Women We Admire’s Post

There’s been a lot of buzz about Caitlin Clark being left off the Women's USA Basketball team, but I’m not diving into that debate. I'm not an expert in women’s basketball, and frankly, most of you aren’t either. What surprises me is that everyone seems to be missing the bigger picture. Can we please stop comparing women’s sports to men’s sports? They are different sports and deserve to be appreciated on their own terms. But women’s sports has a long way to go. If we want stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association), and National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) to grow in popularity, it’s not only financial investment that is required, which will come. What they need first is marketing investment—ideas, content, athlete integration, and storytelling! Professional sports are entertainment. Let's be honest: the National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Football League (NFL), WNBA, and NWSL are all about entertainment, just like professional wrestling (I can see your sneers), which excels because it understands how to market its product, the athletes. The responsibility of selling the WNBA as entertainment shouldn’t fall solely on the league and teams—they’re not equipped for that. It’s like asking colleges to manage and negotiate #NIL contracts; it’s not in their DNA. Brands need to step up and invest marketing resources to create compelling characters and rivalries. As a sports fan, I pay to see characters and rivalries. Angel Reese gets it—she’s building herself up as “the heel,” which will elevate her profile, grow her fanbase, increase endorsement opportunities, and boost the entertainment value of the WNBA. Two thumbs up, Angel! The most compelling sports stories have always revolved around characters and rivalries: Federer/Nadal, Yankees/Red Sox, Magic/Bird, McGwire/Sosa, Duke/UNC, Navratilova/Evert, Hogan/Macho Man, Tom Brady/everyone else. Can you recall any rivalries or standout characters in the WNBA or NWSL? As brands, start investing in creating those narratives and make women’s sports shine. At Advantage Sports Marketing Group, we have decades of experience in crafting compelling sports marketing narratives for brands, teams, leagues, and federations. We know the secrets to creating superstars on and off the field through dimensional athlete storytelling and if you're interested in leveraging women’s sports to bring your brand to life, reach out to us or contact me directly. Let's create something amazing together! #SportsMarketing #WomensSports #WNBA #AthleteBranding #SportsEntertainment #MarketingStrategy #Branding #Storytelling #SportsBusiness #SportsManagement #InvestInWomen #AthleteDevelopment

When the National Football League (NFL) featured U.S. quarterback Vanita Krouch and her Mexican counterpart Diana Flores in this year's 72andSunny-produced Super Bowl ad, it wasn't an introduction to women's flag football—but an indication of how far it had already come. According to the National Federation of State High School, flag football participation at schools in the U.S. increased from roughly 6,600 players in 2010 to nearly 22,000 this year. Almost 21,000 of those players are girls, up from 16,000 just last year and 11,000 prior to the pandemic in 2019. This year, the league hosted its first All 32 Summer Invitational tournament in Washington, D.C., featuring flag football affiliates of every NFL club. Participation has grown exponentially in markets like the New York/New Jersey metro area and Chicago, with the NFL using the New York Jets and Chicago Bears success to build a girls flag football league in the UK this year. Earlier this week, the International Olympic Committee – IOC announced that men's and women's flag football will be played at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Along the way, Nike made a $5 million investment in building flag football programs, while companies including Visa, PepsiCo's Gatorade and AUDI AG supported the sport locally. “All of our corporate partners that saw this just wanted to be a part of it, and [wondered] how they could help grow the game with us,” said the Jets' Jesse Linder. Adweek spoke with Linder, the NFL's Roman Oben, the Bears' Gustavo Silva, Visa's Mary Ann Fitzmaurice Reilly, Nike's Jay Paavonpera and others to show the impact the league's Super Bowl ad had on flag football... and how the girls and women playing the game are making their voices heard among league marketers. #NFL #superbowl #superbowlad #womenssports

