Kate Johnson, OLY

This is so unique, access to experts on the ground in sports. In Tech, we always had access to industry analysts to guide our business decisions. However, in sports many analyst groups I used to rely on like Gartner, IDC, don't cover an industry that contributes around 1% to the GDP (yet). Not to mention that sports technology is 🔥 Private Equity are heavily investing, so are large brands. I bet they all have lots of questions. I know a group who just might have some answers ! #sports

7

Five days until we get to start cheering for the amazing athletes on #TeamUSA and their peers from around the world! 👏👏👏 Working in concert with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the #Olympic National Governing Bodies (NGBs) play a critical role in developing and preparing the U.S. athletes for this moment, but not all NGBs have the same resources. Here is a quick side by side look at 2021 revenues for Summer NGBs ahead of a beautiful #Paris24 🇫🇷. As I shared in a similar post in 2019 between Rio and Tokyo, there will be a lot of talk about the “medal count” soon, but money is the lifeblood these nonprofits need to truly fulfill their mission. (Link to older post in comments if interested.) Looking beyond Paris from a commercial standpoint, the road to LA will be the most important four years for the Summer NGBs since the Atlanta 1996 quad. A domestic Olympics is game-changing. The 1984 LA Games changed the #Movement and #LA28 should be equally transformative for the whole of OP sport. If you don’t like how your favorite sport looks here, donate and/or give your time to the NGB(s) of your choice to help them ahead of a rare Summer Games. At the risk of sounding like a pharmaceutical ad with fifty percent legal VO, a few comments and caveats re: my methodology:  • Revenue in millions. • Only includes Summer Olympic sports that were on the Tokyo programme. Not counting new French or LA additions like Breaking or Cricket. • Para is not accurately reflected. Some are managed by NGBs. Some USOPC. • Multiple NGBs have separate Foundations. Not including those 990s. • Used 990s from official NGB sites linked from TeamUSA.com. A few required a search of GuideStar or ProPublica. (Appreciate those NGBs who make this financial info easy to find. For those who bury this detail from constituents, please try to do better.) • Used 2021 data to reflect Games impact and as too many NGBs have not shared 2022 info yet. • Recognize some 990s use a fiscal year different from calendar year. Used 990 covering Games or before, whichever is larger. • Small NGBs use IOC sport three letter code with the smallest (Pentathlon, Handball, Badminton, Golf) down to two. • Total revenue is $841.2M. (For comparison, the Dallas Cowboys and The Ohio State University Department of Athletics generated an estimated $1B+, as in billion, and $251M+, respectively, during roughly the same period.) Welcome any insights or observations. 🤔⬇️

131

29 Comments

Not a done deal but the average annual revenue to the league would be $6.9B split among Disney/ESPN ($2.6B), NBC ($2.5B) and Amazon ($1.8B) over the term of 11 years.

1

With the recent launch of MLB's direct-to-consumer OTT platform, I’ve been thinking about how this trend perfectly aligns with Motto's vision. I’ve shared some thoughts on why sports organizations are moving towards direct-to-consumer models and how our platform is designed to address the challenges they encounter. Check out my latest article to explore this exciting shift in sports broadcasting. https://lnkd.in/ekKw9QZF #ott #sports #d2c

16

Here is a thought exercise: What if Warner is right about the NBA? Warner is getting dragged through the mud right now for letting NBA rights slip out of their fingertips. But what if they’re right? What if it’s not worth the $2.5B that NBC is forking over? If you think about it, the bear case becomes clearer. For starters, the NBA has a long season, and more and more of their young fans are watching highlights on YouTube and TikTok over regular season games. That makes monetizing those games on TV harder as fans can just keep up with the games elsewhere. Further, there is more allegiance to players over teams at this point. So it’s not like all 30 teams are must watch TV - instead, it’s more like 10-15 players. Plus, the NBAs stars are aging up and out in the next few years - LeBron, KD, Curry, etc. The new crop is strong, but not to the levels of these players. Just look at NBA playoff ratings - without these players in the mix, playoff ratings are down 11% YoY through the 2nd round. A year ago, LeBron, KD and Curry were all in the mix in the 2nd round, and LeBron made it to the conference finals. Finally, look at the NBA ownership trends. Mark Cuban just sold his stake in the Mavs, along with MJ. When smart people and owners start signaling they think the valuations have peaked, pay attention. I’m not saying Warner is making the right move to not retain the rights - but it’s possible they are right that the NBA rights are being overvalued. Time will tell who is right. (Post inspired by Joe Pompliano great podcast this weekend with Alex Sherman. Check it out!)

37

17 Comments

Thank you, Lashawn Merritt, for taking the time this morning to speak with US Sports Camps on your journey to becoming an Olympic Champion! Here are some takeaways that I hope to focus on as we head into the busy summer months: 1. Be even-keeled: In the ups and downs of life, keeping a balanced perspective is crucial. Success and failure are inevitable, but staying composed through both ensures longevity and resilience. 2. Cultivate support: Surrounding yourself with the right people can make a world of difference. Building a supportive network provides encouragement, guidance, and accountability, all of which are essential for achieving success. 3. Embrace sacrifices: Sacrifices are often necessary on the path to success. Viewing them not as obstacles but as steppingstones highlights their importance in achieving your goals. Stay the course, put your head down, and get the work done. Thanks, again Lashawn!

