Early Bird
Ends In
00
00
00
00

Canada’s only sponsorship summit where you hear the deals,
understand the data, and experience the fandom. All in one day.

Loyalty Is No Longer Enough.

Consumers have more choice than ever before.
Attention is fragmented.
Communities are harder to build.
Traditional engagement strategies are delivering diminishing returns.

The organizations winning today aren't simply acquiring customers.
They're creating fans.

Questions we’re tackling:

  1. How do brands create communities instead of campaigns?

  2. How do sponsorships create belonging instead of awareness?

  3. How do properties build fandom that lasts?

  4. How do we measure the impact of engagement?

  5. What can marketers learn from the fastest-growing fan communities?

Join Us

The Brand Fandom Summit exists to answer those questions

↑↑↑

The Brand Fandom Summit exists to answer those questions ↑↑↑

The rules of engagement have changed.

The strongest brands aren’t chasing attention. They’re building communities.
The strongest sponsorships aren’t buying awareness. They’re creating belonging.
The strongest properties aren’t just growing audiences. They’re deepening fandom.

The Brand Fandom Summit explores what that shift means for
brands, properties, and community builders today.

Register

Insights you can apply. Conversations you can't get elsewhere. Experiences you'll remember.

Meaningful Connections With the People Shaping
the Industry

Conversations with senior leaders from brands, properties, agencies, and community organizations tackling the same sponsorship, fandom, and engagement challenges you are.

The 20th Annual Canadian
Sponsorship Landscape Study

Two decades of sponsorship data, and insights from across the Canadian market, released here
first and yours to take back to
your team.

The Inside Stories Behind Canada's Most Anticipated Sports Launch

Hear how Toronto Tempo's
partners built campaigns, made investment decisions, and created momentum before a single game was played.

A Seat in the Mastercard Lounge for Toronto Tempo vs. Indiana Fever

Experience fandom in action alongside fellow delegates, partners, and industry leaders at one of the year's most
anticipated sporting events.

Not spectators. The people making decisions.

Together, these leaders represent the organizations responsible for turning audiences into communities, customers into advocates, and moments into movements.

Join the conversations
A single day dedicated to unpacking modern fandom - how brands, properties, and agencies are turning attention into lasting fan connection.
Morning
9:00 AM

Registration & Welcome

Begin the day by checking in at Registration, your first stop to pick up materials, get oriented, and feel the energy of what’s ahead.

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Breakfast

Nourish & Network

Fuel up with food, people, and conversations at a breakfast designed for meaningful connections.

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Tip-Off Talks

Building Modern Fandom

Join us for an interactive, discussion-driven session led by industry experts exploring the trends, shifts, and opportunities shaping modern fandom and explore how brands, properties, and agencies are transforming engagement into lasting fan connections.

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Opening Spotlight Session

The New Rules of Engagement

Traditional marketing playbooks are breaking down. Today’s fans expect more than messaging, they expect authenticity, participation, personalization, and purpose in every interaction. This session unpacks what it takes for brands to earn attention, create meaningful impact, and build genuine connection in a world where engagement is constantly being redefined.

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Spotlight Session

Inside Ownership: Building the Tempo Franchise

What does it actually look like to build a pro sports franchise, before the first tip-off? Join us for a behind-the-scenes conversation with members of the Toronto Tempo ownership group to unpack the realities behind expansion, from early strategic priorities and key decisions to the risks and pressures of getting it right from day one. This session goes beyond the headlines to explore how a modern franchise is intentionally designed, not only for on-court success, but to spark fandom that lives beyond the game and across the wider community.

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
In the Paint

Decoding Fandom: Data, Trends & What’s Next

Bring your toughest questions and real-world challenges, and see how our expert can help you decode what drives today’s fans. Explore the data and trends driving fandom, what the numbers reveal about attention and engagement, and how leading brands are using insight to stay ahead of shifting fan behaviour and expectations. Expect a dynamic, interactive Q&A where your questions shape the conversation in real time, placing you right in the heart of the action.

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Fan POV: What Brands Still Get Wrong

What happens when you hand the mic to the fans? In this candid session, real superfans take the stage to share unfiltered perspectives on how brands show up, and where they fall short. From activatons that missed the mark to moments that inspired deeper connection, this panel offers a rare, honest look at what fans actually want. Expect bold opinions, lived experiences, and practical takeaways for brands looking to build trust, relevance, and true connection in today’s fandom-driven landscape.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Networking Lunch Reception

Recharge over lunch with delicious food and networking that ignites new connections and fresh ideas - because this midday break is about more than just a pause in the day.

