Brian Basloe

Congratulations! You sold your jersey patch. Now what? Team-branded partner points could be the next big sponsorship asset in baseball, potentially generating as much incremental revenue as jersey patches, if not more. This is especially crucial for small and mid-market clubs seeking new premium assets to sell. Take the Cincinnati Reds, for example. They reportedly earn $5 million annually from their Kroger jersey patch deal. Assuming their sponsorship sales grew from $35 million to $40 million, that's a 14% increase from a single sale – impressive growth! But what's next to keep the business growing? Small and mid-market teams like the Reds, Pirates, Royals, Cardinals, Brewers, Guardians, and even the Tigers can struggle to grow year-over-year sponsorship revenues significantly due to limited media reach and national appeal. They need innovative offerings to drive significant incremental growth. While jersey patches are valuable, their revenue potential is capped until renewal. This is where team-branded partner points can play a crucial role: 1. New Product: Selling team-branded points to sponsors creates incremental revenue. 2. Activation Tool: Points give sponsors a reason to spend more based on their success. 3. Leveraging Fan Affinity: Small-market clubs may have fewer eyeballs, but they boast strong, generational fan affinity. 4. Liquid Asset: Points can be assigned value, bought, sold, and traded both online and at the ballpark. (points are liquid affinity). 5. Democratic Approach: Unlike jersey patches, partner points can be sold to multiple sponsors across various categories including the the vary brands that buy jersey patches. 6. Measurable KPIs: Points help brands drive and measure specific outcomes. 7. Improved Retention: Strategic use of partner points can lead to higher sponsor renewal rates. Partner points not only offer a path to increased annual revenues but also have the potential to enhance sponsor satisfaction and longevity – a win-win for both clubs and their partners. As MLB teams look to innovate and grow their sponsorship revenues this off season, team-branded partner points present a compelling opportunity. By turning fan affinity into a tangible, tradable asset, clubs can create new revenue streams, enhance sponsor relationships, and drive fan engagement. This strategy could be particularly transformative for small and mid-market teams, helping them compete financially in an increasingly challenging landscape.

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📊 New Data Tool for Evaluating Sports Franchises The University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business has teamed up with Arctos Sports Partners to launch the pioneering Sports Franchise Index (SFI). This innovative initiative promises to transform how we understand the performance and valuation of sports franchises. 🔍 What is the SFI? The Sports Franchise Index offers a comprehensive and transparent measure of the financial and operational health of sports franchises. Utilizing robust data analytics, the SFI aims to provide deep insights into the sports industry. 💡 Notable Findings: - Long-Term Growth: The value of North American sports assets included in the index has compounded at 13.0% per annum over the last 60+ years, outperforming the equity market by 2.5%. - Superior Risk/Return: According to several measures of risk, North American sports assets included in the index possess risk/return characteristics superior to other traditional and alternative asset classes. 📊 Latest Performance Updates (as of Q1 2024): - Quarter-to-Date Return: 4.8% - Year-to-Date Return: 28.1% - Three-Years-to-Date Return: 16.7% 🔝 Year-Over-Year Performance: - Outperforming Assets: North American sports assets have outperformed global equities (23.8%), U.S. small cap stocks (19.7%), private credit (8.8%), private equity (6.0%), commodities (1.5%), and fixed income (1.3%). - Top Performers: The U.S. media and entertainment sector (53.6%) and U.S. equities (29.9%) have outperformed North American sports assets included in the index. This collaboration highlights a significant step forward in using data-driven strategies to revolutionize the sports industry. I've dropped a link to the announcement in the comments 👇 #linkedinsports #sportsfranchise

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The NFL Schedule is being released this week. A few years ago, I worked with an Agile team to match the new NFL schedule to the ticketing system to provide clubs with secondary market insights as they looked to sell direct to customers. Why is this such a big moment to track secondary? 💴 Clubs that manage the secondary market tend to better generate primary revenue 🏈 Clubs can develop a direct promotion strategy to their fans, like allowing their most seasoned fans access first to their site for direct revenue 🆘 Clubs can spot unusual broker activity to identify any breaches of ticketing agreements One interesting takeaway - high ticket interest popped up during the NFL Draft. Some of it was related to Draft tickets, but the majority included searches for tickets. Should NFL clubs have the right to start selling tickets then? #tickets #sportsmarketing

