Basketball 2024-25: Creative Trends and Best Practices

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Sink your shot as we gear up for the 2024-25 basketball season. From end to end fast breaks all the way to buzzer beaters, basketball presents limitless opportunities to not only engage your fans but also drive ticket sales. 

Whether it’s pushing your next key matchup, promoting your season tickets or going on sale with single game tickets, staying on top of the digital marketing trends can make all the difference. 

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Photo-Centric Graphics

Currently, we are seeing a shift towards more photo centric graphics with layered text, here’s why: 

As we know, visual content is key in grabbing attention in a digital world. Photo centric graphics give you the opportunity to showcase compelling moments which can feel authentic without overwhelming the viewer. By using player-centric action shots, you’re not just showcasing the athletes, you’re putting a face to the program, creating a direct connection between the players and the fans. Offering a modern take on delivering key messages. 

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Quick-Hit Videos

Throughout the industry we have continued to see short-form organic videos become a staple in digital marketing. Basketball's fast paced game makes it a perfect candidate for short, snappy video content. Capturing and utilizing exciting moments such as a three pointer, slam dunk or even the game day experience will help you better resonate with fans. We recommend keeping the video content between 5-10 seconds to help grab attention.

Recommended Video Specs:

• Mobile/Desktop: 1:1 (1080x1080)

• Vertical Story/Reel: 9:16 (1080x1920)

• File Type: MP4, MOV

  
  
  
  

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Carousel Ads

Carousel ads give you the opportunity to promote multiple aspects of basketball leading up to gameday all within one ad unit. 

Use this ad format to highlight:

• Various ticket types (seasons, single-game, mini-plans, or special packages)

• Key matchups (rivalries, games in need of digital support)

• Special promotions (discounts, promos, etc.)

  
  

Carousel ads can feature 2-10 images or videos, each with its own unique headline and description, giving fans the option to swipe through different offers and click through to purchase.

Recommended Video Specs:

• 2-10 1:1 (1080x1080) Images or Videos

• Ad Caption/Post Copy

• Carousel Card Copy:

  • Headline: Max 40 characters

  • Description: Max 25 characters

  • Landing Page Link: Include a unique link for each card to drive traffic to specific pages based on the content of the card.

    
    

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Amplifying Success with Special Promotions & Key Moments

Theme games and special offers can significantly boost interest and ticket sales. Basketball schedules often feature theme nights such as “Senior Night,” or “Military Appreciation.” Use these themes to build excitement and attract niche audiences, whether it's families, veterans, or local students.

Highlighting milestone events—such as JMU's new coach hire with a fan-driven donation campaign, or Baylor Women’s Basketball welcoming back star player Brittney Griner to their new arena—can create excitement and draw in fans who want to be part of these memorable occasions. 

By leveraging these big moments and pairing them with strong promotional offers, you can amplify your success across the season and keep fan excitement high.

Questions?

For more information or personalized strategy advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Digital Marketing contact today!