Alberto Longo

Ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final of the Men on Saturday night, I had the opportunity to attend the UEFA Women's Champions League Final last weekend in Bilbao ⚽🏆 In below article I share my observations of the event as well as the opportunities for further growth 🚀. In a nutshell, it was a terrific experience and one could really feel the positive development and excitement that Women's Football has experienced over the last years. The areas that from my point of view need further improvement in order to reach more people, appeal to new target groups and in turn grow revenue of the competition to be re-invested into the game revolve around the following: 1. The further development of the event product to reach new target groups ⚽🎙 2. The further involvement and positioning of sponsors as "change makers" and the enhanced activation of that message ⚡ 3. The diversification of the broadcast distribution and overall content maximization 📺 📱 4. The match scheduling to avoid conflicts with major men's competitions ⏲ While some of these topics certainly require relevant "heavy lifting" across the entire European football ecosystem, others can be implemented more easily. I'd be curious to hear your point of view on my observations. At SPORTFIVE we have set up a global growth initiative, led by my fantastic colleagues Eleri Guy, Shona Young and Liz Ullathorne, that is focused on women's sports. Our ambition is to identify new ways to grow the women's game and to advance our overall contribution to women’s sports across the globe. If you want to learn more about our activities, please reach out! #WomensChampionsLeague #womensfootball #sportsbusiness #womensports #themovementhasjustbegun https://lnkd.in/gYcN4_E7

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As the transfer window really ramps up, here's our insight into the anatomy of a football transfer. Take it away Reevaldo and co! See https://lnkd.in/d_mKuzMx for more football related stories and legal insight. #sportslaw #footballagent #transferwindow

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𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 from Sportico: could the National Football League (NFL) end up investing in LIGA BBVA MX alongside Apollo Global Management, Inc.? 🤯   ⚽🏈   Sportico revealed yesterday that Liga MX had reached an agreement with Apollo and... the NFL to invest in the league's commercial and media rights.   𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝟐 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐆𝐎 In 2022, Apollo explored a $1.25 billion investment in Liga MX's international media rights ("Project Goal"). Details of the deal: ➡️ Creation of a MediaCo to host the league's international media rights. ➡️ $1.25 billion cash influx allocated to develop academies and stadiums - similar structure as CVC's deal with LALIGA in Spain. ➡️ 20% share of the league's international media rights profits over the next 50 years. One of the conditions of the deal was that teams pooled their media rights, as they were allowed to sell their own individual partnerships.   𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓-𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 The 18 teams will now vote to validate the creation of a private entity ("la Comercializadora") hosting the league's commercial and media rights.    Apollo Global Management, Inc. ($733 billion of AUMs as of September 2024) is not new to sports: 👉 In 2021, they acquired a majority stake of Verizon Media and restored the name to Yahoo Sports. 👉 Apollo's Co-founder Josh Harris created Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment with David Blitzer in 2017 (NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, NHL's New Jersey Devils) and he also owns a stake in Crystal Palace Football Club and led the ownership group which acquired the NFL's Washington Commanders for $6.05 billion last year.   What's also interesting is the potential investment from… the National Football League (NFL).   In 2013, they launched a corporate venture arm call 32 Equity with which they invested in various sports ventures such as Fanatics (2017) and athlete recovery tech provider Hyperice (2021).   But they hadn't invested yet in another professional sports organization - they could bring massive strategic value in growing Liga MX's commercial and media revenue both domestically and internationally.   𝐌𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄   A few months ago, Sportico released a ranking of the top 50 most valuable football clubs in the world, rom Manchester United ($6.2 billion) to Houston Dynamo Football Club ($550 million).   Three LIGA BBVA MX clubs made the list:   1️⃣ Club América (#25): $750 million EV, $165 million 2022/23 revenue   2️⃣ Club Deportivo Guadalajara (#31): $710 million EV, $160 million 2022/23 revenue   3️⃣ Club de Futbol Monterrey Rayados (#48): $565 million EV, $150 million 2022/23 revenue   In April 2024, Wrexham AFC owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney joined the ownership group who acquired Club de Futbol Rayos del Necaxa in 2021. The next development phase of Mexican football is surely going to be interesting to follow 👀

