There will be fewer star sightings for the rest of the NBA playoffs. What are your thoughts on the second round? without it Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant? This seasoned trio hasn't missed the second round in 20 years.
“A teacher can never truly teach unless he continues to learn himself.” Ranbindranath Tagorethe first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
In what Red Sox Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Girula called a “strategic equity partnership,” Fenway Sports Group will acquire an equity stake in media and marketing agency C10 Media as part of a broader collaboration agreement. obtained.
According to people familiar with the matter, no further evaluation was conducted because the stake was less than 10% and no cash was involved.
The deal puts FSG on the board of directors of C10, the holding company that owns venue signage company ANC, with Jerry Cifarelli Jr. serving as chairman. His father founded the ANC in 1997. The young Cifarelli began his sports career at FSG (then Fenway). This means that he has come full circle for him, as he completed his degree (Sports Management) in 2011.
C10 has approximately 70 full-time employees.
“We've been doing business with them for a long time, most recently with the new MGM Music Hall. [which is attached to Fenway Park]' said Gilula. “It only makes that relationship stronger. All these years spent with Cifarelli, junior and senior, were the driving force that united our group even more. At the very least, we have become a great reference for our clients. Masu.”
Cifarelli Jr.: “We already have a lot in common, and we hope this will be a step toward even more.”
Legend told SBJ that the recent NFL Draft in Detroit drew a record crowd of 700,000 and increased merchandise sales by 45% (compared to sales for the 2023 Draft in Kansas City). Told.
During the Draft, Legend operated eight retail stores, including six at NFL Draft Experience Fan Fest, and a 5,100+ square foot flagship store, NFL Shop presented by Visa, open for one week. . Situation of merchandise sales.
Licensed merchandise from 23 NFL licensees was sold, with hometown merchandise accounting for a portion of sales, the Lions' share. Last year's draft had eight venues open Thursday through Saturday.
In Detroit, sales of Legends' NFL Draft merchandise increased by 45%
Industry veteran Rob McQueen will become Cisco Systems' new vice president of global sponsorship. He will be managing his outstanding B2B sponsorship portfolio including: NFL League Rights. Premier League and MLS team contracts. USGA; Riot Games; will also have rights with the Paris Olympics as an official sponsor of the local organizing committee for network equipment, cybersecurity infrastructure and conference software.
On the entertainment side, we also have sponsorship from Live Nation.
Mr. McQueen most recently served as Director of Strategic Sponsorship for Verizon, another NFL corporate sponsor and a major contributor along with Cisco in network equipment. He will also manage the agency's roster, which includes the NFL and USGA's Allied Sports and McLaren, Riot Games and Octagon in soccer deals.
McQueen will continue to be based in New York and will report to Brian Jones, head of global sponsorship and experiential engagement. McQueen will succeed Brian Eaton, who left Cisco in the fall to become director of business development at Populous.
Rob McQueen takes over Cisco Systems global sponsorship
More than two years after Playfly Sports acquired Premier Partnerships, founders Alan Rothenberg and Randy Bernstein have moved into more advisory roles, with their titles changed to co-chairmen of Premier Group. .
Mr. Rosenberg and Mr. Bernstein will serve as senior advisors to Playfly's executive and commercial teams, focusing on the company's growth and sales of high-end inventory such as naming rights and uniform advertising patches.
Rothenberg and Bernstein also recently extended their contracts until July 2026, meaning they will remain at least through that year's FIFA World Cup in North America. Craig Sloan, president of PlayFly Sports, said: “Both will continue to be an important part of our business, just not in the day-to-day operations. Certainly the World Cup business is very important to us.” .
Not coincidentally, the two will manage Playfly's 2026 FIFA World Cup consulting firm, which will assist local hosting committees. To date, its work includes commission assignments in New York/New Jersey, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Boston (with more locations planned).
“Size and scale are more important than ever in this business, and we are now integrated into a larger organization that can better challenge the competition,” Bernstein said. “Now he can advise on bigger deals and consult on World Cup business, two things we both love.”
Jennifer Gray has joined Diamond Baseball Holdings as Chief Operating Officer (COO), with the authority to oversee the operations and fan experience for 33 MLB affiliate teams in the Minor League Rollup. She will oversee the fan experience and operations at her 33 venues (and approximately 700 employees).
Gray, who will be based in Dallas and report to DBH Chairman Pat Battle and CEO Peter Freund, most recently served as Topgolf's chief operating officer and head of human resources.
“There are a lot of similarities and synergies. [with Topgolf] “Both are diverse and complex businesses with many food and beverage, product and fan experience interests. The difference is that Topgolf builds its brand from the top down, whereas we It’s about building individual local brands,” she said. We want to make the sport more accessible to all local communities. ”
Gray hopes to visit all 33 ballparks within 90 days and will be heading out on the road soon. Executive recruiter Russell Reynolds was used in the search.
- The increasing tiering of the in-stadium experience is one of the biggest drivers behind premium design in buildings of all ages, with more fans than ever before, regardless of their financial resources, at any given time. We want what used to be the realm of premium customers. : Benefits, Access, and Relationships, writes SBJ's Brett McCormick.
- The Texans were struggling until owner Cal McNair and his team rejuvenated the franchise, epitomized by a bold new look with a local focus, my colleague Ben Fisher writes.
- About 62% of NCAA men's basketball fans correctly identified Capital One as the organization's official credit card, according to SBJ's David Broughton, according to MarketCast's 18th Annual NCAA Sponsor Breakthrough Survey. reported. This is the highest rating level ever achieved by any brand in SBJ's NCAA research.
- Utah signed a new 10-year multimedia rights agreement with JMI Sports starting July 1, Utah AD Mark Harlan and JMI Sports CEO Eric Judson told colleague Ben Portnoy. Told. Mr. Learfield was a former MMR rights partner in Utah.
- IMG Academy, which was sold by Endeavor Holdings to private equity firm BPEA EQT in June for $1.25 billion, has 13 corporate sponsors and has been selective about their efforts and the value they bring, said outgoing Tim.・President Pernetti spoke to SBJ's Wes Sanderson.
- Rob Plasmark, founder and CEO of 21 Sports and Entertainment Marketing Group, a longtime Olympic sponsor, said, “The Olympics will not use American Express: Mega Sports.'' He has published a book entitled “The Birth of Sponsorship''. SBJ published an excerpt from the book this week.
