Marketing Toolkit and Activation in Cologne
Germany served as the host for the 16th EHF European Handball Championship in 2024. The opening match between Germany and Switzerland in Düsseldorf set a spectacular world record attendance of 53,586 spectators. We leveraged this major event to host a Handball Workshop in Herzogenaurach, where we exchanged insights with our European partners on product strategies, activations, and consumer behavior. For the launch of the new adidas Crazyflight and Stabil handball shoes, we developed a specialized marketing toolkit and rollout plan for our partners.
Following the workshop, the group travelled to Cologne for the tournament’s main round. We curated a dedicated “Handball Day” that began with a tour through Cologne in our handball-branded bus, stopping at the German Olympic Museum. Our guest list included Wenhe Li (adidas Handball Product Manager) and handball legends Dominik Klein and Bertrand Gille. Against the backdrop of the Olympic Museum, our guests engaged in sports challenges and exclusive opportunities for interviews and content creation.
The day’s highlight was a dinner featuring adidas CEO Björn Gulden, who shared his perspective on the significance of handball and the vital role of our distribution partners. The event concluded with an evening of world-class sport at the Lanxess Arena for two European Championship matches.
3 Key Learnings:
- Tournament Buzz: Major sporting events are powerful magnets because of the organic hype and energy they generate.
- Fresh Formats: New, creative event structures are the most effective way to convince partners and create a true “wow” effect.
- Logistics & Agility: Tight scheduling is vital—and always keep a close eye on the weather forecast for outdoor segments.