI-Powered Fan Experience
Honors a fan-facing experience that used artificial intelligence to make interactions more useful, personal, responsive or engaging. Entries may include chatbots, recommendations, dynamic content, service tools or in-venue applications and should explain the fan benefit, human oversight and measurable adoption or satisfaction.
Data & Analytics Strategy
Recognizes a broader data and analytics program that improved how a sports organization or brand understands audiences and makes decisions. Submissions may include data integration, dashboards, attribution, segmentation, forecasting or measurement frameworks and should show organizational use and business impact.
Email/CRM Strategy
Celebrates an ongoing email or CRM strategy that strengthened fan, customer, member, ticket buyer or partner relationships over time. Entries may cover lifecycle journeys, database growth, personalization, automation, loyalty or retention and should provide evidence of sustained performance.
Use of Mobile App or Digital Experience
Honors a mobile app, digital platform, microsite, augmented reality experience or other interactive product created for sports audiences. Entries should demonstrate useful functionality, strong user experience, clear audience purpose and results such as adoption, engagement, transactions or satisfaction.
Web site (sports and brand/team partnership site)
Recognizes a website created for a sports organization, campaign, event or brand and team partnership. Submissions should show thoughtful information architecture, design, content, accessibility and functionality, along with results such as traffic, engagement, registrations, sales or improved user experience.
FAN EXPERIENCE
Fan Engagement Campaign
Honors a fan-centered initiative that created meaningful participation and a stronger sense of connection before, during or after the sports experience. Entries may include interactive content, community programs, digital touchpoints, contests or live participation and should show how the effort improved the fan relationship.
Fan Storytelling Campaign
Celebrates a campaign that placed fan voices, traditions, memories or personal experiences at the center of the story. Submissions may include editorial, social, video, audio, live or user-submitted content and should demonstrate authenticity, participation and community impact.
Hospitality or VIP Experience
Recognizes a premium hospitality or VIP program created for sponsors, clients, partners, guests or high-value fans. Entries may include suites, travel, access, entertainment, gifting or personalized service and should show how the experience supported relationship, retention, revenue or brand goals.
In-Venue Fan Experience
Honors an initiative that improved the experience inside a stadium, arena, track, course or other sports venue. Submissions may cover entertainment, technology, wayfinding, concessions, accessibility, sponsor activations, service or atmosphere and should include evidence of fan response or operational impact.
Loyalty or Fan Community Program
Celebrates an ongoing program that rewarded loyalty or built a stronger community around a team, league, athlete, event or sports brand. Entries may include membership, rewards, exclusive content, digital communities or recognition programs and should show retention, participation or customer value.
User Generated Content Campaign
Recognizes a campaign that invited fans or customers to create and share content connected to a sports brand, team, athlete or event. Entries should explain the participation prompt, moderation and amplification strategy, plus results such as submissions, reach, engagement, advocacy or earned media.
PEOPLE & TEAMS
Agency Professional of the Year (for agencies serving sports clients)
Honors an agency professional whose work produced outstanding results for sports clients during the eligibility period. Nominations may highlight strategy, client service, creativity, leadership, collaboration and business impact across campaigns, partnerships, communications or fan engagement.
Content Creator of the Year
Recognizes an individual who produced compelling sports content that consistently connected with audiences and supported organizational or brand goals. Nominations may feature work across video, social, editorial, audio, photography or emerging formats, along with evidence of originality, reach and impact.
Corporate Marketing and/or Comms Team of the Year
Celebrates an in-house marketing or communications team whose collective work delivered exceptional results in sports. Entries may come from brands, teams, leagues, venues, associations, athletic departments or related organizations and should demonstrate collaboration, strategic contribution and measurable impact.
Creative Director of the Year
Honors a creative director whose vision and leadership produced memorable sports marketing or communications work. Nominations should show the individual’s role in shaping ideas, guiding teams, maintaining brand quality and connecting creative execution to audience and business results.
