B-to-C Events

Nokia on Sept. 15 launched its new music streaming service called Nokia Music with an intimate concert by modern punk legends Green Day, who are producing exclusive streaming playlists on the service for Nokia Music customers. The launch event was designed to encourage fans to check out one of the 150 free playlists or one of the 17 million tracks available on the brand’s Lumia phones (AT&T is the service provider). They can also create their own personal soundtracks based on and inspired by their favorite artists.

Event sponsorship can be a large opportunity for brands to connect with attendees via contests, prize wheels and photo ops. But every so often, sponsors take a more behind-the-scenes approach that entails primarily financial support rather than glitzy activations. Take Baltimore’s recent Star-Spangled Sailabration, which took place earlier this summer and commemorated the bicentennial of that city’s role in the War of 1812 as the birthplace of the Star-Spangled Banner and our national anthem.

As if the world-class tennis weren’t enough, American Express took it up a notch at this year’s US Open with a 20,000-square-foot interactive Fan Experience designed to showcase its services and enhance the action on and off the courts. This marks the credit card company’s 19th year as a U.S. Open sponsor. The two-week tennis event took place Aug. 27 to Sept. 11 at Flushing Meadows in Queens, New York.

To create some excitement for the new season of its series “Boardwalk Empire,” HBO on Sept. 13 and 14 set out to bring some of the spirit of the 1920s to life in New York City with the help of mobile app provider Uber. The network deployed 10 vintage Packards, Cadillacs and Rolls-Royces all over Manhattan, picking up consumers for free rides in an effort to help them interact with the show and drive tune-in to the season three premiere. Consumers who were in the know could download the Uber app onto their smartphones and request a ride from any of the vehicles.

It’s been 100 years since the Canadian Football League first kicked off, and to celebrate, the league has sent out a cross-country branded Grey Cup 100 Tour Train to meet fans all across the Great White North and drive excitement for the fall season.