Licensing & Merchandising
EXCLUSIVE: World Rugby revamps commercial strategy in centralised rights play
World Rugby will embark on a radical change in commercial strategy after the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France in a bid to attract new fans and generate more revenue
Historic Judge home run ball immediately worth millions
Future status of ball caught by Texas-based fan undetermined
Sorare adds five Championship clubs to football portfolio
NFT-based fantasy sports platform Sorare has agreed deals with English Championship football clubs Burnley, Coventry City, Millwall, Norwich City and Watford
HKRU strikes NFT tie-up with NuArca Labs ahead of Hong Kong Sevens return
Hong Kong Rugby Union has announced an agreement with non-fungible tokens (NFT) company NuArca Labs that will see the two launch a digital trading card marketplace ahead of the Hong Kong Sevens tournament
McLaren to release NFTs for Singapore, Japan grands prix
McLaren Racing is to release a series of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in partnership with open-source blockchain company Tezos to mark the forthcoming Formula 1 grands prix in Singapore and Japan
Regulator fines Rangers, Elite Sports and JD Sports in kit price-fixing case
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has imposed fines totalling over £2m (€2.24m/$2.16m)
LaLiga strikes licensing deal with video game Minecraft
Spain’s LaLiga has reached a licensing agreement with video game Minecraft for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
Manchester United post net loss of £115.5m despite revenue rise
English Premier League club Manchester United has reported a net loss of £115.5m (€132.5m/$131m) for the 2021-22 financial year despite its total revenue rising by 18 per cent to £583.2m.
Liverpool expands Sorare agreement to global level
Liverpool has extended and expanded its association with non-fungible token (NFT) based fantasy sports platform Sorare
KFC France distances itself from criticism of FFF player image rights decision
KFC France has distanced itself from comments made by one of its leading executives on the dispute between the French Football Federation (FFF) and star player Kylian Mbappé over player image rights.
Talent agency YMU buys majority stake in gaming agency Digital Sports Mgmt
Global talent management company YMU has announced the integration of UK-based sports marketing, gaming and entertainment agency Digital Sports Mgmt (DSM) into its YMU Sports division
Panini adapts to tournament, industry changes with new Fifa World Cup sticker book
Sticker book and trading card company Panini has made a series of key adjustments with its popular Fifa World Cup sticker book tied to the upcoming tournament. Shawn Medow reports.
EA Sports including Ted Lasso in ‘FIFA 23’
Game publisher looks to tap into broader elements of football culture
Fanatics broadens Uefa remit with long-term deal
Global sports merchandising company Fanatics has expanded its association with Uefa by agreeing a long-term e-commerce, event retail and licensing deal with European football’s governing body.
FFF to revise players’ image rights agreement after Mbappé dispute
The French Football Federation has acted quickly to avert the escalation of an image rights dispute with its star attacker Kylian Mbappé.
PGA Tour, Autograph unveil NFT partnership
The PGA Tour has teamed up with Autograph, the digital collectibles and non-fungible token (NFT) startup co-founded by star National Football League quarterback Tom Brady, to create an NFT platform which …
ICC taps Fanatics to manage event retail and online store
Global sports merchandising company Fanatics has signed a wide-ranging deal with the International Cricket Council to manage retail at upcoming events and manufacture officially licensed products
LaLiga broadens metaverse commitment with StadioPlus and Vegas City
LaLiga, organising body of the top two divisions of Spanish club football, has made further efforts to connect with the metaverse by signing a strategic licensing agreement with StadioPlus and Vegas City…