In-House Sports Marketer of the Year
Recognizes an in-house marketer who made a significant contribution to a team, league, athletic department, venue, sports property or brand involved in sports. Nominations may highlight campaign performance, fan growth, revenue support, innovation, collaboration and leadership.
Partnerships Executive of the Year
Celebrates an executive who built, managed or expanded valuable sports partnerships and sponsorships. Entries may cover rights strategy, partner development, activation, renewal, revenue, relationship management or new business and should demonstrate results for all parties involved.
Rising Star in Sports Comms/Marketing (under 35 or <5 years in industry)
Honors an early-career professional under age 35 or with fewer than five years in sports communications or marketing who has already made a notable impact. Nominations should highlight initiative, skill, results, professional growth and contributions that distinguish the nominee among peers.
Social Media Professional of the Year
Recognizes an individual whose social media work strengthened sports storytelling, fan engagement, community management or brand performance. Nominations may feature strategy, platform growth, real-time content, audience care, creative execution and measurable results.
Sports Agency of the Year
Celebrates an agency that delivered exceptional marketing, communications, creative, partnership or fan engagement work for sports clients. Entries should demonstrate a strong body of work, client results, team expertise, business growth and a clear contribution to the sports industry.
Sports Communicator of Year
Honors a communications professional whose leadership and work strengthened reputation, trust, visibility or stakeholder understanding in sports. Nominations may include media relations, crisis response, executive communications, internal communications, storytelling and measurable organizational impact.
Sports Marketer of Year
Recognizes a marketing professional whose strategy and execution produced exceptional results for a sports organization, property, athlete, brand or agency. Nominations may highlight audience growth, revenue, partnerships, creative campaigns, fan engagement and leadership across the eligibility period.
THE GRAND PRIX
Sports Marketing Campaign of the Year
Honors the most outstanding sports marketing campaign of the year. The winning entry should combine a clear insight, strong strategy, memorable execution and measurable impact while demonstrating work that stands apart across the full Sports Marketing Awards program.
HOW TO ENTER
- Choose your category. Review the full category list and select the option that best fits your campaign, initiative, team or individual nominee.
- Prepare your entry. Complete the online form with a clear synopsis of your goals, strategy, execution and results. Add supporting materials that help judges understand the work.
- Submit and pay. Add your entry to your cart, complete payment and submit by October 23, 2026. Entries will be accepted through October 30, 2026, with an additional late fee.
You may enter the same work in multiple categories when appropriate.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
These awards are open to brands, agencies, teams, leagues, athletic departments and independent professionals working in sports communications, marketing or PR. Enter the work of your organization or submit entries on behalf of your client.
Companies from around the world are welcome to enter as long as the entry is submitted in English.
Contact Brendan Gannon to find the perfect category for your campaign or project. You can call 312-960-4407 or email [email protected].
This year’s program is open to any work executed between Oct. 1, 2025, and Oct. 30, 2026, inclusive.
ENTRY FEES
The fee for this program is $550 per entry into standard categories, and $600 per entry into our Grand Prix category.
A late fee of $325 per entry will be added to all entries received after 11:59 p.m. Central time, October 23, 2026.
Do you have a campaign or project you'd like to enter into multiple categories? Pay the original entry fee, and then only $250 for each additional category!
All entries are non-returnable and non-refundable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Ragan’s Sports Marketing Awards?
Ragan’s Sports Marketing Awards honor outstanding campaigns, communications, partnerships, fan experiences, content, digital initiatives, professionals and teams across the sports industry. The program recognizes work that connects with audiences, builds brand value, strengthens reputation and produces measurable results.Why should I enter Ragan’s Sports Marketing Awards?
Recognition from Ragan can build credibility with executives, clients, partners and colleagues while giving your work broader industry visibility. Entrants also have the opportunity to compare their work with leading sports marketing and communications campaigns, and winners will be featured across Ragan’s editorial, marketing, PR and social channels.Who should enter the Sports Marketing Awards?