Last month, I attended a 70th anniversary celebration for Sports Illustrated, attended by over 180 attendees including many who traveled to New York City. The experience felt like a high school reunion and there were so many hugs, laughs, smiles and tears. Having read an article about the changing landscape in Chicago Sports TV, I pondered, will I be attending a similar event in the not to distant future for NBC Sports Chicago after its 20 years of broadcasting Chicago Sports. Despite the challenges in the Regional Sports Network business, it appears my former RSN will likely go the way of its predecessor, Fox Sports Net Chicago and cease operations given the value of network to distributors without live sports means a drastic reduction in affiliate fees, alongside a significant decrease in advertising. From a business perspective, I'd love to learn how this new network was able to keep the Chicago Blackhawks who likely had options to join the Chicago Cubs on Marquee Sports Network. With a few exceptions, the most successful RSNs have spring summer + fall/winter programming of the four major pro sports (e.g. YES Network has Brooklyn Nets in addition to New York Yankees, compared to MSG Networks has New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils). And what carriage deal can this network expect from Comcast, the managing partner of NBC Sports Chicago, and number one distributor in the region? #sportsbiz #chicagosports #bulls #blackhawks, #cubs, #whitesox #OTT #sportstv

New Post: These Are The Wealthiest Sports Team Owners In The U.S. - 
 Miriam Adelson, the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, is breaking into the upper echelons of U.S. sports team ownership with her planned purchase of a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks basketball team.
 
 The Las Vegas Sands Corp. heir, who is worth an estimated $33 billion, would be the third-richest owner of a US sports team, just after Steve Ballmer and Rob Walton, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. She’d also be the only woman in the top 10.
 
 Not included is the estate of Microsoft Corp. cofounder Paul Allen, which owns the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers. 
 Sports teams are among the shiniest trophy assets a person can buy — and as valuations have continued to climb, ultra-wealthy billionaires are increasingly targeting the industry. In many cases, this new class of tycoons is replacing the merely wealthy businessmen and families that owned franchises for decades. 
 Adelson’s purchase puts the Mavericks’ total valuation at $3.5 billion, the Athletic reported. That would be less than the $4 billion Mat Ishbia paid for the Phoenix Suns earlier this year. 
 Mark Cuban, who is worth an estimated $6.4 billion, acquired the Mavericks from H. Ross Perot Jr. in 2000 for $285 million. Under his ownership, the team has won three division titles, two conference championships and one NBA title, in 2011. 
 Here are 10 of the wealthiest owners of U.S. sports teams in ascending order: 
 10. Jerry Jones
 A former college football player, the majority owner of Comstock Resources Inc. acquired the Dallas Cowboys in 1989. The team has become the biggest chunk of Jones’ $12.7 billion fortune. 
 9. Steve Cohen
 Cohen, whose $13.9 billion net worth is mainly comprised of his stake in Point72 Asset Management, also owns the New York Mets baseball team. 
 8. Philip Anschutz
 His closely held Anschutz Corp. owns a collection of sports teams in the US, Canada and Europe. Those include the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and soccer teams Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy. He has a $15.2 billion fortune. #Wealthiest #Sports #Team #Owners #U.Shttps://https://lnkd.in/dTr8PJEs

Our host Atul Prashar sits with Fordham Gabelli School of Business alum Greg Bergida, PhD to discuss marketing and investing opportunities of global sports entering the US Market and how current Tech incumbents like Netflix and Amazon can capitalize. #GlobalSportsIndustry #SportsMarket #SportsMarketing #SportsInvesting #CelebrityInvestors

New Post: These Are The Wealthiest Sports Team Owners In The U.S. - 
 Miriam Adelson, the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, is breaking into the upper echelons of U.S. sports team ownership with her planned purchase of a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks basketball team.
 
 The Las Vegas Sands Corp. heir, who is worth an estimated $33 billion, would be the third-richest owner of a US sports team, just after Steve Ballmer and Rob Walton, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. She’d also be the only woman in the top 10.
 
 Not included is the estate of Microsoft Corp. cofounder Paul Allen, which owns the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers. 
 Sports teams are among the shiniest trophy assets a person can buy — and as valuations have continued to climb, ultra-wealthy billionaires are increasingly targeting the industry. In many cases, this new class of tycoons is replacing the merely wealthy businessmen and families that owned franchises for decades. 
 Adelson’s purchase puts the Mavericks’ total valuation at $3.5 billion, the Athletic reported. That would be less than the $4 billion Mat Ishbia paid for the Phoenix Suns earlier this year. 
 Mark Cuban, who is worth an estimated $6.4 billion, acquired the Mavericks from H. Ross Perot Jr. in 2000 for $285 million. Under his ownership, the team has won three division titles, two conference championships and one NBA title, in 2011. 
 Here are 10 of the wealthiest owners of U.S. sports teams in ascending order: 
 10. Jerry Jones
 A former college football player, the majority owner of Comstock Resources Inc. acquired the Dallas Cowboys in 1989. The team has become the biggest chunk of Jones’ $12.7 billion fortune. 
 9. Steve Cohen
 Cohen, whose $13.9 billion net worth is mainly comprised of his stake in Point72 Asset Management, also owns the New York Mets baseball team. 
 8. Philip Anschutz
 His closely held Anschutz Corp. owns a collection of sports teams in the US, Canada and Europe. Those include the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and soccer teams Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy. He has a $15.2 billion fortune. #Wealthiest #Sports #Team #Owners #U.Shttps://https://lnkd.in/dTr8PJEs

