--- title: It Started With A Spark | Hashtag Sports Awards 2021 description: The Hashtag Sports Awards 2021 Shortlist is where media executives, athletes, & creators come together to recognize & inspire those who do it best image: https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/HubSpot%20-%20Featured%20Image%20-%20300%20x%20175%20(1)-1.svg ---   **2021 SHORTLIST** **![hashtagsportsawards](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/hashtagsportsawards.png?width=321&name=hashtagsportsawards.png)** **IT STARTED WITH A SPARK ** **Entrant Company: **Chicago Fire FC ``` FINALIST ``` Best Use of Graphics or Animation ![It Started With A Spark](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/It%20Started%20With%20A%20Spark.png "It Started With A Spark") ABOUT THIS ENTRY This video gave viewers a 20+ year rundown on Chicago Fire history in under 60 seconds while providing an undeniable "Chicago style" flare through animation and motion graphics to get fans excited to cheer on the team in Orlando from afar. How does this represent “Excellence in Engagement”? This content piece takes visual storytelling to a new level. By successfully tying our brand story to the identity of our city, we gave Chicagoans everywhere a reason to support the club. From the lantern that started the Great Chicago Fire, to the Chicago style hot dog, to the shot of Malört (it's a Chicago thing), the Easter eggs alone kept the audience engaged and encouraged multiple viewings. Smooth, seamless, and eye-catching, the animation style stopped users in their scroll with that serotonin hit we all needed in 2020.   Objective: When the COVID shutdown hit the U.S., our club was one of only a handful of MLS teams not yet to have a home game in the 2020 season. This was especially challenging for the Fire as 2020 marked our long-awaited return to historic Soldier Field in downtown Chicago. Most of our marketing efforts were geared toward getting Chicagoans in the building to experience our product in real life. So like all brands in 2020, we pivoted from experiential to digital and as MLS launched its return to play bubble in Orlando, we needed a way to re-introduce our team to our market. We strived to tell our club's story in its entirety, highlighting our history but also showing how we connect to the city and how much we've changed. We needed to accomplish all this and do so in a way that could entertain fans both old and new and get them excited to cheer on the squad in Florida. Strategy & Execution: Brand storytelling is hard. Being entertaining and brand storytelling is even harder. Being entertaining, telling your brand's story, and making it fit the attention span of a social media user is a herculean task. We focused on the script and the visuals - interweaving our city and club's shared histories so that even if a non-fan watched this video, they'd end up cheering for us because it embodied Chicago and what the Windy City represents. We recruited club legend and Chicago's own Frank Klopas to deliver the voice over to provide even more authenticity. The ensuing animation and motion graphics gave viewers a 20+ year rundown in under 60 seconds while providing an undeniable "Chicago style" flare. Results: Across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter alone this one video resulted in 728,000 views and 1.4 million impressions. As we hoped, it hit the center of the venn diagram between both casual and avid fans. After months of lockdown, this video pulled our supporters back in and gave new fans, stuck at home, a reason to tune in. Even after its initial lifespan on social, this content piece has lived on across our business. We've used it in pitches to new potential corporate sponsors, as a recruiting tool for new talent joining the club, and through our broadcast partner WGN as the open for live telecasts. **PRODUCTION** Chicago Fire FC   **CREDITS** [**Justin Hubler**](https://www.instagram.com/justin.hubler/?hl=en) Director of Video and Creative Services Chicago Fire FC   [**Tyler Emerick**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-emerick-3416591b/) Sr. Director of Content & Creative Chicago Fire FC   [**Alex Mueller**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-mueller-clemson/) Manager of Video and Creative Services Chicago Fire FC    [**Connor Nichols**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/connornichols/) Video and Creative Services Coordinator Chicago Fire FC    [**Ted Bryant**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedbryantmls/) Manager of Content Chicago Fire FC    [**Erika Mariscal**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikamariscal/?trk=public_profile_browsemap_profile-result-card_result-card_full-click) Senior Coordinator of Content Chicago Fire FC   [**Kyle Sheldon**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylesheldon/) Senior Vice President of Marketing Chicago Fire FC   [**Graham Parker**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-parker-2b312a/) Sr. Director of Strategy and Special Projects Chicago Fire FC  ## BRANDS AT THE LIVE SERIES ![att](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/att-box.svg) ![ab-inbev](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/ab-inbev.svg) ![visa-box](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/visa-box.svg) ![rakuten](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/Rakuten_Global_Brand_Logo.svg) ![twitter](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/twitter-box-2.svg) ![bleacher report](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/Bleacher_Report_logo.svg) ![budweiser](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/budweiser.svg) ![foot-locker](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/foot-locker.svg) ### REGISTER NOW ## CONTENT x SPORTS BETTING Over two days, sports betting + media will converge to discuss the North American fan. 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