Sports

How Paul Guarino Turned a Twitter Page Into a Multifaceted Sports Marketing Agency Called PG Sports!

Published

1 year ago

February 9, 2021

Paul Guarino originally started his brand, PG Sports, as a Twitter page dedicated to sports when he was a sophomore in college. As the page grew in popularity and interest, he decided to create and sell a few t-shirt designs in order to get the word out about the brand.

The year was 2011. More and more followers joined the PG Sports family, and as they grew, so did the apparel. Guarino made the merchandise in mind for it to be worn by professional athletes. But the only way he was going to do that was by marketing his brand to them personally. So, he did. He reached out to them on social media and offered them some of the apparel in exchange for a post on their social platforms. Once the pieces were seen on big names like MLB’s Brandon Phillips and the NFL’s Rob Jackson, along with many others, PG Sports was a name to be reckoned with.

The Twitter page has grown to obtain over 16,000 followers since its humble beginnings, and the brand’s Instagram account has built up over 21,000 followers. But that’s not the only thing that’s expanded over the years.

PG Sports has become much more than just apparel. Today, the brand represents a full-scale sports marketing agency, representing over a dozen professional athletes across the industry. Its signature slogan is “Everywhere & Anywhere”. Thanks to the many relationships Guarino was able to secure from his merchandising, he was finally able to make his dream of managing a professional athlete a reality. He now handles sponsorships, brand deals, public relations, social media, and marketing requests for a reputable list of clients he has built up over the past couple of years. One of his clients happens to be WNBA star Renee Montgomery.

PG Sports has also come out with a podcast named “Average to Savage” and a YouTube series called the “My Why” series, both of which Guarino produces himself. The shows have had several special guest appearances, including soccer star David Beckham.

But Guarino is just getting started. As for his next endeavor, he plans to keep pushing the envelope with his brand and hopefully represent even bigger athletes in the future. Considering his levels of success, he shouldn’t have any trouble reaching the goals he decides to pursue next.

To see more of Paul Guarino and PG Sports, follow the brand on Twitter and Instagram at @pgsports. You can also visit www.pg-sports.com for more info.

Sports

Why USL2 is the Coolest Soccer League in the USA

Published

1 hour ago

May 21, 2022

Jonathan Grilli

Soccer continues to grow in popularity in the USA. The most obvious signs of this are in the MLS (Major League Soccer), which has expanded to 28 teams, with two more franchises scheduled to join by 2023. New teams such as LAFC, Austin FC, and Charlotte FC, who broke the MLS attendance record in their first game, have been well received by their local communities. In addition, they have helped to raise the profile of the sport with some clever branding and community engagement.

Cult following

The MLS has also picked up many new fans from abroad. The creation of fan groups, inspired by European “Ultras”, has resulted in a unique atmosphere. At first, this seemed manufactured, but it has taken on a life of its own. Many MLS teams are adopted by the local Hispanic communities, but they have also gained popularity amongst the LGBT communities, with rainbow pride flags now a regular feature in stadiums across the country.

Community spirit

However, it’s not just the Major League that has developed a cult following. In the lower leagues, there are some incredible soccer communities developing. The USL2 (United Soccer League Two) is a hotbed of cult teams, cool branding, and community spirit.

One such team is the Minneapolis City Soccer Club. The club is known as the Crows, and this is reflected in their logo, which was on a shortlist of five in a vote for the best crest in the league. Their Citizens support group are among the most loyal in the division and their groundbreaking soccer shirts are sought by collectors across the globe. The community-run club previously competed in the NPSL (National Premier Soccer League), winning the North Conference in 2018, 2019, and 2021. They stepped up to the USL2 in 2022.

A new look for West Virginia

Another new name to appear in 2021 was West Virginia United, which reached the conference playoffs. West Virginia has always lacked any major league sports teams but has a thriving college sports scene. It is also becoming a major destination for sports and casino gambling in the east of the country thanks to its five West Virginia online casinos, which offer online sports wagering. This growth in the gambling sector is expected to have a knock-on effect on the sports scene as more revenue is generated in the region. Like Minneapolis, West Virginia has also nailed their branding with a super cool logo that pays pay homage to the blue ridge mountains. The rebranding coincided with a kit deal with major sports brand Puma.

The ink has yet to dry but we are incredibly excited about this one! We have penned our new apparel partnership with @PUMA !! We couldn’t have imagined a better partner to display our badge and colors #WVUTD 🟢🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/MiBWqsvUVx

— West Virginia United (@wvutd) May 7, 2021

The team began life as West Virginia Chaos in 2003 before merging with the youth teams of Charleston FC and Fury Soccer Club to form West Virginia Alliance FC in 2018. They joined USL2 in 2019 and it is hoped that the latest change of name will be permanent as the club looks to provide a stable first-team environment in the fourth tier of the US soccer, as well as a development team in the USL Academy system.

Cool branding

Surprisingly, West Virginia United did not make the final shortlist for the best new crest in the USL2 poll. Nonetheless, they were up against some stiff competition, most notably, winners One Knoxville SC who made a brilliant video to show how their crest was designed.

Magic behind the crest! pic.twitter.com/7nnZNadUOF

— One Knoxville SC (@OneKnoxSC) August 19, 2021

Other teams featured in the vote were Louisiana-based Blue Goose SC, Ballard FC of Washington, and Vermont Green FC, but these teams are about more than just branding.

In the tier above (USL1), there are also some cult clubs including Forward Madison FC, the self-styled “world’s second favorite team.” They made an instant impact after launching in 2019 thanks to their smart social media work and colorful kit designs, but it is USL2 that is leading the way in the fast-growing world of cult community soccer clubs.