Posts

Announcement – Ascot Racecourse and InCrowd

/by

Ascot Racecourse selects InCrowd to run a new, long-term digital transformation project.

Ascot Racecourse are working with InCrowd to develop a new premium web destination for racing fans that will ultimately strengthen the world renowned Ascot brand, grow their global database and present new commercial opportunities for both Ascot and brand partners.

Central to the project are a new Content Management System, Single Sign On (SSO) solution and Fan Data Platform (FDP) powered by sports marketing technology provider Cortex. Seamlessly integrated with the new website, these tools will enable the Ascot team to capture and collate new zero, first and third party fan data paired with digital usage tracking, giving them the power to create seamless and highly personalised digital content experiences for every fan, proven to maximise engagement and increase conversion rates.

As part of the website build, Ascot and InCrowd will be streamlining key commercial journeys across ticketing, premium hospitality and membership, alongside the introduction of customisable and fully brandable digital inventory and fan activations.

Unlocking exciting new commercial opportunities for Ascot and their partners, these new personalisation tools allow brands to become an organic part of the story, creating deeper connections and developing stronger brand advocacy with racing fans.

In addition, this scalable and centralised digital ecosystem will help Ascot increase operational efficiency across the business, from content management to customer support, with enhanced Insights Dashboards supporting key decision making across multiple departments with dynamic and customisable reporting, tailored to key stakeholders and objectives.

“We are really excited to embark on this digital transformation project with InCrowd.” Says Head of Sales, Rob Paddon. “Our strategies for collecting new fan data will enable us to better understand our audience and improve customer journeys with personalisation tactics driven by insights that we didn’t have access to before.”

“Elevating our new website with InCrowd’s recommended content and digital inventory tools will revolutionise how we communicate and connect with racing fans around the world, as well as drive significant value for both Ascot and our brand partners”.

About Ascot Racecourse

Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, who identified the land as being ideal for horseracing when riding out from Windsor Castle. The first four day meeting at Ascot took place in 1768 and at some point in time, the race programme started being referred to as Royal Ascot.

The two tracks, Flat and Jumps, now provide racing all year round and Ascot hosts 26 days of racing each year, including the five days of Royal Ascot. It is Europe’s premier Flat racing meeting, featuring eight Group 1 races and 19 Group races in total. Typically, 300,000 racegoers attend across the five days while the event is broadcast in more than 200 territories with a reach of 650 million households.

As well as world-class racing, Ascot Racecourse is also used as a film and TV filming location and as a venue for conferences, banquets, exhibitions, product launches and weddings, with 300 non-racing events annually. The land on which Ascot Racecourse sits is leased from the Crown Estate, adjacent to Windsor Great Park, covering 179 acres.

For more information please visit www.ascot.com

About Cortex

Launched in 2024, on the back of 9 years of customer-led R&D, Cortex has been built to cater for the unique live environments of sport, Cortex’s quick-to-deploy SaaS product platform taps into the vast revenue opportunities still left on the table for sports organisations and their brand partners.

Connecting data, content and commercial inventory, Cortex technology helps to elevate the fan experience and generate new multi-channel revenue opportunities. Cortex customers benefit from a fully integrated suite of data and marketing technology to connect and optimise digital touchpoints, creating fan-experience led marketing and unlocking new & valuable commercial opportunities enabling revenue to flow and their businesses to thrive.

Visit www.cortextech.io

Email: press@cortextech.io

Announcement – Fijian Drua and InCrowd

/by

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua and InCrowd launch new website and extend managed services collaboration through 2024 season.

This latest update includes the addition of a selection of brand new features to the Drua website to drive even better experiences for Drua fans whilst complimenting and creating more cohesion with marketing delivery from InCrowd’s managed services team.

The new look, mobile friendly website is powered by InCrowd’s Content Management System (CMS) and is fully integrated with live sports data feeds from RugbyViz. This latest update brings real-time scores, player stats, breaking news, polls and a live blog directly to Fijian Drua fans. For the Drua digital team, forms and personalisation tools drive the capture data and more specific targeting of content. The new website also gives prominence to the Fijiana Drua, the current Super W champions, highlighting women’s fixtures, results and player profiles. 

With the 2024 Super Rugby Season now up and running, InCrowd are also excited to extend their collaboration with Drua across the planning and delivery of email marketing services which has so far seen an increase of 3.8% click through rate vs 2023. InCrowd’s Digital and Data Services team have also helped the Drua elevate their usage of the polls tool to spotlight leading commercial partner activations such as the ANZ form based predictor and TUIVT Fan Player Of The Match, which has led to a growth of 16% in their marketable database over the first month of the new season, of which 25% is now made up of international fans.

“We are really excited to take our digital transformation to the next level by launching the new Drua website alongside our continued collaboration with InCrowd across our marketing services.”, says Fijian Drua’s Head of Commercial and Marketing, Shane Hussein.”

“We maintain a shared focus on delivering the very best experiences for our fans, enabled by InCrowd’s deep understanding of how unique the club and its fanbase are. The team is fully invested in our success both on and off the pitch and we are looking forward to continuing our great work together.”

“To work with the Drua and see the club and fanbase grow so quickly over the last few years has been incredible” says InCrowd’s AU/NZ Head Of Partnerships Jack Eggleston. “The atmosphere at home games is truly special. We are excited to continue helping Drua carry that feeling through to their digital platforms, enabling the club to better connect with their fans and create equally great experiences for both local and international members of the Fijian Drua vuvale.”

About The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua, Fiji’s very own Super Rugby franchise continue to make waves in the one of the world’s toughest professional club rugby competitions. The dream to have a Fijian Club in Super Rugby was born 25 years ago, and finally became a reality in February 2022. The club may be relatively new, but with very strong roots. Fijian Rugby itself is 108 years old, and Fijian teams and players have established themselves among the world’s best.

The Fijian Drua identity and brand is unique and pays homage to the origins of the franchise name. The brand identity features the stylised version of the iconic drua, the renowned and powerful traditional Fijian sea vessel transporting warriors across the world’s mightiest ocean. Strong and extremely fast, it ruled the South Seas. It is befitting as a name and an identity for a franchise featuring players who are warriors on the rugby field, playing fast, powerful and fearless rugby.

The Fijian Drua franchise is made up of some of the region’s best rugby players, including Olympic Gold Medalists, international ‘Flying Fijians’, seasoned veterans and up and coming stars. At the helm, we have world class coaches and staff, led by Head Coach Mick Byrne. Every member of the Fijian Drua vuvale (family) is committed to sharing the joy of rugby with typical Fijian flair, both on and off the field. https://drua.rugby