ESPN – Tastemakers Tailgate

Santa Monica’s ocean breeze set the perfect stage as ESPN gathered some of the biggest voices in sports media for an exclusive kickoff to college football season—and this tailgate absolutely delivered. With games streaming on every screen and the kind of effortless energy only Southern California can muster, creators rolled in ready to celebrate, connect, and craft the kind of content their followers eat up.

Right in the heart of the action, our team jumped into full-on creative mode with a hands-on customization experience that quickly became the star of the party. We set up a massive patch bar overflowing with options—colorful letters and numbers, classic foam fingers, every type of ball you can think of, and nods to favorite LA teams. Influencers sifted through the patch pile like kids in a candy shop, pulling together combinations that matched their fandom, their feeds, and their personal style.

Once they curated their perfect mix, we teamed up with them to lay out their designs, tweak the details, and heat press everything into place. And wow—these pennants were not playing around. Each one came out bold, sharp, and totally camera-ready, instantly turning into props for TikToks, Reels, and sideline selfies.

From the excitement of game day to the thrill of making something uniquely theirs, the whole experience brought a spark of creativity to the classic tailgate vibe. And by the end of the night, every guest walked away with a custom piece built for bragging rights—both on the wall and on their social feeds.