The Atlanta Falcons announced today that its popular and creative "Rise Up" marketing campaign, featuring a television commercial with Hollywood star and "A-list" actor Samuel L. Jackson, has captured a prestigious Effie Award.
The Effie Awards is a 43-year old marketing recognition program designed to distinguish between the most effective advertising campaigns across the country each year. The Falcons' "Rise Up" commercial received a bronze Effie Award in the entertainment category.
The successful "Rise Up" campaign developed by the Falcons' Marketing department focuses on a team, an organization, a fan base, and a community rising up together to try win a championship. It was unveiled in the spring of 2010 to impressive reviews and culminated with a television spot featuring Jackson's impassioned speech for Atlanta and the Falcons to "Rise Up" together.
"It's an honor to be recognized with this prestigious award," Falcons Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Jim Smith said. "(Falcons Owner & CEO) Arthur Blank's incredible vision for enhancing the Falcons brand is what made this possible. The Richards Group, Mark Waller at the NFL and our Falcons Marketing group deserve to be recognized for all of the hard work that went into making his happen."
Jackson's motivating, emotional words also became a pre-game rallying cry and popular fixture for Falcons fans on the team's Jumbotron when it was shown just before kickoff at each home game last season. It became an instant hit for Falcons fans and players alike as the club posted a 7-1 record at the Georgia Dome.
The Falcons plan to build upon their 2010 "Rise Up" campaign with a new version for 2011.
