Fanatics’ Post

Fanatics, Inc. is launching a new events vertical, in partnership with IMG, to capitalize on the company’s growing suite of business ventures, including merchandise, memorabilia, fashion, music, trading cards and sports betting. The events plan includes limited edition apparel drops, musical performances and celebrity talks. In places where legal, some events will incorporate the company’s nascent sports betting efforts. Fanatics has mushroomed from a $6 billion business to a $31 billion business in just the last few years, largely on the back of its database of sports fans and its network of partners. With each new vertical the company launches, it can instantly market that product to more than 90 million fans globally, and utilize relationships across nearly every major sport. The larger question is what strategy or acquisition will Fanatics be taking across the media sector 👀 #sportsbetting #media

According to experts, the audience on these sports betting platforms is growing, highly engaged and willing to spend on big-ticket items. That makes them a perfect overlap for #luxury brands. But while luxury brands have been active across sports and sports media and in partnerships with athletes, sports betting is still new and carries with it a potential stigma that may be hard for brands to shake. Here’s a look at what luxury brands stand to gain and the potential risks of dabbling in the growing sports betting world. #sportsbetting In this piece by Danny Parisi, we speak to Kyle Christensen of Splash, Adam Ortman of Kinetic319, and Annalise Fowler of rEvolution.

Fanatics is making more big moves as it expands its vast network of sports licensing deals. It's bringing on a new CEO for Mitchell & Ness, the vintage-style apparel brand that it bought last year. Eli Kumekpor, an executive who formerly worked at Nike, will take over. The company wants him to find "new avenues for significant growth" for a brand that sells nostalgic sports gear. Over the past couple years, Fanatics boss Michael Rubin has aggressively entered several new industries, including trading cards and sports betting. But most of its revenue still comes from his original business of licensed sports merchandise. So that's where Fanatics is still looking to grow, adding all sorts of licenses with college football schools, pro leagues and player unions. In 2022, it acquired a majority stake in Mitchell & Ness in a deal that's said to value the business at about $250 million. That agreement included a group of celebrity investors too, like LeBron James and Jay-Z, who wanted a piece of the action. Read more in my Bloomberg News story here: https://lnkd.in/dMScf7vU

🚀 Major Announcement: Disney Ventures into Sports Betting with ESPN BET 🚀 This is the strategic roadmap in the first months of ESPN BET Following its prominent presence and discussions at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, ESPN BET has unveiled the highly anticipated logo and color scheme that will define the corporate identity of the 'ESPN Bet' brand. However, beyond the eye-catching design, crucial decisions have been made that will mold the company's initial months of operations. This strategic milestone signifies Disney's foray into the world of sports betting through ESPN BET, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence in the gaming industry. Stay tuned for more updates as Disney and ESPN BET prepare to revolutionize the sports betting and entertainment experience. #Disney #ESPNBET #SportsBetting #Innovation #StrategicRoadmap

Discovering new revenue streams is like finding buried treasure in the sports world! Embrace an omni-channel strategy and digital tools to connect with fans on a deeper level while growing your business. Read more #ETInsights #Sports #FanEngagement #InnovateToGrow #OmniChannels #Strategy Ravi Kukreja

From creative activations to immersive experiences, these brands hit it out of the park! Whether it was interactive games, photo booths, or live performances, they left no stone unturned in creating a memorable fan experience. Want to know how they did it? Click the link below to dive into the details: https://lnkd.in/gqa-samr Feeling inspired by their innovative strategies? We sure are! #Marketing #SportsEvents #BrandActivation #FanExperience #CollegeFootball #publicrelations #brand #sports #eventprofs #sportsbusiness #sportsmarketing #sportsindustry #eventsindustry #sportsbiz #sportstech #experientialmarketing #agency #sportstourism

🎰 The Power of Brand Consistency in iGaming 🎲 NBA star Kyle Kuzma's recent criticism of the frequent changes in jerseys affecting brand identity is a timely reminder for #sports brands, #casino operators and #iGaming companies. In an industry where trust and player loyalty are paramount, presenting a consistent brand story is crucial. Players are not just looking for fun and excitement; they seek familiarity. A consistent brand narrative fosters trust, ensuring that players feel at home every time they engage with your platform. 🏠 Let Snap Call Media tell your story so that you turn players into loyal brand ambassadors rather than public critics. #Branding #Marketing #PlayerTrust #Consistency 🎯

947 brands bought close to 2,500 in-game ad deals across Bally Sports RSN portfolio in the most recent season(s), so Amazon's potential investment in Diamond Sports, (the entity behind Bally Sports), will be interesting to watch how if they can take their existing prowess in data analytics, entertainment and e-commerce to reimagine the RSN sports experience. The potential for real-time, targeted consumer engagement could redefine sports media and Amazon's added value and expertise here is immense. For what it's worth, Auto and QSR make up over 1/3rd of all ads across the Bally Sports NHL, NBA and MLB portfolio, with Toyota Motor Corporation, Ford Motor Company and Chevy (General Motors) coming in at 1, 2 and 3 overall. (Credit: SponsorUnited) #sportsmarketing #sportsmedia #sportsbiz

This will be interesting to watch to see how the business model changes from linear/over the top to streaming. And will Amazon care about media rights cost when they have direct access to consumer data and consumer buys? Or will targeted and accurate tracking of advertising spend result in reduction of "live sports" premium or will it lead to an increase? Lots of questions will be interesting to watch as streaming will continue to change the sports media rights landscape for Bally Sports and other RSNs MSG Networks YES Network NBC Sports Boston MASN

Enjoying the active conversation in the comment section of this post! The intersection of sports, media, and technology is reshaping sports marketing at this very moment. Curious to see where the revenue will be generated in 2024! #SportsBiz #Sponsorship #MediaSales #MediaRights #SportsMarketing #Revenue #ValueCreation https://lnkd.in/g9BeMmG2