24

#NBA teams have transitioned well from initial hesitation to fully embracing #jersey #patch #partnerships as a significant element of their #sponsorships. These patches have become a key part of larger, high-value partnerships, promising enhanced brand visibility and new revenue streams. However, this recent research from Elevent questions these partnerships' effectiveness. 🔷 Limited Brand Awareness: Only 26% of NBA fans can correctly identify their favorite team's jersey patch sponsor, despite the average sponsorship deal costing $10.9 million. 🔷 Social Media Outperforms TV: Fans following teams on social media show a 43% correct identification rate for patch sponsors, compared to 29% for those watching on TV. 🔷 Comparative Recall Rates: NBA stadium sponsorships fare better, with 53% of fans able to identify the stadium name partner, highlighting a significant disparity in sponsorship recall effectiveness. Taking this into account, for clubs looking to leverage jersey patch opportunities, it's crucial to reevaluate the approach to jersey patch sponsorships. Here are a few key points to consider based on those findings: 📺 Understand Media Channel Impact: Differentiate between the effectiveness of various media channels. Digital platforms often provide higher sponsor recall rates than traditional TV, so strategies should prioritize online engagement. 🤳 Enhance Activation Investments: Invest in activation strategies that complement the visibility of jersey patches. This could include interactive social media campaigns, community events, or other fan engagement activities that amplify brand exposure. 🏙 Tailor Strategies to Market Size: Smaller market teams should leverage their unique local fan base by creating tailored sponsorship strategies emphasizing community involvement and regional partnerships. This localized approach can enhance sponsor loyalty and brand resonance within the community. By focusing on these areas, teams can maximize the value of jersey patch sponsorships, ensuring they deliver on brand visibility and fan engagement promises, driving greater overall sponsorship value. #Sportsbiz #JerseyPatch #Revenue #FanEngagement #SocialMedia #TV

12

6 Comments

The (other) NBA finals 🏀 Alex Sherman with great reporting on the current #NBA rights negotiations, follow him for all things #media. The largest sports rights on the market for years is playing out in front of our eyes; let's dive in! The hottest ticket in town 🔥 #Disney and #WBD have carried the NBA for ~40 years; now the rights for the next 11 years (post ’25) are in play. #WBD and #Disney are currently paying $1.2Bn and $1.5Bn per season for a total value of $2.7B annually. They had an exclusive negotiating period that ended April 22 with no signed deals, which left the field wide open. The NBA commissioner, back in 2022, made a prophetic declaration that he wanted to double the fees; it seems he may top that! WBD gets boxed out 🥊 Zaslav famously said, in 2022, that #WBD did not need the #NBA and would be fiscally responsible; that strategy is now being put to the test. Insiders say #Disney was firm about retaining its top tier package, which includes the NBA finals. #Disney is apparently close to a deal for ~$2.6Bn per year, an indicator of the value of top-tier sports to aggregate audiences and specific to ESPN. #WBD left the exclusive window without being close to a deal - a mistake or smart negotiating? Amazon and NBC play hoops 🏀 #Amazon is continuing its transformation into a sports destination, offering $1.8Bn a year for a “significant” chunk of regular and post-season games. #NBCU is returning to the court, offering ~$2.6Bn per year for a package consisting of two prime-time games per week, conference semifinals, and one conference final. When you are getting ~$10Bn for your stake in Hulu, you can afford to pay a premium for sports rights. WBD matching rights a buzzer beater ⏲ Once the contracts have been approved, #WBD can enforce the “matching rights” which are part of their current deal. This is where lawyers get involved because the exact definition of “matching” is open to interpretation. If #WBD matches the #Amazon offer in $$ value, will the NBA protest and cite other factors like audience reach, advertising revenue, etc.? Or can #WBD use the matching rights to push for a fourth package to be carved out of the current three packages? Does that satisfy #WBD investors? How will this play out? 🔚 If #WBD loses the #NBA rights, what happens to the cable affiliate fees and advertising revenue for #TNT? #WBD stock tanked 10+% on news they may lose the rights. Is this a play by #NBCU to lower #WBD’s acquisition price? Will #WBD take the #NBA to court over their definition of matching rights, seems a disastrous move 🙈 Or can Adam Silver carve out a fourth package, more than doubling the pie, coming out as the clear winner. We will find out in a few months and follow Alex Sherman for the latest. Views expressed are wholly my own. #media #streaming #sportsrights #digitalmedia #businessmodels

18

Read more about Game Plan & BridgeAthletic coming together at Sportico

30

6 Comments

The WNBA’s viewership and fandom is reaching new heights. You're invited to join a June 25th Nielsen webinar and hear from Google and the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) to discuss why investments in women’s sports is critical and how to measure such investments. Save your spot today! https://bit.ly/4bJmhLd #Sportsbiz #NielsenSports #WNBA #WomenSports

