Vinciane Ngomsi, Author at Boardroom https://boardroom.tv/author/vinciane-ngomsi/ Sports Business News Mon, 08 Apr 2024 13:43:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True https://boardroom.tv/brands-build-dream-experience-march-madness/ Fri, 05 Apr 2024 19:23:04 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=89261 As fans show up to the biggest events of the sporting calendar, many brands have fostered dream experiences. Boardroom goes behind the scenes to understand how these once-in-a-lifetime experiences come together.

The post From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> As fans show up to the biggest events of the sporting calendar, many brands have fostered dream experiences. Boardroom goes behind the scenes to understand how these once-in-a-lifetime experiences come together.

The travel industry took a huge hit in 2020, but as of late both business and leisure travel are back up and booming. With that, fans are hopping on flights to catch their favorite teams in action. Through a combination of innovation and pie-in-the-sky dreaming, brands have crafted unique experiences that the average fan never even allowed themselves to dream of.

Back in 2019, Marriott Bonvoy became a leader of these opportunities. The global corporation began its foray into A-list experiences in the sports and entertainment space with the introduction of the Seat of Dreams at Old Trafford. During a Manchester United home game, some lucky fans had the chance to watch the club play from a once-in-a-lifetime vantage point while enjoying complimentary food and drinks, all whilst seated alongside Manchester United legends. Several years later, the two sides raised the stakes with the Suite of Dreams in April 2022. One Red Devils fan and a guest won the chance to wake up in Old Trafford on a Man United match day from the comfort of a suite made to look like a Marriott Hotels guest room overlooking the pitch.

“Part of our creative strategy is, ‘Hey, what could we dream up that would really cool for our members?’ That’s our team thinking from the perspective of consumers and working alongside the talent or the organization themselves to come up with these really cool activations,” said Peggy Roe, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of Marriott International, Inc.

Companies are motivated by delighting everyday devotees rather than catering to an elite group of individuals with the monetary means. Anyone can say they received tickets to watch Manchester United win in a thriller against Liverpool, but who can say they sat next to retired defender Wes Brown, picking his brain about the club’s future potential?

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Bringing Fans From Manchester to March Madness

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, sports tourism is the fastest-growing sector in the travel industry. With an estimated growth rate of 17.5% between 2023-2030, marquee competitions like the Olympics, World Cup, and the Super Bowl have become less of an avenue for fans to watch their favorite teams play, but now the perfect excuse to visit a city on their bucket list.

Tens of thousands will flock to Cleveland this weekend for the NCAA women’s March Madness Final Four. With the Elite Eight shattering viewership records, it’s only expected that this weekend’s Final Four and national championship games will break even more ratings and fuel an uptick in ticket prices for women’s sports.

For Marriott, it’s self-explanatory that entities like the NFL, NCAA, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, and others would partner with one of the largest hotel chains in the world. But what makes a fitting potential partner? Simple answer: the fans. The most loyal of all know the ins and outs of their favorite teams and the key aspects of game day rituals that set them apart. Roe explained this to Boardroom:

“I think in the beginning, we were just testing and learning. We started with tickets to Madison Square Garden and then would see what people were interested in from there. Out of that was born the NFL relationship, then NCAA and The Mercedes F1 Team. They can carry us around the world, or they’re big platforms for marketing, and we know that people are passionate about it, but increasingly, there are so many passions.

“Last year, we did some research and broke it down by age to try to better understand what people spend their money on and what motivates their travel. We found that music, sports, and culinary are top of the list. And those are even broad categories you have to dive in deeper to understand well, what about music, sports, and culinary makes people want to pack their bags?”

However, for the brands, creating experiences such as these allows for the opportunity to help improve systems that are otherwise broken. Marriott realized that instead of consumers fighting the bots and masses on Ticketmaster for a first pass at tickets, they’ll unveil their own system for attracting basketball enthusiasts.

Curating the Perfect Game Day Ritual

The most maniacal of fans are known for their fierce commitment to not only their favorite teams but also their game-day rituals. Per a Marriott Bonvoy survey administered by Wakefield Research, 63% of fans with a day of traditions believe their team will lose if they don’t complete said habit and 50% would even wear the opposite team’s gear for a week if it meant their favorite team would come out victorious. Even more fascinating, 74% of those with game day rituals said they would risk their job to watch their team play for a championship during work hours.

As the Official Hotel Partner of the NCAA, Marriott Bonvoy launched a campaign and contest where both fans and players could participate in game-day giveaways and personalized moments with basketball coach Sydney Carter at the Women’s Final Four in Cleveland. The “Score Big with Marriott Bonvoy Game Day Ritual” encouraged fans to post their most unusual game day ritual. One lucky entry won a grand prize for two including flights and hotel accommodations to the Women’s Final Four games this weekend in Cleveland that included a game day rituals session with Coach Carter. The opportunity to go behind the scenes of the biggest event in college basketball allowed fans to get a different perspective, while banking stories to tell for a lifetime.

“We want Bonvoy to help enrich people’s lives,” Roe said when asked about a through line between sports and hospitality. “We talk about connecting people to people, passions, and places in the world through community. But what we’re able to do because of that and 8,800 hotels around the world and 10,000 locations is to be able to unite people around the world. So there’s this element of, yes, we’re a hotel, but what we’re really doing is facilitating a new aspect of travel. Underneath it all, it feels like a hotel company, but it’s the communities that run our hotels every day.”

Marriott isn’t the first, and it certainly won’t be the last firm to pivot toward this method of experiential promotion. However, they’ve developed a blueprint that’s easily tailored based on the sport and activity. Not everyone will have the chance to say they saw Caitlin Clark or Kamilla Cardoso play in one of her last games as a college student, but for big brands, the games are only a small part of an unforgettable experience.

Read More:

The post From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> %%title%% As the travel industry has returned, brands are creating experiences to help fans live out their biggest dreams. Manchester United,NCAA,Women's Final Four,March Madness Brands Loading mascot-flex_Marriott-Bonvoy CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024 https://boardroom.tv/cnbc-boardroom-game-plan-2024/ Tue, 02 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=89110 The second CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan will take place in Los Angeles on Sept. 10. Speakers/panelists will be announced in the coming weeks.

The post CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024 appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> After featuring panelists such as Nick Kyrgios, Paolo Banchero, Jessica Berman, and David Blitzer in the inaugural event, CNBC & Boardroom look to level up this year.

Following the massive success of last year’s inaugural event, the CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit will return for a second year, the companies announced Tuesday. The one-day expo, which brings together industry leaders, visionaries, and playmakers from sports and entertainment, is scheduled for Sept. 10 in Los Angeles, Calif. This will be the first of a new multi-year partnership between the two companies.

“Last year’s Game Plan event brought together a mix of incredible athletes and innovators for a day of conversation unlike anything I’ve experienced in my professional career,” said Rich Kleiman, CEO of Boardroom. “The whole Boardroom team is really excited to run it back with CNBC as part of a multi-year partnership and grow the foundation we’ve built together with the sports and business community.”

In 2023, the sold-out event featured panels centered on everything from the future of athlete brand-building to conversations on the big business of live sports. Select speakers included:

  • ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro
  • NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman
  • NJ Devils & Philadelphia 76ers Co-owner David Blitzer
  • Tennis star Nick Kyrgios
  • Colorado Rockies Co-owner Linda Alvarado
  • 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero
  • WNBA Player Lexie Brown
  • Kroenke Sports & Entertainment CEO and Los Angeles Rams Owner E. Stanley Kroenke

The afternoon ended with a conversation between Boardroom Co-founder Kevin Durant and CNBC’s Squawk Box co-anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin.

Throughout the inaugural event’s programming, there were many thought-provoking segments on the aforementioned range of topics. From KD advocating for cannabis to be removed from the NBA’s banned substance list to Kroenke calling SoFi the best venue in sports to Lexie Brown singing the praises of Athletes Unlimited, the first CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan covered it all.

For this year’s event, both CNBC and Boardroom are ready to take the summit to a new level.

“We head in to Game Plan 2024 with significant momentum,” said Nick Dunn, Senior Vice President & Managing Director of CNBC Events. “The buzz from last year was not only about the unparalleled programming, but also the amazing attendees; an influential mix of owners, executives, investors and innovators all connecting and networking at the event. Any real player in this space will want to be in the room this year.”

Panelists and speakers for the second CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan will be announced in the coming weeks. In the meantime, be sure to stay up to date on changes and ticket information here.

Read More:

The post CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024 appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The Black Women Who Rule Basketball Fashion https://boardroom.tv/black-women-basketball-fashion-stylists/ Tue, 26 Mar 2024 18:48:06 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=88872 Boardroom is giving flowers to the Black women and A-list stylists who have dressed some of basketball's best in Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, the late Kobe Bryant, and more.

The post The Black Women Who Rule Basketball Fashion appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Boardroom is giving flowers to the Black women and A-list stylists who have dressed some of basketball’s best in Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, the late Kobe Bryant, and more.

Remember when Chris Paul began using fashion as a platform to celebrate HBCUs when he famously wore a varsity jacket with all 107 crests and emblems from each historically Black college and university? Or when Dwyane Wade debuted a crisp white Louis Vuitton ensemble with a sash at the 2019 ESPY Awards?

In these two examples, Courtney Mays was styling Paul, while Calyann Barnett was tasked with getting Wade red-carpet ready. On the court, athletes are relegated to matching uniforms, often only leveraging their sneakers as a form of self-expression. Entering the arena pre-game or during an off-court public appearance is when fans are treated to a player’s style, and it’s true when they say it takes a village.

A wardrobe consultant is more than someone assigned to be an athlete’s personal shopper. They’re tasked with developing a part of a player’s identity, curating an authentic aesthetic that mirrors each client’s personality. Even 20 years ago, the idea of an athlete having a stylist on retainer was unheard of. However, these days, those aforementioned looks and more are carefully curated by veterans of style, and they all happen to be Black women.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Barnett’s career started in music, but she credits DWade as being her first client in the athlete space. The two met at a Louis Vuitton party for Kanye West‘s 30th birthday in 2007, and Wade was coming off winning the NBA Finals in 2006.

“I went up to him and said, ‘You need a stylist,'” Barnett told Boardroom. “I explained to him that he’s a superstar and should look like a superstar and shouldn’t look like an athlete because he is bigger than an athlete.”

The late Kobe Bryant‘s stylist, Paige Geran, began working with the Los Angeles Lakers legend around the time Bryant won his final NBA title in 2010 and, before then, got her start in television. However, her small screen work would take a backseat in 2007-08 due to the writer’s strike. To expand her portfolio and reach, she pivoted full-time to athletes. Due to her lengthy resume in entertainment, Geran was the OG of West Coast stylists. She had briefly worked with athletes in commercials, which led to making connections quickly within the space and subsequently becoming the blueprint.

Before she arrived, Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, was the mastermind behind his outfits. Kobe and Geran were connected via a trusted friend.

“He was trying to figure out ways to incorporate using a stylist for games,” Geran explained. “I don’t think he knew what it all entailed, but he was like, ‘I think I need someone. I need help.’

Ironically, the first thing Bryant’s team called Geran to enlist her help for had nothing to do with dressing him. Around the time Bryant changed his number from 8 to 24, Lil Wayne happened to be performing in LA. Bryant wanted Wayne to be the first person to wear his new jersey, Geran said.

“So I remember his team contacting me saying, ‘Hey, can you help us with this?’ It started with small things here and there, and then eventually, Kobe did a cover and had a big launch to celebrate, and that’s when he finally decided he wanted to branch out and hire a stylist,” she recalled.

Developing a Personal Aesthetic

Fashion and sports have always been synonymous, but thanks to these stylists, we’ve seen a cultural renaissance through the years. These women are an unsung heroes, as these athletes transition into bona fide icons. While their personal aesthetics might contribute to the final look, it’s ultimately reflective of the client’s taste.

Take, for example, Jimmy Butler. Khalilah Beaver met him at a Jordan shoot in 2016 and simply told him, “You need help.” What followed was years of taking the Miami Heat star from fun to watch on the court to a must-attend at fashion shows.

Beaver recalls the first time people looked at Butler as more of a trendsetter was the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend. It was their first year working together, and she put Butler in a multicolored button-down shirt with a large King of Spades card on the front. It was daring, but it proved to be a success because, according to Beaver, “Everybody loved it.”

For Mays, whom DeAndre Jordan trusts with dressing him, she likens her client’s aesthetic to the late Jimi Hendrix, whose influence on pop culture is still prevalent to this day nearly 53 years after his passing. Mays cultivates Jordan’s wardrobe based on the type of music he listens to and the art in his home. Jordan’s wedding suit, which Courtney expertly selected, bears some resemblance to hippie couture.

Mays also produced the ensemble Kevin Love wore to his 2022 wedding. Unlike Jordan, Mays describes Love’s style as more All-American.

“My goal is to always bring out the best in each client and not put my imprint. Other than that, I’m trying to elevate or make [them look] better. I don’t want anyone to look like me necessarily,” she said to Boardroom.

Nchimunya Wulf, Kevin Durant‘s personal stylist, started her agency in 2013 and has since expanded her empire through the DesigNCHIMUNYA Interior Design firm. She says her partnership with Durant functions as a collaboration in which he takes the lead, and her job is to make life simple.

“I add my signature touch, and he usually remixes to his liking at the moment! He’s more freestyle and doesn’t feel the impulse to coordinate as much, which I love and works so well for him,” Wulf told Boardroom. “He’s very creative and brilliant, which makes my job so buoyant and boundless.”

When James Harden won the NBA MVP in 2018, he accepted the trophy wearing a Neil Barrett patterned overcoat with matching trousers, a statement pendant, and some shiny lace-ups. His stylist Kesha McLeod explained that the look came together in Milan weeks prior, and she developed an entire itinerary based on the occasion.

McLeod, who also stacks Myles Turner, PJ Tucker, and Serena Williams as clients, first got the chance to work with athletes when Serge Ibaka recruited her for a Paris trip. After attending numerous shows, the pair ultimately decided on a casual pinstripe button-down with a matching bomber jacket and all-black pants. Appropriate enough for a children’s ceremony, chic enough to be remembered a decade later.

“To bring an athlete to Paris and pull a look off the runway and then have him wear it on a red carpet, that’s like Hollywood shit, absolutely what red carpet stylists do,” McLeod joked. “Serge is like 6-11, he’s huge. So, to pull a sample-size outfit for an athlete off the runway was something unheard of before. At that moment, it clicked, and I thought, ‘I’m just going to turn athletes into the new actors and actresses.'”

Assembling a capsule could best be described as hours of shopping for the perfect fit that encapsulates an athlete’s personality. However, it’s more complex than that.

Barnett interprets her role as building the person’s style from the ground up, ultimately pushing him out of his comfort zone and building something cohesive for all moments of said athlete’s life.

“Sometimes you see a person who looks the same across the board like Steve Jobs. That’s cool, too, but we’re playing Barbie and having a little bit of fun. You don’t want someone to look the same all the time,” Barnett said. “I think women sometimes do a better job dressing men because men tend to dress men how they dress. So when you see a lot of men’s stylists, they look the same, and their clients look the same. I also try to avoid trends. I think I’ve done a good job at making sure my clients never wear the same thing and don’t get caught in the who wore it better situation.”

Suits are the go-to uniform for men in most semi-formal settings. So, imagine Geran’s surprise when Bryant shared that he wasn’t a fan of suits. Rather, the five-time champion felt more comfortable in custom leather jackets, denim, and sneakers, pieces that were just an extension of himself.

“You see him in the latter part of his career wearing suits. But it was by default because people couldn’t mess that up,” she explained.

“Kobe was a person that didn’t enjoy fittings at all,” Geran continued. “So I had to master the art of measuring things. A lot of the stuff I gave him — which is not traditional — he wouldn’t know what he was wearing until game day. He liked to feel good, but he did not spend time on the details of his clothes. That was my job. He was very much focused on his game. That was his job. My job was to make sure he was good with taking up a minimum amount of his time.”

Misconceptions, Challenges, Rewards

From sitting front row at Fashion Week to having access to the season’s hottest pieces before anyone else, being a stylist certainly has its perks. But there are misconceptions in any career, and the ladies would be remiss if they weren’t candid about valid fallacies.

“I think people generally believe celebrities receive boxes and boxes of free products,” said Mays. “When I have a new client, remind them that that’s not always the case. It’s sort of like a 50/50 situation and sometimes 80/20 situation where you’re purchasing a lot of it and developing yourself as a style influencer. You have to get the eyes on yourself as somebody who influences style and culture before people send you boxes of product”

Beaver echoed those sentiments, adding that contrary to popular belief, nothing about her role is easy or glamorous.

“There’s a lot of schlepping,” she added. “There’s a lot of back-and-forth calls and work that goes into pulling a look together. And when you look at the scope of things as far as your team is concerned, we are the ones who do the most work. It can be glamorous when you get to a certain level and have the budget to get things done in a certain way. But until you get to that point, no.”

There’s also the tricky scenario where overseas fashion houses don’t recognize who the stateside superstars of the NBA are. In 2011 during Milan Fashion Week, Barnett said she had to write an 11-page essay to justify Wade’s invitation to sit front row during the presentation. The first show he ever attended was Versace with McLeod’s client, Carmelo Anthony, and they were the only two athletes at the show.

“I was working with the designer and the PR teams to get Dwyane front row because they weren’t checking for them. Being an athlete didn’t necessarily have the best reputation,” Barnett explained. “It was a lot of, ‘I understand what you guys think of athletes, but this is who you want.’ And now they go after them. Whereas before, we were chasing the brands.”

For McLeod, it’s about performing under pressure or adjusting when things go awry. Or trusting that the outfit you’ve been carrying from Harlem to the airport that has to board a plane within the hour arrives unscathed and in one piece. However, the most exhilarating part of the process is watching your creation admired by others.

“I’ve traveled to Paris with Serena at least nine times in my career, but this time, it was different because she trusted me to build a trip from the ground up. All she said was, ‘I want to go to Paris, figure it out.’ So, to take someone to that level, build relationships, and introduce your client to new things, it’s a different kind of high and excitement.”

However, the business doesn’t come without its fair share of grievances, which is all too common in a male-dominated industry.

“As women, we can’t go to the club with players,” Geran explained. “We have to look a certain way and be professional at all times. Some major challenges are getting the sports agents, the marketing people, and the PR people in sync with the players. If they were more cooperative, it would help women stylists in sports grow even further in their careers.

“No disrespect to the men, but it’s because of women that a lot of things in this industry get done. Win, lose, or regardless of how that player performed, we have to have those difficult conversations with them because men don’t want to be on the receiving end of bitterness.”

What’s Next?

They’ve dressed basketball’s best, had their looks grace magazine covers, and achieved many more milestones along the way. So, it begs the question: Where do these A-list stylists go from here?

For Barnett, she’s already taken on her next challenge as Creative Director for the Utah Jazz‘s private apparel brand CounterPoint. After 13 years and appareling a slew of athletes (Wade, Chandler Parsons, Nate Robinson), she wants to capitalize on everything learned working one-on-one with athletes to a team.

“There’s more I can make pretty,” she said. “Ultimately, what we do as stylists is make things beautiful.”

Meanwhile, McLeod has been an advocate for her clients for so long that she wants to focus on herself as a brand while simultaneously working alongside her A-list roster.

“Who I am and who I’ve worked with helps because now I’m taking on bigger roles as a fashion and creative director. The goal is always working toward bigger and better moments,” McLeod said.

Geran’s next venture includes tapping into her creativity within the artificial intelligence space.

“AI will dramatically change the future of television and film, but not necessarily when it comes to personal styling. I’d like to embark upon more opportunities connected with that in fashion and now I’m figuring out how the two are connected.”

Finally, for Mays, she’s focused on broadening her range as an entrepreneur and figuring out her identity as a brand.

“I’ve spent the past couple of decades being defined by Chris Paul or Kevin Love, and that’s beautiful and has taken me far and I’m grateful to those people. They’re basically my family at this point. But now, I’m figuring out who Courtney is and what she loves, and if there is something that has Courtney’s name behind it without a picture of somebody else,” Mays said.

Read More:

The post The Black Women Who Rule Basketball Fashion appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Info (1) With Superteam Signings, Gotham FC is Raising the Bar for the NWSL https://boardroom.tv/gotham-fc-nwsl-womens-sports-soccer/ Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:49:56 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=87636 After adding Crystal Dunn, Rose Lavelle & more to an NWSL championship-winning roster, NJ/NY Gotham FC aims to grow the game.

The post With Superteam Signings, Gotham FC is Raising the Bar for the NWSL appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> After adding Crystal Dunn, Rose Lavelle & more to an NWSL championship-winning roster, NJ/NY Gotham FC is aiming to grow the game and women’s sports as a whole.

The season following a championship win is always pivotal for any club. They’re simultaneously chasing a winning feeling again while also ensuring they’ve got the roster to follow through. Who knows what 2024 will bring for NJ/NY Gotham FC when they return to action on Friday against the San Diego Wave, but the newest players representing the reigning champions certainly know they’re the talk of the NWSL.

“Everyone is so focused on us joining the team, But honestly, to be fair, we’re also on our individual journeys,” Crystal Dunn told Boardroom from Gotham’s Media Day in January.

Dunn was the first in a flurry of blockbuster signings Gotham completed during the offseason. What followed her addition was Tierna Davidson, Rose Lavelle, and Emily Sonnett, all members of the current United States Women’s National Team. They were already a threatening side thanks to the likes of Midge Purce and Lynn Williams, but now the four arrivals essentially solidify Gotham as the league’s most star-studded and menacing team.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

The New-look Gotham FC

One reason the four new players share equal excitement about joining Gotham FC goes far beyond championship potential. With a solid front office and an in-form roster, they all agreed that Gotham is truly setting itself up for long-term success.

When general manager Yael Averbuch West and head coach Juan Carlos Amorós approached Lavelle about taking her talents to the tri-state, Lavelle remembers the bulk of their conversation revolved around her personal growth. At 28, with multiple honors to her name within the league and as a part of the USWNT, finding a suitable home to further develop her craft was a non-negotiable.

Thankfully, she was able to find a home that will allow her to continue prospering. She’s thrilled at the prospect, especially since she gets to do it alongside Sonnett, her teammate with the OL Reign.

“I think there’s something special that’s really going to be happening here, and the more Yael spoke about the future and where she wants to take this organization, I could sense this shift within me,” Lavelle recalled. “It all aligned with the personal goals I set for myself, and the hunger of [the] free agency period was a bonus.”

For Davidson, it was the familiarity of the current lineup. Because the women’s soccer world is a close-knit community, she knew a lot of the players on the team, having previously come across them through her experiences from youth camps to the national team. Considering she was leaving the Chicago Red Stars for life on the East Coast, familiarity among her teammates was a comforting thought. Davidson also had high praise for the passion, intelligence, and preparation the coaching staff and front office exude on a daily basis.

“The organization as a whole has a clear vision of what success looks like and with that comes a step-by-step process of how they want to get there. That’s so exciting to me that it’s not just we want to make things better. It’s like, ‘OK, this is actually how we’re going to do it with clear steps to becoming the foremost team and set the standard for other people to try and catch up with us.'”

Gotham’s achievement in recruiting some of the best players in the game rightfully keeps them firmly in the contender discussion and maybe even puts the team at the top of some lists to repeat as champions. It also led to a new discourse in women’s soccer: the NWSL’s first superteam.

Gotham FC hopes to repeat as champions with a new-look roster. (Meg Oliphant / Getty Images)

As the first of the club’s major signings, Dunn acknowledged that Gotham has superteam potential, but it must be paired with other essential qualities in order to be successful.

“I’ve been playing this game long enough to know that you need the pieces, and you also need the chemistry,” Dunn said to Boardroom in December. “I think the NWSL is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, leagues to play in. Gotham has that firepower, but we’re not going to just beat you because of who’s on our team. We’re going to beat you with the style of play, the relentless attitude, and a winning mentality that we’re going to carry from the moment the game starts until it ends.”

Sonnett added: “I’ve never really viewed us as a superteam, but I think there is a lot of talent. So now what we have to figure out is how can all that talent get on the same page and make it work in the form of wins and goals scored. There are so many talented teams in the NWSL, but one thing that’s necessary to make it all work is whether we all have the same mentality while training and playing.”

Crystal Dunn Returns Home to Be a Leader for Gotham FC & Women’s Soccer
The new Gotham FC player speaks with Boardroom about the prospect of an NWSL superteam, the advice she received from Ali Krieger, and her role in advancing the sport.
Check it out!

Moving Forward with a New Media Deal

Last season, CBS Sports channels were the sole platform to watch your favorite NWSL team play. That all changed in November when the league announced a new four-year media rights deal that will partner the women’s domestic topflight football league with CBS Sports, ESPN, Prime Video, and Scripps Sports.

Reportedly valued at $240 million, the agreement is a massive increase from the three-year, $4.5 million contract previously in place with CBS. It’s a monumental feat for the league because, moving forward, 118 matches will be distributed across the aforementioned services.

“There’s never been more of an exciting time to be part of women’s sports. The buzz, interest, and value is here to stay and it’s just going to keep growing and getting better,” Lavelle said about the landmark deal, adding, “I think having better access to watching games is a positive for kids. They see their role models and say, ‘Oh, I want to do that one day.’ That’s going to have a long-lasting effect on them.”

“I’m excited to no longer answer texts from people asking, ‘Where is the game?'” Sonnett joked. “But in all seriousness, it’s nice to see visibility for both women’s sports and women’s soccer.”

Emily Sonnett and Rose Lavelle are no strangers to being teammates on the pitch. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

In a November 2023 report, Deloitte predicted that women’s professional sports could generate profit that surpasses $1 billion. Not only is that a 300% increase in valuation, but the first time it will reach that billion-dollar milestone.

There is an obvious throughline contributing to this forecast. For starters, NCAA women’s basketball teams like the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks and individuals like Caitlin Clark are attracting audiences in droves to watch their games in person and on television. That leads to record-breaking viewership numbers, and brands are naturally shelling out more money than ever to promote their products during live broadcasts. NIL deals are another factor, and currently, more women in the college space have inked sneaker contracts than their male counterparts.

At the pro level, the Las Vegas Aces became the first team in WNBA history to completely sell out of its regular season ticket passes. Meanwhile, following the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, jersey sales for Australia (co-hosted with New Zealand) increased by 19%, and Code Sports estimates the economic benefit totaled $1.32 billion.

The math is mathing when it comes to advancing women’s sports, which makes this upcoming season a monumental one for NJ/NY Gotham FC and the NWSL as a whole. Excitement for the game has always been there; now, more people are paying attention.

Read More:

The post With Superteam Signings, Gotham FC is Raising the Bar for the NWSL appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading OL Reign v NJ/NY Gotham FC – 2023 NWSL Championship Can Gotham FC repeat as champions with a new-look roster? (Meg Oliphant / Getty Images) Argentina v United States: Group A – 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup Emily Sonnett and Rose Lavelle are no strangers to being teammates. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images) Jerry Rice, Shannon Sharpe & More: The Legacy of HBCUs in the NFL https://boardroom.tv/hbcu-nfl-legacy-black-history-month/ Tue, 27 Feb 2024 19:29:23 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=87345 While it took an extra couple of decades before there was HBCU participation in the NFL, it's clear the league wouldn't be where it is today without such athletes.

The post Jerry Rice, Shannon Sharpe & More: The Legacy of HBCUs in the NFL appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> While it took an extra couple of decades before there was HBCU participation in the NFL, it’s clear the league wouldn’t be where it is today without such athletes.

The NFL drafted its first class of players 94 years ago in 1930. For players attending HBCUs looking to play professional football, they really wouldn’t have that opportunity until 1950.

As was with most cases during that period, Black people were prohibited from participating in events run by their White counterparts. More specifically, select execs across the league weren’t keen on providing athletes from historically Black institutions a chance to play elite football.

The first team to bet on a player from an HBCU was the Los Angeles Rams when they signed Paul “Tank” Younger after he went undrafted in 1949. Younger would go on to win a Super Bowl and earn four Pro Bowl nods in his career while he currently sits as the Rams’ sixth-leading rusher of all-time.

His signing led to the first HBCU player being drafted the following season in 1950 when the New York Giants selected Bob “Stonewall” Jackson out of North Carolina A&M (now North Carolina A&T State University). Taken in the 16th round (202nd overall), the Virginia native played both fullback and linebacker for two seasons before graduating with a master’s degree from Springfield College. Jackson went on to have a successful coaching career, spending most of his tenure at North Carolina Central in addition to other stints at Johnson C. Smith University, St. Augustine’s University, Shaw University, and Texas Southern University.

Simply put: Younger and Jackson were pivotal game-changers when it comes to the HBCU representation in professional football.

In 1951 and 1952, the NFL added another seven players from HBCUs, and in 1954, fullback Maurice Bassett from Langston made history as the highest-drafted player from an HBCU when Cleveland and the team’s first head coach, Paul Brown, took him in the third round of that year’s draft. One year later and five years since Jackson’s selection, a quarterback from an HBCU would finally taste NFL promotion. With the 185th pick in the 16th round, the Green Bay Packers selected Prairie View A&M alum Charlie Brackins.

