Have you ever wondered how Major League Soccer teams bring fans front-row coverage from practices, home and away games, or community events?
On December 11th, the MLS season wrapped with the 2021 MLS Cup, but we’re keeping the ball rolling with an exclusive behind-the-scenes webinar where we’ll talk all things strategic marketing with the Sporting Kansas City creative team.
On December 16, we heard from Sporting KC Creative Director, Chad Reynolds and Creative Services Manager and Designer, Cortney Park on how PhotoShelter helps their team document and distribute the team’s highlight reel in real-time.
Plus, learn how they plan to keep the Blue Hell burning bright post-season! ⚽️ 🥶 🤞
Meet the Speakers
Chad Reynolds, Sporting KC’s Creative Director is an Emmy Award-winning, multidisciplinary brand and creative professional from Kansas City, with more than 15 years of experience in the sports creative industry. Shortly after the franchise had been purchased by new ownership, Chad joined the then-Kansas City Wizards as the in-house design department of one in 2006. He had the privilege and pleasure of leading the design direction as the club collaborated with agencies and Adidas to rebrand as Sporting Kansas City – a transformation Sports Illustrated called, “American sports’ most successful reclamation project.”
His role with Sporting KC has given him experience in everything from building a major brand from scratch, to conceiving and creating integrated marketing campaigns, directing large-scale video and photoshoots, and developing full broadcast television graphics packages. The list of clients he’s created content for and with includes partner brands as diverse as Adidas, Boulevard Brewing Co., Harley-Davidson and Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Cortney Park is Sporting KC’s Creative Services Manager and a Kansas City native who graduated from the University of Missouri with a BFA in graphic design. After graduation, she spent the following two years working at the University of San Diego, but she eventually moved back home to work for the Kansas City Royals after their World Series win in 2015. It was then that she fell completely in love with the crazy world of sports. Cortney grew up in a sports-loving family, but never watched soccer.
She joined Sporting Kansas City in 2017 and has since grown from a Junior Designer to the Manager of Creative Services. During her five seasons with the team, she’s enjoyed the opportunity to work on a variety of different projects from large-scale wall murals and billboards to double-decker bus interiors and season-long marketing campaigns. Since joining Sporting Kansas City five seasons ago she is now a soccer convert and thinks it might be her favorite sport! (Sorry curling!) In addition to her primary job functions, Cortney has been recognized by the club for her commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Curious how other professional sports teams like Austin FC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and The Red Sox drive sponsorship opportunities and real-time social media engagement with iconic visuals and streamlined creative workflows?