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Off to SportsPro? 🇪🇸 Have complex needs for your sports properties and services? ⚽️ 🏏 🏉 🎾 🏎️ Want the reliability and flexibility of proven cloud hosted solutions, managed by a tier 1 provider that provide faultless delivery? ☁️ 🛜 Then get in contact with Matthew Ivey ⬇️ to hear about: - Altitude STREAM - Altitude VoD - Altitude FAST - Altitude CONNECT - Altitude ARCHIVE - Altitude PLAYOUT

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It’s exciting to see our list of open or pre-sale clubs piling up. With one club at 100% capacity, with over 700 active members in a 200sqm space, and the two next opens already above break-even at pre-sale, the future seems bright for BHOUT. Madrid, our first international location, is already under development, and expected to open by the end of Q1/25. We are now actively negotiating 500+ locations worldwide, from the Middle East, all the way to Southeast Asia, Europe and USA. The business of combat sports is expanding fast: 🥊 650M MMA fans worldwide; 🥊 50% GenZ are fans of Boxing and MMA; 🥊 Cristiano Ronaldo and other influencers state that they only watch MMA and Boxing; 🥊 The Netlflix bout featuring Jake Paul and Mike Tyson (at which BHOUT was the only brand activation invited by MVP) was the most viewed combat sports event in history, already surpassing 120M views; 🥊 BHOUT’s participation in the event was mentioned in over 500 media articles in the US media, with an estimated 170M readers. BHOUT created the ONLY punching bag with AI, where gaming 🕹️and fitness 🏋🏼 colide in an unique way. Can’t wait for what the future will bring. After years of development, we are finally ready to grow exponentially 🚀

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Is the 2024 Porsche Cayman GT4 RS the KING of high performance sports cars?

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❗PLAYERS | ACADEMIES | COACHES | AGENTS ❗ SMART11 IS LIVE! ⚡ ⚽ Impact Football Company proudly presents: Smart11. Welcome to Smart11, the revolutionary mobile self-analysis app designed for football players worldwide. If you’re serious about becoming a better player, Smart11 is your go-to tool to unlock your full potential and take charge of your own development. 📈 Smart11 isn’t just another app – it’s a revolutionary way to analyze and enhance your game. Whether you’re an aspiring amateur or a seasoned pro, Smart11 is tailor-made and designed to give you actionable insights, personalized feedback, and cutting-edge tools to help you increase your impact on the field. If you want to know more about the #methodology behind Smart11, put 'SMART11' in the comments and receive a onepager about the philosophy of #Smart11. ⚽ Smart11 is now available in the App Store and Google Play. Create your account on smart11.ai ⚡

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Absolutely! 🙌 The role of a referee in football cannot be overstated. ⚽ Referees play a crucial part in ensuring fair play, upholding the rules of the game, and maintaining order on the pitch. 🛑 Without referees, the beautiful game would descend into chaos, and the integrity of matches would be compromised. 🌟 It's important to remember that referees are human too. They undergo rigorous training and constantly strive to improve their skills. 📚 Every decision they make is based on the information available to them in the heat of the moment. 🔥 While some decisions may not always be popular, it's essential to respect the difficult job they have. ⚖️ Having empathy for referees is key. Put yourself in their shoes and consider the challenges they face during a match. 🤝 Referees juggle multiple roles, from counselor to psychologist, to ensure the game runs smoothly and safely for all involved. 💪 Peer-to-peer conversations and post-game reflection are vital aspects of a referee's development. By engaging with referees in a constructive manner and understanding the complexities of their role, we can all gain a deeper appreciation for the work they do. 🔄 So, let's remember to respect and support referees on and off the pitch. ⚽ Without them, the game we love would not be possible. Let's continue to work together to foster a culture of respect and appreciation for the vital role referees play in football. ⚽👏 BAMREFOfficial PGMOL The Football Association EFL (English Football League) Women's Professional Game Kick It Out Kent FA Aji Ajibola Arran Williams Leah Godfrey Raj Randhawa Dan Forbes Dr Tom Webb UEFA FIFA Troy T. Anthony Burnett Leon Mann MBE

