SportsPro’s Post

We're just 10 weeks away from the Union of European Football Associations' (UEFA) Euro 2024 tournament, gearing up to be one of the planet's most epic sporting showdowns and a golden ticket for marketers to flaunt their brands to colossal audiences. And hold onto your hats, because a mere 12 days later, they'll be at it again, strutting their stuff as the Olympic Games touchdown in Paris, Digiday reports For brands itching to hitch a ride on the Euro 2024 hype train, Alex Brown, the guru of sport and entertainment at EssenceMediacom, drops the truth bomb: "TV still reigns supreme." It's quite the revelation, especially given the prevailing notion that the younger crowd has ditched traditional TV. But hold your horses—there's more to this story than meets the eye. Could it be that we're not just talking about your grandpa's TV set? Perhaps we're delving into the realm of both linear and non-linear TV, where the lines blur between scheduled programming and on-demand binge-watching. My take? It's fascinating how the landscape of media consumption keeps us on our toes, blending the old with the new in a captivating dance of innovation and tradition. #MediaStrategy #Effectiveness #Measurement #Analysis

Everything you need to know in #SportsBiz today:   1. Simone Biles named world’s most marketable athlete for second time 2. Nike signs 12-year uniform deal extension covering NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League until 2037 3. MLS reports 13% growth in sponsorship revenue and club-level deals as regular season draws 11.4m+ total attendance 4. WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) players opt out of CBA in bid to improve salaries and conditions 5. Arsenal exploring expansion of Emirates Stadium to boost matchday income, reports The Times 6. Duracell becomes official battery partner of Las Vegas GP and will sponsor DRS zone 7. LALIGA working on plan stage Barcelona v Atletico Madrid in Miami this December 8. Hockey, squash, and diving excluded as sports confirmed for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games 9. Saudi Arabia pursuing investment in BeIN Sports, reports The Telegraph 10. MSE sell Capital One Arena to local authorities in $87.5m deal as part of $800m public-private deal to renovate venue and extend lease 11. Disney to name CEO Bob Iger’s second successor in 2026, reports The Guardian 12. TGL announces delayed inaugural season schedule to start 7th January 2025 on ESPN and ESPN+ 13. Dallas Mavericks launch new MavsTV DTC streaming service for local broadcasts 14. MLS to roll out 'Messi Cam' live stream on TikTok 15. Premier League will not review Newcastle takeover despite reports of MBS involvement, according The Guardian 16. Liverpool partners with Google Pixel to launch Pixel FC Academy women's soccer media opportunities initiative 17. National Hockey League (NHL) signs Unibet as official partner in Sweden with enhanced marketing rights 18. Saudi Arabian FA agrees three-year partnership with Rexona for women’s team   19. DAZN secures global rights deal for all 2024 FIM World Supercross Championship rounds   Keep your finger on the pulse with all the major stories and news announcements by checking out The Wire - our one-stop-shop and super-feed of sports business news 👉 https://lnkd.in/dJKSjMv5

Everything you need to know in #SportsBiz today:   1. ITV to remain broadcast home of Lionesses until end of 2029 with new rights extension 2. Scottish Government and VisitScotland pledge £11m in deal to stage The Open and Women's Open in Scotland through 2034 3. WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) teams generate record $136m in sponsor media value for brands in 2024 regular season 4. adidas reports Q3 revenue up 7% to €6.49 billion for 2024 5. MCC members vote in favour of taking control of The Hundred's London Spirit, reports The Telegraph 6. ECB planning FA Cup-style knockout T20 competition for women’s cricket, reports The Telegraph 7. Disney+ and ESPN+ to stream 'The Simpsons Funday Football' real-time animated broadcast of Bengals v Cowboys on 9th December 8. TGL expresses interest in expanding to Europe 9. World Series draws nearly 30m average viewers across US and Japan for first two games 10. Cosm to produce and distribute National Football League (NFL) games at experiential venues across US for rest of 2024 season 11. Spring Media secures rights brief for Argentina’s Liga Profesional de Futbol across Europe and Africa 12. DAZN surpasses 2m viewers for El Clásico to set new record for unique viewers 13. AC Milan reports net profit of €4.1m for 2023/24 season as rivals Inter Milan post €36m loss 14. UK government pledges £86m annual funding for Team GB ahead of Olympics 15. MAPFRE becomes title sponsor of Spain’s Copa del Rey 16. MLS and MLSPA partner with Sweet to launch gamified digital collectible MLS Quest experience 17. Extreme H inks three-year US broadcast deal with FOX Sports for races to air on FS1 and FS2 Keep your finger on the pulse with all the major stories and news announcements by checking out The Wire - our one-stop shop and super-feed of sports business news 👉 https://lnkd.in/dJKSjMv5

