Matthew Berry

NBC Sports Next has announced a multi-year partnership with Pennsylvania-based Stronger Youth Brands, a youth sports and enrichment brand platform. SYB will utilize features offered by NBC Sports Next’s SportsEngine Motion technology platform. The initial phase of the partnership will focus on Soccer Shots, which currently enrolls more than 600,000 children, ages 2-8, throughout franchises in 43 states and two Canadian provinces. Related Stories NBC Sports Next Partners with Stronger Youth Brands Unrivaled Sports Acquires Under the Lights Powered by Under Armour Play Hockey Partners with Team IP Unrivaled Sports Acquires YTH Sports Perfect Game Adds 21 Former MLB Players to Investment Group Soccer Shots, started in 2005, introduces sports to kids through an age-appropriate soccer curriculum. Its programs are operated by coaches and available through childcare centers, pre-schools, primary schools and public programming. The partnership will expand later in 2024 to also include Little Kickers, an international SYB brand that operates more than 250 franchises around the world. This is NBC Sport Next’s second partnership with a soccer brand, as US Youth Soccer began using the SportsEngine technology in March 2023. “We’re excited to begin our new partnership with Stronger Youth Brands, which is helping enrich the lives of young children and their families across North America through their trusted and engaging soccer programming,” said Brett MacKinnon, senior vice president and general manager of youth and recreational sports, NBC Sports Next. “Every Soccer Shots franchise will simplify the management of their business by using our versatile SportsEngine Motion technology, helping them to focus on what matters most, coaching kids and creating a rewarding experience.” SportsEngine serves more than 30,000 small and medium-sized youth sports organizations, tournaments, the USOPC and Governing Body community, amateur and professional sports leagues. Soccer Shots plans to utilize the platform’s cloud-based features, including registration and automatic billing, while providing customer experience with a mobile app designed for families and administrators. “After a robust search, we are thrilled to have partnered with NBC Sports Next as we continue on our path to providing premier youth enrichment opportunities to children and families around the globe,” said Kevin Stumpf, president of Stronger Youth Brands. “We are confident that with the SportsEngine Motion technology as part of our enterprise tool kit, we will simplify not only the day-to-day tasks for our franchise partners but also for our team members and the families we serve.” https://lnkd.in/eDWTSgdy

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The #Mets core needs to step up! (Ft. Nicholas Durst of Bleav In The Mets #MLB #baseball #sports #sportsmedia #sportspodcast #podcast #contentcreator #youtube https://lnkd.in/e9YS_eVX

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The cutthroat power struggle within US Soccer is plunging the sport into a downward spiral, with MLS at the forefront of the controversy. Accusations of MLS deliberately sabotaging the USL in a bid to cling onto its dominance are rife, exposing a desperate grasp for power. This calculated move by MLS comes as no surprise, considering its ongoing assault on the USL's modest strides in lower league soccer. The recent demise of USL San Diego serves as a grim reminder of the ruthless tactics employed by MLS to crush any potential competition. Such ruthless maneuvers not only stifle the growth of the sport but also erode the very essence of healthy competition that soccer thrives on. Instead of nurturing an environment of fair play and rivalry, MLS's actions reek of a monopolistic agenda aimed at controlling markets, ultimately tarnishing the integrity of the beautiful game. https://lnkd.in/eEmjB5db

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"We want to be a leader in the game and we want to be on the front foot." - Ali Curtis, MLS SVP of Sporting Development. MLS and MLS NEXT Pro are doing just that, as evidenced by the rules we have implemented to increase focus on player health and safety and to decrease time wasting. Today's article gives a great look at the rules and their impact. Take a look: https://lnkd.in/eJwPhtTq

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Using a mere few hundred thousand TV viewers as a gauge amidst a potential audience of nearly 400 million, of whom only 83 million demonstrate any real interest in soccer, reveals a glaring discrepancy that demands attention. This discrepancy underscores the evident disinterest of America in the lackluster, exclusive ventures embodied by MLS and USL. These leagues, characterized by their poor quality and dismissive approach to sport development, fail to resonate with a nation yearning for genuine soccer experiences. The failure of the Federation to actively track and address the state of the sport is concerning, as it falls squarely within their mandate. Where is the long-term vision? Where is the strategic planning for the next 5, 10, or 20 years? American soccer languishes in dire need of comprehensive reform, necessitating the removal of gatekeepers who hinder progress and innovation. While competition is undeniably beneficial for the sport, the monopolistic grip maintained by certain entities stifles growth and alienates fans. True progress can only be achieved through fostering an environment where diverse voices and ideas thrive, rather than succumbing to the confines of a stifling monopoly https://lnkd.in/ebGvHtrB

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Edison provided some great research on Sport Fans and those who listen to sports on audio channels. There are some real nuggets are buried all the way at the end of the article, like: "63% of sports audio listeners have decided to learn more about a company or product after hearing an ad on a sports podcast or sports audio program." and "More than half have bought a product or service after hearing an ad on a sports podcast or sports audio program." There's more. Worth the read.