Another one wouldn’t be chosen for 13 years, but it’s clear the league wouldn’t be where it is today without HBCU athletes.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Carrying the Torch

According to the NFL, players hailing from an HBCU make up nearly 10% of all players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (35 out of 371 honorees). Some of your favorite players didn’t excel at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI), which makes the necessity of recruitment from HBCUs all that more important.

Some of the league’s most popular figures who happen to be HBCU alums include:

  • Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State: Three-time Super Bowl champion and NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards and most career touchdowns
  • Michael Strahan, Texas Southern: Super Bowl champion and New York Giants Ring of Honor member
  • Bob Hayes, Florida A&M: Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor member and the only player to win both a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal
  • Doug Williams, Grambling State: The first Black quarterback to both start and win a Super Bowl
  • Shannon Sharpe, Savannah State: Three-time Super Bowl champion and Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
  • Larry Little, Bethune-Cookman: Two-time Super Bowl champion and Miami Dolphins Walk of Fame

Perhaps the most fitting example of HBCU’s permanent impact in the NFL is the namesake for the league’s most illustrious award. A Jackson State alum, Walter Payton was selected fourth overall in the 1975 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. The Mississippi native played 12 years professionally before retiring at the end of the 1987 season with a Super Bowl trophy, MVP honors, and more accolades to his resume. Having received the award himself in 1977 when it was called NFL Man of the Year, the distinction was renamed following Payton’s death in 1999 to commemorate his work as a humanitarian.

Continuing its responsibility of recognizing HBCU players off the field as well, RISE, a non-profit that empowers athletes and sports leaders to become effective advocates for change, recognized a host of athletes past and present during last month’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas at the HBCU Legacy Commemoration Reception, sponsored in part by Amazon Music, NFL Votes, and NFL Network. The ceremony was attended by the likes of Amazon Music’s Phylicia Fant and Deputy Director of White House HBCU initiatives Naeem Jenkins Nixon, while NFL Network reporter Steve Wyche (a Howard alum) led a fireside discussion with James “Shack” Harris. The former QB from Grambling State was Director of Pro Personnel from 1997 to 2003, when he won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens.

How Michael Strahan Built a Sports and Entertainment Empire
Alongside his longtime business adviser and friend, Constance Schwartz-Morini, the two co-founded SMAC Entertainment.
Check it out!

“Historically Black Colleges and Universities are the cradle of excellence, nurturing talent and resilience. Celebrating their profound impact, RISE sports recognized the pivotal role of HBCU football players, whose indomitable spirit not only transformed the game on the field but paved the way for diversity, unity, and inspiration in the NFL and beyond,” said Alan Williams, Senior Advisor for External Engagement in the office of Vice President Kamala Harris.

“But for RISE sports and HBCU Endzone, this vital conversation would have been absent from the Super Bowl week of festivities, it was truly impactful to witness and hear the stories that are at the bedrock of the NFL as we know it today and those stories remind all is that representation matters, and RISE embodies that idea.”

Joe Briggs, the Global Head of Equity Initiatives at Amazon, says participating in the HBCU Legacy reception allowed him to marry two of his favorite things in football and his HBCU, Florida A&M University.

“Sharing information about how my HBCU enhanced my journey to a sports career and beyond reminded me just how important these institutions are to both future students and our community,” Briggs said. “Showcasing executives across many fields who had their start at an HBCU should remind everyone else just how powerful investments in HBCUs can be when you lean in with them.

“Thank you, RISE, for allowing space for me to attend and share that part of my story. My hope is this will open up other opportunities for students, families, and companies to learn about the talent and opportunities available through HBCUs.”

Keep Building

Football started during the Reconstruction era, a particularly precarious time for Black Americans. There were several Black players when the NFL was formed in 1920. However, bigoted personalities and other factors prevented these athletes from being recognized as true assets to the game. Those notions have thankfully changed, and now benefits are set up to ensure HBCU players are receiving much overdue attention so they follow in the footsteps of the aforementioned Hall of Famers.

For those with a longstanding desire to toss that yellow penalty flag, every year, NFL Officiating awards scholarships for its Officiating Development Training sessions that include clinics, game evaluations, and continued education. They communicate with HBCU conferences like the SIAC, SWAC, CIAA, and the MEAC to promote the next generation of game day officials.

The league also just held its HBCU Legacy Bowl over the weekend, an HBCU football All-Star game that puts the top draft-eligible prospects in front of top recruiters across all 32 franchises. In partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame, the NFL has also instilled a two-day quarterback coaching summit that works to find and strengthen the coaching and personnel development pipeline for offensive coaches of color.

All of the progress made over the years can be circled back to the pioneering playing of Younger and Jackson, paving the way for generations moving forward. Seventy-five years later, there’s still work left to be done, but the safe space created by former HBCU athletes for all men of color to achieve a lifelong dream continues to grow.

Read More:

The post Jerry Rice, Shannon Sharpe & More: The Legacy of HBCUs in the NFL appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Zinedine Zidane on Coaching, Adidas, and Messi’s Immeasurable Impact on Major League Soccer https://boardroom.tv/zinedine-zidane-mls-messi-adidas/ Sat, 24 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=87199 Zinedine Zidane opens up about the impact Messi has made on the MLS, his partnership with Adidas, and where he sees himself next.

The post Zinedine Zidane on Coaching, Adidas, and Messi’s Immeasurable Impact on Major League Soccer appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The legendary player turned manager shares his thoughts on the impact Messi has made on the MLS, what it’s like repping the Three Stripes all these years, and where he sees himself headed next.

Zinedine Zidane is not just a phenomenal footballer turned legendary manager. The Frenchman is perhaps one of the most successful to do both, a feat rarely accomplished by some of the sport’s best.

Despite never having played or managed stateside in MLS, the former Real Madrid player and boss said he recognizes the league as instrumental to the advancement of soccer. Especially now with the arrival of Lionel Messi.

“I came to the States last year for an MLS match and it’s a league that is very eternal,” Zizou told Boardroom during the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. “It is a league that is becoming very important, especially with the arrival of Messi, because it is true that perhaps the American league plays on another level. I was able to see the enthusiasm Messi brought to the league. It’s an extension of his impact as one of the best to play the game.”

Zidane is not wrong.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Prior to Messi’s arrival, the “get-in price” for Inter Miami’s home opener in 2023 was $7. Since the World Cup winner’s signing last summer, that number has significantly increased by 1,885% to now $139 as the get-in price.

On social media, the David Beckham-owned club has an impressive 16 million Instagram followers since last June and is now one of the most-followed U.S. sports franchises on that platform, surpassing all NFL, MLB, and NHL teams.

And to top it all off, within months of Messi starting for the team, Inter Miami won their first trophy: the 2023 League Cup.

In speaking to Boardroom, Zidane made it clear that to recruit a high caliber player like Messi to domestic football, you need a prolific leader to do so. He credits Beckham for his efforts in securing the game changing transfer. Because after all, who else but the Manchester United and Real Madrid legend could orchestrate such a blockbuster acquisition?

“David Beckham, as president, was able to have the opportunity to bring in Messi because he understands the demands of playing in Europe and the United States. Because in fact, MLS is a league that is very complicated, with playing we don’t often see in Europe. So actually, seeing Beckham and seeing Messi so involved in this league, it opens up an important perspective for the potential of MLS.”

And of course, Zidane knows Messi all too well.

As manager of Real Madrid for two very successful stints (2016-2018 and again from 2019-2021), Zidane was tasked with finding the game plan capable of stopping soccer’s undisputed GOAT.

The now 51-year-old succeeded at times, winning three LaLiga trophies, three Champions League titles, two UEFA Super Cup titles, and two FIFA Club World Cups.

Although he’s walked away from coaching (for now), Zidane is still plenty locked in to elevating the game, especially when it comes to to his yearslong partnership with the Three Stripes.

For 25 years, Zidane has been an Adidas ambassador, helping Three Stripes drop multiple iterations of the iconic Predator boot. With the highs and lows of his career making headlines, Zidane said he’s always had Adidas by his side, which certainly contributes to the longstanding relationship he has with the sportswear brand.

“It always means something to me to be able to represent Adidas at events after all these years,” the 1998 World Cup winner said from an Adidas event at the Super Bowl. “We always talk about athletes, we always talk about perfection, we always talk about performance. And that excites me to be able to show that today, across all sports, Adidas has incredible and successful athletes.”

Real Madrid’s Zinedane Zidane celebrates after scoring Real Madrids first goal (Photo by Tony Marshall/EMPICS via Getty Images)

Does a return to coaching either in the states or back in Europe at the club level look likely for Zizou? Or, could he finally make the jump to a national team? As we wait on bated breath for what’s next for Zidane, he promised that he intends to purse new opportunities, whatever those may be, and will keep doing what he loves.

“Well, it’s true that there is a little break there, but above all it’s about continuing with new opportunities. I love taking on new opportunities that interest me and if there is something that gets my attention, I want to be a part of it. Once I finish, I’ll start again on something else and win again.”

READ MORE

The post Zinedine Zidane on Coaching, Adidas, and Messi’s Immeasurable Impact on Major League Soccer appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Generated image Real Madrid's Zinedane Zidane celebrates after scoring Real Madrids first goal (Photo by Tony Marshall/EMPICS via Getty Images) With Lay’s in Hand, Thierry Henry Stays True to Arsenal in Retirement https://boardroom.tv/thierry-henry-lays-champions-league-arsenal-interview/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 13:59:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=87014 The former soccer star sits down with Boardroom to talk about his Lay's partnership with David Beckham, Arsenal's chances in Champions League tourney play, and more.

The post With Lay’s in Hand, Thierry Henry Stays True to Arsenal in Retirement appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The former soccer star sits down with Boardroom to talk about his Lay’s partnership with David Beckham, Arsenal’s chances in Champions League tourney play, and more.

When naming players who forever changed modern football, any list without Thierry Henry is invalid. Every time the Frenchman stepped onto the pitch, it was seemingly a guaranteed show. Even the opponent’s fans had no other choice but to marvel at his greatness.

These days, the Arsenal legend is still a namesake in soccer but now calls the shots from the analyst chair. Henry is currently a pundit with CBS Sports in their UEFA Champions League coverage, a role he’s held since September 2021. With the Champions League returning to action this week, the now 46-year-old admits the game has changed a lot compared to when he’s played, but the competition remains remarkably unique.

“When you step out of the group stage and you arrive at the knockout stage, it becomes something different,” he explained. “Everybody wants to watch it. I coached a couple of games also with Monaco in it, so I kind of touched everything. I’ve experienced all the ‘humility’ that comes with competing in the Champions League. I’ve lost a final, won one, and had both good and bad moments. The competition is just something special.”

Henry experienced his fair share of happiness and heartbreak in his eight years at Arsenal. During his tenure as a Gunner, Henry won two Premier League titles, two FA Cup trophies, and two Community Shields.

The one award he didn’t lift while in North London? The illustrious Champions League.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Don’t worry, the 2003 Ballon d’Or runner-up picked up one of those with Barcelona in the 2008-09 season. But to this day, Henry remains a staunch supporter of Arsenal, and when asked by Boardroom how Mikel Arteta’s men will fare in the Round of 16, he provided a frank assessment.

“It’s a long road; it’s very difficult to call,” Henry said, joking that he’s just happy to watch football on Tuesday and Wednesday again. “Who would’ve thought Inter Milan would have gone to the final last year? It was virtually impossible to call.

“I just hope that we can surprise people. But it all depends on the draw. If you meet someone too early that’s supposed to win, it can be a tough one. You might surprise them in one game, but home and away against a big team, at times, is not that easy. So, let’s hope we can win it.”

As for Arsenal’s chances at its first Premier League title since the famous Invincibles season in 2023-24? Per usual, it’s always a toss-up.

“Well, last year everyone thought that we could do it — unfortunately, experience talks. I think last year, we were the second youngest team in the league, and at one point, towards the end, is going to have an impact. If a team is used to this type of situation like Manchester City is, it shows in the end. The battle this year is just crazy in the Premier League. You just don’t know what teams will pull ahead and who’s going to win it.

“But Arsenal is just amazing, and I think we’re in good shape.”

The three-time domestic champions currently sit in third in the Premier League table, tied in second place with Manchester City and two points behind first-place Liverpool. Regardless of how Arsenal finishes this year, Henry agreed there are generational talents that will eventually bring a title back to the Emirates Stadium.

“When I think about Arsenal, I think about Bukayo Saka. He’s from the academy, he’s a Londoner, he’s an Arsenal fan and he’s performing. I’m not saying that the other guys are not good; this is not what I’m saying. But Saka is the guy that I always think about when it comes to Arsenal,” Henry said.

Thierry Henry
(Image courtesy of Lay’s)

Thierry Henry x Lay’s

So many of Henry’s post-retirement activities have revolved around punditry and management. But when he does dip into entrepreneurial ventures, it still revolves around the beautiful game.

In celebration of the Champions League’s return, Henry teamed up with Lay’s to launch the “No Lay’s, No Game 2024” campaign. Through an innovative “Chip Cam” stunt featuring fellow soccer legend David Beckham, the brand wants to bring joy to fans around the globe who watch the beautiful game with Lay’s in hand.

For his second stint with the chip brand, Henry and Beckham asked, “Do you have Lay’s?” to a crowd of 75,000 cheering fans at San Siro during a match between AC Milan and PSG. Just before kickoff, Beckham realizes Henry has eaten all his chips. What follows is a call through the Chip Cam, a fun spin on the traditional Kiss Cam, to help identify a fan who might also have chips of their own to share.

“When I saw the script and what I had to do, I was like, ‘Hmm, I played for Juventus, it’s in Milan’s stadium, it’s the enemy. They’re going to put me on the jumbo tron.’ That will be a bit unexpected,” Henry joked about the spot. “But I had Becks with me, and he played for Milan, so I was like, ‘OK, if they put Becks first, that would be OK.’

“I never thought in my life that I was going to address a crowd of 75,000 people in the Champions League game when they’re all waiting for the game to start. It was live, obviously, so you can’t make any mistakes, but it was good fun. It was an experience — something that I’m not used to — but it’s always something good and challenging with Lay’s when we do something. It’s not the boring usual smile and go. It’s always something more, and that night was pretty amazing.”

US residents can access the infamous Lay’s Detector used in the video above on Lay’s Instagram and Facebook.

Read More:

The post With Lay’s in Hand, Thierry Henry Stays True to Arsenal in Retirement appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Thierry Henry on Lay's Chips, Arsenal, Champions League & More %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% Thierry Henry chats with Boardroom about his Lay's partnership with David Beckham and Arsenal's chances in Champions League tourney play. Arsenal,Champions League,David Beckham,Interview,soccer,Thierry Henry,Thierry Henry Loading No-Lays-No-Game-Still-Image-2 (Image courtesy of Lay's) Sandra Douglass Morgan: A Force to be Reckoned With https://boardroom.tv/sandra-douglass-morgan-black-history-month/ Mon, 12 Feb 2024 19:15:11 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=86887 From blazing trails to playing a pivotal role in hosting Super Bowl LVIII, the Las Vegas Raiders President is just getting started.

The post Sandra Douglass Morgan: A Force to be Reckoned With appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> From blazing trails to playing a pivotal role in hosting Super Bowl LVIII, the Las Vegas Raiders President is just getting started.

Sandra Douglass Morgan might be an unfamiliar name to those living outside Las Vegas. However, the veteran executive and current president of the Las Vegas Raiders has made herself a household personality and remains committed to breaking barriers in the NFL and, quite frankly, beyond football.

Born in Knob Knoster, Mo., Douglass Morgan moved to Las Vegas as a toddler. She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Nevada in Reno, eventually going on to earn a JD from the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV.

From there, Douglass Morgan blazed new trails everywhere she went. Long before making history as the first Black and Asian woman to serve as a President of an NFL team, Douglass Morgan became the first Black person to hold the role of civil attorney for North Las Vegas, a role she held from 2008 to 2016. Before that, Douglass Morgan was the first Black person to serve as chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (2019-2021). On top of that, she holds board positions with Allegiant Travel, Fidelity, and the UNLV Foundation while also being a member of the State Bar of Nevada and the District of Columbia Bar.

“I think anytime that you’re the ‘first’ or doing something that people around you want to keep highlighting, there is additional pressure,” Douglass Morgan said at the fifth annual Sports Power Brunch in Las Vegas last week ahead of the Super Bowl. “I think as the first Black woman in this role as President, I thought there would be an announcement, and I would move on and do the work. But to see so many women being encouraged maybe thinking about the opportunity to lead in sports marketing, management, and just the general entertainment industry, it’s been incredibly heartwarming.”

Sandra Douglass Morgan
(Photo courtesy of Ricardo Aguilera / The BIG Agency)

The historic achievements with the Raiders don’t just end with Douglass Morgan. Within the AFC West team, its leadership team is 50% women, and the business operation team is 30% women. And while the Raiders weren’t playing in Sunday’s SB LVIII, these teams within the organization — with Douglass Morgan at the helm — played a large part in Las Vegas having an incredibly successful week as the host of the Big Game.

But before that, during the Sports Power Brunch, Douglas Morgan was honored with the Leadership Award and acknowledged the many women who, like her, also bet on themselves.

“For me, this award is not just a reflection of my own personal journey, but a testament to the collective effort and resilience of the countless women who dared to dream and challenge the status quo,” she said to the audience.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Building Raiders with Vegas

When Douglass Morgan was appointed the Raiders’ President in July 2022 by owner Mark Davis, he called her “a force to be reckoned with,” and her accomplishments within the organization surely reflect that. As head of the team, Douglass Morgan oversees all business operations of the Raiders, including but not limited to ensuring corporate obligations are met and growing the franchise’s footprint in the overseas market.

As anyone who’s been to Sin City knows, Las Vegas has long been a hotbed for entertainment and fun. But these days, with Douglass Morgan and the Raiders expanding their reach to new corners of the city, Vegas is making a case for itself as the hottest, newest sports market.

The Vegas Golden Knights are the reigning Stanley Cup champions, while the Las Vegas Aces are setting the standard in the WNBA as the back-to-back champions of the league (Aces President Nikki Fargas was also honored at the Sports Power Brunch with the Impact Award). And, of course, there’s the Raiders, who are attracting the likes of Tom Brady to their ownership group, with another fellow Oakland franchise in the Athletics potentially on the way after having been approved by MLB owners to relocate.

Seemingly, everyone is trying to get in on the sports action in Las Vegas, and with all eyes on as the host city of Super Bowl LVIII, Douglass Morgan had a big responsibility to execute. Leading up to it, she held the role of Vice Chair on the host committee. In this role, like her year-round obligations and duties, Douglass Morgan helped secure six-figure sponsorships, scouted and selected locations of events during Super Bowl week, managed any concerns at Allegiant Stadium, and more.

Simply put, this last week in Las Vegas doesn’t happen without Douglass Morgan’s tireless efforts.

“There’s been over two years of planning, and now we’re seeing the execution take place right before our eyes,” Douglass Morgan told Boardroom. “We’ve had an incredibly hardworking team help pull this off for us. So, I’m grateful to have been able to be a part of bringing a Super Bowl to Las Vegas.”

Sandra Douglass Morgan
(Photo courtesy of Ricardo Aguilera / The BIG Agency)

Not Done Yet

Even though the Super Bowl festivities are in the rear-view mirror in Las Vegas, all eyes will remain on the Raiders in what will be a pivotal offseason.

After a strong showing under the interim tag, the team officially made Antonio Pierce its head coach heading into the 2024 campaign, a popular move among the players. The franchise’s front office is proof that diversity remains a priority, and while she can only speak on behalf of the Raiders, Douglass Morgan lauded the NFL for its effort to encourage more exposure and create more opportunities for women in football — in business, football operations, scouting, etc.

“I have to give hats off to Jonathan Beane [NFL Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer],” she said. “We’re kind of leading the charge as well. We’re happy to support the NFL and the league in any of their diversity initiatives.”

This upcoming season will mark two years in her role for Douglass Morgan, but as for what’s next, the pioneering playmaker said that she’ll concentrate on maintaining the momentum of the Super Bowl excitement this offseason. Fans and tourists alike can look forward to more unique activations across the city that strengthen the club’s relationship with Las Vegas.

Douglass Morgan carries a great sense of pride as the first Black woman president of an NFL team, but she hopes she won’t be alone for much longer. She’s already busted down the doors and hopes her efforts will inspire those who come after her.

Just minutes after receiving her award at the Sports Power Brunch, Boardroom asked Douglass Morgan what she might tell her younger self if she could.

“To be confident to support and surround yourself with positive people who want to see you excel on your journey and wholeheartedly support you along the way,” she said with a smile.

Read More:

The post Sandra Douglass Morgan: A Force to be Reckoned With appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> SportsPowerBrunch2024-250 (Photo courtesy of Ricardo Aguilera / The BIG Agency) Loading Copy-of-In-house-honoree-group-shot-1 (Photo courtesy of Ricardo Aguilera / The BIG Agency) WNBA Gets Girls in the Game with VOICEINSPORT https://boardroom.tv/wnba-voiceinsport-partnership-announcement/ Wed, 07 Feb 2024 15:00:43 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=86848 To commemorate National Girls and Women in Sports Day, the WNBA’s Changemaker Collective announced a new collaboration with VOICEINSPORT to spark the future of women in sports. Ever since 1987, the United States has

The post WNBA Gets Girls in the Game with VOICEINSPORT appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> To commemorate National Girls and Women in Sports Day, the WNBA’s Changemaker Collective announced a new collaboration with VOICEINSPORT to spark the future of women in sports.

Ever since 1987, the United States has celebrated the contributions to girls and women in athletics in the first week of February. In commemorating the 37th anniversary of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, the WNBA and VOICEINSPORT (VIS) announced Wednesday a partnership in collaboration with the WNBA Changemaker Collective geared toward encouraging girls to remain in sports while also developing the next generation of diverse leaders on the court and beyond the game.

With the help of partners like Nike, Google, AT&T, U.S. Bank, CarMax and Deloitte, the WNBA Changemaker Collective leverages its massive network to elevate, advance, and economically empower girls and women through the power of sports.

“At VIS, we like to say that every day is National Girls and Women in Sports Day because 100% of our time is focused on creating a safe space for young women to access resources, content, and services,” Stef Strack, VIS founder and CEO told Boardroom. “So it’s an incredible day to not only celebrate the progress that we have made so far but also bring attention to the work that is still left undone.

Added WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison: “It’s really exciting to see the fruits of the labor of Title IX being around for 50+ years. I think this next generation that’s coming up never really experienced all of the inequities the older generations did. That doesn’t mean that the work is completely done. There’s so much left to do, but it’s exciting that this next generation is so optimistic and we’re happy to support that.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Keeping Girls in Sports

The Women’s Sports Foundation revealed that by age 14, girls are likely to abandon sports at two times the rate of boys. While several factors contribute to this mass departure, however, one of the main factors is a lack of access to some of the basic supplies necessary to excel in athletics. To help curb this outbreak, The WNBA Changemakers shared a goal of engaging over 50,000 girls in sports in 2024 through the VIS platform.

To accelerate access, VIS recruited 12 WNBA players who will serve as official mentors for the initiative. Those names are Ariel Atkins (Washington Mystics), Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever), Alysha Clark (Las Vegas Aces), Natasha Cloud (Phoenix Mercury), Izzy Harrison (Chicago Sky), Lexie Hull (Indiana Fever), Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (New York Liberty), Haley Jones (Atlanta Dream), Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm), Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings), Katie Lou Samuelson (Indiana Fever), and Erica Wheeler (Indiana Fever).

“By becoming mentors on the platform, VIS worked individually with the players and the agents to bring together a diverse set of WNBA players who are passionate about mentoring, who understand the impact of using their voice, and care deeply about keeping girls in the game,” Strack explained. “The inaugural 12 VIS mentors are diverse, they’re powerful, and they’re dedicated to not only mentoring but getting involved in driving positive change in their communities.”

Should the spirit move you to support the efforts of these young ladies from afar,” Strack continued, “there’s also a separate option to sponsor a player via VIS’s sponsorship program. You can load her VIS card with allotted funds so they can go to more one-on-one sessions with the aforementioned WNBA mentors on the platform.

So, on this National Girls and Women in Sports Day, how do we keep the momentum at an all-time high and ensure that 2024 becomes the year more monumental changes happen for the betterment of the next legends-to-be?

“I think it’s continued investment on so many different levels. For us, when we think about the WNBA, it’s continued investment from corporate partnerships and the media. It’s constant coverage, and not just for live games, but what content comes outside of the live broadcast. It’s so important that we are building the next generation of fans, not just people who support women’s sports but are actually fans. And that’s where I think we’ll continue to see this transformational growth of our league and all other leagues in women’s sports.”

Find out more information on the partnership here.

Read More:

The post WNBA Gets Girls in the Game with VOICEINSPORT appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Cam Newton Calls His Own Plays in Media Master Plan https://boardroom.tv/cam-newton-iconic-saga-business/ Tue, 06 Feb 2024 13:20:24 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=84868 The Iconic Saga founder and former NFL MVP sat down with Boardroom to discuss his quest to become the top YouTuber in sports, the inspiration behind his businesses, and so much more. Cam Newton

The post Cam Newton Calls His Own Plays in Media Master Plan appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The Iconic Saga founder and former NFL MVP sat down with Boardroom to discuss his quest to become the top YouTuber in sports, the inspiration behind his businesses, and so much more.

Cam Newton has a two-pronged plan for success. First, build a media empire the likes no one has ever seen. Next, surround himself with the right people to help execute his vision.

Both goals propel a feeling of ownership for the 34-year-old. The days of studying game film are long past him. But Newton fuels a penchant for learning another way: studying some of the biggest names in media and their ascent from nobodies to billionaires. “Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Oprah. They all have something in common,” he tells me. “They own everything. So, anytime I have the opportunity to own an IP, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Listening to Newton break down his master plan, I’m struck by how in-depth it is. It contains attainable short- and long-term goals backed by the steps he’s already completed to reach said milestones. For Newton, this plan has been in process since he emerged from Auburn.

The former NFL MVP sat down with Boardroom to discuss how he’s taking his MVP work ethic into his next chapter, the businesses he’s building, and much more.

Entering the Next Era

From the moment we were introduced to Cam Newton the college quarterback in 2008, there was always something that stood apart. Rather than appealing to how the so-called “leader” should act, Newton blazed his own path. Thus, it’s perhaps no surprise that when asked what network would sponsor his new venture, he was quick to emphasize that it’s both solo-funded and free of corporate influence.

“Being independent, I wouldn’t even say it’s harder, but it requires more grit and grind rather than somebody having an already set platform, like ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS, and things like that. I don’t think if I were on those platforms, I would be able to truly give the consumer me. You would get a version of me, but that wouldn’t be the real me. I’m just sitting back and trying to build Iconic Saga as the leading minority business company and we have to start somewhere.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Founded in 2012, Iconic Saga is a full-service production company Newton started that focuses on scripted and non-scripted digital content, children’s programming, animation, and more. Anything you see Newton attach his name to, it’s surely an Iconic Saga project. What’s taking up a chunk of his time these days is his weekly web series, Funky Friday. There, he moderates a conversation on a variety of topics from lifestyle, to relationships, the latest in pop culture, and more. A second series, 4th & 1, centers more on sports.

For Newton, the shows are more than a chance to link up with some of his famous friends. Rather, it’s a way for him to set the narrative.

“I would challenge and encourage other athletes to take control of their narrative,” says Newton. “When I want to hear about football, I want to hear it from a football player. If I want to hear about basketball, I want to hear about that from a basketball player. Media is at a very interesting space right now because you have people who are gaining more validation by being able to speak on certain topics, as opposed to the days where somebody can just voice their opinion and say, ‘Okay, boom. That’s the show.’ Well, in this day and age, it is being able to be authentic to what you’re talking about and how you’re talking about it. And we’re seeing more and more creatives or creators create stories, storylines, and content that’s true to them.”

Photo by Derek White/Getty Images

Newton is just one of several athletes and former athletes reclaiming their narrative from traditional sports news. Rather than sharing their stories with traditional outlets, they’re creating a safe space of their own. They are also creating content, which they play a role in developing and finding a permanent home on a platform they create and finance — and profit from.

While Cam has a unique vision for what he wants to make, he looks to others who have come before him for inspiration, both in sports and entertainment. Newton referenced two well-known modern content creators when discussing who have successfully disrupted media consumption: Logan and Jake Paul. After meeting Logan, Newton says he found him to be “very smart and strategic about what and how he did certain things.” A YouTuber-turned-fighter-turned-sports drink mogul, Paul boasts nearly 26 million subscribers on YouTube, and Newton attributes the 28-year-old’s success to understanding his audience.

“People just throw content on platforms, whether it’s Instagram, X, or TikTok. What I’m learning is that good content creators study their audience, the bad content creators study just themselves.”

Building on the Strength of a Solid Team

While Newton has always set himself apart from the crowd, he knows better than anyone how critical it is to have a solid team behind him. The strength of his team was core to his success in football and now serves as a steady foundation for what he’s building with Iconic Saga.