Why it is inevitable that English Premier League matches will be hosted outside England by 2030 As the English Premier League (EPL) continues to grow in global popularity, it's only a matter of time before regular season matches are hosted outside England. The idea may have been met with resistance in the past, but it's now not a question of if, but when. The Tides of Change In 2008, former EPL CEO Richard Scudamore explored the possibility of hosting "the 39th game" abroad. While the idea was met with fan backlash, it sparked a conversation that has been simmering in the background ever since. Fast-forward to 2024, and a senior executive at NBC Sports has reignited the debate. The inevitable march of progress So, what's driving this trend? For starters, the EPL's global brand is ripe for expansion. Hosting matches abroad, particularly in the US and Middle East, would tap into vast markets with a growing appetite for top-tier football. The precedent has already been set by other European football competitions, such as the Spanish Super Cup, which has hosted finals in Saudi Arabia. A proven model already exists In recent summers, EPL teams have participated in pre-season tournaments, endorsed by the Premier League, to huge crowds in the US and Asia. This operating model is already in place, and can easily be adapted for regular season matches. The success of these tournaments demonstrates that there is a significant appetite for EPL matches abroad. The financial imperative The EPL's broadcast rights deal with NBC Sports, worth a staggering $2.7 billion over six years, demonstrates the significant value of the US market. Hosting matches in the US would help the EPL continue to grow broadcast rights revenue, pleasing many clubs. With the potential for future broadcast rights revenue growth in the US still extremely high, it's a market that can't be ignored. The Path of least resistance While fan backlash and logistical challenges are valid concerns, they're not insurmountable obstacles. The EPL has a history of adapting to change, and with careful planning, these issues can be mitigated. The benefits of hosting matches abroad, particularly in the US, far outweigh the drawbacks. The inevitable conclusion It's only a matter of time before the EPL takes the leap and hosts regular season matches outside of England. The US and Middle East are the most likely destinations, given their vast markets and growing appetite for top-tier football. The EPL would be wise to capitalize on this opportunity, driving further growth and cementing its position as a global football powerhouse. Sources https://lnkd.in/dSNYUCYe "Premier League's 39th game plan sparks controversy" by Owen Gibson, The Guardian (February 7, 2008) https://lnkd.in/d5-K6vw5 #EPL #PremierLeague #Football #SportsBusiness #GlobalSports

Media rights: NEW The Bundesliga has signed a new agreement to market the rights to the first and second tiers with a US-based agency 'Relevent'. In Germany, under the Bundesliga’s current broadcasting deal, Sky and DAZN currently pay a combined 4.4 billion EUR (£3.83bn) over a 4 year period (until the end of 2024/25 season). The value of overseas media rights is estimated to be in the region of €250m at this time (Source Sports Legal). https://lnkd.in/eg6Z2haZ For details of the Premier League deal, including overseas deal, see: https://lnkd.in/eB5g5p5U. #benmcfadyean #bundesliga #fussball #germany

It was encouraging to read in the Women's Sport Trust report this week, that in the first four months of 2024, there has been record viewing for women's sport in the UK. A few key takeouts; 📺 20.9 million people watched 3 minutes or more of women’s sport coverage from 1st January to 30th April 2024, in comparison to 20.6 million in 2023.  📡 A third of these viewers (6.8m) were new to women’s sport this year, having not watched any women’s sport in 2023, driven by more sport on free to air. 🏉 The Women's Guinness Six Nations Rugby was the most viewed on record with 8.1m tuning in for 3 minutes or more (33% more than in 2023). ⏱ It's not only more people watching but watching more. In the Barclays Women's Super League, the average minutes viewed rose to 40 mins (up 3 minutes year on year). This growth is not only restricted to broadcast and there have been more positive stories of record attendances at live sport, particularly in the Women's Professional Game. As a result, Arsenal F.C announced this week that they would play more games at the Emirates stadium next season to meet the growth in demand. This will come with an increase in ticket prices with a new two tier system but it should increase revenue and drive sustainable growth, while hopefully continuing to grow attendances and their fan base. #womenssport #sportbusiness #womensport #fangrowth https://lnkd.in/e8EYgn5p

A few observations on the current summer of sport & how advertisers can take advantage...

The Game is Changing for the Better: Revenue Diversification & Women’s Football Growth ⚽📊 Each year, Deloitte delivers a treasure trove of insights that fuel the sports industry’s conversations, and this year’s report is no exception. One standout takeaway? Real Madrid now earns more from commercial deals than broadcasting—a clear sign of revenue diversification. This trend underscores the importance of clubs exploring alternative income streams as broadcast revenues reach a plateau. Another exciting highlight is the continued rise of women’s football, poised to drive even greater impacts on clubs in the years ahead. It’s a shift that aligns perfectly with the evolving demands of fans and sponsors alike. At TurboTalk, we’re passionate about helping sports teams tap into these emerging opportunities to build lasting legacies. Follow us to explore more insights like this and see how we’re reshaping the future of sports partnerships. 📖 Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/edxzTvD3 #SportsMarketing #DataAnalytics #FanEngagement #Soccer #SportsBiz #TurboTalk

If the Paris 2024 Olympics and Euro 2024 have shown us anything, it’s that live sport always delivers big audiences in an era when consumers have more choice than ever ⚽ But what’s the key to this appeal? And how can advertisers leverage the dominance of sporting events to maximize impact? We asked members of IAB UK’s Publisher Group to share insights into how brands can align their campaigns with the excitement that live sports deliver via The Drum 🤾♀️ LiveScore Group's James McCarthy, Footballco's Seth Hart, Hearst UK's Ben Chesters and LADbible Group's LA Ronayne 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gm2nrMSt #Digital #Advertising #Paris2024 #Olympics #Euro2024

Latest research from Women's Sport Trust is out. Overall figures are up but there is still a lot to do across leagues, broadcasters, clubs and sponsors. Find out more and download the report here: https://lnkd.in/eAqFZ3W6