Sponsorship revenue is a major pillar of MLS team income, yet accurately measuring its impact on social media has been a challenge—until Ripple Analytics. By delivering unprecedented insights into sponsorship performance and digital engagement, Ripple helped LAFC maximize partner exposure, refine its content strategy, and unlock new growth opportunities.
In 2024, a new jersey sponsor required precise asset tracking, and Ripple delivered: every premier partner saw increased visibility, with all experiencing an average of +10% boost in impressions. These insights proved invaluable in quantifying the true value of fan-generated content.
Beyond sponsorships, Ripple reshaped LAFC’s content strategy. At the start of the season, TikTok accounted for only 8% of LAFC’s video post, despite its strong view-to-upload ratio. Once data revealed its untapped potential, LAFC increased its TikTok share to 20%, fueling a 5,747% year-over-year surge in viewership and securing a top-three MLS ranking in followers, engagement, and impressions.
This data-driven approach also positioned LAFC to capitalize on the Messi Effect—the viral explosion triggered by a matchup with Inter Miami. One game alone generated 1.6K TikTok uploads, driving 56% of LAFC’s annual platform viewership. Messi’s arrival has ignited a league-wide surge in UGC, and teams that harness this data effectively stand to gain significant sponsorship and digital growth.
How LAFC Turned Insight Into Impact
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A RISE IN sponsorships:
With Ripple, LAFC generated 1 billion new impressions through UGC and affiliate partners. By way of this, all of their top brand partners saw an average 10% lift in impressions, proving fan-created content is a game-changer for sponsorship success.
Embracing TikTok:
AFC’s TikTok pivot paid off. After shifting their platform mix, LAFC’s TikTok handle experienced a 21% rise in followers and a 1,418% YoY engagement boost—making LAFC a leader on this platform for the entirety of the MLS. By meeting fans where they post, LAFC unlocked huge value for themselves and their partners.
The Messi Effect:
Messi's appearances at LAFC matches triggered an unprecedented explosion on social media. Over 2K uploads and over 480M views came from this game alone, largely driven by UGC and the newfound power of TikTok. This surge supercharged exposure for LAFC and its partners, maximizing value on an untapped platform.
Creating Ripple Effects on Social Media
Ripple’s insights enabled LAFC to uncover unseen trends and make data-driven decisions that optimized their marketing mix, benefiting the club, players, and partners alike. By identifying key opportunities and pivoting their strategy, LAFC capitalized on emerging platforms like TikTok, driving exponential growth in sponsor exposure and fan engagement—setting a new standard for MLS seasons to come.
“LAFC’s focus on technology and innovation translates into a stronger ability to manage its online presence and remove blindspots from its marketing and partnership efforts. As MLS continues to strengthen its global recognition, we are thrilled to support LAFC in its efforts to bring existing fans into the fold and excite new fans around this energetic growth.”Amos Varon
Chief Revenue Officer / Ripple Analytics