In a separate office behind where we’re sitting, Newton’s team is busy editing the latest episode of 4th & 1. Newton shares he’s had people working on his behalf ever since the age of 17. Attending open houses, classes, picking up supplies at the bookstore, and even down to deciding what to eat. “That was the job of someone else,” says Newton. By the time he entered the league, Newton had a full-fledged unit negotiating on his behalf.

Despite the benefits of dedicated personnel, however, Newton now sees ways that it can function as a hindrance to growth. “Because you skip steps of really understanding your business and understanding what you need. It took me a while to recognize I was not the priority for a lot of people’s focus. … I had ideas and whether those ideas were hits or flops, I wanted it to be a person’s focus. Well, it’s hard to have that focus for somebody when they’re just a contractor.”

As someone who prides himself on long-lasting relationships. Newton’s staff is an indication of that virtue. His producer is someone who has been with him since his first stint with the Carolina Panthers, and his chief of staff joined his team well before he was named NFL MVP in 2015. Relationship building, according to him, functions by one simple question: “Who gets me?” Newton says. “The people who I put in charge have to understand my mental process. They have to be my quarterback. They have to be an extension of me in a way where you got to be gritty, you got to be professional. You got to be detailed. You got to understand the most important part of your job is the attention to detail.”

Newton then boasts about Omari Collins, his head of digital content with such esteem that it’s obvious Iconic Saga doesn’t function without him. Bringing him into his universe wasn’t contingent on negotiations, because Newton tells me he was willing to pay what it took to acquire Collins’ services. “I was like, ‘bro, tell me what you need, I’m going to figure it out.’ Now we’ve grown to understand each other in a way that reaches far beyond the workplace.”

It’s fascinating hearing Newton reiterate his thought process in real-time. He doesn’t just think of those around him as people on his payroll with the sole purpose of making him look good. They’re instrumental to his success as a content creator and his evolution as a businessman. Newton describes the fun they have in great detail, and it’s apparent by the way he speaks highly of his team at every chance he gets.

“I want people to come into this space and feel vindicated. I want them to feel empowered. I want them to have fun. I want them to be rewarded for what they create.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Writing the Playbook Behind 4th & 1

When it launched in 2020, Funky Friday was only supposed to be a non-football activity during the season. During his tenure in New England, Newton describes the days as very strenuous. “I was just thinking about football, football, football. Going through the pandemic. It was football, football, football.”

Thus, an escape was born. The show became a way for him to “breathe,” he tells me. Podcast culture was booming. These days, anyone is a few hundred dollars is 3-5 business days away from having their own microphone to spew whatever inner thoughts they’d suddenly want broadcast to the public.

“I was witnessing other people using their platform to start podcasts or shows. I was like, ‘Yo, they talking about anything? I just want to talk about anything,” he joked. “Anybody who knows me knows I always have questions of the day. I love talking to people.” Newton motions to our setup. “This shit right here, I can do this all goddamn day. I just love that,” he continues. As candid as he was to me, you can only imagine how rewarding it is to do Funky Friday. Newton gushes about how much fun recording the program is, mainly because he gets “to talk to people and just have fun.”

In another moment of transparency, Newton acknowledges that his guests remain the nucleus, emphasizing that his number one goal is to make them comfortable. After all, the more comfortable they are, the more guests are willing to share. I point out that it’s a net positive to be invited as a guest of an NFL legend. “I have this ‘I don’t give a fuck mentality,'” Newton quips, flashing his signature grin before continuing, “But I don’t want to be a pot stirrer all the time. I just want to have a good conversation. I want to bring something out of you that nobody has ever bought out of you. I want to curate a vibe that is just unmatched.”

So far, Funky Friday has welcomed the likes of comedian Gary Owen, Brandon Marshall, Eli Manning, T-Boz from TLC, and dozens more. A quick browse through the show’s YouTube page reveals hours of discourse between everyone from social media influencers to people he used to suit up against. As far as guests go, Newton tells me he favors the “controversial people who’ve been through some shit.” Or, the commonly misunderstood individual. Most times, those go hand in hand.

Doing It All His Way

Newton and I have been talking for a couple of hours in his office by now. We’ve discussed plenty of football and business, but there are a few more topics I want to cover while I still have his attention. Celebrated for his heroic antics on the football field, Newton’s off-field ensembles became another major topic of discourse. Newton’s love of fashion started at an early age. The son of a pastor, he jokes that “even though The Bible says come as you are, my grandma wasn’t letting me come in no church with flip flops, shorts, or a plain white t-shirt.” Dressing up, even at an early age, was a form of self-expression for him, and it heightened once Newton enrolled in JROTC.

“JROTC is very strict. But I learned nothing about strictness other than fashionable gems that I didn’t necessarily know before…” he says. “Most importantly, JROTC taught me how to tie a tie. And I was so happy about that because a lot of people, especially people I was around, didn’t know how to tie a tie. I guarantee I could go into my dad’s closet right now. He’s going to have hundreds of already tied ties, probably been tied for 20 years now.”

Of course, Newton is wearing one of his signature bow ties as we speak. I jokingly asked if he could fasten it without looking in the mirror. He smirks, puts down the cigar he’s been smoking since we started the interview, and unravels the accessory. Fifty-five seconds later, the tie is back to being perfectly cinched in the middle of his neck.

(Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)

“That’s the thing about ties. It got personality to it, you know what I’m saying? And that’s me, a personable guy.”

Another thing that adds to Newton’s charm? His unique way of typing. A combination of upper and lowercase letters with oddly placed accent marks, It’s created so much controversy that Newton’s Instagram bio reads: ĪM ÑØT ČHÅÑGĪÑG TH£ ₩ÅŸ Ī TŸ₽£; gêt ōvêr ît❕ÿōū pōšt ÿōūr wâÿ; Ī ₽اT MĪÑ£…”

So, what’s the reasoning behind this decision? It’s all a part of his brand. “Did the way I type sacrifice deals? Yeah. Did it come off as narcissistic to some people? Sure, but they don’t know me. It’s a form of self-expression. If we don’t all write the same, why should we all type the same?” Newton informs me that to generate his font, he uses an app called I Post My Way.

The final thing that makes Newton a maestro of charisma is his hair. Over the years, we’ve seen it grow from a low fade to now a head full of locs. Before you ask, Newton has absolutely no plans to cut his signature look. His hat brand, Meshika, even makes custom headgear to withstand the locs that sit straight up.

In combination, Newton’s style has grown with him — with little consideration of any expectations of him.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

What’s Next For Super Cam?

Iconic Saga has a busy 2024 ahead. Although Newton’s focus is on becoming the most famous athlete-turned-YouTuber, he’s got even bigger plans to cement himself as Atlanta’s premiere businessman.

He and his older brother Cecil “CJ” Newton Jr. own Fellaship, a cigar bar in downtown Atlanta that’s a short walk from the Falcons’ home of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A new restaurant called The End Zone is forthcoming, and alongside his business partner, Newton wants to create the number one minority brokerage company in the world.

Newton then exclusively reveals to Boardroom that plans for a private, membership social club are in the works. Named Cosa Nostra, it is set to open later this year.

Newton says he got the inspiration for the moniker from the mob.

“I’m a big fan of drug dealers,” he adds. “They’re the best businessmen in the world. Have you ever seen Pablo Escobar? Now, was he corrupt? Yeah, but I love his business mindset.” With two shows, multiple businesses, and a foundation to manage, it seems like football is the last of his priorities. Newton assures me the arm still works, but that’s no longer the focus.

So, what does he want his legacy to be?

“I want to monetize my life my way. I got control over my shit. Is it going to be harder? Yeah, but I ain’t want this shit to be easy. If it were, anybody could do it. I’m trying to learn from other people’s mistakes and other people’s successes and apply it to my own. I know my compensation may not always come in the form of financial. My compensation comes with joy. Every time I walk through these doors and I see the team and I see guys that stay here past the eight-hour shift, that’s the shit I get happy about.

“So you’re asking me, ‘Okay Cam, are you still playing football?’ My answer is ‘Hell no.’ But I’m busier than I’ve ever been because I could take what football taught me and implement it in every single one of my businesses. The structure, the discipline, the sacrifice, the mental stamina that’s needed. And that’s the conversation. The grind. The joy is in the journey.”

Read More:

The post Cam Newton Calls His Own Plays in Media Master Plan appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Cam Newton Calls His Own Plays in Media Master Plan - Boardroom Cam Newton sits down with Boardroom. He breaks down his quest to become a top YouTuber, the inspiration behind his businesses, & much more. Cam Newton,Exclusive,football,media,NFL,Cam Newton Loading I Am Iconic Live Tour With Brandon Marshall & Cam Newton – Atlanta, GA ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 19: Cam Newton performs onstage during the "I Am Iconic" Live Tour at City Winery on December 19, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Derek White/Getty Images) Loading Third Annual Fearless VC Summit (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage) Loading Messi & Michelob: Inter Miami Star Makes Super Bowl Commercial Debut https://boardroom.tv/messi-michelob-ultra-super-bowl-commercial/ Thu, 01 Feb 2024 17:25:36 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=86648 The soccer superstar is joined by actor Jason Sudeikis and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino in the beachy beer ad.

The post Messi & Michelob: Inter Miami Star Makes Super Bowl Commercial Debut appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The soccer superstar is joined by actor Jason Sudeikis and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino in the beachy beer ad.

Michelob ULTRA typically tends to move the needle when it comes to its Super Bowl ads, and this year is no different. Ahead of the big showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers at SBLVIII, the beer company unveiled its star-studded ad, reminding fans that “you don’t have to choose between an active and a social life.”

In the 60-second “Superior Beach” spot, Michelob teamed up with Inter Miami star Lionel Messi for his first-ever Super Bowl commercial appearance. Messi appears alongside Emmy award-winning actor Jason Sudeikis and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino in a beachy ad that celebrates joy, athleticism, and spontaneity.

The commercial follows Messi enjoying an impromptu game of pick-up beach soccer while waiting for a Michelob beer, with commentary from Sudeikis and a reminder that Marino’s cannon of an arm still works.

“It’s a relatable moment, playing soccer on the beach,” Ricardo Marques, Michelob’s Vice President of Marketing, said to Boardroom. “And then you add the GOAT, Leo Messi with Marino and Sudeikis, you get an entertaining spot that is relevant not only for soccer fans. Of course, soccer fans will love it, but it’s relevant for everybody because everybody sees themselves integrated into the story.”

(Photo courtesy of Michelob ULTRA)

Some might wonder what the world’s biggest soccer star is doing in a promotional video during an American football game, but the Super Bowl campaign is all part of the next chapter in Michelob’s partnership with Messi and its investment in the sport overall. Following the Super Bowl, the company will be turning its focus to Copa América USA 2024 as the official global beer sponsor of the tournament.

The world’s oldest national team tournament, Copa América will see 16 teams — 10 from CONMEBOL and six from CONCACAF — battle it out across 14 host cities in the United States from June 20 to July 14. The reigning champions? Messi’s Argentina.

SIGN UP FOR INSIDE THE BOARDROOM

A weekly newsletter that goes long on the biggest stories in sports business, from Boardroom’s Shlomo Sprung.

Sent weekly on Fridays

“Consistency has always been at the top of our game,” said Marques. “This brand has been incredibly successful for the past two decades in celebrating this idea that some of the best moments are exactly what our spot captures, and of course, every year, we bring the creative voltage.

“We have the start of soccer season after the Super Bowl, and we’re all excited to see Messi back on the pitch. So, this Super Bowl ad sets up for what will be, I believe, an incredible year for Michelob ULTRA.”

For those heading to Las Vegas, Michelob will be throwing a Super Bowl Party featuring performances by Lil Wayne, T-Pain, and Alesso, and will be hosted by Alex Morgan and Marino. The soiree is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 10, from 7-12:30 p.m. PT at the local Topgolf. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

Read More:

The post Messi & Michelob: Inter Miami Star Makes Super Bowl Commercial Debut appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Messi & Michelob: Inter Miami Star Makes Super Bowl Commercial %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% Soccer superstar Leo Messi is joined by actor Jason Sudeikis and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino in Michelob's beachy ad. football,Inter Miami,Lionel Messi,Michelob Ultra,NFL,soccer,Messi Michelob PHOTO_SUDEIKIS (Photo courtesy of Michelob ULTRA) Loading Can’t Keep Kirk Cousins Down https://boardroom.tv/kirk-cousins-vikings-nfl-nfc-north-interview/ Sat, 20 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=86052 The Minnesota Vikings quarterback experienced a major setback this season, but his hopes remain high. Boardroom sat down with Cousins to talk the NFC North, his NFL future, and more.

The post Can’t Keep Kirk Cousins Down appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The Minnesota Vikings quarterback experienced a major setback this season, but his hopes remain high. Boardroom sat down with Cousins to talk the NFC North, his NFL future, and more.

The 2023-24 NFL season didn’t exactly pan out how Kirk Cousins imagined, ending in Week 8 after tearing his Achilles when the Minnesota Vikings visited NFC North rival Green Bay. Even so, the quarterback is looking ahead with renewed confidence.

“Yeah, we’re about 2.5 months into the process after surgery. Every day, every week, I get a little better,” said the 12-year veteran when asked how recovery is going. “But I’m feeling good. We’re on schedule, and I was told that the process would be full of ups and downs, kind of like the stock market. However, it’s been a bull market for me. It’s been a positive deal since surgery, which is exciting.”

Until his injury, the 35-year-old Cousins was having an enviable season, completing 69.5% of his throws for 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He was tied for the most touchdown passes and was second in passing yards in the league when he got hurt.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Cousins’ absence for the rest of the year was felt by the Vikings, especially since the NFC North has gained reasonable attention for being one of the more fun divisions to watch this season — Detroit Lions and the Packers will face off in divisional round games this weekend.

Cousins acknowledged the league is always changing, and the NFC North’s dominance was seemingly inevitable after various roster moves over the last few years.

“The NFC North is a great example of where two, maybe three years ago, it was Aaron Rodgers winning the MVP for the Packers. The Lions were building something, and now, the Lions win the division. The Packers are a younger team, and even the Bears are a defense force. So it’s a league constantly changing, and our division is no different, and I think that’s what makes it so fun to watch.”

When the Washington Commanders selected Cousins in the fourth round of the 2012 draft, nothing was really promised for a rookie who led the Big Ten in pass completions, pass attempts, and passing yards in 2011 while at Michigan State. However, Cousins has solidified himself as a true QB1 in this league, and he has four Pro Bowl selections to prove it.

(Adam Bettcher / Getty Images)

“I remember putting on a pro helmet the first practice and thinking, “If I don’t make a pass today and they cut me, at least I got to wear a helmet one day.’ Now I look back, and I’m just so grateful for this opportunity to live this dream. I’m hoping there’s more up ahead, too, but what a privilege to be able to live out your dream the way I’ve been able to.

“When I arrived in Washington and met my coaches Mike Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, and Sean McVay, I realized I’m in a special place. And it was a really cool opportunity to learn from them and to develop as a quarterback there and also to be in Washington DC, a place that, to this day, I still really miss and love. I was so fortunate to have it end up the way it did for me.”

There’s been minor discourse concerning Cousins’ future in Minnesota. His current contract with the Vikings is set to expire in March after the Illinois native signed a one-year, $35 million extension with the team last offseason. As for where he forecasts playing next year, Cousins was mum about a final destination but reiterated that he’s not ready to leave the game yet.

“Football has kind of brought our family to experiences and places that we never would’ve had if not for playing this great game. So, we’re excited to kind of see where this journey takes us next,” he said.

While Cousins and the Vikings won’t be playing in the Super Bowl next month, the QB will still have a presence after teaming up with Tostitos for its SBLVIII campaign.

Fans who follow Tostitos on Instagram and like the collaboration post between the company and Cousins, while also commenting on their favorite game-day dish with the #TostbyTostitos and #Entry hashtags, will be entered to win Super Bowl tickets, travel, and accommodations to Las Vegas. The winners will also get a VIP reservation at the Tost by Tostitos pop-up restaurant with tableside service from a professional chef and Cousins himself. He admittedly “doesn’t do spicy very well,” but Cousins assured Boardroom there are plates to satisfy all palates.

As for who he projects could be playing nearby at Allegiant Field in the big game, after some slight hesitation, there’s one team in particular that still looks promising in Cousins’ eyes.

“I think the Kansas City Chiefs have always kind of been the favorite last few years with being at home and having such convincing wins all season long,” he said. “But who knows, we could be seeing two teams in the Super Bowl that haven’t been there in a really long time, which I think could be a lot of fun.”

Read More:

The post Can’t Keep Kirk Cousins Down appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Green Bay Packers v Minnesota Vikings (Adam Bettcher / Getty Images) Dwyane Wade’s Next Play https://boardroom.tv/dwyane-wade-the-why-podcast-interview/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 19:39:02 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=85985 Boardroom talks with the three-time NBA champ about what he hopes to accomplish on his new podcasting venture and what fans can expect moving forward.

The post Dwyane Wade’s Next Play appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Boardroom talks with the three-time NBA champ about what he hopes to accomplish on his new podcasting venture and what fans can expect moving forward.

Dwyane Wade was unstoppable at times during his 16-year NBA career. Now, years after walking away from the hardwood, the Miami Heat legend wants to learn from some of the most successful and essential voices, not only in sports but in all kinds of business.

Wade officially entered the podcast space on Wednesday when he launched The Why with Dwyane Wade in partnership with iHeartPodcasts and his 59th & Prairie Entertainment company. Moving forward, the three-time NBA Finals champion will sit down with “pioneers in sports, fashion, music, and business for an intimate conversation” about their ascent to success and the reasons why they keep pushing to innovate.

The first drop on Wednesday — a two-part episode — is a roundtable discussion with fellow Hall of Famers Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, and Tony Parker. Other confirmed guests to keep an eye out for on Wade’s program in the future include Carmelo Anthony, Rick Ross, Pat Riley, David Grutman, and Lindsey Vonn, among others, Wade confirmed.

A still shot from Wade’s first podcast recording with Pau, Parker, and Dirk. (Photo courtesy of Metelus Studios)

“I had a couple of people that I really wanted to start this off with,” Wade told Boardroom. “And definitely from a Miami standpoint, Pat Riley and David Grutman, I wanted to make sure that I put them in there.

“But above anything, there were conversations I always wanted to have, and hopefully, the listeners want to listen to me have.”

Arguably one the most revered names in the NBA and, more specifically, in South Beach, it was a no-brainer that Riley would share space with someone equally as beloved in the 305. As someone with a penchant for learning, Wade teased that Riley shared details of his life he never even knew.

“For listeners that have not heard his story or what made him who he is today, hopefully, they get an opportunity to walk away inspired by our conversation,” Wade said.

Over the last few years, we’ve witnessed athletes start taking control of their storytelling in favor of traditional media outlets. Whether by forming their own media companies or working with a company similar to The Why, Wade attributes this growing trend to the beauty of owning your narrative.

“You’ve got journalists and people who just decide to wake up one day and say something about you. Sometimes they control the story because they’re first to report it,” Wade said. “Now, you have athletes with the opportunity to control their narrative, and I think that’s powerful.

“To be in a position that we all are in, to be as successful as we’ve been in this sport, you have to create a vision. You have to create this image for yourself as a young kid because this is one of the hardest things to do, especially playing at an elite level. So we’re amazing storytellers, and now we get to do things on our terms without being misquoted or through perception.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Miami Forever

Made official last weekend, it was only a matter of time before Dwyane Wade received a statue outside the Heat’s downtown arena.

Riley, the team’s president, delivered the good news during halftime of the Heat’s game against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, which they designated “Dwyane Wade Hall of Fame Night.” When the bronze statue is eventually unveiled outside of Kaseya Center, it will be the first in franchise history.

Wade and the Heat are currently in the process of hammering out some of the finer details of the statue.

“You’ve seen some of the GOATs of our game get statues. And sometimes you’re lucky enough to be one of those individuals,” Wade told Boardroom. ” … I know what I would want it to be, but it has to come together the right way. I think it will, and I think all the fans are going to be pleased with the image that is chosen and where it’s located because all of these things matter. I can’t wait to share that day with the entire Wade County community and my family as well.”

Having played as long as he did in the league, Wade has experienced almost every emotion possible throughout his career. But when Riley made the statue announcement, Wade felt a new feeling, going as far as admitting he started to tear up.

“It was raw emotion,” Wade joked before reverting to a more heartfelt demeanor. “Being there with the fans, I was thinking about all these memories, the injuries I’ve had, and the highs and the lows of playing in that arena. A jersey retirement is huge, but a statue goes a step beyond where it’s a very elite group of people who have one. I just got real emotional about God’s plan for me in that moment.”

Team USA & the Olympics

Now that we’re in 2024, it’s officially an Olympics year, and all eyes will be on Team USA this summer as it looks to add another medal to the federation’s history. The retired Wade won’t be a part of the squad, of course, but his illustrious career resume does include two Olympic medals — a bronze in 2004 and a gold four years later in Beijing.

During Los Angeles Lakers media day in October 2023, Wade’s former teammate LeBron James confirmed his interest in playing for Team USA in Paris. And let’s be honest: If LeBron wants to play, he’ll be on the roster.

James is among a group of NBA stars who have reportedly expressed interest in suiting up for the United States this summer, including Stephen Curry (who has yet to make his Olympic debut), Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Draymond Green, and Chris Paul. Even reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid, who has dual citizenship in France and could have played for its national team, wants in.

SIGN UP FOR BOARDROOM’S SNEAKER GAME

A biweekly email from industry authority Nick DePaula packed with exclusive sneaker news and access to the athletes, designers, and executives that move the business.

The aforementioned names would undoubtedly give Team USA the upper hand over its competition. Still, Wade says it will be “challenging” to be the indomitable force Team USA has been known as in years past. Some of that is due to the fact that basketball has grown exponentially across the globe in recent years, consequently producing superstars from other nations. And while other countries may struggle to still field an entire roster that is on par with the US, they aren’t far behind, and some boast individual talent that can compete with anyone.

“Just look in the league; most of the stars are not American-born basketball players,” Wade said. “Honestly, it’s just going to be hard to be that dominant. But to win gold and to be the best is going to take some commitment. It’s going to take some sacrifice. You’re going to take continuity and all the things that are needed to be a team. It’s very hard when guys get together for a month and a half and try to accomplish something amazing when you’ve got people from around the world that this is what they do year-round. They’ve been doing it together since they were 12 years old, so they have chemistry.

“It’s definitely getting more challenging. And now we’re going to see what we’re made of, not just from a talent standpoint, but overall as basketball players. But it’s going to be interesting, and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish.”

The two-part first episode of The Why with Dwyane Wade is now available on the iHeartRadio app and all major podcast platforms. Exclusive videos from each podcast will also be available on YouTube.

Read More:

The post Dwyane Wade’s Next Play appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Credit_-Metelus-Studios-2 A still shot from Wade's first podcast recording with Pau, Parker, and Dirk. (Photo courtesy of Metelus Studios) Loading Loading 2024 Australian Open: What’s on the Line & Who is Favored? https://boardroom.tv/2024-australian-open-prize-money-fanduel-odds/ Sun, 14 Jan 2024 05:01:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=85833 With the prize money increasing 13% from last year, there's a lot at stake at the 2024 Australian Open. Boardroom breaks it all down.

The post 2024 Australian Open: What’s on the Line & Who is Favored? appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> With the prize money increasing 13% from last year, there’s a lot at stake at the 2024 Australian Open. Boardroom breaks it all down.

After an eventful 2023 campaign, 2024 marks a reset of all tennis Grand Slam tournaments, starting with the hardcourt competition played down under.

The 119th installment of the Australian Open kicks off for the first time on a Sunday (Jan. 12) to accommodate the 16-hour time difference between New York and Melbourne. Moreover, the Grand Slam will last 15 days, like the French Open, instead of the familiar 14-day stretch, like the US Open and Wimbledon. Instead of two days, the first round will take place over three days.

Right now, it’s difficult to determine who rules tennis on both the men’s and women’s sides.

Reigning champion Novak Djokovic has the record with the most Aussie Open titles with 10. However, he picked up a wrist injury at the United Cup, where he was beaten by Alex de Minaur earlier this month. The veteran player will be challenged by Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev, the latter hoping for revenge after losing to Djokovic in the US Open finals last summer.

On the women’s side, back-to-back Auckland Classic singles title winner Coco Gauff is looking to capitalize on the momentum to a second straight Grand Slam trophy. However, the US Open champ has stiff competition between reigning Australian Open victor Aryna Sabalenka and, of course, world No. 1 Iga Świątek.

So, what’s at stake at the Australian Open, who is favored to win it all, and what are the latest odds? Boardroom breaks it all down below.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Australian Open Prize Money: Total Prize Pool

No pressure, but players will be competing for $57.8 million in prize money at this year’s Australian Open, a record 13% increase from 2023.

“It is critical to the continued success of the Australian Open that we ensure that the best players in the world are compensated appropriately as we know this allows players to invest in their own careers and in many cases, helps set them up for success throughout the year,” said Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley.

Both men’s and women’s champions will not only go home with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup and Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, respectively, but they’ll each be awarded $2.1 million for defeating their opponents. Runners-up will earn $1.2 million, and semifinalists can earn $661,419.

Let’s look at the expected prize money by round for the singles competition.

Australian Open Prize Money by Round (Singles)

ResultPrize Money (US Dollar)
Champion$2.1 million
Runner-up$1.15 million
Semifinal$661,419
Quarterfinal$400,860
Round 4$250,537
Round 3$170,365
Round 2$120,258
Round 1$80,172

In doubles play, the champions will take home $487,713 in both the men’s and women’s draws, while the mixed doubles title means a $110,236 payday.

Who Are the Favorites to Win the 2024 Australian Open?

On the women’s side, Świątek (+220) has the best odds of winning, followed by the reigning champion Sabalenka (+400). Elena Rybakina (+500) is also among the favorites, with Gauff (+600), entering the tournament with a ton of confidence, trailing slightly. As for the men’s, world No. 1 Djokovic (+100) enters as the favorite, followed by Alcaraz (+350) in second and Italian star Jannik Sinner (+600) in third.

One familiar face that we were all looking forward to seeing will be absent from this year’s AO: Rafael Nadal confirmed earlier this week he won’t be participating. The two-time champion was set to make his triumphant return to the court after battling injury, however, the Spaniard underwent medical tests in Melbourne that revealed a small tear in a hip muscle requiring extended treatment.

2024 Australian Open Odds

Numbers reflect future odds to win the Australian Open at FanDuel Sportsbook as of Jan. 11, 2024.

Men’s Singles Outright Betting Odds

Novak Djokovic: +100
Carlos Alcaraz: +350
Jannik Sinner: +600
Daniil Medvedev: +1100
Alex De Minaur: +2400
Alexander Zverev: +3100

Women’s Singles Outright Betting Odds

Iga Świątek: +220
Aryna Sabalenka: +400
Elena Rybakina: +500
Coco Gauff: +600
Jessica Pegula: +1900
Qinwen Zheng: +3200

Read More:

The post 2024 Australian Open: What’s on the Line & Who is Favored? appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Portland Thorns FC Sold to Bhathal Family for an NWSL Record-Breaking $63M Deal https://boardroom.tv/portland-thorns-bhathal-family-nwsl-record-sale/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 22:05:11 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=85509 The record-setting sale sets a new threshold for the NWSL, bringing an experienced new ownerhsip group to the City of Roses. Portland Thorns FC has been acquired by Bhathal family-owned RAJ Sports the NWSL

The post Portland Thorns FC Sold to Bhathal Family for an NWSL Record-Breaking $63M Deal appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The record-setting sale sets a new threshold for the NWSL, bringing an experienced new ownerhsip group to the City of Roses.

Portland Thorns FC has been acquired by Bhathal family-owned RAJ Sports the NWSL team confirmed Wednesday. Although financial terms were not disclosed in the official announcement, a person familiar with the deal tells The Athletic that the acquisition totaled $63 million, making it the largest in the league’s history.

RAJ Sports is led by brother-sister team Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. The two co-founded and serve as partners of the Southern California-based investment firm Revitate. Bhathal Merage will assume roles as controlling owner and NWSL Governor, while Bhathal will serve as NWSL Alternate Governor. It marks the latest major investment in U.S. sports for RAJ Sports, which joined the Sacramento Kings’ ownership group in 2013. They also hold a stake in the NBA G-League’s Stockton Kings and Triple-A baseball team, the Sacramento RiverCats.

The Bhathal family sees the purchase as a multi-faceted one. They plan on providing the club with resources to create a best-in-class playing experience for its athletes with facility developments and more.

“Our vision is to support new, widespread growth for the Thorns, the people of Portland, and for women’s sports as a whole,” said Bhathal Merage. “Specifically, we bring deep experience in professional sports and large-scale real estate developments that create thriving community centers, making us well-positioned to deliver valuable assets that will support further growth for the players, staff, and fans.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

When Boardroom caught up with Thorns FC forward Sophia Smith in November 2023, the 2022 NWSL champion said she hopes the new owners continue to show a vested interest and investment in the club and women’s sports as a whole. “What we want in new ownership is someone who’s going to come in and raise the standard even higher so that Portland remains at the top in every category possible. Whether that’s investing in a facility for us, getting a grass training field, all of those things are super important for us,” Smith continued.

