28 February 2024

ECAL has been appointed as the official Preferred Calendar Marketing Partner of the United Soccer League (USL), the largest and fastest-growing professional soccer organisation in North America.

ECAL, the world’s leading calendar marketing platform, will be used by the USL and its various leagues and teams across the USL ecosystem, to help communicate events better, by delivering smart, dynamic match schedules and other important events, directly into the personal digital calendar of fans.

The adoption of ECAL is designed to improve communications to a digital first audience, enhance the fan experience, and actively drive engagement, sales, and provide invaluable consumer data and insights.

ECAL adds to the USL’s growing Preferred Supplier Program, which aims to connect its franchise network with ‘best-in-class’ suppliers to deliver the best possible products and experiences to football fans across North America. This partnership is another significant milestone for ECAL as it continues to expand its footprint in the United States, solidifying its position as the dominant calendar marketing platform globally.

ECAL’s smart, dynamic ‘Sync to Calendar’ marketing service will empower USL leagues and teams to deliver a wide range of events content to fans, from match schedules, to ticketing alerts, Member events, community events, promotions and more, directly into their personal digital calendar of choice.

This official USL digital calendar service will ensure fans know exactly what’s on, when, and with direct access to everything they need to participate and engage, fromTV, streaming, tickets, merchandise and much more.

The ECAL platform also delivers invaluable benefits from a data and insights perspective. With the USL intent on knowing and growing its audience, ECAL will be an important tool in the USL realising its customer identification and personalisation goals into the near future.

Patrick Barrett, Founder & CEO of ECAL added: “ECAL is excited to partner with the USL. Our business is committed to connecting large, passionate audiences to the brands and events they love. With soccer thriving in the United States and considering the USL’s broad and ambitious vision for growth, we believe we are well placed to help USL, it’s franchises, and partners realise that vision.”

About USL:
The United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing professional soccer organisation in North America, possessing more than a decade of experience in bringing football to communities across the United States and Canada. Overseeing three men’s leagues (USL Championship, USL League One, USL League Two), two women’s leagues (USL Super League, USL W League), one elite player development platform (USL Academy), and a national youth platform (USL Super Y League), the USL is built on a proven and recognized model in international football and counts more than 200 clubs in its membership. For more information, visit: https://www.uslsoccer.com/

USL Media Contact:
Kathleen Goy
Global Head of Events
kathleen.goy@embedcard.com

About ECAL:
The world’s leading events and calendar marketing platform, ECAL is trusted and relied upon by hundreds of the world’s biggest brands across sports, entertainment, media, and ticketing, servicing many millions of users. ECAL is on a mission to communicate events better, and sets the global standard for effective events content management, marketing and smart, dynamic communications to calendar. For more, information, visit: https://ecal.com/

Contact Details:
Patrick Barrett
Founder & CEO
patrick@ecal.com

 

USL ECAL

ECAL USL Partnership

ECAL proudly announces its partnership with Six Nations Rugby, Europe’s iconic international rugby union competition, to bring a slick and sophisticated digital calendar experience to rugby fans right across the globe, as one part of a larger digital overhaul by Six Nations. ECAL’s smart, sophisticated calendar marketing solution is yet again seen as a ‘must have’ piece of the puzzle, for leading sports and media organisations wanting to implement a modernised digital solution stack that delivers greater engagement, personalisation, user data and insights.

Six Nations Rugby is the official organisation responsible for the annual international rugby competitions that include the Guinness Six Nations, Guinness Women’s Six Nations, Under-20 Six Nations, Under-18 Festivals, and the brand new Autumn Nations Series.

In the dynamic world of sports and entertainment, staying connected to your favourite events is paramount for fans. Whether they’re cheering on their team in the stands or eagerly anticipating a heated rivalry match on TV or their mobile device, ECAL ensures that every kick, try, and tackle is never missed.

Tecwyn Davies – Head of Digital Products & Innovation at Six Nations Rugby says: “ECAL is an important part of our digital marketing mix, facilitating real-time updates on all our Championship matches for fans. Its effortless integration only enhances the user experience, enabling us to deliver value to our broadcasters by driving live tune-in”.

The all-new Six Nations Rugby’s ‘digital calendar’ is dynamic, and syncs all the latest match details and other important event information, straight to your personal digital calendar of choice, so you never miss a moment. Match details are updated throughout the season, complete with localised broadcast information and direct access to the most relevant products and features such as the Match Centre, Latest News, Video and Fantasy at a simple click or tap on the mobile.