15

Non-Drafted Free Agency (NDFA) period begins for MLB today. What is it, and how can teams use it to improve their organizations via depth and finding hidden gems? #ndfa #mlbdraft #playerevaluation #scouting #baseball

29

3 Comments

Welcome to the #trailblazingtuesday #upfront & #WNBAWNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) Tip Off edition... As we said at the Women's Sports Club IAB Newfront - this is not an AND / OR proposition. This upfront is time to INVEST IN WOMENS' SPORTS. The WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) on ESPN/Disney platforms opening night is projected to exceed the 5M viewers - breaking the all time inaugural WNBA game record in 1997 - and a feat given the games were on E2 & ESPN+ (because of NHL Playoffs on ESPN). Linear ratings were up between 103% in the women's NCAA March Madness Finals (where else do you see those increase in live sports?!?) ,and over 7% YOY in the NCAA Softball World Series final - essentially drawing the SAME viewership as the men's college WS in the title game. These linear viewership trends are too significant to ignore. AND while it's important to invest in those high profile moments on linear this upfront season- it's equally important to invest in the STORIES and the always on moments that fans are craving and thats where our Trailblazing Sports Group Marketplace partners can help! So let's all do our part to tell more women's sports stories, buy/watch the live events, partner with athletes, and support local teams this UPFRONT season. 💥📈💰 #trailblazing #womensports #upfront

62

5 Comments

I highly recommend listening to this episode with Ryan Harrison. He shared some great advice on making better decisions, and developing your game to improve your results. It was great to hear this from a young coach who has experienced professional tennis at the highest level. #tennis #tennisiq #mentaltraining #mentalperformance #sportpsychology

9

What is RacketStats INSIGHTS INSIGHTS uniquely analyzes your match and highlights the top three strokes you used to win points and the top three strokes you used to lose points. It simplifies all the match details into an easy-to-understand format. INSIGHTS is also an invaluable Scouting tool as it includes information about your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. Top players keep these reports for future reference. Improve your performance by focusing on your strengths to win more points and on your weaknesses to lose fewer points. Always consult your coach as these insights are based on just one match. Learn More at: www.RacketStats.com

1

The debate continues - should women's sports carve out its own path, or leverage the legacy framework and partnerships of their male counterparts? There's no better example of this predicament then the fact that WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) has the majority of its rights wrapped in with the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s next major rights tenders, and is seeing incredible momentum in interest in the sport and league fresh off the drafting of the next big star Caitlin Clark. NBA's commissioner say it is categorically the right approach - others would disagree, and would suggest that the WNBA should be allowed more flexibility in their approach to monetising rights in a new era of sports media consumption. What's the best approach for a league like the WNBA? https://lnkd.in/d_JN2v35

17

The Olympic Games is a powerful way for audiences to learn about a sport. Its global reach, inspirational stories, national pride and increased accessibility create a fertile ground for promotion to grow interest and attract new audiences to a sport. Reality check: does this really happen? I've written a few words about the importance for a sport to lean into what makes it 'meaningfully different' to leverage the reach and brand strength of the Olympic Games. Those that understand and communicate their meaningful difference will create more sustainable growth. Those that don't may face the same challenges come LA28... #sportsmarketing #Paris2024 #Olympics

12

I've talked about the impact that the AIQ.team has in the NFL, but our value transcends beyond just the sport of football - we have a significant presence in basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer and more. With the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals & Draft right around the corner, our team is looking at this past year's rookie class and the signals the AIQ picked up between the players cognitive scores & performance on the court. 🏀 I wanted to share one in particular: the NBA All-Rookie team outperformed all of the other 2023 NBA prospects in the area of Learning Efficiency (LE). LE is one of the 15 data points the AIQ measures and affects a player's ability to learn technique, strategy, reports, etc. and recall this information readily when needed. Teams that use the AIQ for scouting & talent selection know that LE is a crucial indicator in a prospect's ability to learn the playbook more quickly than their peers and adjust to the speed of the game better than other draftees. As sports evolve to rely heavily on analytics and measuring "between the ears", we continue to provide insights & correlations to our teams to help them select the right talent, develop players properly, and ultimately take the right step to a championship caliber team. #Linkedinsports #NBA #CognitiveAssessment

27

With the United Soccer League (USL) Super league inaugural season around the corner this article was a good read and reminder there is still work to be done with challenges facing women’s sport. some interesting things: 💰The women’s sports apparel market has soared to an estimated $4 billion in the U.S. alone 📊According to the Klarna/SIL report, women’s sports leagues have more than seven times fewer apparel options than their men’s affiliates, and for every nine pieces of men’s sports merch available, women’s have only one 🎽Merch companies can “build cooler products” that appeal to a fan base that has made it clear that they want options. “Brands need to recognize this isn’t just sport—this is sport and fashion 📈A joint study between Wasserman and ESPN Research from October 2023 showed women claimed 15% of all sports coverage in ’22, up more than triple from five years earlier 👕Togethxr has generated $3 million in revenue in the past seven months on its $45 “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports” T-shirt ⏰It’s about a moment in time when women in sport are being recognized in a way like never before, and about creating a product—either on the ice or in clothing—that sends the message to women everywhere that they belong here,” Amy Scheer

4