Afternoon + Evening
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Interactive Spotlight Session

Tempo Leadership: From First Fans to Forever Fans

Before you build a fan base, you have to decide what you stand for. Join Toronto Tempo leadership for a candid conversation on how Canada’s newest professional sports franchise is building fandom from the ground up. Rooted in Canadian pride, cultural relevance, and community connection, this session will explore the strategy, decisions, and lessons behind turning early audiences into a passionate, lasting fan base across the country.

The conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A, giving guests a rare opportunity to ask Tempo leadership their most pressing questions and engage directly with the team shaping the future of the franchise.

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Spotlight Session

Co-Building Fandom: Community, Culture, and the Role of Founding Partners

A conversation with Toronto Tempo founding partners on what it means to be a partner before a fan base exists. This session explores how early partnership goes beyond sponsorship to co-building fandom by creating shared experiences, community connection, and cultural relevance while helping lay the foundation for a new era in women’s sport.

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Spotlight Session

Official Release: 20th Annual Canadian Sponsorship Landscape Study

Marking two decades of insight, the Canadian Sponsorship Landscape Study (CSLS) returns with its 20th edition, offering a timely look at how fandom is reshaping the sponsorship landscape. Explore key findings from 2025 and what’s ahead for 2026 and beyond.

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Break

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Spotlight Session

The First Season Playbook: Turning Sponsorship Into Momentum

Join us for a practical, insight-rich conversation on what it takes to build momentum in the first season of a new sports property. Early Toronto Tempo partners will share how they’re approaching activation in a landscape with no established fan base; where every touchpoint matters and every moment has the power to shape perception, build relevance, and spark early fandom.

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
In the Paint

5 Minutes on 5 Fandom Hot Takes

What happens when you challenge the conventional thinking around fandom? This session places you at the heart of the action, starting with a rapid-fire take from an expert unpacking five bold perspectives on fandom today. From there, the floor opens, giving you the chance to react, ask questions and discuss what you agree with, what you don’t, and what it all means for the future of fan engagement. Expect a dynamic, in-the-moment conversation shaped by your input in real time.

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Spotlight Session

The Future of Fandom: What Comes Next

What does fandom look like tomorrow? As culture, technology, and community continue to collide, brands are being challenged to rethink how they show up and stay relevant. Explore the forces shaping the next era of fandom, and what it will take to build lasting connection in what comes next.

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

SponsorshipX Summit Social (Mastercard Lounge)

Warm up for game night at the SponsorshipX Summit Social, a pre-tip-off gathering where networking is in full swing, conversations pass like fast breaks, and connections go straight to the hoop before the action on the court begins.

7:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Toronto Tempo VS Indiana Fever

Get ready for an exciting WNBA matchup as the Indiana Fever visit the Toronto Tempo at Scotiabank Arena. Expect high-energy action as both teams battle for crucial points late in the season. With standout players on each roster, the game promises fast breaks, sharpshooting, and intense defense. Don’t miss the chance to see these talented athletes showcase their skills and bring the excitement of professional women’s basketball to Toronto.

The Toronto Tempo isn’t just Canada’s first WNBA franchise—it’s one of the most significant sports business launches in Canadian history.

As the country’s first professional women’s basketball team, the Tempo represents more than a new team. It represents a movement. Built at the intersection of sport, culture, community, and purpose, the organization is redefining what fandom can look like in Canada and helping shape the future of women’s professional sports.

From day one, the Tempo has focused on building meaningful connections with fans, partners, and communities across the country; making them the ideal host partner for a Summit dedicated to exploring how audiences become advocates, customers become champions, and brands become part of culture.

Throughout the Brand Fandom Summit, attendees will gain exclusive access to the people, perspectives, and partnerships helping bring the Tempo to life. From executive insights and partner case studies to behind-the-scenes conversations about building a franchise from the ground up, the Tempo’s story will be woven throughout the event experience.

The day culminates with one of the most anticipated matchups of the season as the Toronto Tempo take on the Indiana Fever at Scotiabank Arena, giving attendees the opportunity to experience fandom in action alongside fellow industry leaders from the Mastercard Lounge.

Don't Just Talk About Fandom. Experience It.

The Xperience Pass includes access to: