TJ Bonaventura

Great to be back at XP Summit this year to talk about maximizing a marketing budget for game publishers. Comment below if you are planning on attending and want to link up 👇 XP Gaming Inc.

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Sports league accelerators are growing 📈 Yesterday, the MLS announced the second cohort of its innovation lab accelerator with a focus on 3 key areas: 🗣️ Fan engagement 🏆 On-field player performance 🎥 Media technology Six startups were selected for the second cohort: ➊ EDGE Sound Research EDGE Sound Research is building end-to-end control in real-time audio signals to unlock current and next-generation content experiences. ➋ OLIVER Sports OLIVER Sports is a GPS tracker that helps improve performance, prevent injuries, and connect with other athletes. ➌ Soccerment Soccerment is a platform that provides AI-driven data analytics tools and scalable tracking solutions to enhance performance analysis at all levels of soccer. ➍ Sportlight Technology Sportlight is a sports tech startup that is building a next-gen athlete tracking platform, using hyper-accurate LiDAR and AI. ➎ Wicket Wicket is a facial authentication provider that uses patented computer vision technology to enable sensational event experiences at more than 40 stadiums around the U.S. and abroad. ➏ LUBU Technologies (Techstars '23) Lubu Technologies is developing AI-powered wearable technologies for athletic performance and recovery. All six companies will test their product in various live settings, including the Generation Adidas Cup, MLS Next Cup, and MLS Next All-Star Game. The NBA and NFL also have their own respective accelerators where they hope to integrate new technology into their product and offerings. Check out more here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/exuQSiY7

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Hot off the presses: DISQO's latest report on sports advertising. The report provides in-depth analysis on sports viewers: who they are, how they watch, and what they expect from advertisers. We even get into how consumers feel about changing viewing sources (tl;dr: they don't like it), which is particularly relevant given yesterday's NBA announcement.

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Micro betting and #OTT Streaming in Major League Baseball (MLB) focuses on wagering on specific events within a game rather than the overall outcome. This type of betting has grown in popularity due to its rapid outcomes and the detailed statistical nature of baseball. www.ottadvisors.com #digital #advertising

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💥 Midweek calls for dropping some numbers that will change how you see gaming and Gen Z! 🎮👾 📊 The ZBD Gen Z Gamer Study highlights how gaming has become a key part of life for 18-25-year-olds. It’s not just about playing—it’s about connecting, expressing, and finding authentic experiences. 💵 With Gen Z controlling over $360 billion in spending power in the US alone, they’re setting trends in how brands, advertisers, and developers must rethink engagement strategies. Gaming isn’t just entertainment; it’s a culture where 65% spend more than 3 hours daily playing, and 72% say they can truly be themselves online. 🎮 ⚡ But here’s where it gets interesting—43% of Gen Z gamers find traditional ads in games disruptive, while others are open to them only if there’s value, like Bitcoin rewards or exclusive perks. What they love most is building communities, engaging with influencers, and enjoying the freedom to be themselves while gaming. 📢 For brands, the message is clear: authenticity and fairness matter more than ever. Want to engage with Gen Z? Start by understanding what makes them tick—gaming is where their hearts ❤️ (and wallets 💳) are. #GamingMarketing #GenZInsights #CommunityBuilding Source: MarketingTech

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Bryce Yang (Sr. Director, Global Sports Marketing at 2K) shared insightful comments this week on the launch of "Top Spin 2K25," the most recent in a growing list of sports releases — 7 of their last 8 games! To me, the interview reinforced the strategic value of collaboration between sports brands and game publishers. Here are my top 3 takeaways, plus how building expertise in gaming can help accelerate your career in sports 👇 🎮 1. Sports allow game publishers to *reach into the mainstream* by welcoming casual gamers. From this foundation, 2K can introduce other titles to passionate gamers: e.g., Borderlands, Bioshock, Civilization, XCOM. 🎾 2. Tennis is a sports that can capture *youth enthusiasm* and partnerships with games can help accelerate that trend. For example, Frances Tiafoe and Carlos Alcaraz have each promoted the game on their Instagram pages. 📸 3. Sports games are natural destinations for *in-game brand advertising,* driving revenue for athletes/leagues/tournaments as well as game publishers. Top Spin 2K25 includes the real-live sponsors of tournaments, such as BNP Paribas's support of Indian Wells. __ As you build your career in sports, showing vigilance on the development of *alternative channels* (including game publishers) is a valuable way to reach new audiences and help grow a sport overall. As gaming continues to become mainstream, expertise on how your sport can help a game publisher expand could give you an edge in building for this new medium. __ Check out the full interview with Digiday: https://lnkd.in/eu44_fiY ⭐️ To contribute to tennis's growth, explore 200+ open Golf / Tennis jobs, including roles at the (USTA) United States Tennis Association, ATP Tour, WTA, and more on TeamWork Online: https://lnkd.in/e8pRjQRB What sports game do you believe has contributed the most to the growth of the sport itself (and why)? ⬇️ 💬

