A Milestone MarCom Award Win, a Milestone Celebration for the Von Braun Center
Red Sage has received two Gold MarCom Awards for strategic creative work on the Von Braun Center’s 50th Anniversary campaign. Alongside strategic partners at the venue, Red Sage’s team was recognized in two separate categories – “Marketing/Promotion Campaign–Branding” and “Marketing/Promotion Campaign – Integrated Marketing.” The awards, announced in late 2024, recognize outstanding creativity, campaign impact, and audience engagement in strategic execution.
“Celebrating 50 years of the Von Braun Center being our community’s place through time has been a wonderful creative journey,” said Samantha Nielsen, VBC Director of Marketing and Public Relations. “Having Red Sage as a partner ensured we have an elevated campaign design and marketing plan that resonates with our fans and stakeholders. The partnership between our two organizations has made this multi-year celebration a manageable creative project!”
A Campaign’s Community Appeal
The Von Braun Center’s 50th anniversary was a major milestone for Huntsville, Alabama. For fifty years, the VBC has enriched the region as a premier destination, hosting concerts, sporting events, performances, exhibits, conferences, and more. The anniversary campaign, themed “Your Place Through Time,” showcased the Von Braun Center as a beloved gathering place through the ages for all demographics.
Extensive research informed the campaign-specific brand. Design was leveraged to engage all ages and socio-groups, blending classic elements with bold, striking fonts and authentic imagery from the venue itself.
The campaign “came to life” through diverse integrated tactics. Executions included paid advertising, social content, on-the-ground installations, specialty merchandise, and more. Core messaging was paired with tailored spotlights on a year’s worth of milestone events. The VBC’s on-site partners, including Huntsville Havoc, Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, Broadway Theatre League and others joined in as key stakeholders for cross-promotion.
What are the MarCom Awards?
The MarCom Awards recognize global excellence in marketing and communication. The international competition awards campaigns that excel in quality, creativity, and results. Sponsored by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), MarCom entries go through a rigorous evaluation by industry experts. Only campaigns that truly stand out in effectiveness and creativity receive top honors.
What it Takes to Win Gold
To win a Gold MarCom Award, a campaign must showcase a smart strategy, clear messaging, and measurable results. Judges look for campaigns that show originality, strong visual appeal, and real success in achieving client goals. Red Sage’s Campaign Brand achieved all of these objectives. The campaign’s brand design and foundational messaging tapped into nostalgia. The campaign branding also leaned into growing pride within the Huntsville community. In recent years, the city has emerged as a national destination-of-choice for young families, retirees, and travelers.
“Earning not one, but two Gold-level MarCom Awards is awesome,” said Michelle Stark, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, “This achievement reflects our team’s dedication to raising the bar across the board, with strategic creative that drives results for our partners. It also wouldn’t have been possible without the collaborative vision of the Von Braun Center’s leaders. We are so grateful to them for trusting in us to deliver.”
To win Integrated Marketing Gold, the VBC campaign demonstrated exceptional creativity, impact, and engagement across multiple marketing channels. The MarCom Awards competition receives as many as 6,500 entries from across the United States, Canada, and 52 other countries.
Red Sage Communications: A Leader in Destination, Attraction, and Experience Marketing
These awards are the latest in a series of “big wins” for Red Sage in 2024. A number of national and international contest recognized the agency for excellence in integrated marketing, advertising, and website design. Honors included two Best of Industry awards in the WebAward 2024 contest, including the Alabama Center for the Arts “Best University Website” as well as Land Trust of North Alabama “Best Recreation Website.” The Land Trust of North Alabama’s website was also a Webby Award Honoree.
Red Sage is a long-time regional leader in economic development, community, travel, and tourism marketing. The agency supports partners looking to grow in prominence and supports attractions or experiences looking to grow revenue.