ECAL’s ‘Sync to Calendar’ solution is now live and seamlessly integrated into the brand new Six Nations website. You’ll find ‘Add to Calendar’ buttons on each match centre page and a master ‘Add to Calendar’ button on the ‘matches’ page that lets you choose your favourite team by competition.

Get in sync with your favourite Six Nations Rugby here!

 

Syncing Up with Six Nations Rugby

ECAL proudly announces its partnership with World Athletics, the governing body for track and field worldwide, to deliver a sophisticated digital calendar experience aimed at engaging fans and participants across the globe, as one part of a larger digital transformation strategy.

Boasting a huge, sparse and rising global audience, the need for the sport of athletics to deliver a more modernised digital experience has never been more relevant. This new partnership with World Athletics reinforces ECAL’s digital calendar marketing solution as a ‘must have’ piece of the broader digital transformation puzzle, for leading sports federations wanting to implement a modernised digital solution stack to deliver an improved online and mobile experience, with greater engagement, enhanced communications, personalisation, user data and insights.

At the heart of World Athletics’ vision was a simple desire to connect better with their vast global audience of participants and fans around competitions and events. The all new ‘digital calendar’ experience powered by ECAL allows fans to create their own personalised athletics calendar, from the most popular leagues and major events including the World Athletics Series, World Athletics Continental Tour Gold, World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold, World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold and Wanda Diamond League.

ECAL’s ‘Sync to Calendar’ solution is now live and seamlessly integrated into the World Athletics website, its official launch timed perfectly to coincide with the opening round of the World Continental Tour Gold event in Melbourne, the Maurie Plant Meet. Fans will be hard pressed to miss the new feature with ‘Sync your athletics calendar now’ promotions featured prominently across World Athletics website, app, social and email platforms. ‘Add to Calendar’ buttons feature on the individual competition pages with a master button on the ‘competition calendar’ page.

Fans will “catch every run, jump, throw”, with events directly appearing in the calendar, complete with localised broadcast information, direct access to live stream via ‘Inside Track’, direct access to tickets, event timetable, standings, latest news and lots more, all at a simple click or tap on the mobile.

World Athletics fans, it’s time to get in sync. Create your personalised athletics calendar now!

 

Love your Disney+? Thanks to ECAL, the Disney+ ‘digital calendar’ service is the very best way to keep up-to-date with the latest series releases, delivered straight to calendar!

ECAL has partnered with leading UK agency Immediate Media, to deliver a first of its kind in ‘IM Push’ – a high impact, functional advertising asset that integrates with the personal digital calendar of the user, incorporating ECAL’s leading ‘sync to calendar’ technology.

The Disney+ ‘digital calendar’ service is dynamic, rich with details, and with handy alerts and direct action links to ‘Watch Live’ and more.

High impact ‘IM Push’ advertising for Disney+ appears across the RadioTimes.com site network, and editorial, for all the latest series including Brawn, Culprits, Percy Jackson and The Olympians and the much anticipated samurai themed Shogun.

Don’t miss your exciting Disney+ releases, sync them to your calendar via IM Push and RadioTimes.com now!

 

Disney+ ECAL

ECAL proudly announces its new collaboration with the Frost Bank Center, the iconic home of the San Antonio Spurs, to bring a slick and sophisticated digital calendar experience to basketball fans and concert goers. This partnership is yet another significant integration for ECAL, the world’s leading calendar marketing platform, designed to boost ticket sales, enhance customer engagement, and elevate the event experience for venues and stadia.

Nestled in the heart of San Antonio, Texas, the Frost Bank Center stands as a premier venue hosting a diverse array of events throughout the year, ranging from thrilling basketball games to captivating concerts, theatrical performances, literary gatherings, and community events.

Very often when a show is announced, or seen for the first time, a fan is not necessarily ready to buy tickets. Or simply, tickets may not yet be on sale. However, with a simple click, fans can now effortlessly synchronise their preferred events by category, or just their favourite upcoming show, directly to their personal digital calendar of choice.

Dynamic calendar updates ensure fans are always kept up-to-date with the latest information, featuring rich with essential event details, and one-click access to  purchase tickets directly via their calendar. Ticket On-Sale events and Ticket Alerts will automatically appear in calendar for your favourite events, serving as a timely reminder to buy tickets, with direct access to purchase.

