Five Takeaways From Helping Launch Two USL Teams (Almost Simultaneously)
1. Developing marketing materials without an actual team, kits or real photography has its challenges.
We utilized a mix of 3D mockups, stock video and imagery, as well as other assets to develop the different pieces.
2. Collaborative work across teams to deploy creative was key
Figma, Google (Meet, Sheets, Slides, Docs), Canva, allowed for quick movement and deployment. We’re grateful for the opportunity to work so closely with the USL Spokane over the last year or so. We couldn’t have done it without a solid team and implementing tools like Figma, the Google platform, Canva and Asana for tracking it all.
Asset Creation in programs like Figma allowed for real-time collaboration with the marketing team at Spokane USL.
3. The scale of how many assets and pieces of creative are needed to get something like this off the ground
About 6-8 months before the names were announced to the public, we were starting work on the foundation of the Spokane USL helping obtain strategic investors and partners and developing out the Zephyr name and brand (Shoutout to our good friends at Treatment @wearetreatment for creating the Velocity name and brand). Since then, it’s been all hands on deck developing out what you have seen in market:
Emails, posts, websites, hats, shirts, sweatshirts, scarves, stickers, videos, kits, sponsorships, signage, digital signage, PR, brand decks, sponsor decks, pitch decks, usage, billboards, promos, print ads to name a few.
4. The similarities of a USL Team to a Startup
Launching a USL Team is a lot like launching a Startup. Just as in the startup world, the pace in soccer is relentless. There’s no luxury of leisurely strolling toward success; instead, you’re sprinting from one milestone to the next. Much like in the startup realm where the focus is on getting a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) out quickly, in soccer, it’s about assembling a squad that can compete, even if it’s not the finished product. It’s all about agility. You have to be ready to pivot, adapt, and refine your strategy on the fly. Success in both launching a USL team and a startup demands nimbleness and the ability to navigate uncertainty with speed and confidence.
5. How welcoming and supportive the greater soccer community is
Other teams, organizations, clubs, podcasts, local news, and community all showed up. We won’t always get it right and we’re grateful for the grace as we get everything ready for the first match in March. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the stadium for the first match.
From Left to Right: Fans at the USL Woman’s League Reveal (Image credit @SpokaneZephyrFC), The 509 Syndicate at the USL Woman’s League Reveal ( Image credit @the509syndicate), Benji Wade from The Spokane Soccer Show (Image credit @spokanesoccershow)