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Time for the #TFAArchives! Each day, Fintan O'Reilly dips into the TFA archives of 10,000+ articles and pulls out a few that are relevant based on current events. After beating Osasuna 1-0 away last night, Valencia now sit seventh in LaLiga, significantly better than their 16th-place finish last term. We analysed how current manager Rubén Baraja stopped the club from free fall last term back in August, how far can they progress under him? https://lnkd.in/e6q6-J5c Kim Hellberg’s new side Hammarby became the first team to defeat Elfsborg in the 2024 Allsvenskan season yesterday. Read all about his impressive tenure with Varnamo, with whom he was nominated for the Allsvenskan Manager of the Year award last season, in our 2023 tactical analysis: https://lnkd.in/ek6QfAGq “I believe he is a great option to replace Klopp” — Ex-Sporting CP midfielder João Palhinha has spoken glowingly about ex-boss Rúben Amorim amid Liverpool links. Read all about the highly-rated coach in our TFA 21 tactical analysis: https://lnkd.in/epCUmYjW Julian Nagelsmann is being heavily linked with an FC Bayern return — would this be a good move for coach and club? In 2022, we analysed how he was tactically reinventing the Bavarian side for a new season; how would you expect him to do so again if he were to return? https://lnkd.in/eEzN3C8r And that is it for today - we will be back in the morning with the latest analysis. #football #analysis #scouting #tactics #soccer #tactical #recruitment #data #analytics #viz

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Why choose Soccerex? 1. Comprehensive Networking Opportunities Soccerex brings together a diverse array of stakeholders from the global football industry, including clubs, leagues, federations, commercial partners, and suppliers. This creates unparalleled networking opportunities, allowing attendees to forge valuable connections and partnerships. 2. High-Profile Speakers and Panels Soccerex events feature influential speakers from the football world, including top executives, renowned coaches, and former players. These speakers provide insights into industry trends, challenges, and innovations, making the event a rich source of knowledge and inspiration. 3. Global Reach With events held in various international locations, Soccerex ensures a global perspective on football business. This international presence helps in understanding and navigating the nuances of different markets, offering attendees a broader and more inclusive view of the industry. 4. Comprehensive Exhibition Space The exhibition area at Soccerex events showcases the latest products, services, and technologies in football. This allows businesses to display their innovations and engage directly with potential clients and partners in a dynamic environment. 5. Educational Workshops and Sessions Soccerex organizes detailed workshops and sessions that cover specific aspects of football business, such as marketing, sponsorship, digital transformation, and youth development. These sessions are designed to provide practical knowledge and strategies that attendees can apply in their own organizations. 6. Historic Track Record Soccerex has a long-standing history and reputation in the industry. Since its inception in 1996, it has consistently delivered high-quality events, earning the trust and respect of football professionals worldwide. 7. Focused on Current and Future Trends Soccerex is adept at identifying and focusing on current trends and future directions in the football industry. Topics such as sustainability, technological advancements, and fan engagement are regularly explored. 8. Strong Industry Partnerships Soccerex maintains strong partnerships with key football organizations and businesses, which enhances the quality and credibility of its events. These partnerships often result in exclusive content and participation from top-tier professionals. 9. Interactive and Engaging Formats Soccerex events are designed to be interactive and engaging, with opportunities for attendees to participate in discussions, ask questions, and contribute to the dialogue. 10. Commitment to Industry Growth Soccerex is dedicated to the growth and development of the football industry. Through events and initiatives, it promotes best practices, fosters innovation, and supports the overall advancement of the sport. These factors combined make Soccerex a leading organization in football business networking and events, respected and valued by professionals across the globe.

