SportsBiz Madness 2025 Case Study Tournament: We Have a Champion!
SportsBiz Madness: 2025 Case Study Tournament (Championship Round Results)
We have a champion!
Both teams brought their A-game in what might be the most competitive Championship round we’ve ever seen. Flower Mound High School’s Red Bull pitch was bursting with energy, bold ideas, and creative activations that felt right at home with Red Bull’s high-octane brand. From a Red Bull-themed scavenger hunt to college night promotions, they leaned all-in on what makes sponsorships fun and engaging. They even went the extra mile with a live-action sales role-play video to showcase how they would land the deal in real life. This was yet another standout case study from Flower Mound, and honestly, we expected nothing less from a team that’s delivered all year long in SCC competitions.
However, Grant High School took it even further, creating the most comprehensive and realistic sponsorship pitch. Not only did they target two sponsors—the regional favorite Burgerville as the team’s primary, top-tier sponsor, and national icon Big League Chew as a lower-tier national sponsor—but they designed activations that were fun, engaging, and deeply connected to both brands.
Grant High School’s championship-winning strategy stood out for its exceptional attention to detail and a deep understanding of what makes minor league partnerships work. While Flower Mound focused on landing a big-name, national brand as a sponsor, Grant went a step further by giving their fictional team, the River City Raptors, a geographic identity in the Pacific Northwest. This allowed them to craft a realistic and targeted prospecting strategy, identifying sponsors that made sense not just in theory, but in practice.
Their prospecting process led them to Burgerville, a beloved local favorite, and Big League Chew, a national icon with deep minor league baseball roots in the Pacific Northwest—not just for the sake of name recognition, but because both brands reflected the values, community connection, and grassroots energy that are essential to a successful MiLB franchise. It was this big-picture mindset, understanding that minor league teams thrive on local relevance and meaningful partnerships, that truly set Grant apart. Their ability to combine creativity with real-world authenticity made their pitch not just impressive but also believable and impactful throughout the community.
The Burger Bombs Cannon stole the show: launching foam burgers into the crowd, each redeemable for free food at Burgerville. The Burger Bus concept adds a ton of value to the partnership, shuttling fans between the stadium and Burgerville locations, while also creating a post-game tradition and boosting traffic at the restaurant. Even the mascots got in on the action, with “Danny the Dino” (the team’s mascot) teaming up with Bunzee the Burger (Burgerville’s mascot) for some next-level fan fun.
Grant’s attention to detail was next level. They delivered a realistic rate card that provided their sponsor with significant value while leaving room for other deals with potential partners, backed it up with ROI projections, and supported their pitch with videos, mockups, and activations that brought the entire plan to life.
After coming close in past tournaments, Grant High School is finally bringing home their first-ever Case Study Tournament championship, adding to their impressive run of two Fantasy Football Challenge titles in 2021 and 2022. In doing so, they denied Flower Mound the chance at a historic SCC competition sweep, as Flower Mound had already won this year’s Fantasy Football Sports Marketing Challenge.
Congrats, Grant High. You are the 2025 SportsBiz Madness Case Study Champions! 🏆
2025 SportsBiz Madness Case Study Tournament Final Bracket
