Here’s Every 2023 Hashtag Sports Awards Winner
Team Hashtag
•
3 min read
Congratulations to the winners of the 5th Hashtag Sports Awards for their excellence in engagement. Creativity pays when it's engaging.
Selected by The Engagement Academy of Sports Entertainment, the 35 award-winning entries showcased below are in a class of their own—raising the bar for the fan experience and shaping the future of sports entertainment content, campaigns, and partnerships.
Each piece of work delivered game-changing results that set a new benchmark for effective fan & consumer engagement. These winners are each among the industry’s engagement elite.
Here’s a look at all of the winners from the 5th Hashtag Sports Awards.
BRANDS & PARTNERSHIPS
Best Brand Experience or Activation
Winner: Ted Lasso x EA SPORTS FIFA 23
Created by: EA SPORTS, AppleTV+
Best Brand Sponsorship
Winner: BMO x Chicago Bulls
Created by: Chicago Bulls
Most Creative Partnership
Winner: Ted Lasso x EA SPORTS FIFA 23
Created by: EA SPORTS, AppleTV+
Most Creative Partnership (With an Athlete or Influencer)
Winner: The Eli Manning Show Featuring Fivio Foreign
Created by: New York Giants
Best NIL Program or Partnership
Winner: Campus Cast Live: East Lansing Edition
Created by: Playfly Sports
Best Women's Sports Partnership
Winner: New York Liberty & Xbox Partnership
Created by: New York Liberty, Xbox
Campaigns & Marketing
Best Integrating Marketing Campaign
Winner: The Nonstop NBA
Created by: NBA, Translation
Best Social Media Campaign
Winner: #NBA75 Celebration
Created by: NBA
Best Sports Communication Strategy
Winner: The Successful Effort to Bring Brittney Griner Home
Created by: Wasserman
CONTENT
Best Athlete Storytelling presented with Content Capital Group
Winner: The Captain
Created by: ESPN+
Best Branded Content or Series
Winner: McEnroe vs. McEnroe
Created by: FCB New York, AB InBev – Michelob ULTRA
Best Life or Legacy Tribute
Winner: Serena Pack
Created by: FCB New York
Best Original Content or Series (10 Min+)
Winner: McEnroe vs. McEnroe
Created by: FCB New York, AB InBev – Michelob ULTRA
Best Original Content or Series (Under 10 Min)
Winner: Vikings Friday Challenge Series
Created by: Minnesota Vikings
Best Short-Form Video
Winner: Serena Williams US Open Tribute
Created by: USTA
Best Sports Podcast
Winner: New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Created by: Wave Sports + Entertainment
Best Use of Fan-Generated Content
Winner: Michelob Guy
Created by: Wieden + Kennedy
Best Women's Sports Content
Winner: Serena Pack
Created by: FCB New York
CREATIVITY
Best In Graphic Design
Winner: Serena Pack
Created by: FCB New York
Best In Sports Photography
Winner: The Catch: Justin Jefferson Stuns in Buffalo
Created by: Minnesota Vikings
Best Use of Culture, Music, or Entertainment
Winner: Ted Lasso x EA SPORTS FIFA 23
Created by: EA SPORTS, AppleTV+
Best Use of Motion Graphics or Animation
Winner: McEnroe vs. McEnroe
Created by: FCB New York, AB InBev – Michelob ULTRA
FAN EXPERIENCE
Best App or Mobile Experience
Winner: Buzzer
Created by: Buzzer
Best Engagement Through Esports or Gaming
Winner: Ted Lasso x EA SPORTS FIFA 23
Created by: EA SPORTS, AppleTV+
Best Engagement Through Esports or Gaming
Winner: THE AUROCHS NFT: 23 Artists x Chicago Bulls
Created by: Chicago Bulls
Best OTT or Streaming Experience
Winner: Thursday Night Football - Prime Vision with Next Gen Stats
Created by: Amazon Prime Video
Best Use of Gamification
Winner: Gaming Society
Created by: Gaming Society
Best Use of Technology
Winner: McEnroe vs. McEnroe
Created by: FCB New York, AB InBev – Michelob ULTRA
Best Website
Winner: FOXSports.com - World Cup Hub
Created by: FOX Sports
IMPACT
Best Engagement for Good
Winner: Nedd Brockmann and Bursty
Created by: Bursty
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in Sports
Winner: The Premier Lacrosse League x Method Man x Champion Collaboration
Created by: Premier Lacrosse League
Best in Employee Engagement
Winner: The Power of Business Resource Groups and Employee Engagement
Created by: DraftKings
Excellence in Black Storytelling
Winner: Black Stars of LaLiga
Created by: LaLiga
Excellence in Multicultural Storytelling
Winner: Warriors Invigorate Japan Audience on Social For Japan Games
Created by: Golden State Warriors
SOCIAL MEDIA
Best Digital Creator or Sports Influencer
Winner: Ari Chambers
With: LaLiga
Best Use of Live Video
Winner: World Cup NOW
Created by: FOX Sports
Best Use of Instagram
Winner: Michelob Guy
Created by: Wieden + Kennedy
Best Use of Snapchat
Winner: This Day In Sports
Created by: Playmaker
Best Use of TikTok
Winner: @NBA TikTok’s Best Week Ever
Created by: NBA
Best Use of Twitter
Winner: Michelob Guy
Created by: Wieden + Kennedy
Best Use of YouTube
Winner: FIFA 2022 + CazéTV + YouTube
Created by: LiveMode
SPORTS BETTING
Best Sports Betting Content
Winner: Betr Media
Created by: Betr
Best Sports Betting Partnership
Winner: Gaming Society
Created by: Gaming Society
SPECIAL AWARDS
Engagement Executive of the Year
Winner: Bob Carney, NBA
Winner: Emily Hofer, World Surf League
Next Up
Winner: Ari Chambers, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports
Winner: Emma Wakely, Snap Inc.
Social Media Team of the Year
Winner: NCAA Championships
Winner: US Open
Outstanding Intern Contribution
Winner: Shota Kodama, Golden State Warriors
Evolution Award
Winner: Richard Jefferson
Engagement is the most business-critical challenge facing the sports, media, and entertainment industries in the attention economy. The Engagement Academy of Sports Entertainment is proud to benchmark effective engagement and showcase the ROI of investing in the fan experience.
Ensure your company's work is recognized for excellence in engagement by The Engagement Academy. Entries for the 6th Hashtag Sports Awards open in the fall of 2023. Creativity pays when it's engaging.