For the first time in the 2019/20 Premier League season and fourth time overall, GESM provided on-the-ground digital and experiential support for the Premier League and NBC’s PL Mornings Live event. This event series serves as a live broadcast for NBC’s team, as well as playing host to the best Premier League watch party in the U.S. Working alongside the Premier League and NBC allows GESM to continue to collaborate with and learn from some of the best in the business.
“Morning Y’all!”
Everything is bigger in Texas and the first Premier League Mornings Live fan fest of the 2019/20 season proved just that. We’re not even going to talk about Christian Pulisic scoring his first Premier League goal. Or his first Premier League hat-trick. Nope, not going to mention that moment happening one bit…
But legit, Austin you were a wonderful host to more than 8,000 fans and hundreds of workers who helped put the event on for those fans. It takes countless hours by people across broadcast, logistics, event planning, content, media, and more to pull off these events and to give fans the best experience possible. Whether someone is walking in the venue for the first time, watching in awe as Kyle Martino dresses up as Rebecca Lowe for Halloween, partakes in a branded activation, or even just following along on social media while watching from home thousands of miles away from Austin, these events bring Premier League fans together.
PL Fans of Austin
After New York and Boston, our PL Fans of… series said howdy to Texas. Over the course of three days leading up to the event, we interviewed and photographed eight Premier League fans throughout the Austin area. From a professional soccer player with the local team, to a mom starting a tradition with her son, to a former photographer on Air Force One and much more, Austin was the biggest showcase of fans yet.
“Viral Crying Arsenal Girl”
You may or may not have seen the video over the summer from Arsenal’s preseason summer tour match in Charlotte but millions of people did. A fan for 20 years who was only getting the chance to see them play in-person for the first time, she was so overcome by emotion that she started crying when the team photographer took the field for pre-match warm-ups before players started coming out of the tunnel for the first time. Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette even reached out to her on social media following the match.
That fan, Jessica, happens to live in Houston. Working with the Premier League, Arsenal, and NBC, we interviewed her to learn more about her story, before Rebecca Lowe surprised her on-air with a trip to see Arsenal play the match of her choice! Needless to say, more (happy) tears were shed.
This past summer, Jessica became the “viral crying girl” when she saw @Arsenal in Charlotte.
This past Sunday, she found out live on NBC that together with Arsenal we’re flying her to see them play in London for the first time, and you don’t want to miss her reaction. pic.twitter.com/nklerd4qeh
— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) November 1, 2019
Premier League Legends
It wouldn’t be a Premier League Mornings Live event without a variety of Premier League legends! Alan Shearer and Shaun Wright-Phillips returned, on behalf of the league and Manchester City. This time they were joined by Chelsea left back Ashley Cole and a certain bearded, bald, American Everton goalkeeper made their first appearances.
We kept the legends busy in the days leading up to the event and during the two days of the event. If you know anything beyond Alan Shearer’s goal scoring records, you know that’s he’s an avid golfer. What better way to entertain some legends than with a friendly competition of TopGolf? Watch Alan, Ashley, and SWP face off against each and then answer some Halloween-themed questions.
It's a game of TopGolf in Texas between @alanshearer, @TheRealAC3, and @swp29.
What more could you ask for? pic.twitter.com/xZIbrOhMFs
— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) November 5, 2019
Tim Howard, in his first appearance as an Everton ambassador, spent some time on Friday with the Men In Blazers (who received their first ever invite to one of these events) and then got to spend some time with Dr. Dancakes on Saturday. In Boston, former Everton team mate Leon Osman made a Tim Howard dancake and in Austin, Tim returned the favor.
Last season, @Osman21Leon tried his hand at creating a Tim Howard pancake.
Now it's time for @TimHowardGK to return the favor. pic.twitter.com/MKUGzWrbCS
— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) October 28, 2019
Finally, what would a trip to Texas be without a mechanical bull?! SWP and Ashley Cole got to enjoy a friendly bull-riding competition. They’ve never experienced that in England!
Who makes the better cowboy? @TheRealAC3 or Shaun Wright-Phillips?#MyPLRodeo pic.twitter.com/7WW9gtFOHh
— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) October 27, 2019
Next up: we’re taking our talents to South Beach! That’s right, we’re hitting up Miami this winter. Stay tuned to @PLinUSA for more details on exactly when and where.
Categories: Premier League