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This agreement will be interesting to follow. Presently, Bally’s is the name on those Diamond RSNs through the end of the 2024 MLB season. So, would these networks now be something to the tune of “FanDuel Sports Northeast,” as an example? That said, Bally’s had betting ties to baseball and even had an agreement on Minor League Baseball with their “Ballys Live” app; I would be interested to see if this partnership with Diamond and FanDuel pushes the envelope further on betting integrations, particularly on how games are consumed. For example, if eligible, meaning of age and otherwise fit, patrons can seamlessly navigate towards placing wagers via that same app. Since I’m talking about this impact on baseball, I must mention that Diamond Sports has distribution rights for twelve MLB teams. That number may drop down to nine at the end of this season if nothing else drastically changes. Notably, they stopped broadcasting both the Diamondbacks and the Padres in 2023 when MLB took those rights back, and in 2024, MLB took over the broadcast rights for the Rockies. It’s also worth pointing out that Diamond Sports Group and MLB have been hashing this during a fourteen-month bankruptcy proceeding, which, following a few extensions, those bankruptcy hearings are set to play out on July 30th. I will be staying tuned to all the items above.

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Read more about Game Plan & BridgeAthletic coming together at Sportico

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The whole WNBA experience needs to be rethought before the league loses its newly found embracement. #sportsjournalism #sportsnews #sportsmedia #sportsmanagement #sportsbiz #sports #sportsevents #sportsentertainment #sportsbusiness #sportsindustry  #sportsmarketing #sportsfan #business #sportbusiness #sport #sportmanagement

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New DDSN MLB Article by Tyler Welch: Here is Part II with the National League selections for the most deserving MLB players for the 2024 All-Star Game along with runners-up, at every position. #MLB #Baseball #Sports #SportsJournalism

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🚀 New Analysis Alert: ESPN Bet’s Rocky Start 🚀 Penn Entertainment’s ambitious venture into the U.S. sports betting market with ESPN Bet has been a rollercoaster. From promising initial market reactions to financial challenges and fierce competition, ESPN Bet’s journey is packed with insights and lessons. 📉 Our latest in-depth analysis covers: • The ambitious launch and initial market performance. • Financial struggles and operational hurdles. • Key market share benchmarks and strategic investments. • Long-term viability and what the future holds for ESPN Bet. Read the full story and discover the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for ESPN Bet in the U.S. market. 📊

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Three tips to help you stay patient in the sportscasting job market _________________________________________________________ Every time STAA works with Learfield Sports to fill a play-by-play opening, I invariably hear from at least three people who are stunned that they didn’t get an interview. Some of that comes from entitlement or ego, but much of it is rooted in impatience. They're understandably eager to move forward. Here are three keys to help you stay patient in the sports broadcasting job market. 1. Stay busy helping yourself Smart activity equals energy, motivation and confidence. One example is to stay in contact with your acquaintances in the industry. Keep them updated on your career and ask what they are hearing about possible job opportunities. 2. Always be working on your craft Study your own work, listen to others and ask for critiques. 3. Hone your job market approach Sharpen your demo, refine your resume, study the art of writing cover letters and how to present those items to employers. Learn how to cleverly follow up your applications. Always be improving. If you are an STAA member, go to the STAA Member Community. You’ll find our best advice, spelled out in great detail, for how to best address those five job market variables. https://lnkd.in/gQYH5Ea4 #sportscasting, #sportsbroadcasting

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Roger Goodell continues to try and push for expanding the NFL schedule from 17 to 18 games. It's not surprising he continues to push on this given the potential boosts to league revenue. But, the players have a pretty significant bit of leverage for the next five years. As former agent Joel Corry noted on X, Article 31 of the CBA specifically states that, "The League and/or Clubs shall not increase the number of regular season games per Club to eighteen (18) or more games." The league would have to engage the players in a negotiation to make a change. Side agreements can be negotiated during the term of the CBA (which expires in 2030), but the owners cannot unilaterally impose the schedule change. How much are the owners willing to give up to get the extra game, and what would the players want? If I'm the players, maybe I start with no more franchise (and transition) tag, no more 5th year rookie option, and 3 years needed for free agency instead of 4. Or maybe simply demand a larger percentage of the overall revenue pot. There's a lot of ways to go if the players are willing to put up a fight. #sportsbusiness #nflcba #sportslabor #nflschedule https://lnkd.in/efAt29nR

In Pennsylvania, sports betting numbers softened in May as expected, but the overall upward trend continues. May handle of $591.6 million was up nearly 20% over May of 2023. Other notable numbers from PlayPennsylvania.com's Corey Sharp: • The state's sportsbooks surpassed $30 billion in lifetime handle in May. • Fanatics Sportsbook has yet to make much of an impact in the market. • ESPN BET Sportsbook lost even more market share in PA in May. #pennsylvania #sportsbetting #sportsbook #sportsbook #onlinegambling #gamblingindustry #may #handle #reveue #gambling

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This report illustrates the gaps that are often found between "policy" and "implementation." We see examples of this in in other areas including anti-doping and safe sport. One of the solutions is greater accountability. Policies are just words on a page that are ineffective without robust accountability frameworks to affect real change. #sportpolicy #accountability

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It is finally NFL Draft week and here is my final mock draft prediction for the New York Giants in my latest article for FanSided GMEN HQ https://lnkd.in/dBkd3RpS

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Interesting details coming out for the NBA package A, B and C media partners… all this will lead to superstar players earning $60m, $70m and $80m per year on their super max contracts! Check out the article

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