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On the back of the Multi Club Ownership report we published last year, our CEO Paul Rossi moderated a panel at the Globe Soccer DWC LLC awards in Sardinia this morning. Check out the panel with the industry leading executives below. The report can be purchased here: https://lnkd.in/ej6rJtsN #globesoccer #multiclubownership #football #investment #sportbusiness

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Who wants to take on the SCL College ‘Academy Skills Challenge’…..?! ⚽️ This is the 10-shot crossbar challenge…. here is how it works! 👉   Players, Coaches, Supporters…..think you’ve got what it takes to get the high score? Give it a go on the training pitch and tag us in your videos! SCL Education Group

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🏟️ Is Multi-Club Ownership in Football Sustainable? 🤔 777 Partners' ambitious venture into multi-club football ownership, with Everton FC as their latest target, has sparked significant debate. While the strategy aims to leverage top-tier clubs to bolster the entire portfolio, the approach has faced numerous challenges, including financial scrutiny and legal battles. The allure of turning struggling clubs into profitable assets is undeniable. However, with the recent issues surrounding 777's acquisition of Everton and the financial instability revealed in their broader operations, it's essential to question the viability of such investments 📉 As clubs and investors alike navigate this complex landscape, one must consider: Is the multi-club ownership model sustainable in the long run? Can it deliver on its promises without compromising the stability of the individual clubs and the broader financial ecosystem? How do you see the future of multi-club ownership in football? Can it be a win-win, or is it a high-stakes gamble with too much risk? Share your insights below! 👇⚽️ #FootballBusiness #MultiClubOwnership 🔗 Read the full article on FT - https://lnkd.in/e_-gP29f

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The #FNCS Global Championship 2024 was a success! Here's the number compared to last year: 2023: - Peak Viewers: 722,081 - Average Viewers: 377,485 - Hours Watched: 5,756,637 Top Matches: - R6: 722,081 - R3: 677,073 - R2: 674,278 2024: - Peak Viewers: 809,854 - Average Viewers: 555,798 - Hours Watched: 7,040,107 Top Matches: - R12: 809,854 - R1: 784,090 - R2: 754,875 This year, the official Fortnite stream peaked at 117,097 spectators on Day 2, averaging 88,467 viewers. Last year, the official stream had a peak on Day 3 with 96,366 viewers and an average of 82,522. A unique feature this year was the significant number of viewers tuning in from within Fortnite itself, via the Legends Landing map. On Day 1, the peak reached 87,899 people, with an average of 46,298. On Day 2, the peak was 46,466, averaging 26,196. The growth this year has been tremendous, thanks to the incredible work behind the scenes. Production quality improved significantly from last year, GG to BLAST, and the casters, who often don’t get enough recognition, made every moment magical. A huge thanks to all the major content creators from different nations who streamed the event and attracted so much attention! The community truly appreciates all your hard work! #Fortnite #FortniteCompetitive

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🚀 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 €𝟲𝟬𝗠 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 💰 Today former FC Barcelona star Gerard Piqué Bernabéu's disruptive soccer concept Kings League announced it has secured a €60 million investment from Left Lane Capital and Fillip to fuel future growth. The investment follows a highly successful inaugural season that included selling out FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou, streaming broadcasts generating up to 1.7M concurrent viewers, and expanding into Latin America with Kings League Santander. For investors and operators in sports & entertainment, there are a few immediate takeaways: ✅ Reinforces the sizable market for new innovative IP derived from sports with large global audiences such as soccer/football, basketball, combat (boxing/MMA), and motor-racing ✅ Demonstrates how legacy leagues can learn from disruptive sports IP businesses reimagining distribution to be social-first and pairing with storytelling to deliver carefully tailored narratives across distribution platforms ✅ Highlights how creative formats, star power, and creator-led involvement can drive massive engagement (e.g., 80M+ hours watched, 13M+ followers in the case of the Kings League) With more expansion planned for 2025, Kings League proves there's an appetite for fresh, digitally-native sports properties that put fans first. Without a doubt, the future of sports entertainment is being reshaped and it is only just the beginning. #InvestingInSports #Streaming #Sportsbiz #Investment #FanEngagement

