Michigan Panthers Case Study: Custom Trading Cards at the 2025 UFL Championship Game Watch Party
A Championship Level Fan Experience Built for Panthers Nation
When the Michigan Panthers punched their ticket to the 2025 UFL Championship, the team wanted a fan experience that matched the moment—big energy, unforgettable memories, and shareable content that brought the entire community together. For the official Championship Game Watch Party, they partnered with EXP PHOTO to deliver one of our most electric Custom Trading Card activations yet.
Turning Fans Into the
Stars of the Night
As fans packed into the watch party venue decked out in Panthers gear and buzzing with championship anticipation, our team built a fully branded trading card studio right on the main floor. From the moment doors opened, a steady line formed and never slowed down. Fans waited excitedly to step into the spotlight and be transformed into their very own Michigan Panthers trading card.
The experience started with authentic, team-curated props:
An official Michigan Panthers helmet
A game-ready football
Panthers-branded backdrops and lighting
And the showstopper—the USFL Conference Championship Trophy, brought in specifically for the activation.
Fans lit up when they realized they weren’t just taking a photo they were stepping into a moment that felt straight out of the league’s media day.
Premium Cards Designed for Champions
Every session was captured, processed, and turned into a fully customized Michigan Panthers trading card featuring:
Personalized player style photo
Official team colors & graphic elements
Event specific branding tied to the Championship run
Sponsor visibility for Underdog Fantasy, the official partner of the 2025 UFL Championship Game
Once printed, each card was placed into a premium magnetic case, the same style used for high end collector cards. To finish the moment, each case was sealed with a custom Michigan Panthers foil seal, giving fans a keepsake that felt exclusive, official, and worthy of the championship stage.
This wasn’t just merch.
This was a collectible moment, created live.
An Experience That Captured
the Heart of Panthers Nation
Throughout the night, guests shared their cards on social media, showing off their trophy shots, posing like their favorite players, and proudly displaying their sealed collectibles. The energy at the booth fed back into the watch party, creating a loop of excitement that amplified the atmosphere.
Parents captured their kids holding the championship trophy. Longtime fans posed with friends they tailgate with every season. Even first time attendees walked away feeling like they were part of something bigger.
And with the game sponsored by Underdog Fantasy Sports, the activation delivered immediate brand value combining fan engagement, sponsor visibility, and high impact content into one seamless experience.
A Signature Experience for a
Season Worth Celebrating
The Michigan Panthers wanted a fan forward activation that felt premium,
interactive, and unforgettable.
The Custom Trading Card Experience delivered exactly that.
By the end of the night, hundreds of fans walked away with a keepsake, something they could hold, display, and revisit long after the championship game. Even as the Panthers fought hard and came up short, the excitement around the activation carried the energy of the night forward, both in the venue and across social channels.
A championship run deserves a fan experience worthy of the moment.
The Michigan Panthers gave their fans a night they’ll remember.
