898 Marketing Chosen as Agency for USFL Playoff, Championship Games

CANFIELD, Ohio – The United States Football League has partnered with 898 Marketing, an integrated marketing and communications company based here, as its agency of record for its inaugural postseason and championship games being played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton on June 25 and July 3.

The agency is responsible for strategic media planning and buying of traditional, digital, and social efforts to create awareness and drive ticket sales for the games, as well as managing media relations in Cleveland, Columbus, Youngstown and western Pennsylvania for the USFL’s postseason efforts.

“We are proud and honored to have earned the trust of the USFL to deliver accountable solutions, ensuring success and excitement for its inaugural playoffs and championships here in northeast Ohio,” says Jeff Ryznar, president of 898 Marketing. “The road to Canton will bring excitement for football fans of all ages to enjoy in the region and we are equally excited to begin working with the USFL to help deliver a legendary and memorable experience that sets the tone for years to come with this league.”

898 Marketing, founded in 2014, provides strategic planning, creative development, and integrated communication to a wide range of local, regional, national and international clients. The agency employs 24.

Two playoff games will be played June 25. The USFL Championship Game will be played July 3 where the first champion will be crowned in the shadow of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tickets can be purchased at HallOfFameVillage.com or at TheUSFL.com.

The USFL is a new, independent football league that is not affiliated with the defunct 1980s league or its owners. The inaugural USFL season kicked off April 16 with eight teams split into two divisions: the Birmingham Stallions, Houston Gamblers, New Orleans Breakers, and Tampa Bay Bandits in the South Division; and the Michigan Panthers, New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Stars, and Pittsburgh Maulers in the North Division. Each team plays a 10-game regular-season in Birmingham.

Each USFL team carries a 40-man active roster plus a 10-man practice squad. Players receive base compensation and are eligible for victory bonuses. NBC Sports and FOX Sports are the league’s official media partners and present all 43 regular- and postseason games on FOX, FS1, NBC, USA, or Peacock networks.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.