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🚀 Did You Know? The Global Padel Market Reached €2,000M in 2023! 🎾 A comprehensive analysis by Deloitte and Playtomic in 2023 revealed an impressive €2,000M valuation of the global padel market. Here’s a breakdown of the key segments driving this growth: 🏗️ Infrastructure: Dominating the scene, infrastructure including club operators, boasts €1,400M, underscoring the sport's expansive facility development. 🛒 Equipment Retailers: Retailers raked in €550M, fueled by a surge in demand for padel equipment. 🎽 Professional Segment: With €50M, this sector is supported by robust sales from rackets at €370M and clothing at €80M. 📺 Media and Ticketing: The enthusiasm for professional matches has elevated media rights and ticket sales to €35M. As padel continues to make inroads into major markets like the US, how do you see these numbers evolving? The potential for exponential growth in a market as vast as the US could redefine the global padel landscape. #Padel #SportsIndustry #MarketAnalysis #BusinessOpportunities

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Unlocking Success on the Court: Basketball Strategies for Different Towns Learn how to adapt your basketball strategies to different towns and players. Discover the success story of Mahoney, a New Jersey legend, and how his techniques worked in Bogota. Find out how to tailor your approach for upscale towns with talented basketball players. #BasketballStrategies #AdaptingToDifferentTowns #SuccessOnTheCourt #NewJerseyLegend #BasketballTechniques #AdaptAndSucceed #TalentOnTheCourt #BasketballSkills #CoachTips #EffectiveStrategies

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Formula 1 team valuations have been released by Sportico for 2024. 🏆🏎️ 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝟏 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐔𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 Earlier this year, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown declared that every Formula 1 was worth “well north” of £1 billion ($1.3 billion). Speaking at a Bloomberg event in Saudi Arabia, he underlined the impact that Liberty Media had had on the sport since its $8 billion takeover in 2016. In 2023, Sportico estimated that the 10 teams were worth a cumulative $15.3 billion: ➡️ Scuderia Ferrari was valued at $3.13 billion followed by Mercedes ($2.7 billion) and Red Bull ($2.42 billion) ➡️ Haas F1 Racing was valued at $710 million 2024 valuations show a +44% increase compared to June 2023: ➡️ F1 teams worth $2.31 billion on average ➡️ Scuderia Ferrari valued at $4.78 billion ➡️ 6.1x average EV/revenue multiple (vs. 5.1x in 2023) - compared to 10.2x in Major League Soccer, 8.9x in the National Basketball Association (NBA), 7.6x in the National Football League (NFL), and 6.5x in Major League Baseball (MLB) 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐘 We've been seeing increased institutional investment activity in F1 teams over the past few years: Between 2020 and 2023, 3 Formula 1 teams welcomed new investors in their capitalization structure: 👉 Williams Racing & Dorilton (US private equity firm) 👉 McLaren Racing & MSP Sports Capital (US private equity firm) 👉 A consortium of investors including Otro Capital (formed RedBird sports team) acquired a 24% stake in Alpine Formula One Team in June 2023 at a reported €900 million valuation 👉 Aston Martin F1 Team sold a minority stake to Arctos in November 2023 (reported EV of £1 billion) 👉 Two months ago, HPS Investment Partners, LLC, a US investment firm, and Accel, one of the most prominent venture capital firms, acquired another minority stake (20% to 25%) in Aston Martin F1 Team These deals are also motivated by increased profitability of F1 teams. Zak Brown last year: “Half the grid is profitable [...] and they weren’t five years ago." “We were losing over £100 million a year with no ability to get back to the front because someone was always prepared to outspend you with no budget cap.” A bit of self-promotion if this topic sounds interesting, I had the opportunity to write a a chapter in Hans Erik Næss and Professor Simon Chadwick's book "The Future of Motorsports" last year to explain how institutional investments in motorsports started with 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 ownership through CVC's investments in Dorna Sports then Formula 1, with Bridgepoint and Liberty Media joining the race as well, before opening to to 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 ownership as well. 🏁

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