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Diamond Sports Group’s bankruptcy case appears to be nearing a conclusion after more than 18 months. The regional sports broadcaster recently disclosed plans to shed 11 of the 12 Major League Baseball (MLB) team contracts held this past season as part of its reorg (including four that expired). Those clubs must now renegotiate terms with DSG or find an alternative local distribution solution for 2025 and beyond (note: Diamond remains contractually obligated to five). The latter does not necessarily mean a hard pivot from the established pay TV ecosystem. In fact, baseball, appears to be advising its clubs to remain in the cable bundle. While counter to the media narrative, it has become directionally obvious that guaranteed affiliate fee economics are the surest way to preserve local media revenues–even if the team’s new channel gets tiered and/or commands a lower sub fee than budget for (and after accounting for the macro decline in distribution). MLB would like to see its clubs supplement local cable television distribution with a direct-to-consumer streaming option (and perhaps a small number of OTA games). The league views that combination as the best approach to maximize reach and revenue. Most organizations look to be taking the direction. It was recently announced that MLB will handle production and distribution for the Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers, and Minnesota Twins moving forward. The league has managed both for the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, and Colorado Rockies the last two years. In addition to those six clubs, the Chicago White Sox (Chicago Sports Network) and Texas Rangers have partnered on or are considering starting their own RSN projects. cc: Patrick Crakes Ryan Dastrup, PhD Randall Friedman Jacie Brandes JohnWallStreet #media #mediarights #sports #sportsbiz #cable #RSN #strategy https://lnkd.in/eG5crmsN

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I was having breakfast with a friend this morning and he asked me one of the best questions I have ever been asked: Since you’ve been doing podcasts for the past few years, how has your perception of listening changed and what is listening to you?    I think this is one of the best questions I have ever been asked (understandably I am not asked very many questions as I am usually the one interviewing NOT the other way around)   I took him back to my first podcast with Ruben Emir Gnanalingam CEO of Westports Malaysia & Co-Owner of Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) & QPR FC   For that podcast I prepared for 100+ hrs   Then the night before I was supposed to interview him   I was sick   Maybe this was due to nervousness but nevertheless the podcast did not go ahead   Fortunately Ruben was very understanding and so we rescheduled the podcast for a week later   Again   I spent 10s of hours preparing for the podcast   I was so prepared for the interview that I knew everything about him from his favourite colour all the way to his blood type   Just kidding   But the point was I was incredibly overprepared   I did the podcast with Ruben with a list of 100+ questions   Why did you join Westports, why did you create a startup, why buy QPR   In theory these are all good questions but the problem was   If I asked Ruben a question about football and he started talking about football then transitioned to talking about how he created a basketball team   As an interviewer that is gold dust because it gives the opportunity to pivot to something that he perhaps hasn’t talked about before   However as a first time interviewer I didn’t know this   And so instead of transitioning with him I would flip to a completely different topic   This would have gone unnoticed to me   But since Personable is recorded this piece of feedback came back to me   I went from having set questions that made a forced conversation to set topics   Enabling me to be adaptive alongside my guest to have a more free flowing conversation   Have a listen to that first episode and then listen to one of the latest podcasts and see if you notice a difference   This learning in my journey through podcasting has taught me that to learn new knowledge the less I say the better   The more opportunity there is for new learnings, the more I can absorb and the more I can go about improving my life going forward   Growing up we all feel like we want to fit in   For me this was accomplished my need to fill silences and be there to adhere to what I thought the group would want to hear   But now I realise that silence can be a virtue   The less you say, the more open ended questions you ask, the more comfortable you make the other person feel and allow them to feel heard and trusted the more you will learn   So what is listening to me: Opportunity Harvey Bracken-Smith November 20th 2024

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In a May 15th status conference, Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), and National Hockey League (NHL) representatives voiced concerns about Diamond Sports Group’s lack of a renewal deal with Comcast, its third-largest distributor. ⚾️ Comcast's customers lost access to Bally’s regional sports networks in late April over cost and channel placement disputes. With a plan confirmation hearing on June 18th approaching, the leagues stressed the need for a viable business plan from Diamond. 🧢 Find out the implications of these disputes, the positions of the major sports leagues, and what to expect as the confirmation hearing nears. 👉 Read now: https://lnkd.in/eRzpXE3y #distresseddebt #leveragedfinance #debtcapitalmarkets

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Aiyuk Deal Done? https://lnkd.in/gAvQt7Ws 49ers & NFL Latest Updates w/ David McNiner @McNew49er801 Today at 3:30pm PST / 6:30pm EST Come share your thoughts, like & subscribe #FTTB #49ers #NFL .