Sports Leagues In Demand For Wall Street Investors – The Hollywood Reporter (Exportain.com) https://ift.tt/ipqUYlj One hundred years in the past, in August 1923, the Green Bay Packers soccer membership was fashioned in a public inventory sale. The Packers bought 1,000 shares at $5 apiece, elevating $5,000 (about $90,000 as we speak, adjusted for inflation). The crew has held 5 inventory gross sales since then, in 1935, 1950, 1997, 2011 and 2021, however regardless of elevating tens of tens of millions of {dollars}, the Packers’ uncommon construction has a giant asterisk: The crew is a publicly owned nonprofit company, and the inventory? It can’t be resold, traded or returned to the crew. While the Packers paved the best way for the general public to personal a chunk of a sports activities crew (even when there isn’t a lot they’ll do with that possession), in current many years sports activities has largely remained an funding for the ultrarich. With most main sports activities groups now price billions of {dollars}, only a few whole leagues on the market, and the worth of media rights offers exploding, there’s large cash at stake. In truth, it’s that actual pitch, the unimaginable energy of stay sports activities, that’s on the coronary heart of TKO Group Holdings — created Sept. 12 when the WWE merged with Endeavor’s UFC — led by CEO Ari Emanuel and president and COO Mark Shapiro. The WWE is decidedly not a “sports league,” per se — it’s an leisure product — however the UFC definitely is (whereas the WWE is scripted, the UFC’s combined martial arts fights are fully professional, simply as all different skilled sporting occasions). And the stay packages they produce are in excessive demand. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Shapiro touts TKO as a pure-play sports activities firm. “Let’s not forget the financial profile for investors, right?” he says of the brand new firm. “We’ll have a very healthy balance sheet, less than three times leveraged with significant free-cash-flow conversion, highly profitable, scalable and sitting at the epicenter of live sports and entertainment, which is what matters most these days.” Wall Street appears to agree. “With the media industry increasingly fragmenting, there is clearly scarcity value for premium IP companies,” wrote Bank of America’s Jessica Reif Ehrlich on Aug. 28. “We believe TKO reflects an opportunity to own a quasi-sports league with robust year-round programming and an attractive financial profile that offers sizable revenue/cost savings.” But there are additionally indicators that the exclusivity of investing in sports activities is starting to crack, as groups, leagues and homeowners search money from the general public markets or different kinds of traders to pursue progress — or an exit from costly investments. Most lately, the John Malone-controlled Liberty Media spun out the Atlanta Braves, a perennial MLB contender, into its personal inventory...

