Features
David Palmer on emerging forms of fan engagement and team ownership
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview David Palmer, founder of Bernoulli | Locke. Fisher and Russo also discuss the National Football League’s new deal with YouTube for NFL Sunday Ticket, the sale of the National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Suns and Women’s National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Mercury to Mat Ishbia, the appointment of Charlie Baker to lead the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the sports advertising and sponsorship market during the first quarter of new year, and the 2023 CES.
Anne Worcester on the expanding business of pickleball
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Anne Worcester, strategic advisor to Major League Pickleball. Fisher and Russo also discuss the findings of the latest investigation into the National Women’s Soccer League, Fox Sports’ linear television rights deal with Major League Soccer, Jeff Zucker’s arrival to new investment vehicle RedBird IMI, and the pair detail their top sports industry stories of 2022.
Matheson looks to fill major gap in market with inaugural Canadian pro women’s soccer league
Project 8 co-founder Diana Matheson explains the business strategy behind the new eight-team league, while Vancouver Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster explains why the club had no hesitation in joining the startup venture.
Matt Gibbons on entering the sports investment arena with Manhattan West
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Matt Gibbons, managing director of private equity at Manhattan West. Fisher and Russo also discuss the latest infusion of capital for global sports merchandising giant Fanatics, the record-setting contract for Major League Baseball superstar Aaron Judge, dramatic changes within Bally Sports operator Diamond Sports Group, a new round of funding for athlete marketing platform Opendorse, and heightened efforts by Genius Sports to merge live video and sports betting in the United States.
Adam Davis on forging new opportunities for Two Circles
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Adam Davis, managing director of North America for Two Circles. Fisher and Russo also discuss Merritt Paulson’s move to sell the National Women’s Soccer League’s Portland Thorns, the National Basketball Association’s embrace of new sources of team investor capital, accelerated plans to expand the College Football Playoff, Major League Baseball’s sale of its BAMTech equity stake, the Boston Red Sox’s jersey patch sale, and the departure of Lenny Daniels from Warner Bros. Discovery.
USA Cricket forced to hit reset button amid governance, financial instability
USA Cricket interim chair Atul Rai tells SportBusiness of his 'shock' at the multitude of problems he encountered when taking over the national governing body this summer.
TOCA embraces technology as soccer grows in US
Former American soccer star Eddie Lewis eyes an inflection point for his startup entity TOCA. Shawn Medow reports.
Josh Rawitch on a new vision for the Baseball Hall of Fame
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Josh Rawitch, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Fisher and Russo also discuss Glazer family’s move to consider selling Premier League giants Manchester United, initial business results from the start of the 2022 men’s Fifa World Cup, Bob Iger’s return to lead the Walt Disney Co. and the impact on ESPN, revived dealmaking in youth sports, and Major League Baseball’s offseason free agency period.
Glickman ready to ‘fight the good fight’ in modernising Euroleague Basketball
In contrast to Jordi Bertomeu’s careful, statesman-like aura, Euroleague Basketball’s new interim chief executive Marshall Glickman has all the hallmarks of a maverick.
Let me entertain you…sustainably | Experts discuss sports tech innovation at GSIC Summit
The Microsoft-backed Global Sports Innovation Centre (GSIC) celebrated the first birthday of its Asia-Pacific office in Singapore two weeks ago by gathering industry experts to discuss hot-button topics…
Jon Middleton on a mobile-first future in sports video gaming
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Jon Middleton, chief executive of Nifty Games. Fisher and Russo also discuss the National Football League’s large-scale joint venture with Skydance Media, MaximBet’s decision to shut down its sportsbook operations, commercial issues surrounding the start of the 2022 Fifa World Cup, a new stadium deal for Major League Soccer’s NYCFC, and Liberty Media’s move to split off Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves.
How Orange County SC beat the LA Galaxy off the playing field
The defending title winners of the United Soccer League Championship were nearly evicted out of their home stadium in Irvine, California, but fended off a rival effort from a neighboring Major League Soccer club, thanks to a fervent groundswell of fan and community support. Shawn Medow reports.
Fox Sports looks to serve up Thanksgiving treat to US viewers during Fifa World Cup
David Neal, executive producer of Fox’s World Cup coverage, tells SportBusiness why the network can overcome the dual challenges of the tournament being staged amidst a crowded North American sporting schedule and an unfavorable time difference to Qatar.
Jesse Cole on reinventing the notion of fan engagement
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas. Fisher and Russo also discuss the still-turbulent world of sports streaming amid a new batch of third-quarter earnings reports, the strategic merger between Major League Pickleball and the Vibe Pickleball League, the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX that has led to a bankruptcy filing and dissolution of some sports sponsorships, the National Basketball Association’s move to heighten its strategic investment activity, and deepened chaos for prominent social media platform Twitter under new owner Elon Musk.
Kash Shaikh and Barry Larkin on exporting baseball to new regions
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Kash Shaikh, chairman and chief executive of startup pro baseball league Baseball United, and Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, a Baseball United owner and board member. Fisher and Russo also discuss Dan Snyder’s move to consider potential equity transactions regarding the National Football League’s Washington Commanders, the star-studded investor group for golf technology startup TMRW Sports, new investment for prominent agency Wasserman, a historic high point in North American pro teams up for sale including the National Hockey League’s Ottawa Senators, and business impacts from the marked decline in the market for sports-related non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
OKX and McLaren to educate fans on responsible investing as they ramp up activation
McLaren and crypto sector sponsor OKX unveiled an eye-catching new livery for the Formula One team’s cars ahead of last month’s Grand Prix in Singapore. It
ESPN seeks ways to expand sponsorship revenue to monetize renewed F1 rights in US
John Suchenski, ESPN’s director of programming and acquisitions, tells SportBusiness the network is considering having multiple presenting sponsors of both its pre-race and race telecasts going forwards.
Queensland’s outback proves fertile breeding ground for sporting events
Many miles from the bustling metropolis of Brisbane, rural Queensland is providing a surprisingly adaptable platform for eye-catching sporting events.