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It's interesting to look at the business of pro sports teams... The Atlanta Braves are publicly traded (𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸): 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺-𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲: 🏟 • tickets • advertising • concessions • merchandising • parking/passes The "sports team" itself is the tip of the spear for monetization. Expanding product channels not only 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘱-𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘦 but also deepens fan engagement. 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲: 💰 • sponsorships • special events • online merchandise • national media rights • in-person experiences • local media rights (radio/tv) • entertainment (documentaries) • real estate development projects • licensing (sports betting, products, etc) The Atlanta Braves parent company (NASDAQ: BATRA) is valued at a market capitalization of $2.56 billion and an enterprise value of $3.01 billion. Warren Buffett is a shareholder of the Braves. 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗴𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀.

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5 insights from Edmundo Ortega on how to use AI to stand out in the sports industry 🤖 ⤵ 1️⃣ If you’re looking to transition into the sports industry, consider asking an AI service (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) what *skills* will be valuable in that specific position? (link to the job for help) 2️⃣ If you used AI to develop a report or analysis, *highlight what you created with AI* and describe how you used AI to create it. Your manager or client will likely be impressed at your ability to use new tech. 3️⃣ If you're using AI to help generate ideas, *include reference links* to tailor the output. Our example ("develop a theme night for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers") was greatly enhanced by a link to the team's Wikipedia (see screenshot) 4️⃣ The more important/critical the output is, the more that you need to *check the AI's output*. Remember that AI models are predicting based on available data, and they may "confidently" suggest inaccurate info. 5️⃣ Regardless of your intended use, spending 5 min per day to *build a habit* of using AI will help you unlock opportunities to discover new use cases. __ Ed shared these insights with during a Section x TeamWork Online *Intro to AI - Lightning Lecture* this Wednesday, which highlighted how to you can take your first steps toward AI mastery. 🏆 And while most people are "sitting on the couch" and waiting for AI to impact their industry (which it will, including in sports!), kudos to all attendees who joined this virtual event, took the opportunity to learn and get *ahead* of the change! Also, the comment thread was on fire throughout the event! Shout out to attendees for participating and engaging with one another. 🙏 And thank you to Rachel Fields, Rebecca Fernandez, Ana Flávia Silva, Edmundo Ortega, Gregory Shove, and the entire team at Section for your partnership to put on this event! __ 🧠 Explore more AI courses via a Section membership: https://lnkd.in/dgRs7MVD If you want to register, add a comment and I'll DM you a discount code reserved for members of TeamWork Online's community. How are you using AI in your daily work? Or, what insight on how to best use AI stands out most to you? ⬇️ 💬