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As we bask in the aftermath of the Masters Tournament, it's thrilling to see how vibrant the golf scene has become. The latest findings from The Pulse of the Golf Consumer report reveal a significant upswing in golf's popularity. 📊 Key Insights: ⛳️123 million Americans engaged with golf last year in various forms, marking a 14% increase over five years. ⛳️An impressive 95% of core golfers are planning to play as much or more in 2024. ⛳️The female golf segment is showing particularly strong growth, with a 25% increase in participation over the last four years. ⛳️Social media continues to be a powerful platform for golf, with over 50 million Americans consuming golf-related content. The momentum in the golf industry is undeniable, and it’s exciting to see such enthusiasm and participation across the board. Whether it’s playing, watching, or discussing, the game is reaching more people than ever. Let's keep this momentum going!

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Calling All Hockey Fans and Bettors! 🏒 Tonight’s matchup between the New Jersey Devils (12-6-2) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (8-6-1) is shaping up to be a thriller! Both teams bring serious talent to the ice—here’s a quick look at the numbers: * Devils are rolling with a .650 win percentage (9th) and boast 3.60 goals per game (6th). * Lightning aim to strike with 3.53 goals per game (7th) and a solid W1 streak. Key Stats: * Power Play %: Devils dominate at 30.5% (4th), while the Lightning hold at 18.8% (18th). * Penalty Kill %: NJD is strong at 85.5% (5th), with TBL at 77.6% (21st). * Faceoff Win %: Dead even at 50.8%. With both teams coming off wins, tonight’s game will be a battle of power plays and defensive grit! At Blunt Picks, we turn stats into smarter betting insights. Dive into advanced analytics to give yourself the winning edge. 📊 Ready to elevate your game?
Visit BluntPicks.com for expert insights and strategies to take your picks to the next level. Let’s make smarter bets together! 🏒

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Part I: The NWSL and links to MCO through their investors Overview * NWSL formed 2012, began playing 2013 * Expanding to 16 teams 2026 * NWSL collective worth $1.46bn * 57% increase in franchise value 2023-24 * Collective revenues to pass $215m - 91% YoY * All teams to lose $5-10m 2024 * 4yr Broadcast Deal $240m ($4m per team per yr) * Min salary to increase $48-$82 by 2030 * Salary cap to increase $3.3M - $5.1M by 2030 * Attendance increased 42% in 24 passing 1m fans 3yrs in a row * 49 matches passed 10k fans * The Yates Report 2022 (investigation into systemic abuse and misconduct within NWSL) highlighted Thorns, North Carolina, Red Stars, Racing Louisville & Seattle Reign as all failing to protect players Seattle Reign  * Valued $78m * Franchise Fee $0  * Formed 2012 as Seattle Reign FC * 2019 renamed Reign FC due to a relocation (Tacoma) * 2020 OL Group paid $3.5m for 89.5%, name changed to OL Reign * 2024 Sold for $58m, reverted back to Seattle Reign FC * Between time of purchase and sale, OL Group changed ownership to Eagle Football Holdings *OL Groupe was financially distressed & sold OL Reign to Carlyle Group 50% & Adrian Hanauer, owner of Seattle Sounders, 2012 Alan was a past investor in Reign * Hanauer has a minority stake in NHL Seattle Kraken & previously held 15% in EFL Cambridge Utd early 00s * The Carlyle group (AuM $426bn)formed part of the financial vehicle Stephen Pagliuca consortium used to purchase Atalanta Bergamo FC  * Pagliuca acquired a 55% in the holding company that owns 86% of Atalanta for €250m in 2022 * Pagliuca is co-owner of Boston Celtics * Pagliuca in discussion to acquire Red Star FC (France) Portland Thorns  * Valued $93m * Franchise Fee $0 * Formed by Merritt Paulson (Peregrine Sports LLC) who owns Portland Timbers * As a result of the yates report sold the Thorns to RAJ Sports for $63m 2023 * RAJ Sports is led by the Bethal family * 2024 The Bhathal family was awarded WNBA's 15th franchise for Portland (Name TBC) to begin 2026 * The Bhathal family previously owned several Sacramento franchises * Other investors include Sam Garvin (Phoenix Suns) Angel City  * Valued $250m  * Franchise Fee $2m * Formed 2020  * Founding ownership group included Natalie Portman, Serena Williams, Eva Longoria * Longoria is part-owner of Club Necaxa & associated with Wrexham * 2024 Willow Bay and Bob Iger purchased 35% for $87.5m which valued the franchise at $250m * Their total investment is $137.5m providing $50m for operations  * Sept 2024 LAFC invest $50m acquiring a small stake * LAFC acquisition stems from warrants that were part of city stadium lease agreement. These warrants gave LAFC the rights to purchase shares. * Mia Hamm is a minority investor in both LAFC & Angel FC * LAFC own Grasshopper Club Zürich & Austrian club FC Wacker Innsbruck * LAFC formed a JV with FC Bayern (Red&Gold) which owns Racing Club de Montevideo (Uruguay) and Gambinos Stars (Gambia) #multiclubownership #footballbusiness #footballfinance

