Licensing & Merchandising
NFL creates $3m challenge to develop safer helmet
The National Football League is offering $3m as part of an initiative to create a helmet which can outperform the equipment currently in use
California Assembly passes legislation to let college athletes sign endorsement deals
The California State Assembly has passed legislation to let college athletes make money off of their name, image, or likeness
Liverpool FC open two new retail outlets in Bangkok and Phuket with CRC Sports
English Premier League football club Liverpool have opened two new retail outlets in Thailand with CRC Sports, the country's number one sports retailer and brands distribution company.
Rights to beloved Phillie Phanatic mascot in dispute after more than 40 years
Legal battle revives tension that previously existed between the MLB club and the design firm that helped create iconic character.
Streetwear brand BAPE launches apparel with PUBG video game
Popular streetwear brand Bape has launched a series of apparel and accessories with PC and console video game, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG).
Konami partners with Uefa for eEuro 2020, signs Serie A deal
European football’s governing body Uefa has partnered with Konami to launch an esports tournament themed around next year’s European Championships, while the Japanese video game developer has tied up …
Ice cream and Kimekomi dolls | Developing a licensing programme for the Rugby World Cup in Japan
IMG Licensing says it has secured contracts with 25 Japanese licensees and 21 global licensees for this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan. Ben Cronin reports.
‘Brown as a bear’: Shock, awe and despair as prized autographs ruined by defective baseballs
Browning has marred thousands of once-valuable autographed baseballs, with the precise cause of the damage still unknown. Dennis Tuttle examines the impact on the baseball collectibles market
Mickey Mantle: In death, still king of the collectors’ world
Dead since 1995, the revered Hall of Famer still commands a lofty position among baseball memorabilia collectors
MLB names FanDuel an authorized gaming operator
League expands its roster of betting operators with access to official data feed and marks
Dallas Mavericks embrace Bitcoin
The Dallas Mavericks have become the second team in the NBA basketball league to accept Bitcoin, a form of cryptocurrency, as a method of payment for game tickets and merchandise
NFL, Sportradar expand data deal to include distribution to betting operators
The NFL, which had been much more cautious than other US pro leagues monetizing legalized sports betting, takes a big step into the space with its existing data distributor
Major League Baseball tops list of sports licensors with $5.5bn in sales
Major League Baseball is once again the highest-ranking sports rights-holder on a list of the world’s biggest licensors, having registered a reported $5.5bn in retail sales in 2018.
MLB, MLBPA revive and expand Players’ Weekend
Marketing effort to again feature player nicknames on jerseys, customized uniform accessories
PGA Tour Superstore revolutionizes sports retail sector as Home Depot of golf
Following the decline of a number of US sporting goods chains, Bob Williams talks to Dick Sullivan, president and chief executive of the PGA Tour Superstore, which has expanded from 10 stores in 2010 to 41 locations in 16 states, about what is behind the success of the chain.
Legends lands Rugby World Cup retail contract
Experiential services agency Legends has been appointed as the official retail partner and operator for this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Liverpool FC trademarks the word ‘Liverpool’ to protect against counterfeiters
Liverpool FC has applied to trademark the word ‘Liverpool’ in the context of football products and services.
DraftKings adds authorized gaming rights to MLB alignment
MLB strikes new deal to expand long-running tie with DraftKings for other primary portion of company's business