Smith has a point, and there is some evidence to prove women’s sports will experience a record-breaking year in 2024. According to a November 2023 release by Deloitte, women’s sports is expected to generate worldwide revenues of $1.28 billion this year. If this prediction comes true, it will mark the first time that annual global profits for women’s sports will have surpassed $1 billion and a total of at least 300% higher than Deloitte’s previous valuation entering 2021.

Additionally, the $63 million price tag marks the biggest club sale in NWSL history. In 2023, the league’s Bay Area and Boston expansion clubs each sold for $53 million, which set the previous records.

The Bhathal family plans to keep Thorns FC in Portland, where they will continue to play at Providence Park, the downtown stadium that also hosts the MLS side Portland Timbers. The family will take over soccer operations, effective immediately.

Want More NWSL?

The post Portland Thorns FC Sold to Bhathal Family for an NWSL Record-Breaking $63M Deal appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Crystal Dunn Returns Home to Be a Leader for Gotham FC & Women’s Soccer https://boardroom.tv/crystal-dunn-gotham-fc-nwsl-interview/ Sun, 31 Dec 2023 12:05:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=85343 The new Gotham FC player speaks with Boardroom about making an NWSL superteam, what advice she got from Ali Krieger, and her role in advancing the sport.

The post Crystal Dunn Returns Home to Be a Leader for Gotham FC & Women’s Soccer appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The new Gotham FC player speaks with Boardroom about the prospect of an NWSL superteam, the advice she received from Ali Krieger, and her role in advancing the sport.

One of the NWSL’s most coveted free agents is coming home. After stints in our nation’s capital, London, North Carolina, and Portland, Crystal Dunn now joins the reigning league champions NJ/NY Gotham FC.

Dunn epitomizes the phrase “hardly home, but always repping.” She hails from New Hyde Park, Long Island, and throughout our Zoom conversation, she sprinkled references only born and bred New Yorkers could genuinely understand. The USWNT star could have been welcomed with open arms at any club, so the decision to join Gotham wasn’t necessarily hard, but rather the right choice, in her mind, based on where she’s at in her career and family needs.

“It is everything that I needed at this stage in my life, which is to feel like I’m home, supported, valued, and to feel like I’m trying to help New York even elevate to a certain level,” Dunn said.

In an interview with Boardroom, Dunn was assuredly confident, adding further confirmation this was the right decision at the ideal moment. Besides joining a club with proven success on the pitch, Dunn said she was drawn to Gotham’s philosophy of pouring into their players away from competition.

“I think it really shows their commitment levels and where they want this game to grow,” Dunn, a mother of one, added.

Another significant advantage of taking her talents to the northeast? Reuniting close friends undoubtedly eases the angst of starting over with a new club.

“I get to see my people that I call pretty much every single week,” she said. “I know this team had success without me last season. However, my impact is really to help elevate Gotham and help it grow even more.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

An NWSL Superteam in the Making?

We’ve seen this trend across men’s sports for years: Elite athletes join forces on a single team in hopes of sustained success. That trend has carried over into women’s sports, most notably the two-time WNBA champions Las Vegas Aces boasting an envious lineup of future Hall of Fame talent.

Are Gotham FC the NWSL‘s first superteam? Dunn believes so, but it’ll take more than just the obvious talent on the roster.

“I’ve been playing this game long enough to know that you need the pieces, and you also need the chemistry,” Dunn said. “I think the NWSL is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, leagues to play in. Gotham has that firepower, but we’re not going to just beat you because of who’s on our team. We’re going to beat you with the style of play, the relentless attitude, and a winning mentality that we’re going to carry from the moment the game starts until it ends.”

Dunn’s resume certainly supports her aforementioned statements. In her three years at North Carolina, she helped the team win the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship in 2012, picking up honors like the Hermann Trophy winner, ACC Athlete of the Year, and ACC Defender of the Year. After three seasons with the Washington Spirit and one in London with Chelsea, Dunn picked up hardware a couple of times with the North Carolina Courage, winning back-to-back NWSL Shield and NWSL Championships in 2018 and 2019.

In 2020, she joined Portland Thorns FC and just kept on winning by securing victories in the NWSL Challenge Cup and another NWSL Championship. Additionally, she was the NWSL’s MVP in 2015, named to the league’s Best XI in 2015 and 2018, and her 15-goal season in 2015 resulted in picking up the NWSL Golden Boot award.

And that doesn’t even get into her international career with the USWNT, where she was a part of the illustrious 2019 winning squad, a CONCACAF Women’s Championship winner in 2018, and a 2020 Olympic bronze medalist.

Learning From the Best

As they look to repeat as champions with Dunn aboard, Gotham’s 2024 roster will unfortunately be missing a significant name.

Ali Krieger concluded an 18-year pro career as an NWSL title-winner, the final accolade missing from a crowded trophy closet. Dunn and Krieger’s friendship spans years, with the latter serving as Dunn’s bridesmaid in her 2018 wedding to Pierre Soubrier. Dunn acknowledged she consulted Krieger for advice when talking about joining Gotham in advance, and Krieger’s endorsement all but solidified her decision to rock a Sky Blue and Gotham Black kit.

“She was like, ‘Yeah, Crys, you’re going to love it,'” Dunn said of her conversation with her friend. “You got to speak to [head coach] Juan [Carlos Amorós]. He’s going to bring out the best in you. He’s going to challenge you. He’s going to do all these things that I think players, especially of where you are in your career, need to hear.’

“The day that you’re done learning and growing is the day that you’re ultimately ready to retire. I’m really grateful that she was so open and answered all my questions, from the commute to the day-to-day.”

So, what did Dunn and Amorós speak about when they finally linked up? According to the 31-year-old, not too much about on-the-field tactics but more so about her value as a player and leader.

“I think that those are qualities I never take for granted,” she added. “I truly enjoy helping other players around me. We play a team sport, so any career success I’ve ever had is definitely owed to the players who have supported me and challenged me every single day to be the best that I can be. So that’s my way of showing my appreciation to my teammates, is by always pushing them to be at their best.”

Advancing Soccer for Women of Color

What adds to Dunn’s charm is her candor, which intensifies when speaking on diversity within the sport. Growing up, her parents knew nothing about soccer.

“They were like, ‘Yeah, go kick that ball around. We don’t know what that is, but go have fun,'” Dunn recalled.

Despite being gifted with elite skills from a young age, Dunn acknowledges she never thought that she would achieve such monumental success. The game she fell in love with as a child eventually covered her college tuition and, today, helps support her family.

Fighting back tears, Dunn reflected on her long-term advocacy for inclusion in women’s soccer and how she didn’t shy away from stepping deeper into this role. As a Black woman, she’s painfully aware of how, most times, she’s the only woman of color on the pitch.

Instead of running away from that reality, she put herself in a position to end that likelihood for future pro athletes.

“When I first started my career, I was like, ‘Oh my Lord, where are we at? I know we play, but where are we at?’ Since then, everything about my game has been about bringing Black women into this sport,” Dunn said. “We’re always stereotyped. ‘Oh, you’re just fast. You’re just strong.’ Hearing that when I was young was so hard. And I think that’s why I play in the midfield. I play up top — I play outside back — because I show people that you can’t put us in a box. We are so great. We’re so highly intelligent. And I think people don’t hear that enough, but we are actually intelligent players.

“And so everything I carry with me today is showing the world that Black women belong in the sport. We’re not just strong. We’re extremely smart, and we’re cognitively able to break the game down as well as anyone else. It is the most important thing, is leaving this game in a better way for women of color.”

As she prepares for this new adventure, Dunn assures me she’s in the best form of her life, completely ready to pull double duty as a Gotham FC starter and (hopefully) another chance to medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. As we wrapped our conversation, Dunn had an optimistic message for fans who can hardly wait to see Gotham run it back.

“I want to truly fight so hard to bring another championship to this club,” Dunn said. “I want to win the Shield, I want to win the Challenge Cup. I want to win another championship for years to come, and I really want to help progress this game even more than it has ever been before.”

Read More:

The post Crystal Dunn Returns Home to Be a Leader for Gotham FC & Women’s Soccer appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading GothamFC_Social_2023-Welcome_Dunn_16x9-1 Beyoncé, Shohei Ohtani, & the 10 Topics That Took Over the Headlines in 2023 https://boardroom.tv/beyonce-shohei-ohtani-the-10-topics-that-took-over-the-headlines-in-2023/ Wed, 27 Dec 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=85036 The news cycle kept us busy in 2023 with major stories emerging daily. Boardroom looks back on the 10 topics that took the most real estate in our daily newsletter Headline to Go in 2023.

The post Beyoncé, Shohei Ohtani, & the 10 Topics That Took Over the Headlines in 2023 appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The news cycle kept us busy in 2023 with major stories emerging daily. Boardroom looks back on the 10 topics that took the most real estate in our daily newsletter Headline to Go in 2023.

Before we turn the calendar to 2024, let’s reminisce on some major moments that got us talking in 2023. We’re all aware of just how seamlessly sports, entertainment, and music intersect into popular culture. From Monday through Saturday each week, Boardroom lands in your inbox with our Headline to Go newsletter, which surfaces the most relevant headlines that will keep you up-to-date and informed.

This year, there was no shortage of buzzworthy topics that took over the headlines — looking back it is almost impossible to believe how much has happened in the last 12 months. We analyzed the topics that resurfaced most frequently throughout the year. From Messi Mania to the NFL’s superior reign as the top sports league in the U.S., there were some topics that we returned to over and over … and over again.

Ahead are the top 10 topics we covered in our daily newsletter, Headline To Go.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

NFL

In February, the Kansas City Chiefs became Super Bowl champions for the second time in four years, beating the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in a thriller. However, viewership peaked at halftime as Rihanna took over the stage … and unveiled her second pregnancy. With 115 million viewers, it became the most-watched game in history.

Even in the offseason, the shield kept things buzzing. The game bid farewell (again) to the GOAT, Tom Brady. Running backs brought attention to a crumbling market for the position. Meanwhile, multiple starting quarterbacks inked record-breaking extensions, and Aaron Rodgers barely played a full drive before being sidelined for the season after rupturing his Achilles.

For the 2023 season, the NFL has continued its monumental stronghold on American sports fans, drawing an astounding 9.2 million viewers on average for each regular season game.

Beyoncé

While she may not have dropped the visuals for Renaissance, Beyoncé gave her fans something better. The Renaissance Tour took its global lap in 2023, amassing more than $570 million in 55 stops. She also joined Taylor Swift in bringing the tour experience to the silver screen, brokering a deal with AMC Theaters for Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, a nearly three hour spectacle that takes viewers both behind the scenes and in the front row of the incredible live experience.

So far, the movie experience of the sold-out tour is currently No. 5 on the Top 10 Music Concert Films of All Time.

NBA

The Denver Nuggets were crowned first-time NBA Finals champions, getting the best of the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat in five games.

In an action-packed offseason, the Boston Celtics ensured Jaylen Brown wouldn’t be leaving the Northeast anytime soon. The 17-time champions and their star forward agreed to a five-year, $304 million supermax extension, the richest contract in NBA history. Elsewhere, the Dame drama came to a close, as he took his talents to Milwaukee.

However, the 2023-24 season brought a new challenge: the in-season tournament. After a slow start, the Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural in-season tournament title, easily beating the Indiana Pacers 123-109, adding an extra spark to the league’s pre-Christmas schedule.

Apple

In 2024, Apple made history as the first $3 trillion company, and the tech company’s stock hit its all-time high on July 31 and it remains the most valuable publicly traded U.S. company. They released of a range of new product models, from the coveted iPhone 15 lineup to AirPods, laptops, and updates to its iOS software.

Additionally, after years of speculation, the Cupertino company unveiled the Apple Vision Pro. The VR headset will go on sale in 2024 at a pricepoint of $3,499.

@boardroom Drake’s music industry dominance is stamped once again by his ubiquitous presence on listeners’ Spotify Wrapped as a top-5 artist. #drake #spotify #spotifywrapped #rap #hiphop #rapper #champagnepapi #spotifywrapped2023 ♬ original sound – Boardroom

Drake

Drake began 2023 on a high note: the Canadian rapper returned to the stage at the Apollo, performing his chart-toppers and a few deep cuts at the famed Harlem venue.

Then, Drizzy hit the road with 21 Savage for the It’s All a Blur tour, earning $140.5 million, according to numbers reported to Billboard Box Score. He also released a new Nocta basketball line, joined the investment group of the MLP team, the Brooklyn Aces, dropped two albums, and picked up two Grammy nominations after a multi-year boycott of the awards.

Disney

Bob Iger returned to the CEO’s chair at Disney to round out 2022, but his impact has been widely felt throughout the last 12 months. After a series of challenging fiscal years, the House of Mouse focused on its comeback in 2023. Under Iger’s tough leadership — and amidst some layoffs — the company began to see an uptick, largely fueled by the massive profitability of its theme parks. Revenues for the quarter and year grew 5- and 7% compared to 2022 amounts, respectively. In addition, they also added 7+ million core subscribers to their streaming services in Q4.

However, Disney wasn’t fully exempt from the drama. In April, Disney filed a First Amendment lawsuit against DeSantis in federal court, claiming “a targeted campaign of government retaliation.”

Next up: Disney may seek to sell off its ESPN properties, having released a valuation figure for the sports media giant for the first time ever, which clocked in at $24 billion.

NWSL

November’s NWSL final marked the final professional game for two GOATS: NJ/NY Gotham FC defender Ali Krieger and OL Reign forward Megan Rapinoe. After an intense 90 minutes, Gotham won its first-ever championship after beating their opponents 2-1.

The grand finale was the perfect end for a season that highlighted immense growth for the league. In November, the NWSL signed a sweeping media right deal, worth $240 millions. The 40X increase in the value of the contract highlights that the league itself is on the rise. The Houston Dash recently inked Maria Sánchez to a record-setting three-year contract valued at $1.5 million — a record for the league. Additionally, it attracted new big-name investors, including tennis stars Naomi Osaka and Ons Jebeur (NC Courage) and Carolyn Tisch Blodgett (NY/NJ Gotham FC). 

Lionel Messi

There are few athletes who have even stepped in the same meteoric sphere of a year of success as Lionel Messi.

The Argentinian footballer made waves when he departed Paris St. Germain for the MLS and Inter Miami CF. In addition to his salary, Messi brokered a deal that will yield him a portion of the profits of the league’s deal with Apple TV, as well as the revenues from his jersey and merchandise sales from Adidas.

Messi landed stateside and had an immediate impact, driving prices of tickets way up everywhere that Miami landed.

Netflix

The crackdown on password sharing proved to yield some success for Netflix because the streaming platform added nine million subscribers in the third quarter and its $6.99 ad-supported tier has amassed 15 million global monthly active users. The streaming platform also ventured into live sports with “The Netflix Cup,” featuring athletes from “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” and “Full Swing.”

Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani stunned MLB audiences yet again this past season, putting up historic numbers and amazing performances. While also netting major deals off the diamond, including a new partnership with New Balance.

His quest for a new contract became the storyline of the offseason, but it garnered a bigger number than most fans dared to even dream of. Ohtani inked a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Though the move couldn’t be much geographically closer than his former home team, the conditions of his agreement couldn’t be much more different.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

The post Beyoncé, Shohei Ohtani, & the 10 Topics That Took Over the Headlines in 2023 appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Loading The Entrepreneurial Evolution of Mark Wahlberg https://boardroom.tv/mark-wahlberg-and-his-entrepreneurial-evolution/ Wed, 20 Dec 2023 19:30:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=83982 The Hollywood superstar has built an impressive portfolio of business with a range reflective of his on-screen performances. Boardroom caught up with him in his new home of Las Vegas to discuss his entrepreneurship,

The post The Entrepreneurial Evolution of Mark Wahlberg appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The Hollywood superstar has built an impressive portfolio of business with a range reflective of his on-screen performances. Boardroom caught up with him in his new home of Las Vegas to discuss his entrepreneurship, what he’s looking for in his business partners, and more.

It’s quite the transitional period for Mark Wahlberg. After decades in Hollywood, last year the actor left Los Angeles for Las Vegas, a move Wahlberg says was motivated by his desire give his four kids a “better life.” With new plans to make Sin City the latest film hub, Wahlberg is also taking charge of more endeavors away from the camera: his flourishing entrepreneurial empire.

“Everything that we do is super aspirational,” Wahlberg said to Boardroom during the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix in November. “It doesn’t matter where you start, there isn’t anything you can’t accomplish if you’re willing to do the work. You come up with a plan and then you hustle to make it happen. But it’s all about finding the right people and making sure that you’re betting on yourself.”

In addition to acres of land suitable for blockbuster sets, having an expansive studio lot in Las Vegas provides more affordable housing and a better quality of life for crews. Wahlberg has already made two movies since relocating to Nevada, too.

Among Wahlberg’s off-screen commitments includes the lifestyle brand MUNICIPAL, which he says he strives to build into a massive brand, akin to Nike or Lululemon. In order to help bolster the brand, Wahlberg is growing its bench of ambassadors with athletes who represent the entrepreneurial hustle that serves as its foundation.

Earlier this year, the Ted star joined forces with Myles Garrett, adding the Cleveland Browns defensive end to his lifestyle brand MUNICIPAL as an ambassador and equity partner. In the release, Wahlberg said Garrett is “100% a MUNICIPAL man.” Garrett — who has had a big year of investments himself, signing on as a minority owner of the Cleveland Browns – has found a kindred spiring in Wahlberg. He told Boardroom that “Mark has been a great sounding board for ideas.” Also on the MUNICIPAL roster? Golfer Wyndham Clark, this year’s U.S. Open champion.

“Anybody who has that same kind of passion, hustle, and grind are people we want to work with,” said Wahlberg. “It’s much more about partnering up with us. You could always give somebody free gear or a check to wear your stuff. But it’s different when somebody’s an investor in the business and has real equity.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Mark Wahlberg’s Evolution Beyond Entertainment

Wahlberg’s career surged during a period when consumers waited with bated breath for a new release of any kind and couldn’t binge through a show in one weekend. He served as executive producer of five HBO series, most notably the dramedy Entourage. Loosely based on his own experience in Hollywood, he shared his thoughts on the new avenues people are consuming media as of late, from an uptick of short-form material TikTok to scripted programs dropping at once on streaming platforms.

“I try to stay in tune and up on everything that’s happening. But it’s great people have different ways to decide when and where they want to consume their content. Whether it be on their phone in 30-second bits, a 30-minute comedy like Entourage, an hour-long series like Boardwalk Empire, or a two-hour film, you have to have quality content.”

He adds that while there are plenty of videos posted online that’ll get people’s attention in the short term, “you want to create work with longevity.” Lucky for aspiring entertainers hoping to emulate Wahlberg’s success, he’s always got his finger on the pulse, always watching for the next face he can bring to the desert, aka Hollywood 2.0.

As for advice he’d give to anyone looking to become a multihyphenate:

“I think just watching other people do it, people sharing their game, sharing success. I’ve been very fortunate to meet a lot of people who have been successful and kind of paved the way, but you have to go out there and do the work. The hustle, the grind, I mean, that is the most important thing.

“I think many people have been told no, this is never going to work. But you have to continue to believe in yourself and then you’ll find people that will believe in you.”

The Mark Wahlberg Brand

Throughout his career, Wahlberg has developed a keen business acumen that has led to a deep portfolio of endeavors that keep him busy. And, much like his acting career, his businesses have range. From burgers to fitness, Wahlberg is eager to get involved in it all. Read on for a complete breakdown of Mark Wahlberg’s business profile:

  • Production company: Closest to the Hole (2004)
  • Unscripted production company: Unrealistic Ideas (2018)
  • Founded Wahlburgers (2011)
  • Invested in Aquahydrate (2012)
  • Co-founded Performance Inspired (2016)
  • Co-opened Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet (2018)
  • Invested Flecha Azul Tequila (2019)
  • Started MUNICIPAL clothing (2020)
  • Chief Brand Officer: F45 (2023)

Inspired by the buzz of Sin City, who knows what’s next for Mark Wahlberg. Whatever it is, you can expect it to be built with heart and hustle.

Read More

The post The Entrepreneurial Evolution of Mark Wahlberg appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Patrick Mahomes Inks Endorsement Deal With Prime https://boardroom.tv/patrick-mahomes-prime-endorsement-deal/ Mon, 18 Dec 2023 18:18:31 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=85046 The KC QB has signed on with the Logan Paul and KSI-founded Prime to become the face of its flagship product, Hydration. Now we know what’s fueling Patrick Mahomes as he launches touchdown darts

The post Patrick Mahomes Inks Endorsement Deal With Prime appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The KC QB has signed on with the Logan Paul and KSI-founded Prime to become the face of its flagship product, Hydration.

Now we know what’s fueling Patrick Mahomes as he launches touchdown darts every week. On Monday, Prime, the energy drink co-founded by social media celebs and boxers Logan Paul and KSI, announced that it has signed the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback as a spokesperson.

The Hollywood Reporter writes that the two-time NFL MVP will become the face of Prime’s flagship product, Hydration, which is intended to be a healthier alternative to existing beverages like Gatorade.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

“Prime is a disruptive brand that has taken over the beverage industry since it first launched. They are gamechangers, and that’s exactly what I strive to be on the field,” Mahomes said. “Our partnership is a winning play, merging innovation and excellence, setting a new standard both on and off the field.”

Added Paul and KSI: “At Prime, we believe in teaming up with greatness, and Patrick Mahomes isn’t just one of the best quarterbacks of all time; he’s rewriting the record book and bringing a whole new level of excitement to the game. Aligning with someone who’s pushing boundaries and breaking records is what Prime is all about, so this is a dream come true for us. It’s a privilege to welcome Patrick Mahomes to the Prime family and we can’t wait for you to see what we have planned for 2024.”

More on the Rise of Prime
Logan Paul and KSI’s lifestyle beverage brand, Prime, has enjoyed a meteoric rise. Boardroom has the details on how it’s happened.
Check it out!

The company only dropped Prime Hydration in 2022, but it appears it’s already the preferred elixir of choice for thirsty consumers. A November report from Bloomberg unveiled that Prime earned $250 million in sales in its first year, and now for 2023, is set to surpass $1.2 billion in annual sales. Already boasting the likes of Mahomes, Manchester City star Erling Haaland, and MMA fighter Alexander Volkanovski, Prime has also landed sponsorships with the UFC, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Premier League club Arsenal.

In addition to being the face of Hydration, Prime says that Mahomes will collaborate with the company’s team across social, special events, and charitable activities, including through Mahomes’ own non-profit 15 and the Mahomies Foundation. The brand has already donated $100,000 to the foundation.

Read More:

The post Patrick Mahomes Inks Endorsement Deal With Prime appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading NWSL Owners: The Biggest Names To Buy In https://boardroom.tv/nwsl-franchise-owner-list/ Fri, 15 Dec 2023 16:44:24 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=84925 From Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman to Patrick Mahomes and Naomi Osaka, the NWSL has no shortage of star owners. The NWSL has experienced monumental growth over the last year, and that extends to

The post NWSL Owners: The Biggest Names To Buy In appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> From Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman to Patrick Mahomes and Naomi Osaka, the NWSL has no shortage of star owners.

The NWSL has experienced monumental growth over the last year, and that extends to the ranks of club owners. Amid expansion and a landmark broadcast deal with CBS Sports, ESPN, Prime Video, and Scripps Sports, there are plenty of reasons entrepreneurs are buying into the league.

Across the NWSL, there are a multitude of superstar owners who have contributed to select expansion clubs as investors. This isn’t limited to athletes, either. While pros in one sport turning to support another is common, even more famous faces — from Hollywood to tech — have backed teams.

There are 14 NWSL clubs at the moment, with the Utah Royals and Bay FC scheduled to begin their inaugural seasons in 2024. Ahead of that, let’s review five franchises with the most notable owners.

NWSL Clubs With Notable Owners

Angel City FC

Several former women’s professional soccer players are investors in Angel City, including Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Rachel Van Hollebeke, Shannon Boxx, Amanda Cromwell, Lorrie Fair, Ronnie Fair, Joy Fawcett, Angela Hucles, Shannon MacMillan, Tisha Venturini, Saskia Webber, Lauren Holiday, and Abby Wambach.

Additional owners include:

  • Natalie Portman
  • Jennifer Garner
  • Jessica Chastain
  • Serena Williams & Alexis Ohanian Jr.
  • Billie Jean King
  • America Ferrera
  • Candace Parker
  • Matthew and Kelly Stafford
  • P.K. Subban
  • Christina Aguilera
  • Gabrielle Union & Kaavia Wade
  • Becky G

*This is a non-exhaustive list. For full ownership details, visit Angel City FC’s website.

How Angel City FC Is Reimagining Ownership
Everything is possible in Angel City. Boardroom sat down with key figures behind the NWSL club’s innovative and unprecedented business model.
Check it out!

NJ/NY Gotham FC

  • Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman’s 35V
  • Carli Lloyd
  • Sue Bird
  • Eli Manning
  • Carolyn Tisch Blodgett

Bay FC (2024)

  • Rick Welts
  • Sheryl Sandberg
  • Brandi Chastain
  • Aly Wagner
  • Danielle Slaton
  • Leslie Osborne
  • Andre Iguodala

North Carolina Courage

  • Naomi Osaka
  • Ons Jabeur

Washington Spirit

  • Jenna Bush Hager
  • Chelsea Clinton
  • Brianna Scurry
  • Dominique Dawes

Kansas City Current

  • Brittany and Patrick Mahomes
Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Read More:

The post NWSL Owners: The Biggest Names To Buy In appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Lewis Hamilton Tops Formula 1’s Most-Followed List on Instagram https://boardroom.tv/formula-1-f1-drivers-instagram/ Sat, 09 Dec 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=84622 Lewis Hamilton is positively lapping the field on IG. Boardroom breaks down the most-followed Formula 1 drivers on Instagram.

The post Lewis Hamilton Tops Formula 1’s Most-Followed List on Instagram appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> From Hamilton to Leclerc and more, Boardroom has the most followed Formula 1 drivers on Instagram.

Though it has its downsides, social media has afforded us, as sports fans, unique access to our favorite athletes. Formula 1 has always had its place in the global sports conversation, but the recent popularity of Netflix‘s “Drive to Survive” has introduced auto-racing to a new legion of fans stateside. In just a few years, we went from one race in the U.S. to three, with the most recent being the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix last month.

As far as the drivers’ popularity, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton tops the most-followed list on Instagram with 35.5 million followers. His online presence remains pure entertainment, ranging from his top fashion moments to footage of him surfing and glimpses of his recovery. Hamilton nearly triples the number of followers of the next popular, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. The 26-year-old boasts 13.2 million fans on the app. In third place is the unstoppable Max Verstappen. The back-to-back-to-back champion has 11 million supporters tuning into his whereabouts. However, the Red Bull racer does top the list of highest-paid F1 drivers for 2023.

Below is a top-10 list of the most popular Formula 1 drivers on Instagram.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Most Followed Formula 1 Drivers on Instagram

  1. Lewis Hamilton: 35.5 million followers
  2. Charles Leclerc: 13.2 million
  3. Max Verstappen: 11 million
  4. Daniel Ricciardo: 8.9 million
  5. Carlos Sainz Jr.: 8.2 million
  6. Lando Norris: 7.2 million
  7. Sergio Pérez: 6.5 million
  8. George Russell: 4.9 million
  9. Pierre Gasly: 4.7 million
  10. Valtteri Bottas: 3.9 million

Read More:

The post Lewis Hamilton Tops Formula 1’s Most-Followed List on Instagram appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading The Sports Power Brunch: Nicole Lynn, Nikki Fargas Among 2024 Honorees https://boardroom.tv/sports-power-brunch-honorees-announced-2024/ Tue, 05 Dec 2023 14:59:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=84428 For the fifth straight year, the leading women in sports will come together at the Sports Power Brunch ahead of the Super Bowl. Here are this year's honorees.

The post The Sports Power Brunch: Nicole Lynn, Nikki Fargas Among 2024 Honorees appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> For the fifth straight year, the leading women in sports will come together at the Sports Power Brunch ahead of the Super Bowl. Here are this year’s honorees.

In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, you can expect dozens of events to light up the Las Vegas area. But there is one in particular that brings together some of the most powerful women in sports: the Sports Power Brunch. The brainchild of PR professional LaTonya Story, next year’s festivities in Vegas mark the fifth annual event, held just before The Big Game.