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A.B.C.D. = Always. Be. Collecting. Data. 📈 The *sports analytics revolution* has unlocked an entire category of jobs. Here are 7 ways to contribute to transformative databases in sports 👇 📈 1. PFF hires "Part Time Data Collectors" to collect player and play-level data that gets delivered to our vast array of team and media clients, plus PFF's consumer products. Data contributes to PFF's player grades, rankings, and stats for the NFL, fantasy football, and the NFL Draft. 📈 2. Sportable hires "Matchday Operator Contracts" to travel to football and rugby stadiums to set up and operate Sportable’s ball tracking tracking technology. The data helps build an analytics engine to enhance player performance and to deepen fan engagement. 📈 3. SponsorUnited hires "Sponsorship Scouts" to attend pro & collegiate sporting events to collect data on venue advertising, as well as analyze sponsorship content on TV & radio broadcasts. The data helps build a database that helps teams, leagues, and brands make sponsorship choices. 📈 4. Hawk-Eye Innovations Ltd hires "Systems Operators/Technicians" to assist in setting up, monitoring, and maintaining video replay and injury review systems. These systems provide tools used by officials and media partners for on-field applications and data/analysis for off-the-field uses. 📈 5. IMG ARENA hires "In-Stadium Official Sports Data Collectors," stationed at each venue to capture key moments (e.g., goals, penalties, red/yellow cards, shots). The data contributes to a global content distribution engine for betting, media, and other fan-engagement uses. 📈 6. Scouting Heroes hires "College Football Data Specialists" who travel to 3-7 games per season in their area to record and collect real-time data via a Data Collection Tool. The data provides the foundation for a platform aimed at fueling the next generation of fan engagement. 📈 7. Genius Sports hires "Sports Statisticians" to watch games and record every run, kick, throw, tackle, and more. Genius serves as the official data, technology, and commercial partner that powers the global ecosystem connecting sports, betting, and media. __ 💡 Getting the first-hand experience of building a dataset is an important building block to understanding the power and possibility of analytics in the sports industry. If you are seeking a career in Analytics or Business Intelligence, this foundation can inform your process and drive success. And even better ... data collectors are *paid* to *watch sports events* - a win in the short term as well! __ ⭐️ Explore 200+ open roles in Sports Technology on TeamWork Online, including the "Part Time Data Collector" position at PFF, which PFF just launched yesterday: https://lnkd.in/eNc5KRtR Have you ever collected data that contributed to a broader database or product? Share your experience for the benefit of others ⬇️ 💬

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 🎙️ Throwback Episode Alert! This week on "Always Be Testing," we’re revisiting an insightful conversation with Scott Jablonski—an expert in #analytics, #sports, and #startups. 🏀 Behind the Sports Industry: Scott gave us a rare peek into the National Basketball Association (NBA), comparing the reality of working in sports to simply being a fan. His insights into sports marketing are a game-changer. 📈 Marketing & VC Wisdom: We also dug into the NBA’s unique marketing strategies and how they stack up against other leagues. Plus, Scott shared valuable perspectives on the recent ups and downs in venture capital. 🌍 Diversity & Leadership: Scott’s thoughts on diversity in leadership, drawn from his Harvard Business School days and team experiences, are truly inspiring. 🍷 Personal Touches: And yes, we even talked about his love for wine tasting and the simple joys of using an eye mask! 🎧 Relive this insightful episode on https://lnkd.in/g_M3pkPP

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Monday Domain Sale -- 10 domains on sale today as I start to scale back domain operations. - SportsBusinesses (.com) -- $100 - FootballCompetition (.com) -- $60 - EsportsDates (.com) -- $40 - BetYeh (.com) -- $180 - UniversalWager (.com) - $80 - BetShaq (.com) -- $90 - PokerMiami (.com) -- $180 - SportsMLM (.com) -- $60 - BettingChess (.com) -- $520 - SportsFollow (.com) -- $50 Comment CLAIM below on the domain you'd like. First come first serve. Domains can be pushed via Dynadot account or via AUTH Code transfer. #domains #knupdomains #domainnames #sportsdomains #gamblingdomains #bettingdomains

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Last week, Sportico announced that former NBA player Metta World Peace and Boost Mobile CEO Stephen Stokols were launching a $100M sports tech fund called Tru Skye Ventures. The fund will target: • Sports tech companies • Digital media platforms • Health & wellness innovation Metta World Peace joins several former NBA players who are in the VC space including: • Andre Iguodala • Michael Redd • Carmelo Anthony • Omri Casspi • Steve Nash The emergence of the athlete-vc model is intriguing and we'll start to see more of this happen mainly due to: • Access to deal flow and opportunities • A mutual value add • Long-term upside and wealth generation • A need to diversify 📩 Subscribe to the Vetted Sports newsletter to get more insights and news at the intersection of sports, technology, and investing → https://lnkd.in/d7G8due3

