Opendorse

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.

Athlete marketing platform Opendorse has raised $20m (€19.07m) in a funding round towards name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for more than 500,000 student-athletes.

Collaboration aimed at streamlining access to expanded commercial options

In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Blake Lawrence, chief executive and co-founder of Nebraska-based athlete marketing platform Opendorse. Fisher and Russo also discuss the return of golfer Tiger Woods from a serious auto accident to compete in The Masters, the opening of the legal sports betting market in the Canadian province of Ontario, Major League Baseball’s new streaming agreement with NBCUniversal’s Peacock, the ongoing sale of the National Football League’s Denver Broncos, and MLB’s new use of PitchCom technology.