ECAL’s innovative ‘Sync to Calendar’ technology is now live and seamlessly integrated into the Frost Bank Center website. You’ll find ‘Sync to Calendar’ icons on each individual event tile and on each Event Details Page, as well as a master ‘Sync to Calendar’ button on the Upcoming Events page that lets you choose your favourite events by category.

Discover upcoming events at the Frost Bank Center by visiting frostbankcenter.com and “sync the excitement” so you never miss a moment!

 

Frost Bank Center

The biggest shopping day of them all, Black Friday, is as big as ever. It’s also more competitive, and more creative, with brands looking for any edge to better communicate offers and boost sales.

This season we’ve seen more publishers than ever look to their connected calendar audience in ECAL, to reward and tempt their passionate fanbase with a variety of deals and offers, delivered straight to calendar.

The creative opportunity in ECAL for retail offers is high, with the ability to insert limited-time offers, flash sales, and exclusive discounts directly to what is regarded as a high value audience, at exactly the right time, all via the intimacy of their personal digital calendar.

We’ve had a great time working with clients to see and explore the potential, and execute on some fun and successful campaigns. Consumer engagement via click throughs to the offers have been strong overall, with CTR exceeding 5% in some cases.

Here are just some of our favourite Black Friday calendar campaigns so far!

The AFL has unveiled its new look Premiership Season fixture, promising a season of unmissable moments and epic showdowns. In a break from tradition, the season will start with just four games on the weekend of March 7-9, two in each of NSW and Queensland. ‘Opening Round’ further cementing the AFL’s ongoing plan to grow the game in the northern states. ‘Gather Round’ returns to Adelaide after a wildly successful debut. The football festival bringing fans right across Australia together for an immersive experience that goes beyond the boundaries of the playing field.

As the AFL’s official digital calendar provider, ECAL’s smart, dynamic ‘Sync to Calendar’ service is the only way to keep ahead of the curve. With an increasingly flexible AFL fixture subject to change, ECAL is the ultimate companion, keeping fans instantly up-to-date and connected with their favourite team fixtures. Footy fans will never miss a moment with match details updated dynamically throughout the season, with direct access to Latest Video, AFL On Demand, Latest News, AFL StatsPro and TV Broadcast details at your fingertips.

With thrilling matchups, revamped rounds, and fan-centric events on the horizon, this season is shaping up to be one for the history books. Can the Pies go back-to-back or will another Victorian powerhouse in the Blues break their premiership drought?

Sync up and get ready for an unforgettable ride! The AFL season kicks off on Thursday 14th March with traditional rivals Carlton and Richmond in action.

Sync the full AFL fixture here.

Rugby league fans, get ready for an NRL season like no other! The 2024 fixture for the men’s and women’s competitions has been unveiled, promising an electrifying series of matches and moments that will have fans on the edge of their seats. As the anticipation builds for epic clashes and thrilling showdowns, there’s only one way to keep in-sync, thanks to ECAL, the official digital calendar partner of the NRL.

For the first time ever, the NRL Telstra Premiership season will kick off with an historic season-opening double-header on American soil. Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas plays host as the Sea Eagles take on the Rabbitohs, and the Roosters go head-to-head with the Broncos. It’s an unprecedented event that will mark the beginning of an NRL season filled with excitement and surprises.

ECAL’s smart, dynamic ‘Sync to Calendar’ service ensures fans stay instantly connected to every kick-off throughout the season. No moment will be missed, as timely match reminders and updates keep fans in the loop and engaged with everything the NRL has to offer. Match details are updated dynamically in your calendar, with direct access to Tickets, Latest News, Membership, Shop and TV Broadcast details at your fingertips.

Sync your calendar because the NRL action kicks off on Saturday 2nd March, 2024, and this is one season opener you won’t want to miss!

Sync the NRL schedule here.
Sync the NRLW schedule here.

In 2023, France had the distinct honor of hosting the Rugby World Cup, an event of monumental significance in the world of sports. To take fan engagement and excitement to new heights, organizers turned to the ‘Sync to Calendar’ marketing solution provided by ECAL, a trusted partner of World Rugby.

