ESPN BET Taps Voyager + Leap Year for New Football Season Campaign
ESPN BET launches their latest campaign,”Sportsbook for Sports Fans” ahead of the 2025 NFL and college football seasons, directed by Voyager’s Marcus Tortorici and edited by Leap Year’s Jeff Watterson via agency Prophet.
Narrated by ESPN First Take host Stephen A. Smith, the campaign introduces the platform’s new FanCenter, which personalizes offerings based on each fan’s wagering history and app activity. The spots showcase how ESPN BET integrates seamlessly into fans’ everyday lives, from managing fantasy rosters on the go to placing and tracking bets in real time.
“I put a big emphasis on camera movement, set design, and character style to make the world of ESPN Bet jump off the screen,” says Marcus. “As a lifelong sports fan, I wanted to capture the excitement and culture of a world I’ve always loved.”
The two-spot campaign includes “Tools,” which focuses on simplifying gameday research by consolidating stats, commentary and betting options into one platform, and “Game Time” which captures the rush of live betting, as fans place and track wagers across multiple platforms, including the newly launched ESPN streaming app.
“Both spots hit the ground running and keep a fast pace from the very first frame,” shares Jeff. “The excitement really matches the flow of a football game, or at least the kind I watch with my dad. Whether you’re screaming for a win or yelling at a loss, there’s a sincerity here that feels true to real life. Working with Prophet was smooth sailing from the start; they came in with a clear vision but were also open to collaboration. Everyone kept such good spirits on and off the editing floor, which made these pieces especially meaningful.”
Credits:
Client: ESPN Bet
Chief Marketing Officer: Damon Burrell
VP, Brand Media: Ahmed Elfeky
Head of Design: Gadi Rouache
Manager, Sportsbook & Fantasy: Desiree Loyola
Agency: Prophet
ECD: Peter Dixon
Senior Partner: Jay Miliken
Assoc. Partner: Shane Kosch
Director, Verbal Branding: Liz Weber
Engagement Director: Jaslyn McIntosh
Sr. Art Director: Matt Adamiak
Sr. Copywriter: Spencer Roth-Rose
Sr. Creative Producer: Jason Yiasemis
Production Co.: Voyager
Director: Marcus Tortorici
Executive Producer/LP: Alissa Feldbau
Head of Production: Meliz Yilmaz
Prod Sup: Terri Nash
Prod Coordinator: Bethany Smith-Morgan
1st AD: Travis Knight
2nd AD: Jacolbi Johnson
DP: Federico Tamburini
1st AC: Mattews Di Nelson
2nd AC: Drew Barnett
DIT: Kohl Baas
Techno Op: Bobby Costello
Asst Tech: Eugene Rivera
Head Tech: Kenny Riverbank
Gaffer: Luan Augostinho
Best Electric: Samuel Sanchez
Additional Electrics: Timberly Bird, Derek Love, Shawn Gillard
Key Grip: Ryan Haskins
Best Grips: Clara Aquino, Lonnie Poole
Additional Grips: Patricia Valadao, Nicole Knight, Andrew Gomez, Jerome Norman
Sound Mixer: Adam Jones
VTR: David Alder-Diaz
Script Sup: Carlie Raymond
Post House: Leap Year
Editor: Jeff Watterson
MD, EP: Kira MacKnight
Producer: Phil Minton
VFX: Brickyard VFX
VFX Producers: Maggie Flatley, Ellen Schmitt, Mallory Bazinet
Sound: One Thousand Birds
