Overview
The National Women’s Soccer League tapped Southport Marketing to produce the pre-game Fan Fest and the CarMax Skills Challenge for its 2023 Championship at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. Southport handled the sports marketing and event production end-to-end, coordinating league partners including CarMax, Ally, Adobe, and Nationwide alongside a main stage headlined by Bishop Briggs. The result was a record-setting fan experience that welcomed thousands before the biggest match on the NWSL calendar.
The Goal
The NWSL brought its 2023 Championship to Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego and wanted a pre-game experience worthy of the league’s biggest match. Southport was tasked with producing a public Fan Fest for arriving supporters alongside the CarMax Skills Challenge, an all-star style competition set to air nationally on CBS.
The goal was a single, well-run footprint that folded multiple league partners, a live main stage, and a broadcast-ready competition into the hours before kickoff.
The Experience
Pre-Game Fan Fest: An open festival footprint outside Snapdragon Stadium that welcomed fans arriving for the Championship, built and staffed end to end by Southport.
CarMax Skills Challenge: An all-star style skills competition presented by CarMax that was featured on CBS during halftime of the national Championship broadcast.
Main Stage: Live entertainment headlined by Bishop Briggs, with a DJ set and an appearance from TOGETHXR.
NWSL Championship Trophy Photo Op: A custom photo moment built around the newly unveiled NWSL Championship Trophy designed by Tiffany & Co.
League Partner Activations: On-site activations for league partners including CarMax, Ally, Adobe, and Nationwide.
Client Name
- National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), with partners CarMax, Ally, Adobe, Nationwide, and Tiffany & Co.
Event Location
- Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
Event Date
- 2023
Services Provided
The Impact
The NWSL Championship Fan Fest drew the largest crowd in the event’s history, with more than 7,500 fans attending before the Championship match. The CarMax Skills Challenge earned national airtime on CBS during halftime of the Championship broadcast.
7500
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Fans at the pre-game Fan Fest, a record crowd for the event
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League partners activated on site: CarMax, Ally, Adobe, and Nationwide
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