The 2023 brunch recognized Boardroom/35V’s own Sarah Flynn, WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, former Diamondbacks Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer Nona Lee, among others. Next year’s four honorees are:

  • Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive, Professional Tennis, USTA & US Open Tournament Director as the Trailblazer Award honoree
  • Sandra Douglass Morgan, President, Las Vegas Raiders as the Leadership Award honoree
  • Nicole Lynn, Agent & President of Football, KLUTCH Sports Group as the Dealmaker Award honoree
  • Nikki Fargas, President, Las Vegas Aces with the Impact Award
Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

“When I embarked on the journey to create this event five years ago, my goal was not only to celebrate the women in sports whom I admired, but also to empower them,” Story said in a statement. “To see how impactful this event has become in such a short time span is a testament to how community supports ideas and dreams. The Sports Power Brunch is the ultimate sports celebration of the most dynamic women in sports.”

Story is the CEO and Founder of LPS Consulting PR, and The Hollywood Reporter has dubbed her Sports Power Brunches one of the best events to attend during Super Bowl week.

As for the honorees, Lynn has been a part of KLTUCH Sports Group since 2021, helping negotiate Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts‘ lucrative contract extension last year, which at one point made him the highest-paid player in the league.

“I’m honored to be recognized amongst an incredible group of women who are all doing groundbreaking work throughout the sports industry,” Lynn told Boardroom. “Women are responsible for a lot of the success in this business, and the Sports Power Brunch has done an amazing job celebrating their work and telling their stories.”

A Canada native, Stacey Allaster served as President of the Women’s Tennis Association between January 2006 and July 2009, then Chairman and CEO from July 2009 until October 2015. Prior to joining the Raiders in July 2022, Sandra Douglass Morgan served on the Nevada State Athletic Commission and was the chairwoman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. A two-time WNBA champion with the Aces, Nikki Fargas also won an NCAA title with Tennessee in 1991.

TNT Sports and Amazon’s Thursday Night Football talent Taylor Rooks will serve as emcee for the second consecutive year. ESPN analyst LaChina Robinson will moderate a one-on-one conversation with Lynn to hear how she has navigated her history-making career in sports and share her “best-ever” moments courtesy of the event’s presenting sponsor, Coca-Cola® Zero Sugar.

Guests can also look forward to panel discussions, including one centered on women in sports law and another about the intersectionality of sports and law. Moderators for those include Teri Smith (Chief Operating Officer, NFLPA) and Cristina Ackas (Vice President of Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging, DraftKings).

The 2024 Sports Power Brunch will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Read More:

The post The Sports Power Brunch: Nicole Lynn, Nikki Fargas Among 2024 Honorees appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Most Popular Soccer Jerseys 2023: The Best-Sellers on the Global Stage https://boardroom.tv/most-popular-soccer-jerseys-2023/ Sat, 02 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=84216 Not surprisingly, Liverpool and Manchester United lead the way, but who else makes the cut? Here are the most popular soccer jerseys in 2023.

The post Most Popular Soccer Jerseys 2023: The Best-Sellers on the Global Stage appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Not surprisingly, Liverpool and Manchester United lead the way, but who else makes the cut? Here are the most popular soccer jerseys in 2023 by worldwide sales.

Soccer jerseys — or football, depending on your location — are more than just an article of clothing. They’re symbolic of one’s love for their team, an indication of fashion trends, and a vehicle for finding fellow supporters in the wild.

Ahead of every season, the anticipation of seeing the home, away, and third kit drop is comparable to any transfer news that strengthens a club’s roster. Everything from collar design to colorway combinations help build a collection, year after year, that’s emblematic of the team’s culture and history. Not to mention, any championship-winning year automatically increases the kit’s value.

That being said, Dr. Peter Rohlmann of PR Marketing put together the numbers for the top-selling jerseys of the 2022-23 season by club. A significant through-line in the data is that despite Lionel Messi‘s influence stateside and the influx of athletes who took their talents to the Middle East, European clubs still reign supreme when it comes to where fans spend their money. Despite winning the Treble this year, Manchester City entered the list in sixth place with nearly 1.3 million units sold. Although another season passed sans lifting a major trophy, cross-town rivals Manchester United sit in second place with 1.7 million kits sold. Topping the list are both their rivals, Premier League club Liverpool.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Also, note the kit providers. Four of the eight listed below — Arsenal, Bayern Munich, United, and Real Madrid — use Adidas as their manufacturer. City uses Puma, while Nike produces Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona‘s shirts.

In July, United renewed its kit contract with Adidas for a record-breaking £900 million ($1.15 billion), set to expire in 2035. Adidas supplied United’s uniform from 1980-1992 and the partnership started again at the beginning of the 2015-16 season.

Ahead is the full list, obtained by World Soccer Talk.

2022-23 Most Popular Soccer Jerseys Worldwide

TeamUnits Sold
Liverpool1,800,000
Manchester United1,750,000
Real Madrid1,700,000
Barcelona1,600,000
Bayern Munich1,350,000
Manchester City1,290,000
PSG1,100,000
Arsenal850,000

Read More:

The post Most Popular Soccer Jerseys 2023: The Best-Sellers on the Global Stage appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Max Verstappen Tops 2023 Highest-Paid F1 Drivers List https://boardroom.tv/highest-paid-f1-drivers-2023-list/ Thu, 30 Nov 2023 20:53:36 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=84287 With all the familiar names at the top, Boardroom outlines the highest-paid F1 drivers in 2023, from Verstappen to Piastri. The 2023 Formula 1 season has officially wrapped and for the third straight year,

The post Max Verstappen Tops 2023 Highest-Paid F1 Drivers List appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> With all the familiar names at the top, Boardroom outlines the highest-paid F1 drivers in 2023, from Verstappen to Piastri.

The 2023 Formula 1 season has officially wrapped and for the third straight year, Max Verstappen reigns supreme as the league’s champion. The 26-year-old won 19 of 22 races and earned 575 points, both single-season records.

With unprecedented success comes a massive payday, and the Dutch racer tops another significant list. Forbes released its highest-paid Formula 1 drivers of this year list on Wednesday, and Verstappen comes in at No. 1 with an estimated $70 million in salary and bonuses in 2023.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Last year, Red Bull Racing and Verstappen agreed to a five-year extension, keeping him with the team until 2028. Under the new terms, Verstappen will reportedly pocket $55 million a year, which matches Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton‘s pay. Speaking of Hamilton, the seven-time world champion comes in second on the list, earning $55 million in salary alone. Hamilton and Mercedes renewed their partnership in August through 2025.

In total, the 10 highest-paid F1 drivers earned an estimated $258 million in 2023 before taxes, which Forbes says is a minor drop from 2022’s $264 million collected.

2023 Highest-Paid F1 Drivers

NameTeamSalaryBonusTotal
Max VerstappenRed Bull$45 million$25 million$70 million
Lewis HamiltonMercedes$55 million$0$55 million
Fernando AlonsoAston Martin$24 million$10 million$34 million
Sergio PérezRed Bull$10 million$16 million$26 million
Charles LeclercFerrari$14 million$5 million$19 million
Lando NorrisMcLaren$5 million$10 million$15 million
Carlos SainzFerrari$8 million$6 million$14 million
George RussellMercedes$4 million$5 million$9 million
Pierre Gasly (tie-9th)Alpine$5 million$3 million$8 million
Oscar Piastri (tie-9th)McLaren$3 million$5 million$8 million

More F1:

The post Max Verstappen Tops 2023 Highest-Paid F1 Drivers List appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading NWSL Free Agents 2023-24: Crystal Dunn, Becky Sauerbrunn, Sam Mewis, and More https://boardroom.tv/nwsl-free-agents-list-2023-24/ Fri, 24 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=83985 With NWSL free agents nearly ready to put ink to paper, Boardroom is here to help you track who is going where.

The post NWSL Free Agents 2023-24: Crystal Dunn, Becky Sauerbrunn, Sam Mewis, and More appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> With NWSL free agents nearly ready to put ink to paper, Boardroom is here to help you track who is going where.

With the 2023 NWSL season complete, all eyes shift to the offseason. And with free agents aplenty and an expansion draft on the horizon, it’s sure to be a busy winter.

The NWSL’s second-ever free agency period is set to begin Monday, with the transaction window open to 70-plus players with at least five years of experience in the league. The list boasts some of the most decorated names in women’s soccer. Representing the USWNT is winger Crystal Dunn, who confirmed last week that she is departing Portland Thorns FC. Other notable free agents are Becky Sauerbrunn, Rose Lavelle, and Sam Mewis.

Complicating matters this year is the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft. This year’s festivities will air live on Friday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. Ahead of the expansion draft, all clubs will submit a list of protected and unprotected athletes which will be distributed to all clubs on Tuesday, Dec. 12. A public release of those lists will follow. That means there may be some unexpected roster holes for teams to fill in free agency.

Below are the NWSL free agents who could be make headlines in the coming weeks and months, courtesy of the NWSL.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

2023-24 NWSL Free Agents

Player2024 Club2023 Club
Angelina (M)OL Reign
Taylor Aylmer (M)Racing Louisville FC
Nicole Barnhart (GK)Washington Spirit
Michelle Betos (GK)NJ/NY Gotham FC
Camryn Biegalski (D)Chicago Red Stars
Amber Brooks (D)Washington Spirit
Simone Charley (F)Angel City FC
Allysha Chapman (D)Houston Dash
Emily Curran (M)Houston Dash
Tierna Davidson (D)Chicago Red Stars
Ella Dederick (GK)Houston Dash
Makenzy Doniak (F)San Diego Wave FC
Imani Dorsey (F)NJ/NY Gotham FC
Crystal Dunn (F)Portland Thorns FC
Caprice Dydasco (D)Houston Dash
Elizabeth Eddy (D)Angel City FC
Emina Ekic (F)Melbourne CityRacing Louisville FC
Sinead Farrelly (M)NJ/NY Gotham FC
Bayley Feist (M)Washington Spirit
Sabrina Flores (D)NJ/NY Gotham FC
Emily Fox (D)North Carolina Courage
Makamae Gomera-Stevens (M)Houston Dash
Sarah Gorden (D)Angel City FC
Paulina Gramaglia (F)Houston Dash
Shea Groom (F)Houston Dash
Madison Hammond (D)Angel City FC
Tori Huster (M)Washington Spirit
Brittany Isenhour (GK)Angel City FC
Devon Kerr (GK)Houston Dash
Tziarra King (F)OL Reign
Meghan Klingenberg (D)Portland Thorns FC
Casey Krueger (D)Chicago Red Stars
Natalia Kuikka (D)Portland Thorns FC
Rose Lavelle (M)OL Reign
Jordyn Listro (M)Orlando Pride
Allie Long (M)NJ/NY Gotham FC
Merritt Mathias (D)Angel City FCAngel City FC
Savannah McCaskill (M)Angel City FC
Jessica McDonald (F)Racing Louisville FC
Tegan McGrady (D)Portland Thorns FC
Addisyn Merrick (D)Kansas City Current
Sam Mewis (M)Kansas City Current
Cassie Miller (GK)Kansas City Current
Nadia Nadim (F)Racing Louisville FC
Yuki Nagasato (F)Chicago Red Stars
Kiki Pickett (D)North Carolina Courage
Madison Pogarch (D)San Diego Wave FC
Taylor Porter (M)Portland Thorns FC
Brittany Ratcliffe (F)North Carolina Courage
Cari Roccaro (D)Chicago Red Stars
Maria Sanchez (D)Houston Dash
Becky Sauerbrunn (D)Portland Thorns FC
Desiree Scott (M)Kansas City Current
Kayla Sharples (D)Chicago Red Stars
Marissa Sheva (F)Washington Spirit
Mana Shim (M)NJ/NY Gotham FC
Cheyenne Shorts (D)San Diego Wave FC
Christine Sinclair (F)Portland Thorns FC
Emily Sonnett (D)OL Reign
Bianca St. Georges (D)Chicago Red Stars
Nikki Stanton (M)OL Reign
Ella Stevens (M)Chicago Red Stars
Kylie Strom (D)Orlando Pride
Mallory Swanson (F)Chicago Red Stars
Emily Van Egmond (M)San Diego Wave FC
Michele Vasconcelos (F)Utah RoyalsPortland Thorns FC
Marisa Viggiano (M)Houston Dash
Dani Weatherholt (M)Angel City FC
Mallory Weber (F)Kansas City Current
Christen Westphal (D)San Diego Wave FC
McCall Zerboni (M)NJ/NY Gotham FC

More NWSL:

The post NWSL Free Agents 2023-24: Crystal Dunn, Becky Sauerbrunn, Sam Mewis, and More appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Williams Racing & Michelob ULTRA Putting Legends Back On the Map https://boardroom.tv/michelob-ultra-williams-racing-lap-of-legends-f1/ Mon, 20 Nov 2023 23:35:18 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=83930 The collaboration with Michelob will bring Williams Racing legends back to the track. The TV special will air in Spring 2024.

The post Williams Racing & Michelob ULTRA Putting Legends Back On the Map appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The collaboration with Michelob will bring Williams Racing legends back to the track. The TV special will air in Spring 2024.

The inaugural Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix certainly lived up to its hype over the weekend. From dramatics on the track to an overwhelming amount of celebrity sightings, it’s safe to say Sin City’s first race in 40 years was quite a memorable event.

One of the more popular activations over the weekend was the partnership between Michelob ULTRA and Williams Racing. The brands celebrated their first year of partnership since 2016 by announcing “Lap of Legends,” a television special that will bring fans even closer to the sport with a first-of-its-kind real vs virtual adrenaline-fueled 16-lap race. 

Made possible thanks to the help of innovative technology, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality to bring legendary Williams Racing drivers back to the track, one real driver will compete against virtual versions of former Williams drivers. The drivers featured include Jenson Button, Jacques Villeneuve, Mario Andretti, and more.

“We’re once again using technology in service of great storytelling. With ‘Lap of Legends,’ we are delivering Michelob ULTRA’s point of view with a unique piece of entertainment that fans will most surely enjoy,” Ricardo Marques, Vice President of Marketing for Michelob ULTRA, said. “We’re also incredibly proud to count on this partnership with Williams Racing, undoubtedly one of the most iconic names in the history of Formula 1.”

Michelob and Williams say that they rifled through thousands of hours of racing footage to make the virtual drivers. The AI iterations mirror not only their original cars but also the strategies and techniques unique to the individual drives.

“Lap of Legends” will air as a one-hour special on AMC and BBC America, along with Roku, in Spring 2024.

While Red Bull has made a statement in the auto racing world over the last several years, Williams was a force in the 1980s and 1990s. From 1980 to 1997, the UK-based group won seven drivers’ championships. In that same period, they notched nine constructors’ victories, the second-most after Ferrari. Compared to other racing groups in 2023, Williams is ranked No. 10 in valuation at $725 million. The estimated revenue for this year alone is approximately $160 million, per Forbes.

The two drivers representing Williams Racing for the 2023 F1 season are Alex Albon and Logan Seargant. Albon, a 27-year-old Englishman who is also Thai, joined the team in 2022 and has two podium finishes. Sergeant, a 22-year-old American from Fort Lauderdale, joined Williams after the 2022 season.

Read More:

The post Williams Racing & Michelob ULTRA Putting Legends Back On the Map appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Williams & Michelob Reveal 'Lap of Legends'%%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% The collaboration with Michelob will bring Williams Racing legends back to the track. The TV special will air in Spring 2024. Formula 1,Michelob Ultra,Williams Michelob Midge Purce: An MVP’s Journey to the Top https://boardroom.tv/midge-purce-gotham-fc-nwsl-championship/ Thu, 16 Nov 2023 21:25:48 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=83740 Days after Midge Purce won her first NWSL title, Boardroom spoke to her about being named MVP, playing alongside Ali Krieger, and how she plans to spend her offseason. “I was in disbelief but

The post Midge Purce: An MVP’s Journey to the Top appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Days after Midge Purce won her first NWSL title, Boardroom spoke to her about being named MVP, playing alongside Ali Krieger, and how she plans to spend her offseason.

“I was in disbelief but had all the belief at the same time.”

Days after Midge Purce won her first NWSL championship, the NJ/NY Gotham FC forward is still basking in the glory. Both of Gotham’s goals in its 2-1 title win over OL Reign came off Purce’s assists, the first to Lynn Williams and the second to FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Esther González. Her performance was enough for the 28-year-old to take home another coveted piece of hardware: Championship MVP.

“I wasn’t even thinking about the MVP award to be quite honest,” Purce told Boardroom. “I was so satisfied with winning and celebrating with my team that it was a beautifully surprising moment. And it was extremely humbling because this team is just so special. And they’ve all helped me come back this year. I’ve had some injuries and some low points in the season, so it was just really a beautiful moment.”

Purce missed most of the 2023 season with a torn quad, making her return to the pitch in June after 10 weeks of rehabilitation. Because she took significant time away, Purce missed out on joining the USWNT in Australia and New Zealand this summer at the World Cup. She’s now hoping her time will come in 2027.

In the meantime, Purce is spending her offseason fully rehabilitating herself, abandoning the chillier temps of the northeast in favor of sunshine in Miami. A few other players across the league will join her, and Purce says they will “train together, get ready for the season, and also have some fun and enjoy the time off.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Leaning on Her Mentors

The players who lifted the trophy at Snapdragon Stadium over the weekend all recognized the perseverance the team showed this season in pursuit of their first-ever NWSL title. There are a lot of factors that contributed to this fairytale ending, but Purce attributes a major reason for the club’s success to the restructuring, from personnel moves on the pitch to changes in the front office.

“We all knew we were not the same team from last year,” she said. “We have a completely new coaching staff, and we’ve reformed things within the club itself. And with that came a new attitude and new confidence. So we were all really bought in on this idea that we can go all the way and we committed to it the whole year.”

Catch up on the NWSL’s New Media Deal
The NWSL announced a media rights deal that will net the league 40 times what it was already bringing in.
Check it out!

So, how is her relationship with manager Juan Carlos Amorós, who the NWSL also named Coach of the Year?

In her words: “Juan and I have had such a positive relationship, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the person that he is. He’s an incredible coach, an incredible person, and I really am honored to have played for him.”

One player Midge Purce is also lucky to call a friend is Ali Krieger, reminiscing on the memories she and the Gotham captain shared during her final season as a pro.

“Ali is someone who I trust and even though she’s given me fantastic advice, the biggest takeaway I have from her is how she leads by example,” Purce said. “I’ve watched her overcome so much and to end her career on such a high note, it’s a fairytale ending and she has earned it.”

You can also expect to see more development with the Black Women’s Player Collective, a non-profit Purce helped co-found with a mission of advancing opportunities for Black girls in sport and beyond. While she wouldn’t disclose what the next steps are for the organization, she promised the plans are “really exciting” and fans can expect the group to “expand their initiative” beyond what they’ve already accomplished.

More from the NWSL:

The post Midge Purce: An MVP’s Journey to the Top appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Nate Burleson: On Faith and Football https://boardroom.tv/nate-burleson-nfl-gospel-super-bowl/ Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:09:07 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=83703 Nate Burleson is about more than football. Go inside his foray into news, love for gospel, and his take on modern QBs.

The post Nate Burleson: On Faith and Football appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Nate Burleson is about more than football. In a conversation with Boardroom, he talks his foray into news, love for gospel, and how the quarterback position is changing.

These days, you can’t turn your television to CBS without seeing Nate Burleson. A mainstay on the NFL on CBS team every Sunday for the last six years, Burleson can also be seen every weekday as an anchor on CBS Mornings.

The 42-year-old may have gotten his start playing football, but even he acknowledges that today’s generation of fans might think of him more as a media personality.

“There was a time when I wanted people to recognize me for my athletic ability and what I meant to them as a ball player,” he told Boardroom. “But now when people come up to me, that’s the last thing I’m thinking about. I don’t want them to tell me what I meant for their fantasy league or how they watched me play. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it. But I love it when they come up to me and say, ‘I watch you every morning and I start my day off with you, thank you for the way that you deliver the news. Thank you for being considerate and heartfelt and having empathy.’ It takes much more work to be good at your job on TV and three different spaces like sports, entertainment, and news than it does to go score a touchdown.”

The Minnesota Vikings selected the Canada native in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft as the 71st overall pick. He played 11 years in the league as a wide receiver, calling it a career in 2014 after stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Who Rules Modern Football

As someone who studies the NFL from multiple angles, Burleson, unsurprisingly, has thoughts on how the game continues to change. When asked who deserves a little more attention, Burleson mentioned Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and Baltimore Ravens slinger Lamar Jackson.

But it’s not for the reasons you’d think. Sure, the two MVP contenders inked record–breaking contracts in the offseason and they’re known as two of the better quarterbacks in the league. But what they are doing in the actual role is even more.

“I’m talking about them really redefining what that position was. We’re not talking too deep into the past,” he said. “There was a moment in time when they didn’t think a Black man could play quarterback because he wasn’t intelligent enough. And now you have Black quarterbacks all over the place at the college level. So there will be more in the league soon to come.

“Back in the day, it was get the hike, drop back, stand tall, throw the ball. Now they can do that, plus they can also be the most athletic player on the field. What these guys have shown us is that young kids can now look at their coach and say, ‘You need my athleticism at your quarterback position because that’s going to make your team a much better squad.'”

Burleson also acknowledges some things will never go out of style in the QB role, which includes someone under center who can sit in the pocket. Someone like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning who can deliver the ball and pick apart defenses.

“And we still have quarterbacks in the league that do that right now. But I’m talking specifically about when the rush comes and the play breaks down, they can ad-lib and extend plays with their feet. That’s going to change the game because it’s hard enough to stop a receiver when he’s running one route. But if I’m a quarterback and I extend the play an extra six seconds, and as a receiver I get to run a secondary route in one play, it’s highly unlikely that that quarterback is going to stop me. So yeah, the evolution is the more athletic guy will play the quarterback position.”

Burleson perfectly predicted the result of Super Bowl LVII, which is a feat many of his peers continue to give him credit for months later. Naturally, we had to ask him who would join him in Las Vegas next February when CBS broadcasts the game. According to the ex-Nevada player, it’s between the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Francisco 49ers. Some sleeper teams? The Cincinnati Bengals, “who started off slow, but really starting to figure it out,” and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A Celebration of Gospel

Speaking of the Super Bowl, Burleson is also capitalizing on his love of music and sports to host the Best of Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, which premieres in national syndication on Nov. 18 and runs through Jan. 28. For nearly a quarter of a century, the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration has been a refuge from the stress of the big game and has served as a beacon of inspiration. Founded and executive produced by Atlanta-based marketing executive Melanie Few, it stands as the only NFL-sanctioned multicultural program during Super Bowl week.

“The gospel celebration and the Super Bowl are almost synonymous at this point. We’re talking over a couple of decades of celebrating the best voices in gospel music and also the best athletes in the world,” Burleson said about the honor of emceeing. “My youngest memory of falling in love with the gospel is of course growing up in the church. So to be able to lend my voice to something as special as this, there was no question at all.”

Performers set to grace the screen include icons like Gladys Knight, Kirk Franklin, and Fantasia, as well as a collaboration between Snoop Dogg, the late Rance Allen, and The Clark Sisters. Additional entertainers are Doug E. Fresh, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, and more.

When not preparing for a primetime interview or reviewing game footage, music remains the through-line of Burleson’s cultural diet. He grew up listening to all genres, but of course, hip-hop reigns supreme for the two-time Sports Emmy winner.

“Jay-Z is going to be at the top of the list because I feel like his evolution reminds me that we can come from one space, evolve into another, be proud of where we are and never forget who we were,” he said. “And Jay-Z is a prime example of that.”

The television special precedes the Silver Anniversary Super Bowl Soulful Celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at the Pearl Theater, Palms Casino Resort during Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. This affair honors 25 years of uniting a national audience through a shared love of music, faith, and football. Tickets are available on Dec. 1.

Read More:

The post Nate Burleson: On Faith and Football appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Allyson Felix Plans to Stick Around https://boardroom.tv/allyson-felix-olympics-omega/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 16:09:17 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=83642 She may have retired, but Allyson Felix isn't going away. The former Olympian is busy building her brand and even making plans for Paris in 2024.

The post Allyson Felix Plans to Stick Around appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> She may have retired, but Allyson Felix isn’t going away. The former Olympian is busy building her brand and even making plans for Paris in 2024.

The past year has marked a significant change for Allyson Felix. Revered for her impressive speed on the track, Felix retired from competitive racing after the 2022 season. The Los Angeles native walks away from the game as the most decorated woman — and American — in Olympic track and field history, having earned 11 total medals from five consecutive Olympic Games.

But even in retirement, Felix is keeping busy. In this new era, the 37-year-old is staying in shape while shifting her focus.

“Everything used to revolve around training in my life, and now I’m doing so many other different things that it’s not the priority that it used to be,” Felix told Boardroom. “But it is important to me and it makes me feel like myself. So I have to schedule time for that in my day, but it looks a lot different. I still love to be on the track, but I started taking tennis lessons and I’m doing some Pilates, so just really switching it up and finding new ways to move my body.”

In addition to reclaiming her time, Felix has taken on a number of entrepreneurial endeavors that keep her busy. Prior to her retirement, she launched the running shoe and apparel company Saysh with her brother in 2019.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

“There are so many ups and downs in the world of entrepreneurship,” she said, “and I think that represents the perseverance and determination of an athlete. I’ve dealt with numerous injuries and disappointments, and I think that’s really helped adjust my perspective as I am entering into the business world. Of course, there are going to be hardships, but it’s really just how you navigate it.”

Additionally, while her time on the track may have come to an end, she’s taken on a new role in the run-up to her hometown of LA’s 2028 Olympic moment. She was tapped to join the Athletes’ Commission, for both the local games and the IOC.

Time Tested

Felix has also maintained a number of brand partnerships, including one with OMEGA.

Felix joined fellow Olympic medalists Noah Lyles, Nathan Chen, and Oksana Masters last Friday for a discussion at the opening of the Planet OMEGA Exhibit at the Chelsea Factory in New York. OMEGA has been the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932, and the Official Timekeeper of the Paralympic Games since 1992.

With a gold-winning figure skater and another who has gold hardware in biathlon, cycling, and cross-country skiing, will Felix capitalize on her abundance of time by learning a new sport?

“I don’t think figure skating is my strength,” she joked, adding, “but I would love for my daughter to experience it. I need to ask Nathan for tips and tricks on how to get her started. That’s definitely not the gift that I have, but maybe. You never know.”

Chen would be the perfect person to consult. The Salt Lake City-born athlete has won three medals in figure skating at the Olympic Winter Games – including a gold in Beijing last year. As for Lyles, he took home the bronze in the 200m event at Tokyo 2020 and three gold medals at the 2023 World Championships. As Lyles and Paralympian Oksana Masters continue training for Paris next summer, Felix shared whether she has provided any helpful advice to either of the two.

“I think Noah’s well on his way,” she said. “He has so much personality and fun energy that that’s always exciting for the sport. I love being around Oskana. She’s just such an inspirational person in and outside of sport, and so I’ve been able to get to know her, and I think she’s just really special. I’m excited to be able to cheer all of them on. It’s quickly approaching.”

Is Allyson Felix Headed to Paris?

We’re months away from knowing which athletes will represent their respective countries in Paris next year. However, is there a chance Felix could parlay her experience on the track into an analyst role?

“I’m definitely open to the possibilities and excited to have a presence in Paris, so I’m still figuring out exactly what that will look like,” Felix teased, adding that she’ll “be around” in Europe next July and August.

In the meantime, Felix is focusing her attention on being a mom to five-year-old Camryn and running Saysh. Felix teamed up with her brother, Wes, to start the company in 2020 and the pair has since brought on investors Athleta and IRIS to raise $8 million in its Series A round last year.

“I’ve been blessed to be part of some of the most incredible teams in the world, and so bringing that experience to my business has been really helpful as well. I’m excited for the future and just motivated by our mission and excited to just see us show up more.”

Read More:

The post Allyson Felix Plans to Stick Around appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Ali Krieger & Megan Rapinoe: Friends, Foes, and Football Trailblazers https://boardroom.tv/ali-krieger-megan-rapinoe-nwsl-championship/ Thu, 09 Nov 2023 20:28:47 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=83390 Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe are about to square off in their final NWSL match. While the two will be foes on the pitch, they have been trailblazers for women in sports off of it.

The post Ali Krieger & Megan Rapinoe: Friends, Foes, and Football Trailblazers appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe are about to square off in their final NWSL match. While the two will be foes on the pitch, they have been trailblazers for women in sports off of it.

Ali Krieger has had Nov. 11 circled on her calendar for nine months. The NJ/NY Gotham FC defender, approaching her final game as a pro athlete, knew she wouldn’t be anywhere but on the pitch that day. Mere hours after announcing her retirement in March, the only thing the decorated footballer remained relentless on was bringing Gotham back to soccer excellence.

Fast forward eight months and Krieger’s manifestation is a full-fledged reality. On Saturday, she’ll lace up for the last time, and do her part to win Gotham its first-ever NWSL title. Standing in their way: the OL Reign. What makes this weekend’s showdown even more bittersweet is that Krieger will face her good friend Megan Rapinoe, who is also calling it a career once the season ends.

The two had a laugh at the circumstances back in September, an even more obvious indication Krieger wouldn’t settle for anything less than hardware.

