CFL TEAMS UP WITH TWITTER CANADA, GETS EVEN MORE SOCIAL FOR 104TH #GREYCUP
For the first time, the #GreyCup and #CoupeGrey hashtags will activate an emoji that football fans across the globe can use to talk about the big game on Twitter. The emoji, which launches this Sunday November 20 just in time for the Eastern and Western Division Finals, leads a wide range of new and innovative activities that the CFL and Twitter Canada will embark on together during the largest annual sporting event in Canada, #GreyCup Week.
Another first will see fans from across Canada and around the world able to send inspirational messages via Twitter to the two winners of this weekend’s Division finals. Those Tweets from fans will then be displayed along the player tunnels leading from the locker-room to the field during #GreyCup Week, including Grey Cup Sunday. Tweets will also stream in real-time on panels and monitors throughout BMO Field. Fans will have a 24-hour window to Tweet their messages beginning this Sunday November 20th at 8:00 pm ET using the following hashtags:
- #GoodLuckStamps
- #GoodLuckLions
- #GoodLuckEsks
- #GoodLuckRNation
“CFL teams, players and moments continue to be incredibly popular with fans on Twitter right across Canada and around the world,” said Christopher Doyle, Head of Sports, Twitter Canada. “#GreyCup Week will be the perfect opportunity to thank the fans who cheered on their favourites on Twitter all season long and give them even more memories to Tweet about in the coming days.”
Other #GreyCup activities from the CFL and Twitter Canada include:
- The #GCTweetUp fan event, presented by Shaw. This exclusive Twitter partnership party for CFL fans, media and social influencers will be held in downtown Toronto on Saturday, November 26th. The event will feature a variety of Twitter-powered activations plus opportunities to interact with top-name CFL players, personalities and the #GreyCup itself.
- The Twitter mirror. On and off the field, the iconic Twitter mirror will give CFL fans exclusive content, photos and videos from their favourite players. Each team will have a custom branded Twitter mirror plus an original #GreyCup mirror will be making the rounds.
“Twitter has always been such a strong supporter of the CFL and in particular during our #GreyCup Week. We are excited to be working with Twitter once again to give our fans new and innovative ways to engage with the #GreyCup on social media,” added Christina Litz, SVP Marketing and Content, CFL. “Our fan community is strong and active on Twitter and we are thrilled to be matching their passion for football with our efforts to keep bringing our Canadian game closer to all CFL fans.”
While four teams (@EdmontonEsks, @REDBLACKS, @calstampeders, and @BCLions) remain in contention for one of the biggest prizes in pro sport, it was the Saskatchewan Roughriders (@sskroughriders) who were the big social CFL winners on Twitter this past season. They ended the regular season as the league’s most followed team, the team with the most number of new in-season followers and also, the most mentioned team account on Twitter.
The #CFL hashtag was also trending on Twitter regularly during the season. Fans Tweeted #CFL most often on July 8, 2016, a day that featured both a thrilling overtime win for the Edmonton Eskimos over the Saskatchewan Roughriders and a rare tie game between the Ottawa REDBLACKS and the visiting Calgary Stampeders.
The Eastern and Western Division Finals of the #GCPlayoffs will be played this Sunday at 1:00 pm ET and 4:30 pm ET.