Trailblazing Sports Group’s Post

Women’s sports is just smart business.

As March Madness kicks off this week, there were two common motivations brands had for coming to Front Office Sports to align with contextually relevant content around the business of college basketball: 1) Brands with official entitlements are using FOS to amplify their existing investments. 2) Brands without official sponsorships are looking for creative ways to infiltrate the market currently held by competitors. Drop me a note if you'd like to learn more about either approach, happy to share a few examples.

🚀 Another reason to watch women’s sports 👀 and not just the game, but the business of it. Becoming quite the testing environment for next gen sports clubs. 📊 Angel City FC, where only 20% of their $31M revenue comes from ticket sales, shows how strategic licensing, sponsorships, and merchandise can elevate a club's valuation to $250M. In comparison, many male sports clubs still rely on ticket sales for 30-40% of their revenue, but the shift is evident. For example: Real Madrid C.F. FC Barcelona Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Cowboys (begrudgingly) all have and continue to develop revenue streams outside of ticket sales. I think the rise of NIL deals and enhanced relationships with players' associations create a new dynamic and vested interest in streams outside of “traditional” sports club models to date. The value of sports clubs is increasingly driven by brand strength and player brand value rather than physical attendance. Forward-thinking clubs like Angel City FC are embracing diversified revenue models, driving sustainable growth and higher valuations. #SportsBusiness #WomensSports #Innovation #SustainableGrowth #AngelCityFC #RevenueStreams #NIL #BrandValue

⚽ 💰 "After pumping billions of dollars into men’s professional sports, private-equity investors are focusing more of their capital and attention on women’s teams, particularly professional soccer. Women’s professional soccer is expected to contribute about 43% of nearly $1.3 billion in projected revenue from elite women’s sports this year, according to a report from financial advisory firm Deloitte. Many of the same forces that attracted private-equity capital to men’s sports also drive interest in women’s teams, including an easing of ownership restrictions in North America, growth in media streaming and intellectual property rights, and a growing fan base. Lower valuations compared with men’s sports, growth in game attendance and the promise of higher returns are also adding to the allure of investing in women’s sports" Source: WSJ #sports #privateequity #dealmaking

The first-of-its-kind event Fanatics Fest is set to become one of the largest and most influential events in the sports world. A groundbreaking event that brought together fans, athletes, celebrities, card collectors, big sports brands, and sports legends under one roof. To be exact, over 70,000 people visited Javits Center from August 16-18. SportProsUSA, played a role in bringing the vision of FFNYC to life. We were honored to set the stage—literally—by building the courts that hosted some of the event’s most iconic moments. National Basketball Association (NBA) Brooklyn Nets At its core, FFNYC is all about building dreams—especially for the fans who got to live out their athletic fantasies in the most exciting ways possible. This ethos of dream-building is something we at SportProsUSA understand deeply. "Being part of the first-ever Fanatics Fest Event in New York City is an incredible honor for us at SportProsUSA. This one-of-a-kind event is a testament to the power of sports to unite people and inspire dreams. Our reputation as America’s most trusted court builder is what gets us hired, but it's our passion for building dreams, one court at a time, that drives us. It's always about the people, especially the young sports fans. We're not just setting up courts—we're helping to ignite dreams and create experiences that will last a lifetime." — Thomas Petersen, President and Founder of SportProsUSA. #FanaticsFest #SportsInnovation #BuildingDreams #SportProsUSA #FanExperience #NYCEvent

2023 is being dubbed "the year of women's sports investing". If investing in women's sports is not a part of your strategy in 2024, consider yourself behind the ball. It's no longer the "right thing to do" because of the boxes we check. It's the right move to make because valuations continue to skyrocket and there is no ceiling in site. #womeninsports #womenssports

2023 saw a surge in women's sports investments 🚀, marking a pivotal year. The Golden State Warriors' $50M WNBA team purchase set a new precedent 🏀. The youth sports market, valued at over $30B 💰, is now a hotbed for major investors including Josh Harris and David Blitzer 🌟. Recent investments in these spaces underscore the market's vast potential and appeal ✨. This sector's growth is drawing diverse investors, signaling a shift in the broader sports industry 🔄. #VCInsights #WomensSports #YouthSportsBoom #StrategicInvestments 📈

The reception of the Fever wearing Caitlin Clark jerseys was fire. Love the jabs where Caitlin gives big hugs the State Farm rep, Jake. Clark's salary as the No. 1 pick(this is going to shock you) is $76,500. By comparison, the No. 1 pick from the NBA last year was over $12,000,000+. For media rights people, women's sports is a gold mine. The Aces changed their venue of their July 2 game against the Fever to a bigger arena in anticipation of the fan growth. Valuation metrics for sports franchises are (1) media rights contracts and (2) the expense of their players, among many other factors, but those two are pretty important. Women's sports is in a pretty attractive place right now for investors and media right players. (I don't own any sports teams directly or indirectly:-) #WomensSports #InvestInWomen #WNBA #SportsInvesting #MediaRights #CaitlinClark #sportsmarketing #sportsbiz https://lnkd.in/eGVfedh8

In a remarkable feat for women's sports, the record-breaking telecast of the 2024 Women's NCAA Basketball Final drew an astounding 18.7 million viewers! 🏀 But there's more to this story. Our data reveals that the emotional engagement of fans during this game was unprecedented. The final garnered an Emotional Impact Score (EIS) of 613, soaring past our benchmark for US TV sports broadcasts by a whopping 20%. What's more, it has outshined all other basketball telecasts, including those of professional games, by 24%. This is more than just a game. It's a testament to the incredible opportunities women's sports represent - for fans, engagement, and the growth of the sporting world. 🌟 The EIS is a robust indicator of viewer engagement and emotional investment - critical factors for advertisers, sponsors, and broadcasters riding the wave of sports marketing. As we champion #WomenInSports, the narratives that unfold are resonating more deeply with audiences than ever before. This is the dawn of a new era in sports, where #WomensNCAA isn't just playing the game; it's setting an unprecedented standard for emotional engagement. Here's to breaking barriers and celebrating every triumph - on and off the court. 🏆 #marchmadness #NCAAWBB #WFinalFour #breakingbarriers #sportsengagement #audienceengagement #emotionalimpact #audienceinsights #mediameasurement

2.4 million viewers watched the record-breaking WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association), marking a 307% increase from the previous year. The week before, the NCAA Women's Basketball final drew 18.7 million viewers, establishing a new record as the most-watched women's basketball game and the second-highest basketball viewership after the Men's NCAA Final in 2019. Mediaprobe analyzed the game and found that the 2024 Women's NCAA Final had an Emotional Impact Score (EIS) of 613. The game attracted a large audience and kept viewers engaged. It exceeded Mediaprobe's US TV sports broadcasts benchmark by 20% and outperformed all basketball telecasts, including professional games, by 24%. The Women's NCAA Basketball Final isn't the only event showcasing the growing popularity of women's sports. The FIFA Women's World Cup broke viewership records last year in the US, Portugal, and the UK, highlighting a trend seen across various sports and markets: women's sports are engaging viewers! Broadcasters are increasing live coverage of women's sports, leading to higher viewership and engagement. Athletes are benefiting from this trend, with a 22% year-over-year growth in sponsorships in 2023. This shift reflects the growing popularity of women's sports and changes in the sports industry, emphasizing the positive impact of promoting and supporting female athletes. As the Summer Olympics approach, brands and broadcasters need to focus on women's emotional connection to sports to pinpoint potential sponsorship opportunities. Recognizing the strong bond female audiences have with sports will help organizations create effective marketing strategies that boost their brand and enhance the exposure of women's sports.