Two Tales of Activism

Krieger and Rapinoe have been a part of the growth of women’s soccer, but it’s their activism away from the pitch that catapults them to legendary status. Leveraging their popularity in the sport, both Krieger and Rapinoe have used their platforms to advocate for issues close to them, primarily in the LGBTQ+ and social justice space.

Krieger told The Cut in April that it was her own coming out that helped encourage her ex-Orlando Pride teammate Marta to do the same:

“Visibility is everything. If you can see it, you can be it. We didn’t have it when we were young. If we did, I probably would have figured out that I was queer when I was like 12 or 13. I want to be that for people, including my peers. I didn’t want any of our teammates to feel like they had to hide because they were afraid of losing their jobs, even at the club level, even if they weren’t on the national team with the big spotlight…”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Rapinoe shared her coming out story in a 2012 profile for Out Magazine, saying at the time that people need “to see that there are people like me playing soccer for the good ol’ U.S. of A.”

The dynamic duo has also been vocal about transgender rights in athletics. Rapinoe was one of 40 Olympic and Paralympic athletes to sign an open letter in April on behalf of the advocacy group Athlete Ally. The note protested the federal Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would ban trans girls from playing sports on school teams that align with their gender.

“The policing of who can and cannot play school sports will very likely lead to the policing of the bodies of all girls, including cisgender girls,” the note read. “This will deter girls from participating in sports and create additional barriers. Denying children access to a place where they can gain significant mental and physical health benefits, and learn lifelong lessons that come from being part of a team and working hard towards your goals does not protect women in sports,” a portion of the letter read.

On the social justice front, Rapinoe became one of the first major athletes to support Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality in September 2016. The California native took a knee for the first time prior to the Seattle Reign’s match against the Chicago Red Stars. Despite the criticism she received (and continues to endure), Rapinoe has remained staunch in her decision, and since then has only increased her commitment to representing marginalized groups. Her actions even contributed to the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors’ decision to repeal Policy 604-1 in June, which required players to stand during the national anthem.

Hear More from Ali Krieger
Ali Krieger spoke to Boardroom about the progress and pitfalls in the battle for equity in both soccer and basketball.
Take me there!

Finally, Krieger and Rapinoe have been at the forefront of the equal pay conversation. Thanks to years of work (along with those of many others), the United States Soccer Federation, the United States Women’s National Team Players Association (USWNTPA), and the United States National Soccer Team Players Association (USNSTPA) reached an agreement that mandated “equal pay and set the global standard moving forward in international soccer” in May 2022.

It’s progress, but Krieger told Boardroom in March that more needs to be done to keep the new generation of soccer legends from facing the same.

“Equality and respect is something I think we have done a good job of getting to this point and it’s at a really good start, but we have to continue to implement that season after season,” she said. “And I think the direction that women’s soccer is going — or women’s sports in general — is very healthy. But it’s also getting that investment and support from others who might not be directly in contact with soccer or play the sport. Having their backing can help us move forward together.”

Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe: By the Numbers

It wouldn’t be a proper sendoff if we didn’t break down the illustrious careers of Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe. Below are some of their largest achievements, from international wins down to individual honors.

AwardAli KriegerMegan Rapinoe
FIFA Women’s World Cup2 (2015, 2019)2 (2015, 2019)
Olympic Medals2 (Bronze: 2021, Gold: 2012)
CONCACAF Women’s Championship1 (2014)3 (2014, 2018, 2022)
SheBelieves Cup2 (2016, 2020)4 (2018, 2020, 2021, 2023)
NWSL Best XI4 (2014, 2017, 2019, 2023)1 (2018)
Ballon d’Or Féminin1 (2019)
FIFA Women’s World Cup Golden Ball1 (2019)
FIFA Women’s World Cup Golden Boot1 (2019)
IFFHS CONCACAF Woman Team of the Decade1 (2011-2020)1 (2011-2020)
UEFA Champions League1 (2008

More from the NWSL:

The post Ali Krieger & Megan Rapinoe: Friends, Foes, and Football Trailblazers appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Lionel Messi Joins KRÜ Esports as Co-Owner https://boardroom.tv/lionel-messi-kru-esports-co-owner/ Tue, 07 Nov 2023 19:47:40 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=83421 Lionel Messi is diving into esports as co-owner of the company that his friend and fellow footballer Sergio Agüero founded. Inter Miami star Lionel Messi is teaming up with Sergio Agüero once again, this

The post Lionel Messi Joins KRÜ Esports as Co-Owner appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Lionel Messi is diving into esports as co-owner of the company that his friend and fellow footballer Sergio Agüero founded.

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi is teaming up with Sergio Agüero once again, this time off the pitch and in the esports arena. Messi has joined his former teammate on the ownership board of KRÜ Esports, the company Agüero founded in 2020. 

KRÜ Esports came about after Agüero began streaming his online gaming during the COVID-19 lockdown. KRÜ has since had teams compete in major esports such as Valorant and Rocket League.

“I’m happy to share a club with Leo, of course now in a new stage and with other challenges,” Agüero told Esports Illustrated. “It’s an honour to have him as a part of KRÜ. He’s the best footballer in history, and he’s also a great friend. He is a figure who inspires everyone and will be a great addition to the scene as a whole.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Considering this is the longest break between seasons of Messi’s career, it makes sense that he’s choosing now to expand his business portfolio. Despite Miami having a stellar second half following Messi’s summer arrival, the team’s first-half struggles were not enough to catapult them into the MLS Playoffs. The next time we’ll see the 36-year-old take the pitch will be Thursday, Nov. 16, when Argentina plays Uruguay in a huge FIFA World Cup qualifier match. Five days later, the reigning champions take on storied rivals Brazil.

As for Messi’s primary job with Inter Miami, the David Beckham-owned club reportedly inked a deal with another one of Messi’s former colleagues. Sources told ESPN in Uruguay that Luis Suarez is headed stateside on a one-year deal with an option to renew for a second season. A one-time Champions League winner with Barcelona, the veteran center-forward could provide some much-needed help as Miami looks to compete in its first full season with football’s undisputed GOAT.

Read More:

The post Lionel Messi Joins KRÜ Esports as Co-Owner appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Jamal Murray and the Art of Easygoing Excellence  https://boardroom.tv/jamal-murray-easygoing-star-wilson/ Fri, 03 Nov 2023 17:15:14 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=81995 On and off the court, the reigning NBA champion has built a reputation as one of the most laid-back stars in the league. The Denver Nugget sat down with Boardroom to discuss his advisory role with Wilson, his hopes for the current NBA season, and more.

The post Jamal Murray and the Art of Easygoing Excellence  appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> On and off the court, the reigning NBA champion has built a reputation as one of the most laid-back stars in the league. The Denver Nugget sat down with Boardroom to discuss his advisory role with Wilson, his hopes for the current NBA season, and more.

Jamal Murray doesn’t get fazed by much anymore. At 26, the Denver Nuggets guard is one-half of one of the most threatening duos in the NBA. Whatever boastful language he may use when speaking on opponents, the former Kentucky Wildcat certainly follows that with an incredible performance on the court.

Soon after the start of the 2023-24 NBA season, Murray made franchise history, passing Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf to become 9th place on the Nuggets’ all-time scoring list. A reigning NBA Finals champion and slowly becoming one of the best scorers in Denver history, it’s hard to fathom why Murray has never made a single NBA All-Star game, or even been named to a single All-NBA team.

Nonetheless, it hasn’t dented the Canadian international’s spirit. In fact, he told Boardroom, he’s playing this year with an attitude of contentment.

“That’s the goal. I like to play the game with a lot of fun,” Murray said Tuesday from the team hotel in Minneapolis. “When you’re free-flowing and trusting your instincts, you’re light, you’re loose, you’re interacting with the fans, and you’re engaged in huddles and timeouts. Everybody has a common goal as well, so you don’t have to overthink what to say or try to intervene. You just kind of speak your mind and let things come. And that’s part of my job of being a leader. I can’t be setting the tone negatively, so I try to have a consistent energy and flow.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Compared to some of the NBA’s past champions, the Nuggets fly under the radar in terms of “star power.” Sure, he and Nikola Jokic successfully took down the Jimmy Butler-led Miami Heat to win the team’s first-ever championship; however, the odds aren’t (currently) in their favor to repeat. FanDuel currently lists the Nuggets third, with +500 odds to take home a second trophy. Murray says the team doesn’t put pressure on themselves to chase another title, or even continue their reign as the best sports franchise in The Mile High City.

“It’s just more exciting,” he asserts. “It makes the game more interesting and it brings the best out of the guys. So I would say it helps more than anything to set our own standard for success. It’s nice to be held to that, too, especially by our own fans. It makes it easier to put on a good show every time.”

Is Jamal Murray Underpaid?
How much do the Denver Nuggets pay their star guard? When does he hit free agency?
Read More.

Keeping an Eye on the Gold

Following a successful ending to the 2022-23 season, Murray made the decision to forgo participation in this year’s FIBA World Cup, trusting the country’s newest crop of talent including RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to lead the nation. Without him, Canada secured the bronze, its first international men’s tournament medal since 1936.

Reminiscing on that impressive run that culminated in a 127-118 win against Team USA, Murray noted the different “vibes” between his college days, his current stint with the Nuggets, and playing for a national side. “Countries play with a lot more heart,” he said. “There’s a lot more on the line. So it’s always fun to come together as one and try to compete for a medal and prove every other country wrong.

“I’ve grown up with a lot of these guys and we’ve been playing together for a while, so we all have a good rapport together.”

It’s been eight years since Murray suited up for Canada. He was 18, Kentucky-bound, and recorded 22 points to help them beat Team USA 111-108 in an overtime thriller for the silver medal at the 2015 Pan American Games.

After years away from national play coupled with fond memories of playing alongside an arguably stronger side, could we see Murray make his triumphant return to national play at next year’s Olympics? He was coy with his response but didn’t shake his head no. So, anything is possible.

Photo by Jon Lopez / Slapbox Creative

From Sharpshooter to Coveted Advisor

Throughout our conversation, Murray was playing around with the newest Nuggets City Edition basketball that hit shelves this week. The customized balls are manufactured by Wilson, which provides the official game balls for the NBA. Murray serves as a member of the brand’s advisory staff. As a major part of his role, Murray tests basketball-specific equipment before it hits the market, which includes the genuine leather game ball he’ll use to ultimately reach No. 8 on Denver’s all-time scoring list.

“It’s really cool,” Murray said of his partnership with Wilson. “I was one of the first people they sent the ball to try out and [got to] play with it to see how it moves. I think a lot of key details get left out when athletes don’t get to have a say in the ball’s design, which obviously is a big part of the game. And working with Wilson has been great so far. We’re just looking to expand on what we can do together and keep the relationship going.”

However, Wilson is only one of Murray’s mounting portfolio of off-court ventures. Murray also boasts a major endorsement with New Balance. The two agreed on a multiyear partnership in December 2020. Murray joined Kawhi Leonard as a notable player in the West on the company’s basetball roster. Pointing to his slip-on shoes during our conversation, Murray attributed his laid-back mentality as a catalyst to why he and the Boston-based brand are the perfect match in his career ascent.

“My style is pretty chill. I like to have things catered to my liking, but not be too flashy or fancy. … New Balance gives me the right stuff I need to excel on the court. Everything feels fine and comfy. They’re trying to expand a lot in the basketball area, and I’m happy to be a part of that process.”

Both Wilson and New Balance trust Murray based on his ever-growing résumé of success on the court to help them build the best products to fuel the future of the sport. He’s proven himself as a trustworthy advisor without the braggadocios flair of some of his NBA compatriots.

As for businesses he decides to work with? “Whatever feels right,” Murray responded.

A fitting answer for the ambassador of easygoing.

Want More NBA?

The post Jamal Murray and the Art of Easygoing Excellence  appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading 2022 Wilson x Jamal Murray DENVER, CO 20, 2022 - Wilson campaign photo shoot with Jamal Murray in Denver, CO. NOTE TO USER: Mandatory Copyright Notice: Photo by Jon Lopez / Slapbox Creative (Instagram: @jonlopez13) NBA & Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS Reveal Breakthrough Partnership https://boardroom.tv/skims-nba-deal-kim-kardashian/ Mon, 30 Oct 2023 12:59:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=80282 The best-selling shapewear brand begins a multiyear pact with the Association, the WNBA, and USA Basketball as their official underwear partner. Your eyes weren’t deceiving you if you noticed the SKIMS logo on NBA

The post NBA & Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS Reveal Breakthrough Partnership appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The best-selling shapewear brand begins a multiyear pact with the Association, the WNBA, and USA Basketball as their official underwear partner.

Your eyes weren’t deceiving you if you noticed the SKIMS logo on NBA courts during the opening week of the 2023-24 season. On Monday, Kim Kardashian‘s billion-dollar shapewear and apparel line announced a multiyear partnership with the league, officially making SKIMS the official underwear partner of the NBA, the WNBA, and USA Basketball. 

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for SKIMS

Together, SKIMS, the NBA, WNBA, and USA Basketball will capitalize on the sport’s extensive appeal to garner excitement and leverage the power of basketball to execute numerous activations. Fans can expect a SKIMS footprint at marquee events like NBA All-Star, the NBA In-Season Tournament, WNBA All-Star presented by US Bank, AT&T WNBA Live, and the USA Basketball Showcase, which features both USA men’s and women’s national team exhibition games ahead of major international competitions.

“I am incredibly proud of SKIMS‘ partnership with the NBA, as it is a reflection of SKIMS growing influence on culture,” said Kardashian, the company’s Co-founder and Creative Director. “Together, SKIMS and the NBA will connect people of all backgrounds through fashion, sport, and talent, and I look forward to seeing the partnership thrive.”

Added SKIMS Co-Founder & CEO Jens Grede: “The NBA’s modern approach and significant impact on pop culture, entertainment, and fashion is unparalleled in sports. Our partnership marks a remarkable opportunity for SKIMS and the NBA to work together on what it means to engage the next generation of consumers and fans through basketball.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

SKIMS Mens launched on Oct. 26, and the brand celebrated the debut of a lineup of comfortable everyday essentials by naming some of the most recognizable athletes as faces of the “Every Body is Wearing SKIMS” campaign. Joining soccer superstar Neymar and San Francisco 49ers All-Pro Nick Bosa as the brand’s official athlete endorsers was All-NBA point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In addition to seeing the SKIMS emblem on-court this season, hoop fans will also see SKIMS signage across the league’s official social and digital platforms.

Read More:

The post NBA & Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS Reveal Breakthrough Partnership appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> SKIMS Photo Opp With Kim Kardashian And NBA NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Kim Kardashian attends SKIMS Photo Opp with NBA on September 28, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for SKIMS) Loading Stephanie Rawlings-Blake: The Power Player Behind the NBPA Foundation https://boardroom.tv/stephanie-rawlings-blake-interview/ Sun, 29 Oct 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=79947 Boardroom exclusively spoke with the proud Maryland native about her new position as Executive Director and her passion for philanthropy. NBA players are revered for entertaining us on the hardwood. At times, we get

The post Stephanie Rawlings-Blake: The Power Player Behind the NBPA Foundation appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Boardroom exclusively spoke with the proud Maryland native about her new position as Executive Director and her passion for philanthropy.

NBA players are revered for entertaining us on the hardwood. At times, we get a glimpse of their lives off the court when they show how lucrative salaries furnish their lifestyles. However, plenty of them give back by reaching for their own checkbooks to donate to charities, fund disaster-relief initiatives, sponsor scholarships, and bolster their alma mater.

Just like the National Basketball Players Association functions to protect and support the rights and talents of our players, the Foundation side of the NBPA works with these stars to strengthen their communities and create meaningful change worldwide.

It’s been nearly a year since Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was named Executive Director of the NBPA Foundation, and Boardroom got to speak with the Baltimore native about her time as mayor of Charm City, the power of partnerships, and various ways players are tapping into their philanthropic side.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

VINCIANE NGOMSI: How did your Baltimore upbringing and work as a public service official help prepare you for this role as the Executive Director of the NBPA Foundation?

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake: When I think about it, it’s really so much informed by my experience growing up in a working middle-class family. My dad grew up in the projects – the first projects that were built in the country were co-homes in Baltimore. My mom grew up one of nine, and both of my parents’ families really valued education and instilled that in us. I got the benefit of a nuclear family, a beautiful home, an incredible extended family, and a wonderful neighborhood.

Even having all of those things, I saw peers and some family members who succumbed to drug addiction, battled homelessness, and did not have the wherewithal to be fully functioning, thriving adults. I really grew up with a sense of obligation to use my skills and talents to try to fill the gaps for families and communities that didn’t have all I was blessed with so they could be able to thrive.

I was given the chance to live my best life to decide what I wanted to do. Now I’m trying to use my skills and talents to make communities better. It’s global because about a third of our players are international. I feel very blessed to be able to continue the work but on a much larger scale.

Courtesy of NBPA Foundation

VN: What are some key takeaways that you learned from being the mayor of Baltimore that have now helped you in this new role?

SRB: I think one of the main things I found that translates from being a mayor to my current role is the power of partnership. As mayor, even though the buck stopped with me, I knew that without strong partners, I couldn’t get what I needed to get done. So I established a partnership with, I called it, our anchor institution.

I brought colleges and medical professionals together to say that you are collectively the largest employer in the city. When you thrive, we thrive. How can we find a way that we’re thriving together? This means a focus on more local hiring and more local sourcing for the things that these institutions use, making it very intentional to build from our strengths.

With the Foundation, one of the first things I noticed was there was a tranche of funds dedicated to disaster relief. I know that when disaster strikes, it’s not the time that you want to be scurrying around trying to figure out where can you donate. So we created a partnership with Team Rubicon, a veteran-led organization. We’re also working on a partnership with the American Cancer Society, and others.

VN: We’ve been preaching for so long that they’re more than just athletes, and the most important thing is also ensuring the work they’re doing is executed to the best of their ability.

SRB: It’s also understanding that part of this is discovering their legacy. I’m proud of the work that we’re doing. We did a program at UCLA for players and the people who help manage their philanthropies. It’s called ‘The Business of Giving’ where we talked about best practices in philanthropy, the power of storytelling, and went over how to create sustainable partnerships and make meaningful sustained investments in your organization. We do that because it’s working to help them just discover how they want to show up in their communities, but a lot of men haven’t explored that and I’m really there to help open their eyes.

VN: Klay Thompson mentioned before that a lot of investing he does is heavily influenced by organizations the NBPA aligns itself with, and I have to believe that philanthropic pathways are similar. Do you feel the pressure of wanting the select really good allies or make sure that whatever the organization is accomplishing mirrors the athletes’ interests?

SRB: It is my charge every day and I feel very responsible for protecting our players by making good choices. That could mean having a tough conversation when they may want to partner with an organization that does not meet the standards we hold for them. We have to do that because we have to protect their legacy. Too many people have worked too hard to get players where they are. We have to protect that.

VN: With how international basketball is, do you find yourself looking to work with organizations overseas as well to mirror efforts the NBA is doing to attract fans on a global level?

SRB: Yeah, our global philanthropy is very proud of that work. For me, I feel like we’re just getting started as far as understanding what’s possible globally. We’re working to bring the players from Africa together to brainstorm ways to collaborate around things they care about. When I met Wemby [Victor Wembanyama] and his mom, they expressed interest in projects that involve water infrastructure. It’s looking for those synergies. I’m excited about what we are doing internationally and I am super excited about what I know is possible moving forward.

Kara Nortman & Monarch Begin Reign with NWSL Boston Investment
A minority stake in the newly awarded NWSL expansion club in Boston is Monarch’s first investment. Boardroom catches up with collective co-founder Kara Nortman.
Read the full interview!

VN: Out of the players you’ve got a chance to meet with so far, what are some personality traits that stand out about their desire to give back?

SRB: I would say curiosity. They’re very curious about all of the work the Foundation offers and the union in general office. I’d also add commitment. They understand they’re here on this earth for more than basketball.

Is basketball the primary way they are showing up in the world? Yes. However, that’s not the only thing and I can say that’s something that impresses me and encourages me. I don’t have to convince anybody to do the work. It’s just a matter of how and what; not why.

VN: What are some of the qualifications that you look for in any organization before moving forward with a partnership? What about the players?

SRB: I’m looking for more national organizations, but players want to show up in their communities. What we look for are non-profits that have the capacity to do the work they say that they’re doing. Again, this is about protecting the investment of our players. It’s one thing to say it and there’s another thing to do it.

When players say they’re on their philanthropic journey and establish their foundations, we make sure through our coaching and our support for their foundations that they’re doing what they’re saying. The organizations they want to do matching grants with, we want to make sure they have the capacity to use the funds given to them.

Courtesy of NBPA Foundation

VN: What was it about sports, whether it was at an early age until now, that motivated you to make this career transition?

SRB: I played tennis growing up, which can be individual but also can be a team sport. I played on teams while I was in high school and college a smidge. Having an appreciation for what it means to be a team, having an appreciation for the dedication that it takes to be an elite athlete, I have a lot of respect for that discipline, that drive, that passion. I have a lot of respect for the possibilities for the player’s influence.

I’ve come out of a world of politics and public service, and I also know that right now the players have so much more influence than almost all politicians. How do we harness that for good? That’s the important thing because young people aren’t looking at mayors or senators as their role models. They just aren’t. Whether they should or shouldn’t is neither here nor there, but the people they do look towards have a lot to give and a lot to offer. That’s the space where I find myself, and that’s a space where I really want to show up for the guys.

Read More:

The post Stephanie Rawlings-Blake: The Power Player Behind the NBPA Foundation appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Stephanie-Rawlings-Blake DSC03835 Andre Iguodala Business Portfolio: Zoom, Leeds United, Bay FC, Mosaic & More https://boardroom.tv/andre-iguodala-business-investments-portfolio/ Sat, 21 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=79793 As Andrew Iguodala calls it a career and pivots to life after basketball, Boardroom takes a closer look at his growing portfolio of business and investment ventures.

The post Andre Iguodala Business Portfolio: Zoom, Leeds United, Bay FC, Mosaic & More appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> As Andrew Iguodala calls it a career and pivots to life after basketball, Boardroom takes a closer look at his growing portfolio of business and investment ventures.

Andre Iguodala is calling it a career after nearly two decades in pro hoops. As the four-time NBA champion told Andscape in making things official on Oct. 20, “It’s just the right time.”

“Time started to get limited for me and I didn’t want to put anything in the back seat,” the 39-year-old explained to Marc J. Spears. “I didn’t want to have to try to delegate time anymore. Especially with on the court, off the court with family. A lot.”

To say Iguodala has reached Hall of Fame status is an understatement. The Philadelphia 76ers selected him with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. After an eight-year stint in the City of Brotherly Love, Iguodala spent one year with the Denver Nuggets before signing with the Golden State Warriors as a free agent. Iguodala was a part of the Warriors’ dynasty run that made five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, winning three. For the team’s first victory in 2015, Iguodala was named Finals MVP.

He logged two campaigns (2019-20, 2020-21) with the Miami Heat before returning to the Bay Area for the final two seasons of his career.

As for what’s next, Iguodala will helm Mosaic, a $200 million venture capital fund that he just raised with longtime business partner, Rudy Cline-Thomas. The former Arizona Wildcat has made a significant number of investments over the course of his career, backing companies like Zoom and sports teams like English football’s Leeds United and NWSL upstart Bay FC.

Expect Iggy to pick up the pace even more in retirement — let’s take a closer look at Andre Iguodala’s business portfolio.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Andre Iguodala Business & Investments Overview

NOTE: This list is Boardroom’s curation of the most important Andre Iguodala businesses and ventures and is not to be considered exhaustive.

Mosaic

  • Type: Venture capital firm
  • Role: Co-founder
  • Fun Fact: Mosaic invests in early-stage startup companies, pre-C, series A, and series B, and closed its first venture round on May 1.

Zoom

  • Type: Software Company
  • Role: Investor
  • Founded: 2011
  • Fun fact: Founder and CEO Eric Yuan’s concept for Zoom arose from his dislike for traveling.

Bay FC

  • Type: NWSL Team
  • Role: Investor
  • Founded: 2023
  • Fun Fact: Aly Wagner, co-chair of Bay FC, is a founding partner alongside fellow former USWNT players Brandi Chastain, Danielle Slaton, and Leslie Osborne.

Leeds United

  • Type: Premier League Team
  • Role: Investor
  • Founded: 1919
  • Fun fact: The rivalry between Leeds United and Manchester United is one of the most deep-seated and historic in English football. It’s often known as the “Roses Derby” in reference to their respective counties, Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Coinbase

  • Type: Cryptocurrency Exchange Company
  • Role: Investor
  • Founded: 2012
  • Fun fact: Coinbase was founded in 2012 by a former Airbnb engineer Brian Armstrong, who serves as the company’s CEO.

TGL San Francisco

  • Type: Golf league
  • Role: Co-investor
  • Founded: 2022
  • Fun Fact: As part of the franchise led by businessman Marc Lasry and Warriors teammate Stephen Curry, Iguodala joins Klay Thompson among the investors in the innovative golf league co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Read More:

The post Andre Iguodala Business Portfolio: Zoom, Leeds United, Bay FC, Mosaic & More appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading NBA Endorsement Earnings: LeBron Leads the Pack https://boardroom.tv/nba-top-endorsement-earners-2023-24/ Thu, 19 Oct 2023 21:39:40 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=79758 The best players in the NBA already make millions on the court. But what about off of it? Check out the top endorsement earners in the NBA.

The post NBA Endorsement Earnings: LeBron Leads the Pack appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> LeBron, Steph, KD…the list goes on. Here are the top NBA endorsement earners for 2023-24, filled with familiar names.

If you’re good enough on the court, being a professional athlete can yield you millions. And if you’re savvy enough off the court, you can significantly increase your earnings via other avenues. Endorsements are one of those ways, and Sportico has released the list of the 15 highest-paid NBA players entering the 2023-24 season, accounting for exactly that.

The list of names has graced our screens for years, been the faces of the biggest brands on Earth, and some have even earned that coveted signature sneaker. Not surprisingly, they are also among the absolute best at their craft.

Ahead of next week’s NBA season tip-off, check out the list of top endorsers below, courtesy of Sportico.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Top NBA Endorsement Earners for 2023-24

RankPlayerTeamEndorsementsTotal Earnings
1LeBron JamesLos Angeles Lakers$80m$127.6m
2Stephen CurryGolden State Warriors$50m$101.9m
3Giannis AntetokounmpoMinnesota Bucks$45m$90.6m
4Kevin DurantPhoenix Suns$42m$88.4m
5Klay ThompsonGolden State Warriors$21m$64.2m
6James HardenPhiladelphia 76ers$20m$55.6m
7Damian LillardMinnesota Bucks$17m$62.6m
8Zion WilliamsonNew Orleans Pelicans$16m$50m
9Luka DončićDallas Mavericks$12m$52m
10Joel EmbiidPhiladelphia 76ers$9m$56.6m
11Paul GeorgeLA Clippers$8.5m$54.1m
12Jimmy ButlerMiami Heat$7.5m$52.7m
13Nikola JokićDenver Nuggets$7m$54.6m
14Kawhi LeonardLA Clippers$7m$52.6
15Bradley BealPhoenix Suns$6.5m$52.5m

Endorsement Breakdown

RankPlayerKey Endorsements
1LeBron JamesNike, ATT&T, Beats by Dre
2Steph CurryUnder Armour, Infiniti Motor Company, Chase
3Giannis AntetokounmpoNike, Google Pixel, JBL
4Kevin DurantNike, Beats by Dre, Gatorade
5Klay ThompsonAnta Sports Group, Body Armor, Panini
6James HardenAdidas, Beats by Dre, Body Armor
7Damian LillardAdidas, Panini, Hulu
8Zion WilliamsonNike, Gatorade, Mountain Dew
9Luka DončićJordan Brand, NBA 2K, BioSteel
10Joel EmbiidPepsiCo, EA,
11Paul GeorgeNike, ATT&T, Therabody
12Jimmy ButlerAnheuser-Busch InBev, Google, Tag Heuer
12Nikola JokićNike, Panini
14Kawhi LeonardNew Balance
15Bradley BealNike, Nestle

Read More:

The post NBA Endorsement Earnings: LeBron Leads the Pack appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Most Valuable Apparel Brands in the World: Louis Vuitton, Nike, Rolex & More https://boardroom.tv/most-valuable-apparel-brand-nike-louis-vuitton/ Sun, 08 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=78865 From the enduring Swoosh to the iconic fashion houses of Milan, find out who reigns supreme as the No. 1 most valuable brand in the apparel industry worldwide. Because it’s a one-stop shop to

The post Most Valuable Apparel Brands in the World: Louis Vuitton, Nike, Rolex & More appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> From the enduring Swoosh to the iconic fashion houses of Milan, find out who reigns supreme as the No. 1 most valuable brand in the apparel industry worldwide.

Because it’s a one-stop shop to secure the hottest sneakers, long-lasting workout clothes, and trendy yet casual ensembles, it’s no surprise that Nike reigns supreme as the most valuable name in sportswear and apparel 50 years into its journey. After all, The Swoosh has done an impeccable job of recruiting some of the finest athletes and entertainers as brand ambassadors across multiple eras, solidifying itself as a force to be reckoned with across not just the business world, but all of popular culture.

