Entertainment & Sports
Company Size
500-1,000 Employees
A Global Racing Team Relied on Blackbird.AI to Cut Through Noise and Make a Game-Changing Roster Decision
Top 10 Finish
in the 2023 season — the best result since 2015
87M
in earnings tied to the improved performance
101%
increase in merchandise sales
24/7
narrative threat monitoring enabled
Problem Statement
A high-profile professional motorsports team faced mounting pressure due to harmful online narratives targeting the future of a star driver under consideration for the upcoming season. Leadership was concerned that public sentiment could turn against the brand, especially during a critical expansion period into the U.S. market, where the team had recently invested heavily in merchandise and fan engagement.
Process Before Blackbird.AI
The organization relied on traditional social media listening tools, suggesting that most of the fan base disapproved of the potential driver change. Negative sentiment dominated the analysis, making leadership wary of proceeding and risking a reputational setback.
Solution
Blackbird.AI’s Constellation Platform revealed that the surge in negative sentiment was not organic. The platform detected high levels of bot-like behavior and coordinated manipulation driving the negative narratives. In reality, only a small subset of authentic fans expressed disapproval. Armed with this insight, the team proceeded with their strategic decision, confident in the integrity of their fan data.
Customer Impact
The organization avoided a potential reputational crisis and made a bold roster decision that paid off. The team achieved its highest season finish in nearly a decade. It gained more substantial traction with its fan base, particularly identifying a cohort of super-fans who became vocal brand advocates.