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Why don't more teams have points-based loyalty programs? The #1 objection I hear from sports teams is "we don't want to issue points because we don't want the liability on our books." And there's a good reason many veteran sports execs feel this way. At one point or another they've all seen teams give away points to fans only to find program expenses increase with little or no income to offset costs. What most teams have never considered, however, is SELLING points rather than giving them away. Points can be assets too! Points can be sold to sponsors as part of an integrated package. And points can be issued to fans as a form of credit back for purchases they make from the team. In both cases the points issued by the team are paid for up front. Selling points doesn't eliminate liability from the team's books. But it flips a loyalty program from being a cost center to a revenue generator. And with revenue in hand, teams have control over program profit margins because the control the supply and the purchasing power of their own, team-branded points. The chart attached shows the two types of points we can create for teams, fan points and partner points. Profitable programs can be developed around either or both types of points. But for most major sports properties, the big revenue (and greater profit margin) will come on through selling partner points. There are many ways for fans to earn points, but only one place points can be redeemed, and that's through the team store. Minty Sports is a loyalty commerce agency. We provide strategy, financial technology and program management services to help sports properties and their corporate partners generate profit from loyalty.

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Readers Are Leaders. What book or books have helped you in your professional career? Today, I am dropping a podcast sharing the books that have helped me in my player development career. Share your book recommendations below. #PlayerDevelopment #LinkedInSports

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In my upcoming book, Inside Nike Elite Youth Basketball (EYB), I dedicate a chapter to explaining the origins of two pivotal names: SEAL, which stands for Supervised Elite Athlete Leaders, and SCOUT, representing Supreme Court Observers Uncovering Talent. This chapter delves into the reasoning behind these designations for the pro and college basketball groups, as well as the EYB cohort. 🏀

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With the 2024 MLB Draft in the books, let's take a look at how I would approach the process of evaluating and acquiring amateur talent for an organization. It isn't always enough to draft the best talent; you have to draft them with the understanding of how they fit in the organization, the cadence in which they arrive on the 40-man roster, and the logistics of your operations. Watch the video for more! #mlbdraft #mlb #baseball #logistics #operations #driveline #strategy

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Case Study Wednesday #5: Sports Pittsburgh Sports Pittsburgh hosts tons of sports tourists every year, but lacked clear ways to capture data about them. Our innovative partnership now allows them to directly track attendees and get them back for more tournaments. Big thanks to Jennifer Hawkins and her team for making this partnership such a success. Jennifer is leading the sports tourism industry into the future. If you're interested in learning more about how we can help your destination or just want to dive deeper into the kinds of data we helped Sports Pittsburgh capture. Let's chat! #sportstourism #youthsports #sportsdata #tourismdata #Pittsburgh

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Over the past months, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with so many passionate agents, NIL directors, and coaches who are dedicated to elevating their athletes and teams.  G360 is a platform built specifically for elite athletes and teams to share their journey with fans in the most authentic way possible. G360 isn’t about edited highlights; it’s about giving fans live, unfiltered access to the behind-the-scenes moments that truly define an athlete's journey. From daily workouts to game day prep, G360 lets athletes connect with their audience like never before while creating a brand new revenue stream. If you’re an agent with high-profile clients or a NIL director within the Power 5 and want to explore how G360 can benefit your team or athletes, please reach out to us at [email protected]. Be sure to visit www.g360stream.com for more info and updates. Let’s work together to bring this platform to the athletes and teams who inspire us all. #AthleteBranding #LiveStreaming #NIL #G360 #SportsMarketing

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