Despite that No. 1 ranking, however, the pricing tiers for the Beaverton, Oregon-based company’s products pale in comparison to several of the competing brands on this list — after all, you won’t find a Swoosh’d jacket that retails for more than $2,000. (Sure, inflation is known to run rampant, but not like that.) All told, what Nike lacks in high fashion cachet, these other companies supply with resplendence to spare. Think opulent ballgowns, perfectly tailored suits, and avant-garde pieces that belong in a museum.

So, how does it all shake out? Based on 2022 industry data published this fall via Brand Finance, find out who owns the distinction of chasing Nike in the race to become the world’s No. 1 most valuable brand in the apparel space.

And before we begin, a minor spoiler alert: the fifth-place corporation is none other than a certain three-striped brand (no, not Thom Browne!).

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Most Valuable Apparel Brands

RANKBRANDVALUE
1Nike$31.3B
2Louis Vuitton$26.3B
3Chanel$19.4B
4Gucci$17.8B
5Adidas$15.7B
The World’s Most Popular Sneaker Brands, Ranked
From the Swoosh to the Three Stripes and beyond, find out who reigns supreme atop the global sneaker mountaintop.
Let’s Go!
6Hermes$14.2B
7Dior$13.2B
8Cartier$12.5B
9Zara$11B
10Rolex$10.7B

Want more facts and figures like these? Follow @boardroom on Instagram and never miss a big number.

Read More:

The post Most Valuable Apparel Brands in the World: Louis Vuitton, Nike, Rolex & More appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Everything You Need to Know About the Las Vegas Sphere https://boardroom.tv/everything-you-need-to-know-las-vegas-sphere/ Wed, 04 Oct 2023 20:21:47 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=78808 The biggest names from LeBron James to Oprah Winfrey were front and center for U2’s opening concert in Sin City. Boardroom breaks down everything you need to know about Vegas’ newest attraction For decades,

The post Everything You Need to Know About the Las Vegas Sphere appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The biggest names from LeBron James to Oprah Winfrey were front and center for U2’s opening concert in Sin City. Boardroom breaks down everything you need to know about Vegas’ newest attraction

For decades, Las Vegas has lived up to its reputation as the amusement capital of the United States. After all, it’s where Elvis experienced a career rebirth, Frank Sinatra perfected his swagger, and the site of Super Bow LVIII.

Already a hotbed for fun and (if you’re lucky) fortune, Sin City is adding to its reputation of opulence with the Sphere. The $2.3 billion venture quickly earned the reputation of the entertainment venue of the future. The creation of James Dolan – executive chair of Madison Square Garden and owner of the New York Knicks and Rangers – together with David Dibble, CEO of MSG Ventures, took years to develop the concept that now lights up the famous Las Vegas Strip.

Is it an orb, a basketball, or an eyeball? Well, its 1.2 million hockey puck-sized LEDs have been already programmed to flash those, and probably anything else you imagine.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

After months of anticipation, the Sphere finally opened its doors to excited attendees over the weekend. Irish rock band U2 christened its stage with the very first concert. In front of the likes of LeBron James, Oprah, Andre Agassi, and Paul McCartney, Bono & co. performed their decades-old hits and set the standard for the experience future visitors can expect.

Missed the legendary group dazzle in front of 17,500 people on Saturday and Sunday? Their mini-residency lasts 25 shows in total, running through mid-December with tickets retailing for $400-$500 each.

It’s not easy to bring added excitement to a city that boasts the Bellagio’s dancing fountains, two reigning championship teams, a half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower, and an overload of locations equipped for multiple residencies. However, the Sphere accomplished just that and more, and that’s without even considering the specifics of the space.

We’ve already dived into the aesthetics of the Sphere, but now let’s explore the specifics of the space, including the added perks even the nicest of arenas can’t rival.

Las Vegas Sphere Facts

  • It is the largest sphere-shaped building in the world, standing 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide at its widest point. According to CNN, the partially hollow building could easily fit the entire Statue of Liberty, base to torch.
  • Though it seats 17,500, the Sphere adapts to 20,000 people when standing. For those who prefer – and want to dish out for – a more intimate affair, they offer 23 VIP suites.
  • Getting to the Sphere is via a pedestrian walkway from the Venetian resort, a partner in the investment.
  • The wraparound LED canvas contains 268 million video pixels, ensuring it engulfs your entire field of vision. Bono said it himself: “This whole place feels like a distortion pedal for the mind.” This coming from the guy who has probably performed on every stage in the world.
  • The Sphere possesses the world’s largest concert-grade audio system, with 1,600 loudspeaker modules, 167,000 speaker drivers, amplifiers, and processing channels, as well as 300 mobile loudspeaker modules. Altogether, these features promise “controlled, consistent, and crystal-clear concert-grade audio.”
  • Mirroring the IMAX experience, it’s also outfitted with haptic seats that can vibrate to match what you’re seeing happening onscreen. Not to mention, 4D machines that can create wind, temperature, and even scent effects.

An Advertising Giant

Surely, the concerts, games, film premieres, and other productions scheduled to take place in the Sphere will generate enough revenue to revitalize Las Vegas tourism. But the true return on investment could be what tourists and locals alike see on the outside.

According to Pitch Deck Guy, who obtained a copy of the Sphere’s pitch deck, a one-week advertising campaign could set brands back $650,000. For one day (four hours, really), expect to pay $450,000. Don’t worry – it ensures the same long-lasting impression compared to seeing the Bellagio’s flashy water display.

Could London See its Own Sphere?

With renewed excitement to visit a city that arguably evokes real ‘been there, done that’ energy, it begs the question: Could a Sphere pop up in other major cities across the globe?

Dolan apparently has his sights set on London, but residents aren’t making it so easy to break ground. According to CBS News, locals are worried about the possible light pollution that its suggested East London expansion could bring. The “Stop MSG Sphere” campaign group added that while they’re not opposed to a new site, it’s rather the venue’s “offensive nature” that’s a drawback.

If permitted, London’s Sphere would match the iconic Big Ben in height at nearly 300 feet and will measure almost 400 feet in diameter. A near carbon copy of its Vegas older sibling, it will also feature thousands of screens that provide a similar, kaleidoscopic visual experience unparalleled to any other setting.

However, if we are betting people — and we are — Spheres will likely pop up across the globe. Where to next?

MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

The post Everything You Need to Know About the Las Vegas Sphere appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Jeff Zucker & RedBird IMI Acquire Stake in Front Office Sports https://boardroom.tv/redbird-imi-front-office-sports-jeff-zucker/ Mon, 02 Oct 2023 16:26:22 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=78694 Zucker will assume the role of co-chair after a deal reportedly valuing the company at $40 million. RedBird IMI, the investment company led by former CNN boss Jeff Zucker, has agreed to acquire a

The post Jeff Zucker & RedBird IMI Acquire Stake in Front Office Sports appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Zucker will assume the role of co-chair after a deal reportedly valuing the company at $40 million.

RedBird IMI, the investment company led by former CNN boss Jeff Zucker, has agreed to acquire a stake in Front Office Sports. Per a release, Zucker will serve as co-chair of the newsletter startup’s board. Although details of the deal were not disclosed, Bloomberg reports that the RedBird IMI investment in Front Office Sports values the company at $40 million.

Known for being CNN’s president from Jan. 2013 to Feb. 2022, Zucker is also a fervent sports fan. The Harvard alum’s first stint in media was as an intern for NBC during the 1988 Summer Olympics. He later oversaw sports content during his tenure at NBC, both as NBCUniversal Television Group CEO and president and CEO of all of NBCUniversal.

“The team at Front Office Sports has built an impressive platform for sports business journalism, and I’m excited to help it grow in the years ahead,” said Zucker in a statement. “Audiences are more interested than ever in the business of sports, and this investment will allow Front Office Sports to create even more compelling news content that draws people in.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Front Office Sports founder Adam White added: The business of sports has become ubiquitous in recent years, permeating across all corners of culture. It now commands mainstream attention and is part of even the most casual fan’s daily content consumption. The foundation of our company was built on a deep understanding and connection to this shift, and has long informed our editorial strategy and product development. As we enter this next stage of expansion, we are incredibly excited to partner with Jeff Zucker, one of the media industry’s greatest minds.”

White will stay on as the CEO of Front Office Sports.

Front Office Sports reports that on a monthly basis it draws “more than 150 million social impressions, 35 million newsletter opens, 10 million video views, and 2 million page views.” Launched in 2014 while White was in college, the company says it has more than 15 partners, which distribute its content on screens in more than 50,000 venues across North America. They also credit Chevrolet, Invesco QQQ, New Balance, Cisco, PwC, FanDuel, Pepsi, Wendy’s, and Prudential as key investors.

Read More:

The post Jeff Zucker & RedBird IMI Acquire Stake in Front Office Sports appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Beats by Dre: The Business Behind the Audio Odyssey https://boardroom.tv/beats-by-dre-business-ambassadors/ Sun, 01 Oct 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=78009 Beats by Dre has been around for more than 15 years. Today, the brand is looking to continue to improve its product and reach an even wider audience. Headphones have come a long way

The post Beats by Dre: The Business Behind the Audio Odyssey appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Beats by Dre has been around for more than 15 years. Today, the brand is looking to continue to improve its product and reach an even wider audience.

Headphones have come a long way since French engineer Ernest Mercadier patented the first pair in 1891. As their design has evolved and technology has developed, one thing remains constant: Quality matters. From portable cassette devices to the iPhone and everything in between, you need the ideal accessory to properly enjoy what cruises through your ears.

Enter Beats by Dre, founded in 2006 in Santa Monica by legendary rapper Dr. Dre and record company exec Jimmy Iovine. After a couple years of development and the founders consulting with fellow musicians (Pharrell, will.i.am), the Beats by Dr. Dre Studio headphones debuted on July 25, 2008.

There were, of course, rival brands that provided competing quality, but Beats by Dre set itself apart with by proximity to celebrity. Being one himself, Dre turned to his roster of famous friends to help get the word out. Thanks to a number of entertainers spotted wearing them and some expert placement in music videos, Beats became synonymous with cool and nearly two decades later, has maintained that reputation.

“Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine took a product that already existed, but they just gave it personality,” Chris Thorne, Chief Marketing Officer at Beats, told Boardroom. “It was going to function as a headphone, which you could already find that technology, but they put so much thought into how it was designed, how it would feel, how it would sound to really replicate that studio audio, what the artist intended you to hear.

“We want to make headphones that really represent the exact sound we were meant to hear when someone recorded it in the studio. And then to bring that personality, design, colors, and more so people could use headphones as not just a functional item but also as a form of self-expression.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

The Power of Partnerships

A major facet of Beats’ success lies in the plethora of partnerships the company has orchestrated. Thorne highlighted two memorable collabs that successfully attracted a new audience. In August 2022, it teamed up with Kim Kardashian to launch a special edition Beats Fit Pro collection. The earbuds arrived in three neutral colors that Kardashian designed, matching the mogul’s signature palette. This past August, Beats entered the beauty space with its first-ever collaboration with Olive and June. The nail polish brand’s first foray into tech, the companies linked up to make coordinated accessorizing dreams come true, with perfectly matched shades of polish, press-ons, and Beats earbuds in new on-trend chrome shades.

“One thing we realized a couple of years ago is that the Beats brand was really leaning much more masculine. But we make amazing products that we hope are great for everybody,” Thorne said. “And so we really wanted to figure out what can we do to make sure that women also see our products as a form of self-expression. We’re always looking to push the brand in new directions. We don’t want to be predictable. We make great products that hopefully appeal to everybody.”

Beats’ superstar list of ambassadors spans the sports, fashion, pop culture, and entertainment worlds. A few personalities that have unveiled custom-made Beats gadgets include LeBron James, Travis Scott, Michael Phelps, Lady Gaga, Neymar, and more.

“I think when it relates to athletes in fashion, you didn’t see as much of that connection 30 or 40 years ago,” Thorne said. “But in recent years that tunnel walk and the post-game press conference, athletes have been on the front lines of showing off new trends in fashion. We always want it to feel like we’re not forcing athletes to wear headphones. We try and make ones that fit into their style, and that means custom headphones.”

Most notably, men’s tennis star Frances Tiafoe became a trending topic in this year’s US Open when his colorful Nike ensemble matched his headphones. Thorne explained that Beats is always looking for the best avenue to help ambassadors express themselves.

“That’s the fun part of it. LeBron James, when he broke the scoring record, wanted to put the number on his headphones as he warmed up for the game. We’re so happy to be a part of that. And those are the partnerships we like to do with our athletes.”

For his work with the brand, rapper A$AP Rocky stared in a self-directed Beats Studio Pro campaign, in which partner Rihanna makes a fun audio cameo, that launched on July 20. In the minute-long spot, Rocky fiddles with his new, Pharrell-produced single “RIOT (ROWDY PIPE’N) in his home studio before Rih exclaims, “Babe! Can you go to the store? We ran out of diapers.” From there, a journey ensues in which the new father of two goes on an adventure to locate the essentials. The Beats Studio Pro headphones retail for $349.99 and arrive in four colors: black, deep brown, navy, and sandstone.

“I’ve been a fan of Beats since the beginning, so this has been a full-circle experience,” Rocky said about the collab. “I had a vision in mind for this project, and they provided the space for me to zone in and fully express my creativity.”

Beats Elite Class of 15

Seventeen years in the game, Beats boasts a healthy relationship with plenty of pros. But what happens when college players are suddenly able to capitalize on their name, image, and likeness (NIL)? The obvious answer is to lock in a deal with the next best in athletics. In August, Beats announced the signing of 15 college football players to NIL deals. The list includes last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, several Heisman candidates, and potential first-round NFL draft picks.

The list of 15 student-athletes who make up the Beats Elite Class includes:

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

A prominent theme Thorne reiterated was the freedom Beats representatives get. Members of the Beats Elites Class receive custom headphones for themselves and their teammates.

“We are always looking to keep our brand fresh,” Thorne explained. “The brand’s been around for 15 years and we have so many great customers that have been with us through that whole time as they age, but how do we reach out to Gen Z and make sure our brand is really exciting to them?”

He uses Sanders as an example.

“I think [he has proven] he certainly is a top quarterback in all of college football. And that’s where it started in college for us. Shedeur really enjoys being a Beats ambassador. And we’re having schools and players reach out to us now to say, ‘Hey, can I get into the program? Can I be in the Beats League class?’

The Future of Beats by Dre

What started as headphones 17 years ago has transformed into far more. And Thorne teased that there’s plenty more on the way, touting Apple’s nearly 10-year-old acquisition of the brand as a catalyst for continuous innovation.

“You have the most innovative company, the best engineers in the world and to be a part of that is amazing,” he said. “We’re always looking as we look outward, how do we make better products? Whether that’s improving our current products, whether that’s new products or new categories, we’re always exploring that and then using those products to tell stories.”

Storytelling isn’t just reserved for how an athlete dresses or earbud colorways. Just last week, Beats welcomed a select few to Los Angeles for another installment of its 10-week paid program designed for aspiring creators. Offered to college students, the Beats Academy promises a unique opportunity to create social media content featuring Beats’ college athlete ambassadors. It’s not only a peek behind the corporation but also a way to connect with key decision-makers and fellow creators.

“We have such a responsibility to create those opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise exist, and to give students and young adults a chance to show off their skills and develop their talents,” Thorne said. “But one of the coolest things is Beats wins too. The ideas that come from the people in the Beats Academy are amazing. We learn a lot, especially in design, content, and creativity. And again, we’re always trying to reach out to a youthful consumer to Gen Z and to bring those people in to help us learn too.”

That constant evolution is how Beats has thrived for nearly two decades. And the brand shows no sign of slowing down.

Read More:

The post Beats by Dre: The Business Behind the Audio Odyssey appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Beats by Dre: The Business Behind the Audio Odyssey - Boardroom Beats by Dre has been around for more than 15 years and is still gaining momentum as it makes inroads with a broader audience. Beats by Dre,Chris Thorne,Dr. Dre,Francis Tiafoe,Jalen Milroe,Jayden Daniels,Jordan Travis,Kim Kardashian,LeBron James,NCAA,NIL,Shedeur Sanders,beats by dre Loading Loading League One Volleyball Reveals Superstar Investors https://boardroom.tv/league-one-volleyball-lovb-series-b-raise/ Wed, 27 Sep 2023 16:32:59 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=78379 The raise includes investments from around sports and entertainment, including Kevin Durant & Rich Kleiman's Boardroom Sports Holdings

The post League One Volleyball Reveals Superstar Investors appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> League One Volleyball has raised $35 million in Series B funding with investments from Lindsey Vonn, Candace Parker, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman’s Boardroom Sports Holdings, and more.

While no one can predict the future, athlete and celebrity investments are a pretty good barometer for what could be the next big thing in sports.

League One Volleyball (LOVB), the largest brand in youth volleyball and the first professional full-season volleyball league in the country, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $35 million dollars in Series B funding. Among those backing the firm, which was led by Left Lane Capital with participation from Ares Management Funds, is a roster of famous faces revered for their own accomplishments in athletics and entertainment. Those names include Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker and her daughter Lailaa Williams, Olympic volleyball gold medalist Jordyn Poulter, actress Amy Schumer, 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Amy Griffin, Fenway Sports Group Partner Linda Henry, and Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Capital raised in the Series B round follows initial support from LOVB’s existing Series A investors like Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman‘s Boardroom Sports Holdings and comedian Chelsea Handler, all of whom endorse LOVB’s special community-up ideology.

Saying this is “volleyball’s era,” co-founder and CEO of League One Volleyball Katlyn Gao spared no excitement for this latest multimillion-dollar development.

“At LOVB, we are creating an all-new narrative for women in sports, including in this round which again captured over 50% female investors,” Gao said. “Unlike other leagues that take a top-down approach, we are involving all stakeholders at different levels and propelling the growth of our sports fandom. To us, this is the only way to build a sustainable and successful league in 2023, and if the excitement from some of the most well-known and admired trailblazers across sports, entertainment, consumer, and business in our latest round is any indication, it’s clear, LOVB is onto something big.”

LOVB will use the funding to strengthen both pro and club operations. Among its priorities, LOVB will:

  • Hire more athletes, coaches, and trainers
  • Build out its branding
  • Identify and book arenas for sold-out crowds
  • Improve training facilities in the run-up to the preseason

For now, the pro league will start with clubs in six markets: Atlanta, Houston, Madison, Omaha, Salt Lake and one more to be announced later this year. For the first time, LOVB plans to give club players the chance to learn from and cultivate relationships with fellow icons in the sport.

“Together with LOVB, I’m thrilled to help bring major league volleyball to the U.S.,” Vonn said. “With over 200 million girls involved in the sport globally, this is a huge opportunity to continue providing a platform for young women to excel, both athletically and personally, far beyond high school. It’s about empowering the next generation of female athletes and fostering a strong sense of community within the sport.” 

“We couldn’t be more excited to invest in a league that is focused on community and unlocking new opportunities for women in sports,” Parker and Williams added. “LOVB is leading the way in a sport that is close to our hearts and creating a larger platform for volleyball to be more visible year-round.”

Play is scheduled to tip off in November 2024 with the LOVB preseason, followed by the regular season in January 2025, and concluding with the LOVB Finals in April.  

Read More:

The post League One Volleyball Reveals Superstar Investors appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Durant Family Foundation, Bowie State Unveil New Basketball Court https://boardroom.tv/kevin-durant-family-foundation-bowie-state-basketball-court/ Fri, 22 Sep 2023 19:22:11 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=78044 Kevin Durant and his family foundation will also establish a scholarship fund for the Durant Center College Track students who decide to attend Bowie State.

The post Durant Family Foundation, Bowie State Unveil New Basketball Court appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> In addition to the court, Kevin Durant and the foundation will also establish a scholarship fund for the Durant Center College Track students who decide to attend Bowie State.

It’s a great week to be a Bowie State University Bulldog.

Less than a year after Kevin Durant and the Durant Family Foundation announced a $500,000 endowment to help transform the school’s basketball gym and revitalize its athletics programs, the finished project was officially unveiled on Thursday. On hand to celebrate the occasion were Bowie State President Dr. Aminta Breaux and Ms. Wanda Durant, who leads the Durant Family Foundation.

“I am grateful to my son for his generous heart,” Ms. Durant said, adding, “I am grateful that he realized that it’s important for him to give back to an HBCU, and maybe he will be a catalyst for other athletes in the area and throughout the country to give back to HBCUs.”

Additional funding will go toward BSU’s AC Jordan Arena, located within the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex. Facility improvements at Bowie State include the all-new basketball court, additional bleachers, and upgrades to the press box. Durant and his family foundation will also establish a scholarship fund for the Durant Center College Track students who decide to attend Bowie State.

“We are tremendously grateful to Kevin Durant and the Durant Family Foundation for their donation, which has led to the addition of the new floor design and added seating, along with the financial support for men’s and women’s basketball,” Bowie State’s men’s basketball head coach Darrell Brooks said. “Our players are super excited to be able to compete on the KD court representing Bowie State University along with the Durant Family Foundation. The floor design adds pop to the entire arena. The added seating will allow more of our fans to give us the support we need to successfully compete in the CIAA and nationally on the D2 level. Alumni, recruits, parents, and students absolutely love what this space has become.

“The attention we as a University have received as a result of the donation and subsequent renovations has been outstanding. The men’s basketball program will work really hard to uphold what we have been gifted with, and we look forward to continuing to grow our relationship with the Durant Family Foundation.”

Though he didn’t attend Bowie State during his collegiate days, Durant grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where Bowie State is located.

Read More:

The post Durant Family Foundation, Bowie State Unveil New Basketball Court appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> NWSL Awards Boston Expansion Franchise https://boardroom.tv/nwsl-expansion-team-boston-unity-soccer/ Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:56:34 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=77958 The Boston NWSL team marks the return of women’s pro soccer to Beantown and is slated to begin play in 2026. The NWSL is coming back to New England. The league announced on Tuesday

The post NWSL Awards Boston Expansion Franchise appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The Boston NWSL team marks the return of women’s pro soccer to Beantown and is slated to begin play in 2026.

The NWSL is coming back to New England. The league announced on Tuesday that it has awarded Boston an expansion franchise that will begin play in 2026. The club will be the 15th NWSL franchise, following the additions of two other NWSL expansion teams earlier this year, Utah Royals FC and Bay FC, which are both slated for their inaugural seasons in 2024.

This will be the third professional women’s sports team in Boston and the first women’s soccer club since the Boston Breakers called Beantown home from 2001 to 2018. Now, women’s soccer makes its triumphant return at a moment when the sport has not only increased in popularity but also boasts a new generation of soon-to-be legends.

There’s a lot to look forward to in terms of the club ownership. Boston Unity Soccer Partners describes itself as an “all-female core ownership group.” It’s shepherded by Juno Equity Founder/Boston Celtics minority owner Jennifer Epstein. Stephanie Connaughton, Ami Danoff, and Anna Palmer will be managing partners. The club will also be the first investment from Monarch Collective, the group led by Kara Nortman and Jasmine Robinson that focuses exclusively on investment in women’s sports.

“I’m excited to expand the NWSL’s footprint and continue its transformative growth in our return to Boston, one of the world’s most iconic sports cities,” Commissioner Jessica Berman said in a statement. “We are very proud to welcome Boston Unity Soccer Partners to our ownership group. They bring an impressive roster of business leaders committed to continuing Boston’s legacy of sports excellence and delivering a successful team to a very passionate fanbase.”

Kara Nortman on the NWSL’s Next Big Moment
Hear what the prolific team executive and investor told Boardroom about Monarch Collective, her newest venture seeking to expand the platform for women’s sports in the NWSL and beyond.
Let’s Go!

The partners have also drafted a proposition to refurbish White Stadium in Franklin Park. That will be the club’s home base and the upgrades will cost $30 million, per the Boston Globe.

Berman, Boston Unity Soccer Partners, and Mayor Michelle Wu will make the official announcement Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET from City Hall. However, Wu already expressed her excitement with remarks of her own.

“As the City of Champions, Boston sets the standard for athletic excellence and fans’ devotion to our teams. It’s fitting and absolutely thrilling for Boston to be a home for women’s soccer, hosting a franchise that will partner so closely with our community and especially our schools,” she said. “I look forward to the revitalization of White Stadium and the partnership of this team and league to create new opportunities in Franklin Park and for our student-athletes citywide.”

More From The NWSL:

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

The post NWSL Awards Boston Expansion Franchise appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Rob Riggle: The Emcee of Pickleball https://boardroom.tv/rob-riggle-pickleball-interview/ Sun, 17 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=77711 Riggle spoke with Boardroom ahead of the first-ever National Mall of Pickleball, where he will serve as the official emcee.

The post Rob Riggle: The Emcee of Pickleball appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The actor and comedian spoke with Boardroom ahead of the first-ever National Mall of Pickleball, where he will serve as the official emcee.

Our nation’s capital is already a well-known sports town for the major professional leagues, but on Sept. 28, pickleball will make its mark in DC. The Trust for the National Mall announced plans in partnership with Humana on Thursday to introduce pickleball to America’s most inviting front yard, the National Mall, with the first-ever National Mall of Pickleball.     

This free, three-day event will celebrate America’s seniors and the benefits of the multigenerational sport. Key programming includes:

  • Media tournament: The leading newsrooms of Washington, D.C. will go head-to-head for bragging rights as the “Best Media Picklers” in town.  
  • DMV-area recreation league tournament: Local picklers will take to the courts to determine which league is best in the DMV. 
  • D.C. Pickleball Team: An exhibition match with Major League Pickleball’s newly minted D.C. Pickleball Team. 
  • On-site pickleball lessons and clinics: Presented courtesy of D.C. Pickleball team members Sam Querrey, Riley Newman, and Christian Alshon. 
Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Ahead of the festivities, Boardroom caught up with National Mall of Pickleball emcee, actor, and comedian Rob Riggle. Riggle opened up about how he was introduced to pickleball, expanding his audience to reach more sports fans, and of course, his bold predictions for the season as a Kansas City Chiefs superfan.

VINCIANE NGOMSI: Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America. How did it pique your interest?

ROB RIGGLE: I was introduced to pickleball by a friend when we watched a tournament down in San Clemente. I was actually blown away by how many people were there. It was a massive turnout. I mean, I’ve been to tennis tournaments before, but this was different. I was just impressed with how big it had become. So I said, ‘I got to try to play this thing’ because it looked really fun and it looked very doable.

So I played a little bit and I thought, ‘Oh my God, I could have a lot of fun doing this.’ It’s like a new card game or something. You’re like, ‘Wow, what is this?’ But if you play it a couple of times, you’re like, ‘Oh, I get it. I understand what we’re doing here.’ I also love it because you can play it with anybody if they have any desire — old, young, whatever. I feel like it’s a very inclusive sport.

VN: While you’re in DC for the inaugural National Mall of Pickleball, what do you hope people learn from a sport that may seem relatively unfamiliar to a large number of sports fans?

RR: Pickleball is out there, but I want to raise more awareness. I want more people to get it on their radar. They’ve all probably heard about it, but maybe they haven’t investigated it closer. I hope they do because pickleball is a sport people can play for life. That’ll also get us off our phones and interacting with one another, which is such a huge thing. Anybody in your life that you want to connect to, put your phones down and go do something together. It might as well be something healthy, so play pickleball. It’s wonderful.

VN: Your career began in comedy, but you’ve always found a way to incorporate sports. How do you consistently find yourself in positions where it’s easy to grow and expand your audience?

RR: Well, I am lucky that I’m associated with sports and athletics because I do love ’em. Growing up, I always played sports and I think with especially team sports, there’s so much development that happens as far as your character and personal growth that I’ve always been a fan of. The fact that I got to do comedy and NFL on FOX for a long time was just a dream job. I think probably, in people’s minds, they associate me with sports somehow.

Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images

VN: The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t get off to the best start this season. Are you all concerned about their ability to repeat as Super Bowl champions?

RR: I’m not at all worried about the first game of the season. These things happen. Anytime you have Patrick Mahomes on your team, I just don’t sweat it. I don’t sweat life anymore. It’s all going to be good. Everybody will catch up. We got lucky, the Buffalo Bills, the Cincinnati Bengals, and other top teams in the AFC also lost in Week 1 so we’re good. We’re going to come back strong this week.

VN: What are your bold predictions for the season? I know you obviously want to see the Chiefs in Las Vegas, but who do you think they’ll face?

RR: I think there is a distinct possibility that the Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl running it back, but this time against another NFC East team — the Dallas Cowboys. Usually, with the Cowboys, there’s all this hype and then they underdeliver. It’s heartbreaking for those Dallas fans. They go 40 to nothing stomping a division rival. So I’m like, ‘Huh, maybe those Cowboys are up to something.’

