With the Ray Lewis retirement as big a story as any this past NFL season, VISA stepped up to create an ad focusing on the other parts of the legendary linebacker.
Lewis, who now has two Super Bowl rings announced earlier in the NFL season this would be his last. And as it turned out, he finished on top as the Ravens beat the 49ers to win the Vince Lombardi trophy. This commercial stages a pre-Super Bowl press conference featuring Ray Lewis. After several game related questions from the press, Lewis calls on a young girl in the front row. She starts on a flurry of questions about Lewis' personal life and preferences.
The interesting thing about this commercial is how specific it is to the time it aired. Ray Lewis will only retire once and therefore this ad has a pretty short lifespan.
Laughably Innocent Interview Commercials
This Visa Ad Focuses on the Ray Lewis Retirement Story
Trend Themes
1. Real-time Advertising - Opportunity for advertisers to create specific and timely commercials based on current events like retirements and championships.
2. Emotional Storytelling - Potential for ads to connect with audiences on a deeper emotional level by focusing on personal stories and related events.
3. Microtargeting - The ability to target specific audiences with tailored ads based on their interests, in this case, football fans and Ray Lewis supporters.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising - Opportunity for ad agencies to leverage real-time events and emotional storytelling techniques to create impactful campaigns.
2. Sports Marketing - Potential for sports marketing companies to collaborate with athletes and teams to create compelling and timely commercials.
3. Data Analytics - The need for data analytics companies to provide insights and tools for microtargeting specific demographics and fan bases.