Empowering Fan Engagement Worldwide

ECAL’s ongoing partnership with World Rugby, spanning various competitions and major events, showcased the power of their expertise. ECAL has mastered the art of connecting global sports federations and major events engaging with global fan bases, to deliver localized content, gathering invaluable insights, driving engagement with diverse products, and supporting vital event partners such as broadcasters, ticket providers, and sponsors.

Integrating ECAL with the Official Rugby World Cup Website

A standout feature of the 2023 Rugby World Cup was the seamless integration of ECAL into the official tournament website. This seemingly simple addition had a profound impact on how fans worldwide interacted with the event. Global displays with language auto-detection featuring 35+ various languages, making it easy for fans everywhere to use the digital calendar service.

Personalized Tournament Schedules

Rugby enthusiasts had the option of syncing the entire tournament schedule or that of their favourite nation to their calendars. No more frantic searches for match times, dates, and venues – everything conveniently at their fingertips. The calendar became a front-row seat to the World Cup’s journey, no matter where you were in the world.

A Gateway to the Heart of the Tournament

ECAL’s magic didn’t end with calendar sync. It provided direct access to the Match Centre, Tickets, Official Online Store, Latest News, and Video highlights. Fan engagement reached unprecedented levels, making it easier than ever to stay informed, purchase tickets, buy merchandise, and catch up on all the latest happenings.

Conclusion

Rugby fans across the globe actively participated in the excitement, from ticket sales to accessing event information. ECAL’s ‘Sync to Calendar’ solution played a significant role in catalysing fan engagement.

The partnership between the 2023 Rugby World Cup and ECAL’s ‘Sync to Calendar’ marketing solution showcased the potential of technology in sports marketing, transforming the tournament into an engaging and memorable experience for fans worldwide. The results speak for themselves, hundreds of thousands of subscribers, tens of thousands of clicks from the calendar and an impressive CTR.

 

Introduction

Cricket is more than a sport; it’s a passion that brings people together worldwide. The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup (CWC) is the pinnacle of One Day International Cricket, and in 2023, it’s hosted in cricket-obsessed India, spanning ten iconic venues. The International Cricket Council (ICC) faced the challenge of informing Indian cricket fans about staged ticketing releases and facilitating early sales. Their solution? A strategic partnership with ECAL, leading to remarkable results.

Informing and Engaging Fans

The ICC’s objectives were crystal clear: deliver essential ticketing details, promote CWC ticket release dates for international matches, and streamline sales for Indian matches. ECAL’s strategy involved precise audience segmentation based on location and preferences, ensuring the right information reached the right audience at the right time.

Smart ‘Tickets On-Sale’ Alerts

This strategic approach resulted in six distinct calendar campaigns:

  1. For CWC enthusiasts, ‘Tickets On-Sale’ entries were sent, detailing the ticketing process and offering direct access to purchase non-Indian match tickets.
  2. Indian cricket fans interested in the CWC received ‘Tickets On-Sale’ entries specific to Indian matches. These entries included match-specific information and direct links for ticket purchases.

Impressive Results

The partnership delivered the following outcomes:

  • Over 269,000 calender impressions
  • 15,412 clicks on the ‘Buy Tickets’ link within calendar entries demonstrated fans’ eagerness to secure their World Cup tickets.
  • The click-through rate (CTR) of 6% for ‘Buy Tickets’ showcased the effectiveness of ECAL’s platform in driving early ticket sales.

This project exceeded its objectives, making the CWC ticketing process transparent and accessible for fans. By targeting international audiences with ticket release information, ECAL and ICC aimed to fill stadiums with enthusiastic fans from various countries.

Conclusion

The partnership between ECAL and the International Cricket Council has been a game-changer in the world of cricket. By delivering smart ‘Tickets On-Sale’ entries directly into fans’ calendars, they have educated, informed, and engaged cricket lovers in India and around the world. The 6% click-through rate to ‘Buy Tickets’ highlights the success of this initiative in driving early ticket sales and ensuring that fans are well-prepared for the upcoming Cricket World Cup. With India hosting the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, the enthusiasm and anticipation among fans is at an all-time high. Thanks to the ICC and ECAL’s collaborative efforts, cricket lovers are empowered with the tools they need to make the most of this grand event.

The ICC Cricket World Cup Final is scheduled for 19th November, so it’s not too late to join the cricket extravaganza. Don’t miss a moment with the official Cricket World Cup digital calendar, powered by ECAL – get it here!