More Pickleball:

The post Rob Riggle: The Emcee of Pickleball appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Buffalo Bills v Kansas City Chiefs KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 26: Actor and Comedian Rob Riggle banged the Kansas City Chiefs ceremonial drum prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. ( Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images ) NJ/NY Gotham FC President Mary Wittenberg: In It For the Long Haul https://boardroom.tv/gotham-fc-president-mary-wittenberg-interview/ Sat, 16 Sep 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=76927 Mary Wittenberg has grand ambitions for NJ/NY Gotham FC...and soccer as a whole in the tristate area.

The post NJ/NY Gotham FC President Mary Wittenberg: In It For the Long Haul appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Mary Wittenberg has grand ambitions for NJ/NY Gotham FC…and soccer as a whole in the tristate area.

With just a few games remaining in the regular season, fifth-place NJ/NY Gotham FC is inching toward an NWSL postseason berth — a significant improvement from a last-place finish in 2022. The club made serious changes to put itself in that position, adding a mix of veterans and rookies to its star-studded roster and growing its front-office staff in the process.

On Aug. 3, Gotham announced Mary Wittenberg as club President. According to a release, Wittenberg will work alongside General Manager and Head of Soccer Operations Yael Averbuch West to “establish an environment that inspires continued player success and makes Gotham FC a world-class club both on and off the field, inspiring Gotham FC fans everywhere.”

A native New Yorker, Wittenberg became the first woman named President and CEO of New York Road Runners (NYRR) in 2005 and later the first woman to lead the TCS New York City Marathon. The Notre Dame Law School grad’s previous stints also include serving as the founding CEO of the innovative Virgin Sport, President of the Tour de France EF Pro Cycling team, and founding President of League One Volleyball.

Boardroom caught up with Mary Wittenberg as she discussed making the transition from running to soccer, building a dynasty, and Gotham’s ongoing commitment to diversity.

VINCIANE NGOMSI: Why was right now the moment to join Gotham FC?

MARY WITTENBERG: I love transformational opportunities that make an outsized impact. So I think Gotham is really primed to lift the tristate area and make it like the global capital [of] women’s soccer. And I’m a person who likes to very much get in work with a team and be part of that journey and that transformation. I really wanted to come and be part of that, and I felt my skills and experiences were such that I could be really helpful at this phase. Gotham and I have a shared vision, and we are just starting to really bring it to life.

VN: After coming in last place in 2022, Gotham is currently in fifth place and in playoff contention. From your perspective, what are some ways that you’re looking to maintain that momentum?

MW: There is now a committed and focused, small but mighty team, pairing with investors, starting with [First Lady of New Jersey] Tammy Murphy, who was there in the beginning and now has a chance to see us actually really go after something big. What Yael will tell you is the difference between this year and last year is having a plan and executing it. I have said a few times already that it’s a marathon and not a sprint. But we’re starting a journey that we plan to build on each year to the next.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

VN: You’ve got a fair amount of veterans, but the future is bright at Gotham with the young core. How important is it to have a healthy mix of both as you’re building a dynasty?

MW: Ali Krieger, Ashlyn Harris, Kelly O’Hara, these players already have immeasurable cultural impact. Now here comes Abby Smith and Jenna Nighswonger, and other newer players who have amazing potential and are really contributing to where Gotham’s going. We’ve been really lucky to have the influence of these veteran players. And I hope we continue to find ways like with Ashlyn Harris, to have them still be a part of the team. Gotham’s going to be in a really different place in 10 years and we wouldn’t even be thinking about getting there without what everyone has all done right now. Those are the real components. So these veteran players are really important. As we get ready to send Ali off, we wanted to give hints about the future of where we’re going as a team and a brand.

VN: What lessons are you taking as CEO of NYRR into your tenure with Gotham?

MW: On a personal level, I’m a goal person. So like the idea of [how] running a marathon is a big goal. I relish the steps in the journey it takes to get there. And that’s quite variable in our situation. We have big goals to reach before we get to be the global soccer capital. From a business perspective, I would say there’s a parallel path to our approach, which is what we did at New York Roadrunners when I started there. There are differences and there are similarities. The way I approached it is that we did have to think long-term. Our building blocks at the marathon were about engaging with local community runners throughout the boroughs. When you do that in this region, you end up having roots far beyond here because some of our people are from far beyond here.

So you’ll see us building internally, but you’ll also see us building our storytelling, and partnering with people like Boardroom is one of the best things we can do to raise visibility. We are very aware of the amount of popularity Gotham has brought across the five boroughs and the tristate area and we want to continue building that.

VN: Performance on the pitch is important, but can you add to the ongoing initiative Gothm has of diversity and acceptance both on and off the pitch?

MW: I think the very core of Gotham is being universally diverse and I mean in every way. In people’s styles, methods, backgrounds, and ambitions. We want to champion this idea that everyone can have a home with us. But we have to show that, and so I think it’s one of our greatest strengths and it’s core to who we are. It’s also a big part of our success already. It’s an area we lead in and want to maintain. I think what’s unique about diversity is that we can find a sharing of a mindset of diversity and individual expression being important. We’re also serious about respecting an individual’s background because we all come from different walks of life and that should be celebrated.

Read More:

The post NJ/NY Gotham FC President Mary Wittenberg: In It For the Long Haul appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading The Eagles Have Entered the Kevin Hart Ecosystem https://boardroom.tv/kevin-hart-tequila-philadelphia-eagles/ Thu, 14 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=77622 The Philadelphia Eagles have partnered with Kevin Hart's Gran Coramino tequila brand. Boardroom caught up with the comic and entrepreneur to talk about it.

The post The Eagles Have Entered the Kevin Hart Ecosystem appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The Philadelphia Eagles have partnered with Kevin Hart and his Gran Coramino tequila brand. Boardroom caught up with the comic and entrepreneur to talk about it.

Apart from being one of the NFL‘s best teams, the Philadelphia Eagles boast some of the most recognizable fans in the league. From actor Rob McElhenney to Rocky Balboa himself, cheers of “Fly Eagles Fly” inundate celebrity circles like the boos raining down on a Philadelphia Santa Claus.

As the reigning NFC Champions prepare to host the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night, one well-known Eagles fan is combining his love of spirits with football to produce a fitting partnership.

The Eagles have announced a multi-year pact with Kevin Hart and his Gran Coramino tequila brand, making the spirit the Official Luxury Tequila of the Philadelphia Eagles. Eagles fans will be able to purchase various Gran Coramino cocktails at Gran Coramino bars inside Lincoln Financial Field. Later this season, Gran Coramino will host a sweepstakes for fans to win season tickets and an exclusive tequila tasting event with Eagles legends.

“It’s just the alignment of it all,” Hart told Boardroom about why this partnership with the Eagles makes sense. “You’ve got to look at the facilities, the environments that embed a high volume of people and when you can partner or build those relationships that allow you to be the face of or the signature choice for them. I think this is just setting the precedent as to what we can do.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Building An Ecosystem

As an actor-turned-businessman, Kevin Hart has the opportunity to work with a number of brands (and his hometown Eagles). Or, as Hart puts it, between acting, stand up, and entrepreneurship, he’s “creating an ecosystem.”

“The best way to understand an ecosystem is to understand people. And my career keeps me in front of every aspect of what a person enjoys,” the father of four explained. “So in developing companies or aligning with them, it’s in doing it with the things that I best respond to or that I see people respond to.”

The key, Hart says, is to work with brands that align with his lifestyle, making them authentic and not forced onto his audience.

“There’s a simple through-line to all that I’ve been able to do,” he said. “And that’s from my space in health and wellness to now spirits, to entertainment and media and also going over to athleisure. And you can even go into food. How do I best position myself to build that through-line and complete a circle? And you got to keep adding the things that get you to go around that circle in a manner of ease and not one of hearts. So as an entrepreneur [who] prides himself on being creative and really aggressive in the space of partnering, this is the best way to do it.”

In addition to being an owner of a tequila brand, Hart has worked with Chase, DraftKings, Fabletics, Old Spice, and more. The Night School actor also founded Hart House — a modern, quick-service eatery that serves vegan and plant-based food — in 2022. Hart is also the chairman of HartBeat, a media and production empire he developed to create a safe space for creatives to showcase their talents on television and in film.

As for whether his decision to partake in numerous ventures dilutes his brand, the Grammy nominee believes that it’s about delivering a message.

“What’s understood doesn’t have to be said,” he continued. “And I don’t think the important side to what I’m doing in my business is forcing a narrative to get people to understand. It’s about what I feel makes me happy and where I feel I can flourish and thrive the most. And in this space, this is what’s given me the opportunity to do that. Those from the outside looking in will see it and understand it. And those that don’t will later discover it.”

Entrepreneurship also allows Hart a different outlet to embrace his creative side, but in a different form.

“The creativity that aligns with being a businessman does just that for me,” he said. “So I think it’s kind of hard to be in the Kevin Hart world and not know what I’m doing as a fan or as a supporter.”

Photo via Gran Coramino

Soaring Expectations

Kevin Hart will be in the house to see the Eagles play their home opener Thursday night, and he hinted that he may bring his pet eagle, which he affectionately named Jalen Hurts. As for how the team fares heading into the primetime showdown against Minnesota, the Philadelphia native is just happy his team wasn’t shut out like a certain NFC East rival.

“We started out the way we wanted to, which was with a win. It could be worse, we could be the Giants,” Hart said. “The Giants were in the space of losing 40 to nothing. That’s not good. But as an Eagles fan, we got a W. Ultimately, this is the year where we know we have to get the job done. And as a leader, our quarterback, Jalen Hurts, I think he’s doing a great job of setting the tone and doing so early in the season is most important.”

As for who he projects the Eagles to face should they return to the Super Bowl stage in 2024, Hart feels it’s too early to make such predictions, and instead would rather wait until Week 4 or 5 to see which AFC side is a suitable opponent.

“I think Week 4 is the most important week because, in the first couple of games, you’re going to have some stars. But you get to see the consistency of certain players, certain defenses, certain offenses by Week 4 or 5. Also in the AFC who seems to be real. I would love for the Eagles to still be 5-0 and then make the decision. So I’m going to wait.”

He added one more thing:

“But what I will say is that the Giants lost by 40 points. That’s a fact.”

Read More:

The post The Eagles Have Entered the Kevin Hart Ecosystem appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Gran-Coramino-Kevin-Hart The NFL’s Artificial Intelligence Era Kicks Off https://boardroom.tv/nfl-ai-technology-ian-trombetta/ Sat, 09 Sep 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=77195 Boardroom exclusively spoke with Ian Trombetta, the league’s Senior VP of Social, Influencer, and Content Marketing about the growing relationship between the NFL and emerging tech. While its general rules largely remain the same,

The post The NFL’s Artificial Intelligence Era Kicks Off appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Boardroom exclusively spoke with Ian Trombetta, the league’s Senior VP of Social, Influencer, and Content Marketing about the growing relationship between the NFL and emerging tech.

While its general rules largely remain the same, it only takes a quick glance to understand that football doesn’t resemble the sport that first played organized contests in the late 1800s. Today, however, the NFL looks different than it did even a decade ago, particularly as it relates to how fans consume the game.

As technological advancements redefine what’s possible, all corners of the culture and entertainment economy are doing their best to stay at the top of trends while balancing the need to stay true to what drew us all to them in the first place. As the most profitable sports league on earth, the NFL is among the organizations making significant investments of late in emerging tech to find more ways to engage a truly global audience.

Notably, at this year’s NFL Draft in Kansas City, the league partnered with up-and-coming AI artist Adrian Curiel to create first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence-powered artwork for incoming rookies based around the new cities they call home.​​ As draftees graced the league’s new and immersive LED stage, they were photographed as part of a complex, AI-driven process.

The result was a series of bespoke art pieces that established a powerful visual connection from player to city to fans mere seconds after each athlete’s name was called.

“AI is my visual co-pilot, a tool that supercharges my creative thinking and helps me see outside the box,” Curiel said of the activation. “It is a unique medium because I can create shock value on a dime, but using AI to produce commercial work, you need to have your taste and style dialed in. It’s like taming a wild horse — full of boundless energy and potential, yet needing direction to achieve a result that fits the vibe.”

“What truly distinguishes AI for me is the depth it adds to my storytelling,” Curiel continued. “As a creative, I’m both an artist and a narrator. AI empowers me to blend these roles seamlessly, adding dimension to help shape the story I’m trying to tell. Sometimes, it feels like AI is as eager to bring my imagination to life as I am.”

In-house, the project was led by Ian Trombetta, the NFL’s Senior VP of Social, Influencer, and Content Marketing. He spoke to Boardroom about the opportunities of the NFL AI era, the story behind the decision to go big on emerging technology, and how the league intends to put it all together to maintain its prime positioning as a business and a content brand in the years to come.

VINCIANE NGOMSI: As we transition into a more digital-heavy society, what was the motivation when you were brainstorming how to bring AI technology to a sports audience?

IAN TROMBETTA: We see technology as really fundamental to what we do, both from a marketing perspective and just overall fan development. We think it’s really important that we continue to push, whether that’s on existing social platforms like Meta or X, Snapchat, etc. We always want to be kind of at the forefront of what’s happening from a technology perspective to help engage, especially younger fans.

With AI, there are just so many opportunities that are springing up everywhere and enabling us to deepen the storytelling, but also to reach more fans in ways that we hadn’t been able to before. The way that we’re really thinking about AI across our team is experiential learning. It offers a lot of advantages and we want to be really sensitive to the idea that we’re taking the learnings in and continuing to provide safeguards where we need to and not getting too far out over our skillset.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

VN: It’s unfair to call AI “trendy,” but for right now, it’s a seriously trending topic and has certainly piqued the interest of people across the country and globally. How do you determine the attention the league gives to something that risks the chances of being irrelevant in a matter of years?

IT: I think if you think about it, last year it seemed like everyone was talking metaverse. This year, it seems like AI has now taken over the sort of lexicon of what marketers especially are talking about. For us, we want to be present in this space that is emerging certainly, but we also have a very scaled operation. We can’t just turn the keys over and forget about the things that our fans are engaging with day-to-day. I have a gaming background, and that’s something I think we were rightfully cautious about in terms of some of the things that we were willing to do and not do.

I think a smart approach is that we’re going to test and learn and we’re going to continue to be clear about what we think are the opportunities, especially internally with our stakeholders here at the league. Hopefully, it’s something that our fans enjoy and we continue to expand over time.

VN: Do you credit your gaming background to helping you better understand AI, the metaverse, etc.?

IT: I think it helps expose you to things that really enable this idea of testing quickly and driving storytelling through emerging platforms and not being afraid to take some calculated risks — and gaming really is about that. You have to move forward, you have to progress the game year over year, and the storytelling has got to be attached to that. I think it does a couple of things in that you’re becoming comfortable with technology and the way consumers are maybe interacting with your content in different ways. Two, it’s also deepening the character storytelling in many cases, and the same thing here with our helmets-off strategy. We’re really trying to find new ways to communicate not just who the players are on the field, but particularly off the field.

VN: Regarding everything the NFL has accomplished in the AI space so far, how has the feedback been?

IT: Honestly, it’s been super positive. I mean, our future is so bright here at the NFL. What’s been really nice to see is just the way fans of all demographics are responding to the game. It’s moving in the right direction. We’re getting younger, we’re getting more diverse, [and] we’re also maintaining some of our older fans as well.

If you think about the opportunities for us to now grow the game with flag football and communicate with young girls, especially to have them now participating in the game in ways they hadn’t before and also internationally, there’s a tremendous opportunity. I would say it’s really exciting to be with a very well-established league, but we’re certainly not complacent, and we see opportunity everywhere in terms of ways in which we can grow the game and connect it to communities.

VN: In the five years you’ve been with the league, what has been the most rewarding part of implementing these AI and emerging tech efforts?

IT: I couldn’t imagine a better scenario for me being able to work in sports and at the NFL. That alone is a dream job, but I think going beyond that, it’s working across content marketing. From advertising to our digital products to some of our NFL Network shows, to getting into social media where we’ve got millions of fans who are clamoring for the next piece of news. It really goes back to benefiting the fans, bringing communities together, and building excitement for the game that we all love. It’s super exciting given the impact that football has, particularly in this country.

Read More:

The post The NFL’s Artificial Intelligence Era Kicks Off appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading TikTok Jerry Rice: The Wideout GOAT Gets Back in the Game https://boardroom.tv/jerry-rice-pepsico-49ers-nfl-randy-moss/ Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:17:56 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=77107 The all-time great WR reflects on what's changed in football since his playing days, how the 49ers will fare this season, why Randy Moss can still suit up, and more.

The post Jerry Rice: The Wideout GOAT Gets Back in the Game appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The all-time great WR reflects on what’s changed in football since his playing days, how the 49ers will fare this season, why Randy Moss can still suit up, and more.

Jerry Rice has no plans to resurrect his glory days of playing in the league. But thanks to PepsiCo, through its Frito-Lay and beverages brands, the three-time Super Bowl champion got to relive that moment of putting on a San Francisco 49ers uniform again.

Ahead of the 2023-24 season, PepsiCo unveiled “Unretirement,” a campaign featuring Rice alongside other NFL legends Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, Dan Marino, Randy Moss, Emmitt Smith, and the brand’s newest athlete, Josh Allen.

In the minute-long promotion, the aforementioned names (except for Allen, of course) ponder how life would look if they put on their helmet and pads again. It’s a fun hypothetical dive into the players who shaped the first 100 years of the league while paying homage to the next generation of athletes who will eventually lead the GOAT discourse.

Ahead of the commercial’s regular-season debut on Sept. 10, Boardroom caught up with the now 60-year-old Rice to talk about his ongoing partnership with PepsiCo, who on the San Francisco 49ers he’s watching closely this season, and more.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

VINCIANE NGOMSI: It’s been nearly 20 years since you played pro football. How did it feel to put the uniform back on, even if just for the spot?

JERRY RICE: It felt really good. The only thing that disappointed me — and I know it is really small — but I like my jerseys to be tapered. I really work hard on trying to be in the best shape that I can be in. But it brought back so many memories because I always had to have my pants fit a certain way, my socks had to be brand new, and my shoes had to be new. The jersey had to be nice and tapered. Even Emmett Smith was like, “Man, my God. I feel pretty good in my uniform again. I feel like I can still do it.” But it was really nice putting that uniform back on again.

VN: Comparing when you played to the game now, what do you think has changed so much across the NFL?

JR: I think players are just more protected now. When I played back in the day — and that was really back in the day — if I was on the left side and the ball was being thrown to the right side, I was still getting hit on the backside. If I was going across the middle, you had linebackers basically trying to take your head off. So it was more of a gladiator sport when we played it back in the day. And I just think players are more protected now, but still, it’s the game of football. I still love it. I go and support my team, and hopefully, we can win the whole thing this year.

VN: Out of all the retired greats in the ad, yourself included, who do you think could actually suit back up and play professional football again?

JR: I would say Randy Moss. But to have Josh Allen in there, too, and wanting to take a shot of a picture of Dan Marino on the ground was funny. But I think overall, PepsiCo did a fantastic job. I’m excited. I’m ready to go. And I wish all the teams that are out there, I wish ’em the best of luck. But I’m thinking Niners all the way, and I’ll be right there supporting them.

VN: Who do you think the Niners will play opposite in the Super Bowl this year?

JR: I don’t care who they’re playing on the AFC side — we got to get to the Super Bowl because I am tired of getting to the championship game and losing. That’s the worst thing ever because you’re one game away from getting to the Super Bowl. So you’ve still got to respect your opponents. You got to take it game by game. Then, you get into the playoffs. First of all, you want to take care of home-field advantage; that way, you only have to play two games to get to the Super Bowl.

I feel like we have the team to do that. And we have the quarterback with Brock. With Nick Bosa coming back on defense, I think he’s going to be ready to go before that Pittsburgh Steelers game. But let’s take it one game at a time, get to the playoffs, get to that championship game, kick that door in, and win the whole thing.

Jane Tyska / Digital First Media / East Bay Times via Getty Images

VN: Who are some players that you look forward to seeing perform this season?

JR: The standout players for me are all on the Niners. Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Nick Bosa, Brandon Aiyuk, all of those guys. I am going to be watching them really, really closely because I feel like this is our year. It is time for the Niners to take that trophy home.

VN: When it comes to representing a certain brand as a retired player, how has your experience being in the league paid off in the later years as you continue with your investments?

JR: Well, it was the same way when I played football back in the day. Very smart. And I like to position myself with winners and with winners that are going to do it the right way. I think of PepsiCo as being a GOAT. And then, I have people to call me the GOAT. So it is perfect, but I don’t rush into anything. But if it aligns right, I’m part of it. To have this opportunity to be part of this campaign with some of the legends, I mean some of the greatest football players to ever play the game, and for me to be added into that, it was almost like a no-brainer.

VN: Do you believe you should be mentioned in any GOAT conversations?

JR: I never think of myself that way because it makes you feel a little weird. But it’s okay for the fans to say that or other players to say that.

Want More NFL?

The post Jerry Rice: The Wideout GOAT Gets Back in the Game appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco 49ers Jane Tyska / Digital First Media / East Bay Times via Getty Images Lewis Hamilton Extends Contract with Mercedes https://boardroom.tv/lewis-hamilton-mercedes-extension/ Thu, 31 Aug 2023 16:02:59 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=76930 The Lewis Hamilton-Mercedes relationship will go at least through 2025, as the seven-time Formula 1 world champ looks to claw his way back to the top. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are locked in —

The post Lewis Hamilton Extends Contract with Mercedes appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The Lewis Hamilton-Mercedes relationship will go at least through 2025, as the seven-time Formula 1 world champ looks to claw his way back to the top.

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are locked in — for another two years, at least. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion extended his contract with Silver Arrows on Thursday, with the deal now set to expire at the end of the 2025 season. The 38-year-old currently sits in fourth place in the 2023 drivers’ standings, 183 points behind defending champion, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.

After beginning his racing career with McLaren in 2007, Hamilton joined Mercedes at the start of the 2013 season and they have gone on to be the most successful driver-team combination in F1 history. The Englishman has recorded 82 of his record 103 F1 wins with the German auto brand and also picked up 78 pole positions in a Mercedes uniform.

“We dream every day of being the best and we have dedicated the past decade together to achieving that goal,” Hamilton said in a release. “Being at the top does not happen overnight or over a short period of time, it takes commitment, hard work and dedication and it’s been an honor to earn our way into the history books with this incredible team. We have never been hungrier to win.”

The 2022 campaign marked the first in Hamilton’s 16-year Formula 1 career in which he failed to claim a race victory — his most recent win coming in the penultimate race of 2021, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

“Our partnership with Lewis is one of the most successful in the sport’s history. It was always a formality that we would continue together – and it’s energizing for us all to be confirming that publicly,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff added. “His qualities as a pure racing driver are illustrated by his remarkable track record; but over our years together, he has grown to become a pillar and leader of our team.

“Those leadership qualities are crucial as we focus on fighting for world championships again. As F1’s biggest global star, he has also played a key role in shaping our commitments to diversity, inclusion and sustainability, that will be foundations for our success in the years ahead.”

Hamilton isn’t the only F1 driver to have inked a new deal with Mercedes. Fellow Brit George Russell also remains with the company through the end of 2025. Russell, who joined the Mercedes junior program in 2017, won the team’s only race of the 2022 season and earned his first career win at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Read More:

The post Lewis Hamilton Extends Contract with Mercedes appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading WTA, Billie Jean King & Coco Gauff: Celebrating 50 Years of Equal Pay at the US Open https://boardroom.tv/us-open-prize-money-wta-equal-pay-50-years/ Wed, 30 Aug 2023 20:25:36 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=76814 With WTA also celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023, Boardroom breaks down how women's tennis got here, as well as the prize money for this year's US Open.

The post WTA, Billie Jean King & Coco Gauff: Celebrating 50 Years of Equal Pay at the US Open appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> With WTA also celebrating its 50th anniversary, Boardroom breaks down how women’s tennis got here, as well as what’s at stake in prize money for this year’s US Open.

Fifty years ago, the US Open became the first sporting event in history to award equal prize money for men and women competitors, and this momentous occasion has been the central theme of this year’s tournament. This feat could not have been achieved without the leadership and guidance of legendary tennis player Billie Jean King.

So how did the 12-time Grand Slam champion spearhead the equal pay charge? After winning the US Open in 1972, King rallied her fellow women’s tennis athletes to threaten a boycott of the event the next year unless the women’s champion received the same payout as the men’s winner. Later that year, the US Open announced that the paycheck on the women’s side would see an increase of $15,000, netting the women’s winner the same $25,000 prize as her male counterpart.

King was recently honored for her efforts — past and present — ahead of the second primetime match of the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday night, with former First Lady Michelle Obama commending her for being an indomitable force in the tennis space.

“Billie Jean teaches us that when our rights hang in the balance, we all have a choice to make,” she said. “We can wait around and accept what we’re given. We can sit by silently and hope that someone else will fight our battles. Or, we can make our own stand. We can use whatever platforms we have to speak out and fight to protect the progress we’ve made and level the playing field for our daughters and their daughters.”

King was also recognized Friday evening at the Women’s Tennis Association’s 50th Anniversary Gala. The WTA was founded in the summer of 1973 when close to 60 players teamed up to give women’s professional tennis a stronger, unified presence. Headlined by King, some 50 WTA legends and current players walked the purple carpet before enjoying a program that paid tribute to five decades of champions and the enduring core principles on which the WTA was founded: equality and inclusion.

Boardroom caught up with some of the night’s biggest honorees and guests, all reflecting on what the 50th anniversary of equal prize money means to them.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

The History Behind the Iconic Image

As King walked the carpet, a poignant image of her on the court at the 1972 US Open, back when she was a menace in competitive tennis, hung behind her for all in attendance to see. Looking back on the significant strides made in the sport over the last half-century, one couldn’t help but ask the now 79-year-old what advice she would give to the 29-year-old in that photo.

“I’m not done yet,” King affirmed. “That’s how I feel, even though I’m older. But I actually love that photo. I was the first player to ever have blue-colored shoes, I think. I know I was the first woman. That photo brings back a lot of memories that we all stuck together, and we were like a team. We just have to continue to prosper and it’s up to the younger generation. I think it’s important to know your history because the more you know about history, the more you know about yourself.

“More importantly and most importantly, you can shape the future of history. That’s why I was able to leave because I loved the history of tennis. I loved the players. I figured out I probably met a hundred years of champion players, mostly women. This is not just about me or us; this is about the future generations.”

Along with her wife, Ilana Kloss, King is part of the ownership group for NWSL club Angel City FC. The power couple is also working to establish a new professional women’s ice hockey league in North America.

Ensuring Equal Pay Remains a Serious Conversation

As someone who played close to around the same time as King, Chrissie Evert is no stranger to advocating for the betterment of herself and other female athletes. On the purple carpet, Boardroom asked the 18-time Grand Slam champ what lessons can be learned from the efforts of tennis players to ensure it translates across all sports with women players.

Billie Jean King stands on stage alongside fellow WTA founders at the 50th Anniversary Gala. (Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)

“I think about that a lot,” Evert responded. “The fact that Billie Jean was a tennis player and not a golfer, I think about that a lot because tennis catapulted to the No. 1 women’s sport in the world because she was the one that fought. She and the original nine — I should add them on — were the ones that really fought for sponsorship and equal prize money. It’s just the right thing to do.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t cross over to other sports very quickly, and I see that other sports are still struggling, although soccer has had some good news now that they’re equal with men. But when I look at basketball, there are still some sports that still really need a leader.”

To the Next 50 Years

Billie Jean King will go down in history as one of the most prolific activists of this generation. Eventually, the time will come for another to fill those difficult shoes.

Luckily, the next half-century of tennis is in good hands, as 19-year-old Coco Gauff is up for the challenge. The 2022 French Open finalist is not only a US Open favorite this year, but she also delivered a passionate address Friday in front of hundreds of attendees. Gauff’s reaction when asked how she plans to leverage her platform as her tennis career grows will leave you hopeful that the kids are alright.

“Using my platform is something that’s always been important to me, whether it’s social justice or such things as equal pay,” Gauff said. “I think that for the WTA to come this far in 50 years means a lot. And I know that I’m ‘the future,’ so hopefully, I can lead that kind of movement or help that movement go beyond equal play across all levels of the WTA.

“But I’m super happy and proud of where we are with the equal play amongst the Grand Slams. Billie Jean and the original nine, starting that $1 contract all those years ago, has led to so many things for women’s sports, and hopefully, tennis can continue to be the leader throughout that movement.”

2023 US Open Prize Money Breakdown

The total prize money and player compensation for this year’s US Open will be $65 million, an all-time record for the competition. That is about an 8% increase from the $60 million from last year. The entire jackpot for this year includes $3 million that will be awarded to the men’s and women’s singles champions and $700,000 for the doubles winners.

By comparison, Wimbledon offered around $56.5 million in prizes, the French Open about $54 million, and the Australian Open about $53 million.

Read More:

The post WTA, Billie Jean King & Coco Gauff: Celebrating 50 Years of Equal Pay at the US Open appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Loading WTA 50th Anniversary Gala Billie Jean King stands on-stage alongside fellow WTA founders at the 50th Anniversary Gala. (Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)