• Performance

Case Study: How the Detroit Pistons Captured Fans and Drove Ticket Sales at Scale with Teads

As the NBA season gained momentum, the Detroit Pistons partnered with Teads to connect with fans in meaningful ways—and turn attention into ticket sales. By combining elevated creative from Teads Studio, predictive targeting,…

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By Teads - Elevated Outcomes
23/02/2024

As the NBA season gained momentum, the Detroit Pistons partnered with Teads to connect with fans in meaningful ways—and turn attention into ticket sales. By combining elevated creative from Teads Studio, predictive targeting, and premium media inventory, the Pistons launched a performance-driven campaign that delivered real business outcomes across every screen.

The creative wasn’t just eye-catching—it was engineered for performance. Developed by Teads Studio, the units blended aesthetic impact with functional design to drive real outcomes. Scroller and inRead formats showcased key games with clear, persistent messaging and intuitive calls-to-action. The Scroller format, in particular, kept essential information fixed in view with a parallax effect, while subtle animations on the CTA encouraged clicks. With multiple click-outs, fans could seamlessly explore and purchase tickets—right from the ad.

Campaign Objectives

  • Drive high-intent traffic to Ticketmaster
  • Increase single-game and playoff NBA ticket sales
  • Maximize efficiency across premium media environments
  • Optimize return on ad spend through smart bidding and personalized creative

Campaign Execution

Smart Targeting + Contextual Intelligence

Teads’ predictive AI analyzed up to 50 million variables in real time, identifying fans most likely to convert. The Pistons employed a dual targeting strategy—combining Smart Predictive Targeting with contextual relevance across NBA, sports, and entertainment content. This ensured the campaign reached fans with the highest likelihood of engagement, at the moments that mattered.

Elevated Creative from Teads Studio

Creative that performs starts with creative that connects. Teads Studio developed high-impact visuals optimized for mobile and display, using motion and emotion to drive urgency and action. The Scroller InRead format locked key messaging and CTAs to the screen, creating an immersive experience that increased interaction and helped move fans down the purchase funnel.

Traffic Optimization with Performance at the Core

Using Teads Ad Manager, the campaign was continuously optimized to drive efficient clicks to Ticketmaster. Real-time bidding and performance insights ensured every impression worked harder—minimizing waste and maximizing results.

Results

The campaign delivered standout performance for the Pistons:

  • +453% increase in impressions
  • -83% CPM efficiencies (based on second-price auction)
  • 3.7x Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)
  • 3.7% Conversion Rate

From Brand to Demand, Big Screen to Small—Teads Makes Every Impression Count

By combining smart targeting, premium media, and performance-driven creative, the Pistons drove ticket sales and strong ROAS during a key stretch of the NBA season. Teads turned fan engagement into real outcomes—proving that great media meets great results.

Download the case study here.

Source: Teads, October 2024 – April 2025.