📌 Sports Management Masters: 11 Lessons in sports management that led them to greatness I've always been intrigued by the publication of rankings, but that's not what's really important. What's important is to ask yourself: ➡️ How did they do it? ➡️ How do they think? ➡️ What did they decide in critical moments? Here are some important milestones/lessons from these industry magnates: Florentino Pérez - RM ➡️ Milestone: Took a risk by selling the land to start the galactic policy. Today, Valdevebas and Bernabeu provide first-class facilities. ➡️ Quote: "Our strategy is based on combining great talents with efficient and visionary management." Hymie E - JETS ➡️ He has driven improvements in the facilities and technology used by the team. ➡️ Quote: "Our goal is to create a culture of accountability and continuous improvement." Leon Rose - KNICKS ➡️ Hiring Thibodeau in 2020 was a key move that led the team to the playoffs in its first year. ➡️ Quote: "Success is not only measured in victories but in how we build and strengthen our organization every day." Mark - Raiders ➡️ Led the Raiders' move from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020 and built Allegiant, a state-of-the-art facility. ➡️ Quote: "Innovation and change are necessary to stay relevant and competitive." Ted - Chicago Bears ➡️ Under his management, the Bears reached the Super Bowl in 2006. ➡️ Quote: "The key to success lies in resilience and the ability to adapt to change." John - New York Giants ➡️ Super Bowls in 2007 and 2011, both against the Patriots. ➡️ Quote: "Integrity and tradition are the pillars of our organization." Stan - Rams ➡️ SoFi Stadium opened in 2020. One of the most modern and expensive in the world. ➡️ Quote: "We believe in the importance of diversification and strategic management of our sports assets." Robert - Patriots ➡️ 6 Super Bowls in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018. ➡️ Quote: "Success is based on preparation and meticulous attention to detail." Joe - Golden State Warriors ➡️ Championships in 2015, 17, 18, and 22. ➡️ Quote: "We are committed to innovation and constant improvement, both on and off the court." Hal - Yankees ➡️ World Series in 2009, the same year they opened the new Yankee Stadium. ➡️ Quote: "Investing in talent is key, but it must always be accompanied by smart management and long-term vision." Jerry - Cowboys ➡️ Bought the team for $140 million, now worth over $9 billion, a pioneer in marketing and sponsorship strategies in the NFL. ➡️ Quote: "My philosophy is to build the best team of professionals in every area of our business." ✍️ Comment: Which other executives should we study? ♻️ If you found this innovation pass helpful, share it to help other industry professionals. #LinkedinSports

Valuable Partnerships: How AT&T Business Leverages National Basketball Association (NBA) Sponsorships to Boost #Brand and #Business -Brand sponsorships go far beyond just putting a logo on a jersey or court. When done right, these partnerships can have a tremendous impact on brand perception, customer engagement, and financial returns. -AT&T's sponsorship strategy with the NBA is a great case study on the power of aligning brand interests with the target audience. With nearly a quarter of the US population identifying as basketball fans, AT&T has capitalised on the NBA's reach and brand to drive results. Some key highlights: • AT&T holds the official 5G Innovation Partner role with the NBA in a multi-year $30M deal to enhance fan experiences. • Stadium naming rights, individual team deals (Bulls, Spurs) show AT&T's commitment to the sport • Among US basketball fans, AT&T boasts 44% usage compared to just 33% overall - sponsorship boosts brand affinity. • Additional user base among NBA fans worth ~$12B annually for AT&T -The numbers speak for themselves - effective sponsorship strategies can pay dividends by shaping brand perceptions and driving real business outcomes. For brands looking to connect with audiences through shared passions like sports, AT&T provides a model on aligning values and extracting full value. Read more in a new insight: https://ow.ly/tFcU50PZzxE Discover our latest annual #NBA report here: https://lnkd.in/gbMiGTDC

The biggest sports business story of the year to me is crystal clear: the remarkable growth of women’s sports. The highlight for me? The Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament Final out-rating (9.9M viewers) the average 2023 World Series game by 800K.  🔥 You might take that as a blip, but let’s talk trends: ➡ WNBA viewership was up 21%, their draft up 42%, and Finals viewership up 36% year-over-year. ➡ National Women’s Soccer League broadcast viewership was up 41%, live-game streaming up 83%, and attendance up 48% year-over year. ➡ The Women’s US Open Tennis final averaged 3.4M viewers – a new record for a women’s major tennis final on ESPN – surpassing viewership of the men’s final by an eye-popping 1.1M viewers. Add to that: 83% of brands plan to up media investment in women’s sports in 2024. This isn’t a mere ‘blip.’ Yet, here’s the kicker: Despite this surge, women’s sports coverage remains under 10% of total sports media. The overwhelming majority of live broadcast exist well outside of prime-time slots which obviously impacts overall viewership, which is connected to advertising dollars, sponsorship revenue impacting overall viability. This has been the cycle for decades. Here's the game-changer: There’s nothing more powerful in sports marketing than the authentic connection between the athlete and fan. Increased visibility on social media fosters that direct bond, opening doors to an entirely unduplicated, new fan base. It’s a seismic shift transforming the game and business forever, altering ratings, attendance, and investments. No turning back. In essence, the authentic athlete-fan connection, once constrained by broadcast limitations, now thrives. Women’s sports have changed the playbook, it is not a ‘blip’, and it is awesome to see. #sportsbusiness #womenssports #athletefanconnection #yearendreview