Brands, agencies, professional teams, leagues, college athletics programs, venues, sponsors, media companies, technology providers and independent professionals working in sports marketing, communications or PR may enter. Organizations may submit their own work, enter work completed for a client or nominate an individual or team.What types of sports marketing work can be submitted?
Eligible work may include advertising campaigns, sponsorship activations, brand partnerships, fan engagement programs, game-day marketing, product and season launches, community initiatives, PR campaigns, social media, athlete storytelling, video, podcasts, email marketing, mobile experiences, websites, data strategies and AI applications.Do I need to work for a professional sports team or league to enter?
No. The Sports Marketing Awards are open to any organization or professional responsible for marketing, communications or public relations work connected to sports. This includes consumer brands, agencies, colleges and universities, nonprofits, venues, sponsors, media organizations and technology companies.Can agencies enter work on behalf of their clients?
Yes. Agencies, consultants and other partners may submit work created for sports teams, leagues, athletes, brands or other clients. The entry should clearly explain the agency’s role, the client’s goals and the results of the work.Can I enter the same campaign in more than one category?
Yes. A campaign, activation or initiative may be entered in multiple categories when it meets the criteria for each. Every submission is judged independently, so the synopsis and supporting materials should be tailored to the category being entered.How do I choose the right Sports Marketing Awards category?
Choose the category that most closely reflects the campaign’s primary goal, audience and execution. For example, a partnership centered on sponsor visibility may fit Sponsorship Activation, while a program focused on audience participation may be better suited for Fan Engagement Campaign. Work that clearly fits more than one category may be submitted in each.What do the judges look for in a sports marketing entry?
Judges look for a clearly defined challenge, thoughtful strategy, strong execution, audience relevance and measurable results. Strong entries explain why the approach was selected, how the work was carried out and what changed as a result.What results should I include in my entry?
Results should connect directly to the goals of the campaign or initiative. Relevant measures may include ticket or merchandise sales, sponsorship value, revenue, attendance, audience growth, fan participation, engagement, media coverage, website traffic, app usage, email performance, conversions, brand awareness, sentiment or reputation.What supporting materials are helpful to judges?
Helpful materials may include campaign creative, videos, photographs, social posts, media coverage, dashboards, reports, screenshots, website links, testimonials and examples of fan participation. Select materials that make the work and its results easier to understand rather than submitting a large volume of unrelated assets.Are athlete partnerships and NIL campaigns eligible?
Yes. Athlete partnerships and name, image and likeness campaigns may be entered in the category that best matches the work, such as Influencer/Athlete Partnership, Athlete Storytelling Campaign, Sponsorship Activation, Brand Collaboration or Brand/Team Partnership.Are college athletics programs eligible to enter?
Yes. College and university athletic departments, conferences, teams, agencies and their partners may enter eligible campaigns, communications programs, fan experiences, partnerships, content and individual or team nominations.Can individual sports marketing and communications professionals be nominated?
Yes. The People & Teams categories recognize sports marketers, communicators, agency professionals, content creators, creative directors, partnerships executives, social media professionals and rising professionals. Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by a colleague, employer, client or partner.Can teams and agencies be recognized?
Yes. Categories are available for corporate marketing or communications teams and sports agencies. Entries should explain the group’s responsibilities, major accomplishments, collaboration and measurable impact during the eligibility period.When are entries due for the 2026 Sports Marketing Awards?
The entry deadline is October 23, 2026. Entries submitted by the late deadline of October 30, 2026, will be accepted with an additional late fee.How will Sports Marketing Awards winners be recognized?
Winners will receive visibility through Ragan’s editorial, marketing, PR and social channels. Recognition also includes an award trophy, digital winner badge and promotional resources that organizations and individuals can use to share their achievements.Additional Questions
If you have any questions about the program or problems submitting your entry, please call Brendan Gannon at 312-960-4407 or email [email protected].
Sponsorship Opportunities
If you are interested in sponsoring one of Ragan Communications’ award programs, please contact Morgan Einspanier at [email protected].