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🔮 Prediction: One day, fan generated sports data will be as valuable as professional data - let me explain. We’re already seeing data take a key role in sports broadcasts with real-time predictive insights brought to our screens across most sports. But what if I told you the most untapped resource isn’t on the field it’s in the stands and at home? I’ve spoken a lot about the work we do with Sky Sports, where fans live - score boxing matches, and the results are eye - opening. This data is already shaping conversations, but here’s my bold prediction: Fan-driven insights - their takes, polls, and predictions - will soon become more of a staple in live sports broadcasts. And this complements the performance data perfectly. One one hand you have science based inaction data. On another you have the way the drama is unfolding emotionally with fans. There is an emotional nuance in how fans behave collectively and as groups - and we know that emotion makes up a key aspect of using data to tell a story that performance data doesn’t capture. Interested to hear what others think on this!

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Weekly Wrap 🗞 First up, Fubo’s Standalone Subscription Offerings Fubo is rolling out standalone subscriptions for premium content like Paramount+, Showtime, and NBA League Pass, without needing a base Fubo plan. Subscribers to these standalone packages also get Fubo Free, offering nearly 200 ad-supported channels. Fubo’s strategy is clear: cater to the consumer desire for customizable streaming by stepping into the role of a “Super Aggregator,” giving subscribers more flexibility and control. Why this matters ⬇️ It’s all about shifting from forced bundles to true content choice. As viewers grow wary of traditional streaming bundles, Fubo’s tailored model could be a tipping point, drawing users who value content-specific subscriptions over bloated packages. What’s next: Expect other streaming platforms to jump on board, as customization becomes a key theme in a saturated streaming market. ---- Next, Stripe’s $1.1B Bet on Bridge: Bridge’s technology specializes in stablecoin-based payments, aiming to reduce the headaches of traditional multi-layered payment networks. By absorbing Bridge, Stripe can add further muscle to its international payment capabilities and make cross-border, real-time payments more accessible. Why this matters ⬇️ This acquisition is another sign of Stripe’s ambition to own the payment rails. By controlling more of what's necessary for frictionless transactions, Stripe strengthens its position as the "go-to" for payments. What’s next: Look for faster cross-border payment solutions as Stripe leans into Bridge’s stablecoin potential. This could reshape how companies handle global payments. ---- Lastly, Wayfair Debuts Paid Loyalty Program: Wayfair Rewards This week, Wayfair entered the subscription loyalty game with Wayfair Rewards, a $29/year program loaded with perks: → 5% back on all purchases, → free shipping, → access to exclusive sales, → dedicated customer service. Wayfair’s program mirrors the 'Prime Playbook', and other subscription loyalty models. As free points programs die on the vine, fee-for-VIP loyalty is seeing a boost in average spend, purchase frequency and brand loyalty. Why this matters ⬇️ Subscription loyalty programs are here to stay, especially with retailers learning from Amazon Prime’s success. Wayfair’s new offering is another example of a loyalty program customers will actually value. What’s next: As more retailers embrace subscription loyalty, expect to see even more programs emerge industry-wide. For consumers, the promise of high-value perks in return for a low annual fee is becoming too enticing to ignore. See you next week. ✏️

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I am not a baseball fan (unpopular opinion, I know), but I love how this MLB ad "El Béisbol es Otra Cosa" illustrates how so many aspects of the Latin culture can be seen in baseball every day while embracing the unique style each culture brings to the game. What sets this ad apart for me is its emphasis on the diverse cultural elements that make up Latino identity. So often, I see brands lumping all Latinos into the same bucket and treating them as a monolith, but this ad incorporates slang, food, and rituals from different regions, subtly acknowledging the nuances between us. This ad is a great example of how brands need to market to and connect with Latinos. Kudos to Major League Baseball (MLB) and multi-cultural creative agency REMEZCLA for their efforts to celebrate and promote Latin culture throughout the game, and for setting an excellent example for others to follow. https://lnkd.in/eBr3cp3s

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It's a two for one this week at Peak Years. First, some thoughts on how AI could, and should, impact our salary negotiations. Employers have too much leverage, AI has the potential to level the playing field. And also a few words on the NFL's recent Netflix deal. Will we look back at these times as the NFL's zenith, or is this further validation for the league's inexorable dominance? Check it out. #peakyears #AIandyourcareer #salarynegotiations #nflandnetflix https://lnkd.in/eHbHvfSJ

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