Tampa Bay Sports Commission

Big Stage. Bigger Impact.

Public relations by Crackerjack Media in Tampa — NCAA Women’s Final Four spokesperson interviewed courtside to drive media coverage and event visibility.

The Tampa Bay Sports Commission knows how to host a championship, and they proved it once again when hosting the NCAA Women’s Final Four a record fourth time. Tasked with raising awareness, driving engagement, and amplifying the event’s local impact, Crackerjack Media built and executed a bold, integrated campaign that stretched from the trophy tour to tip-off.

Our role: deliver a strategy that wasn’t just about basketball—it was about showcasing Tampa Bay as the ultimate stage for world-class events and connecting the community to the magic of March Madness.

Driving economic impact and national visibility, Crackerjack Media showcased Tampa hosting the NCAA Women’s Final Four with packed stands and high-energy basketball.

THE CHALLENGE

Hosting one of America’s premier sporting events for the fourth time meant one thing: the bar was sky-high. We needed to cut through the noise, drive anticipation, and spotlight both the action on the court and the legacy off it.

The challenge was twofold:

  • Keep fans energized across months of lead-up activities.

  • Educate locals and visitors about the full calendar of fan events

  • Showcase Tampa Bay’s local pride, culture, and community impact while juggling national media attention.

During the NCAA Women’s Final Four in Tampa Bay, Crackerjack Media showcased mascots, staff, and fans rallying around the championship trophy to boost event visibility.

THE Approach

Our playbook was all about integration: media buying, PR, social, and storytelling working as one.

Marketing Strategy & Media Buying:
A paid campaign that included OTT, Outdoor, Radio, Digital, and Social—delivering over 7.6 million impressions. 

PR & Media Relations:
Orchestrated press conferences, media previews, and daily look-aheads that kept coverage flowing. Earned $1.5M+ in local TV coverage value and landed front-page features in the Tampa Bay Times and Creative Loafing.

Social & Content:
Social was leveraged with @wffinalfour to amplify reach and drive engagement. WFFTampaBay.com became a storytelling hub, attracting over 45,000 visits and spotlighting legacy programs such as Beyond Barriers and Read to the Final Four. 

Community & Grassroots:

From 54+ Trophy Tour stops to youth coloring pages and cross-promotions with local partners, we made sure the Final Four wasn’t just an event—it was Tampa Bay’s event.

At a Tampa community event, Crackerjack Media highlighted local leaders collaborating to strengthen partnerships and increase civic engagement.

THE Results

7.6+ Million
impressions
across paid media

$1.5+ Million
earned TV
coverage value

45,000+
website
visits

113
local pieces of
TV Coverage

7,700+
online articles mentioning Tampa as host city

Expanded social reach through collaborations with NCAA,
City of Tampa, and local influencers.

Packed community activations that connected
fans of all ages to the excitement.

The result? The Tampa Bay Sports Commission didn’t just host
another Final Four—it raised the game for what a host city can do.

“The Crackerjack team is way more than an agency of experts that always deliver! They are loyal and trusted teammates, great communicators, innovative marketers, strategic partners, invested leaders, and overachievers. They connect with their clients in a meaningful way and share a sincere passion for their clients’ purpose, making all clients feel like a top priority. They have great relationships in the industry and leverage their network at every turn to elevate and maximize impact. It's rare to find a partner so invested in your success. Jess and Jen are like family and their team is an extension of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission team.”

— Claire Lessinger, Vice President of Events, Tampa Bay Sports Commission