Licensing & Merchandising
IMG takes on global licensee role for 2023 Fiba World Cup
The International Basketball Federation (Fiba) has appointed the IMG agency as the global master licensee of next year’s Basketball World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
XFL threatened with legal action over new brand identity by Togethxr
The revived XFL has been threatened with legal action by media and commerce company Togethxr over the spring-season American football league's newly-released brand identity
NBA to open first Paris retail store in partnership with Fanatics
The National Basketball Association is looking to expand its presence within France by opening the league's first retail store in Paris in partnership with global sports merchandise company Fanatics
Liverpool FC looks to engage US supporters with branded credit card
Premier League club Liverpool FC has partnered with financial technology firm Cardless to create its first branded credit card for United States supporters.
Formula E appoints stichd to overhaul global merchandise offering
Formula E has appointed stichd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of German sportswear and equipment manufacturer Puma, as its retail merchandise partner under a long-term deal
NFL led latest Fanatics funding round with $320m investment
Sports-related entities provide more than half of most recent company financing
XFL unveils new brand identity, merchandise ahead of 2023 return
The XFL has unveiled a new brand identity ahead of its planned return in February 2023, as well as a new slogan: “Tomorrow’s League Today.”
Tim Mangnall | Why Liverpool’s NFT drop has failed to live up to expectations
Tim Mangnall, chief executive of NFT advisory firm Capital Block, explains why, in his view, Liverpool FC's launch of a new NFT collection has not been a success, with only 5 per cent of the collection having sold at the time of writing.
Topps replaces Panini as official licensing partner of Uefa national team tournaments
The Topps Company, the physical and digital trading card company owned by global merchandising giant Fanatics, has become an official licensed partner of the Uefa Euro 2024 national team football tournament…
Big3 offers fans stakes in its 12 teams through NFTs
The Big3 basketball league is reshaping its ownership structure to offer fans minority stakes in its 12 teams through the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
MLB finalizes provisions of new uniform patch program
Details of new commercial effort line up with prior industry expectations
World Athletics agrees master licensee deal with Cube Partnership
World Athletics has appointed sports retail and merchandise company Cube Partnership as the official master licensee for the federation and its World Athletics Series events until the end of 2025
Collectors raises $100m to fuel expansion
Funding looks to capitalize on still-booming trading card and collectibles market
Vikings strike 10-year Fanatics merchandising partnership
Global sports merchandising giant Fanatics has secured a 10-year omnichannel merchandise and retail partnership with the National Football League's Minnesota Vikings.
‘Huge strategic moment’ | Sorare enters US sports landscape with MLS NFT partnership
Fantasy sports-based digital collectable company makes breakthrough in North American market while partnership offers MLS a new means to engage global soccer fanbase. Bob Williams reports.
WWE, Fanatics strike wide-ranging merchandising pact
Long-term deal covers wide range of physical, digital categories
FanCraze completes $100m funding round
Indian non-fungible token (NFT) platform FanCraze has received backing from global investment firm B Capital and Manchester United footballer Cristiano Ronaldo as part of a $100m (€90.8m) funding round.
Nike reunites with Kobe Bryant estate
After split nearly a year ago, parties strike new long-term contract