New competence center for sports communication in Bern

By the Way and FairMatch thus enter into a partnership, bundle their know-how and network and form a new competence center for sports communication and marketing under one roof. Both agencies have been anchored in the sports business for years through various projects and mandates, primarily in Switzerland, but also internationally in some cases.

By the Way Communications can draw on a wealth of experience. Founded 20 years ago, the full-service agency has mature competencies and experience in the classic online and offline communication disciplines with a focus on public relations. From its passion for communication, enthusiasm for digital and flair for creativity, By the Way Communications develops consulting services in the strategic business areas of digital publishing (production of digital, interactive, multimedia media formats - for example, the first digital fan magazine for Cristiano Ronaldo and transformation of print media into digital media), social media (community building and community management) and individual marketing for internationally renowned Swiss professional athletes such as Diego Benaglio and Roman Josi. Since January, the agency has also had its own e-sports unit, making it a national pioneer in a segment characterized by enormous growth rates worldwide. By the Way Communications' long-standing activities and clients also include various engagements in golf, the Swiss Football Association, and the national program for more exercise among the population "Coop Gemeinde Duell von Schweiz.bewegt".

Richard Hurni, co-owner and managing director of By the Way Communications: "The FairMatch team has complementary know-how to our portfolio namely in the marketing and sponsorship area. Together, our companies can offer 360-degree consulting on communications and marketing, especially for clients in the sports world."

Simon Laager, founder and CEO of FairMatch, adds: "We are looking forward to these synergies and are convinced that we will be able to offer exciting added value to our existing customers and, in cooperation with the By the Way team, to new customers as well."

FairMatch implements interactive sports and leisure special shows with a team of four on the one hand for the public exhibitions of Bernexpo (BEA) and MCH Group (e.g. Muba Basel) in cooperation with sports associations and sponsors. The award-winning projects "Swisscom Giga-Welle" as a Swiss surfing premiere or "Mobiliar Indoor Sports", in which a mobile gymnasium was realized together with the four indoor sports associations at BEA, or the Schwing Arena with Emmentaler Switzerland and the Swiss Wrestling Federation are some examples of integrated live com measures that were realized as full-service solutions from the idea and concept to marketing, communication, media relations and implementation. The Events unit, on the other hand, is limited to marketing, communication and media work, for example for the 2016 European Beach Volleyball Championships or the new major Bernese cycling event "Hallo Velo", while the traditional Uhrencup football tournament in Grenchen and Biel is implemented via ST Competition & Consulting GmbH as an in-house production. In the Sports Associations unit, FairMatch is responsible for marketing and sponsoring for the national sports associations Swiss Curling and Swiss Orienteering, and also for communications and media relations for the latter.