The Connect, Advisory & Partnerships

Great couple of days in Madrid, which continues to show a gravitational force like no other! The bulk of the industry’s top leaders congregated across the city, to attend different events hosted by 2Playbook, PLANNER EXHIBITIONS, and GSIC powered by Microsoft. One can only stretch too far, and I had to split my time in the city between 2Playbook’s #Homecoming24 gathering and its #PROMediaContent conference, and Planner Exhibition’s #EstadiosSummit. At the Homecoming gathering had the inmense opportunity to talk with good and admired friends like Marc Menchén Alba (Founder & CEO of 2Playbook) and Borja DE ALTOLAGUIRRE (CRO of Team Heretics) about the current state and future of the industry, and the evolution of competitive formats. We also had the privilege of engaging with students and faculty of our host Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio, and their Rafa Nadal School of Sports’ MBA in Sports Management. The #PROMediaContent quickly evidenced that will stay as a must-attend event in the industry circuit, by the overwhelming quality of speakers and panelists, which proved to be very special in such intimate invitation-only setting. GRUP MEDIAPRO, Movistar Plus+, DAZN, YouTube, TikTok, Real Betis Balompié, LALIGA, Orenes Grupo, CaixaBank, and Iberdrola, provided an accurate picture of how content will continto shape the sports industry. Wearing my other hat focusing on investment and strategic development, nearby I attended the #EstadiosSummit where the top of the echelon in owners, developers, operators, and investors of sports & entertainment venues shared how the new heights our industry is reaching demand a different approach to development and commercial exploitation of stadiums and arenas. Intense, but fruitful, as these elite events allow me to engage and follow up with my industry-leading peers. The Connect, Advisory & Partnerships SPORTHINK #Sports #SportsBusiness #Investment #Content #Media #Strategy #Stadiums #Arenas #Commercial #Development

Learnings from My Conversation with Hammad Albalawi at #WFSEurope: Saudi Arabia’s Vision for the Kingdom, the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and Beyond. Check the full video of the keynote + fireside chat, where Hammad and I discussed critical topics around the 2034 World Cup Bid, including the transformation of Saudi football, the Kingdom’s rapid growth in sports participation, and the ways in which Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is reshaping the future of the nation. As stated, the Kingdoms’s young, vibrant population and its love for the game are central to the bid's vision, making the 2034 FIFA World Cup an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the country's transformation on a global scale. Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) World Football Summit The Connect, Advisory & Partnerships SPORTHINK #WorldFootballSummit #WFS #WFSEurope #SaudiArabia #Vision2030 #2034FIFAWorldCup #SportsTransformation #GlobalFootball

With recent developments unfolding in the basketball industry, it's time to take a closer look at the transformation of the sport into a global commercial enterprise. The impact on European basketball and Euroleague Basketball, coupled with the forthcoming private equity and capital markets influx, is momentous. Leveraging my extensive experience in the field, particularly with Euroleague, for ethical considerations I've delved into this paradigm shift using publicly available insights from the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Euroleague Basketball. This is what moves me and my work from SPORTHINK and The Connect, Advisory & Partnerships, exploring the intersection of sports and business focusing on connections, advisory services, and partnerships' building. #Sports #SportsBusiness #Investment #Basketball #Finance #CorporateDevelopment #Strategy

Grateful for an Amazing World Football Summit Experience. A huge thank you to the incredible organizers of the #WFSEurope for putting together such a well-organized and impactful event. It was an honor to participate and witness the collective passion for football and its future. I am particularly proud to be a Member of the Advisory Board of World Football Summit, and this event reinforced the importance of collaboration in driving football forward on the global stage. One of the highlights for me was the fantastic presentation by Hammad Albalawi, Head of the 2034 World Cup Bid Unit at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF). His insights into Saudi Arabia’s 2034 FIFA World Cup Bid and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia broader Vision 2030 transformation were truly eye-opening. The presentation showcased how Saudi Arabia is not only preparing to deliver a memorable World Cup but also how it is evolving into a major hub for global sports and cultural exchange. I had the privilege to join Hammad in a fireside chat, where we discussed critical topics around the 2034 bid, including the transformation of Saudi football, the Kingdom’s rapid growth in sports participation, and the ways in which Vision 2030 is reshaping the future of the nation. Saudi Arabia’s young, vibrant population and its love for the game are central to this vision, making the 2034 FIFA World Cup an extraordinary opportunity to showcase this transformation on a global scale. Looking forward to continuing the conversation and seeing this exciting vision come to life! The Connect, Advisory & Partnerships SPORTHINK #WorldFootballSummit #WFS #SaudiArabia #Vision2030 #2034FIFAWorldCup #SportsTransformation #GlobalFootball

Driblando dinero y desafiando la gravedad: Baloncesto Global, S.A, por Rayde Luis Baez La Euroliga negocia la entrada de un socio inversor en su negocio y ha aprobado el primer fair play financiero, mientras que la NBA ha cerrado contratos televisivos récord que le permiten aumentar su alcance global. 👇 https://lnkd.in/df72qHhV

