Group 1 Agency

Jordi Fernández is the first Spanish head coach in NBA history. To celebrate his home debut, the Brooklyn Nets trusted Group 1 to organize a media trip to NYC for five Spanish media outlets to witness this historic event firsthand. We also secured the presence of Real Madrid legend and World Cup winner Iker Casillas for the game. The journalists attended the game and press conferences as well as received back-of-house tours and one-on-one media availability with Jordi and team executives. Thank you to Ron Goldenberg, Marissa Shorenstein, Aaron Harris, Doron Tamari, and Benjamin Katz for working with us to make this happen!

Last week, I had the honor of delivering the valedictorian speech at the LALIGA BUSINESS SCHOOL Graduation Ceremony. It was a privilege to represent my classmates—or teammates, in football terms—and I truly hope I made them proud. I’ve always aimed to support them throughout the year, and I hope my words reflected that. On another note, it was a great year for us at Group 1 Agency as we had a keynote speaker present at both of the big football graduation ceremonies in Madrid, Pierre Jouannin⁩ at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, and myself at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Mariana Casanueva

Thank you to Jetr Global Sports + Entertainment for inviting me to the Sports Diplomacy Conference, co-hosted by Jetr and the Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C., this week in Washington, D.C.! The event showcased key stakeholders from across leagues, teams, organizing bodies, agencies, and government entities who specialize in international sport. My career has centered on international strategy and operations, and I'm so excited to continue supporting the globalization of the industry. As the United States enters a decade of hosting the world’s largest sporting events, Group 1 Agency 1 can be your federation, team, or athlete’s guide to successfully operating and expanding business in this market.

Hollywood & Football in Abu Dhabi! Lucy Hale, Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, Gerard Piqué, Iker Casillas, Luis Figo and Roberto Carlos was the roster that we brought to the NBA Games. It was a fantastic weekend full of events and activations in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).

We enjoyed working with EA SPORTS for the video game launch of EA Sports FC 25. Group 1 secured and delivered talent for the global launch event in Madrid. The task was clear: complement the footballers with interesting profiles from other industries. Content from the talent we brought in reached new audiences and received high engagement. The event's energy was electric!

We are thrilled to announce that Group 1 is partnering with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) to bring to life a historic cross-sport activation. Football legends Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, and Gerard Pique will face Iker Casillas, Luis Figo, and Roberto Carlos in a one-of-a-kind hybrid basketball and football challenge. The Clash of the Legends will take place on Oct. 5 during Fan Appreciation Day, and all of the legends will attend the National Basketball Association (NBA) Abu Dhabi Game between the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets the night before. Group 1 has secured and contracted all the talent for the event and will manage the onsite logistics next week. You won’t want to miss this one!

I’ll be representing Group 1 Agency next week at the World Football Summit in Sevilla! Looking forward to connecting with some of the industry's best professionals. If you're an athlete, brand, sports property, tourism board, or investment fund looking to grow your projects internationally, let’s chat! Feel free to send me a DM here or schedule a coffee with me via the WFS App. See you all next week!

Exciting times at Fanatics Fest NYC this weekend! This inaugural event brought together leagues, athletes, and brands to celebrate passionate sports fans. It emphasized elevating the card collecting hobby, building community, and engaging fans. The card collecting hobby started in the US, but it is growing in popularity around the world. We look forward to seeing it expand internationally!

The Olympics are always special, but attending the Olympics in your home country is something different! I had a blast representing Group 1 Agency on-site, coordinating access and experiences for some of our clients as well as connecting with new and old friends. Kudos to Paris 2024 - Comité d'organisation des Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques de 2024 for the spectacular organization and execution of a memorable Olympic Games. I look forward to LA 2028!

Many European soccer clubs are prioritizing expansion into the US, and the past few weeks have seen many friendly matches across the market. Group 1 supported two of those clubs with cross-sport marketing activities. Both engagements showcased an athlete’s personal interest in the club they were connecting with, which leads to more authentic and engaging content. The first was a tour and content capture session of the Brooklyn Nets for Eintracht Frankfurt footballer Aurèle Amenda. The second was a marketing and media opportunity for NBA player (and major Man City fan) Alex Caruso at the Manchester City Football Club friendly match in Columbus, Ohio.