With recent developments unfolding in the basketball industry, it's time to take a closer look at the transformation of the sport into a global commercial enterprise. The impact on European basketball and Euroleague Basketball, coupled with the forthcoming private equity and capital markets influx, is momentous. Leveraging my extensive experience in the field, particularly with Euroleague, for ethical considerations I've delved into this paradigm shift using publicly available insights from the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Euroleague Basketball. This is what moves me and my work from SPORTHINK and The Connect, Advisory & Partnerships, exploring the intersection of sports and business focusing on connections, advisory services, and partnerships' building. #Sports #SportsBusiness #Investment #Basketball #Finance #CorporateDevelopment #Strategy

Already in Seville for World Football Summit’s #WFSEurope. It has a familiar “home” feeling, as it is a great place and environment to meet the colleagues and friends across the industry. Looking forward to seeing all! The Connect, Advisory & Partnerships SPORTHINK #SportsBusiness #Investment #Growth #Sports

Reading through KORE’s “Summer Olympics Sponsorship Recap”, couldn’t help to focus more on the non-TOP Brands and how some managed to shine at Paris 2024. The Olympics demonstrated how Non-TOP (not part of “The Olympic Partner” programme) can drive massive success without being official Olympic partners. By leveraging authentic athlete influence, crafting smart content, and choosing the right platforms for distribution, these brands saw tremendous growth. 💥 Important Note: I believe that brands correctly supporting athletes are an essential part of the sports and Olympic movement, even from outside TOP. Their sponsorship enables athletes—the true protagonists—to develop and participate at the highest levels. 🏅 😉🙏🏾 Ricardo Fort, Terrence Burns 🚀 Key Takeaways: • $50M+ in value generated by Non-TOP brands, with 66% of that from footwear and apparel companies. • New Balance, lululemon and TYR Sport, Inc. were standout brands, using athlete-driven stories and viral content to capture global attention. 🔥 Athlete Influence as a Game Changer: • New Balance worked with 84 athletes, including Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Their performances and personal stories drove 90.8M video views and 9.4M engagements, skyrocketing NB’s presence. 🫡 Chris Davis • lululemon’s creative storytelling around Team Canada’s athletes earned 144.3M video views and 11.4M engagements, positioning them as a key player in the Olympic narrative. • TYR Sport, Inc. outfitting the USA Swimming team, focused on precision storytelling, resulting in 119.5M video views and deep fan connections through behind-the-scenes moments. 💡 Smart Content Strategy: Non-TOP brands focused on authentic storytelling, sharing real, emotional moments that resonated with audiences worldwide. These powerful narratives not only humanized the athletes but also aligned the brands with their inspiring journeys. 📱 Platform Power: • Instagram and TikTok were the top platforms for engagement and video views. Non-TOP brands captured these moments by sharing content in real-time, with Instagram driving 70% of posts and TikTok proving equally powerful in engagement. • By strategically selecting the right platforms, brands like New Balance and TYR capitalized on viral moments, driving massive visibility. 🌟 The Impact: The Paris 2024 Olympics showcased that with the right combination of athlete partnerships, content strategy, and platform selection, Non-TOP brands can create lasting impact. Supporting athletes is not just about visibility—it’s about empowering them to compete and excel on the global stage. Finally, a big acknowledgment to KORE Software for their comprehensive report, which provided invaluable insights into the success of these brands at Paris 2024. Download your FREE copy now! 👉 https://bit.ly/4crXNWu The Connect, Advisory & Partnerships SPORTHINK #Olympics2024 #SportsMarketing #AthleteInfluence #ContentStrategy #DigitalEngagement #SportsBusiness

Great to be back in the Bay! Want to first congratulate the Spain SailGP Team on an epic comeback weekend, to win it all and take the Season 4 SailGP Championship! Antonio Alquezar, Alejandra Real, Pablo Benavente, and the rest of the team, you rock! Thank you for the hospitality and the memorable weekend. Met a lot of people, but in particular want to highlight great Bay-based friends and colleagues Vince DeBartolomeis and Daniel Brusilovsky, and with out of town friends like Fernando (Ferran) Prieto and Ben H. One of those business trips in which endless possibilities look also as very plausible ones. Privileged to have this wonderful network of friends and colleagues. SanFran is always great to come back, and will do so very soon…you know “…. high on a hill, it calls to me…” 🌁❤️ The Connect, Advisory & Partnerships SPORTHINK #SportBusiness #Advisory #Commercial #StrategicDevelopment #Investments #Technology #Strategy

El éxito en el patrocinio es multifactorial, y siempre tiene las mismas tres anclas: afinidad de perfil-marca, volumen de alcance mediático, y capacidad de transformación de contactos en ventas. En los últimos años, en gran medida por la evolución del contacto directo con el fan a través de las redes sociales, los deportistas españoles van creciendo en su influencia y atractivo comercial a nivel nacional e internacional. Hay grandes ejemplos como Andrés Iniesta, Iker Casillas, o los hermanos Alex y Marc Márquez, que incluso han desembocado en agencias especializadas como NSN Never say never, 380amk, o Vertical. Agradecido por la conversación con 2Playbook, y de compaginar opiniones y experiencias con grandes veteranos de la industria como son Judith Rubinat, Ramón Loarte, y Sergio Cutropía. The Connect, Advisory & Partnerships SPORTHINK #Patrocinio #Deportistas #SportsMarketing