Highlight Reel: Can Boxing Video Game Deliver Much Needed Knock-Out? 🥊
Plus, Disney takes an adventurous step forward with Fortnite, and what is sports’ role in tackling the loneliness epidemic?
Welcome to Sports Pundit, the sports business newsletter delivering insights from across the industry.
In today’s email;
Undisputed Boxing Game Launches 🥊
Disney Empowers Creators with IP Access 🏰
Tackling the Loneliness Epidemic 👭
Thanks to Faith for coming on the Podcast - and thanks to everyone who has listened and shared feedback! Huge shout out to all of you who I got to meet this week in NYC. Nothing beats hanging out in-person.
Happy Friday!
Andy 😊 🙏
P.S. Congrats to Chaj, our latest ‘Contributor of the Week,’ an award given out to reward positive contributions to the SP WhatsApp Group.
Other honourable mentions go to Molly, Saquib, and Gavin.
Not a member yet? Join using the link below 👇
LANDING SHOTS
Can Boxing Video Game Deliver Much Needed Knock-Out? 🥊
Steel City Interactive, a Sheffield-based independent studio, is aiming to put boxing back on the (digital) map with its game, Undisputed.
They've made a strong start. Tyson Fury featured on the special edition cover and promoted the game ahead of his fight against Oleksandr Usyk (who ironically emerged as the undisputed one).
Both Fury and Usyk are included in Undisputed's 70-strong roster, which features legendary fighters past and present.
The game has already garnered significant interest from boxing fans, drawn by its promise of an authentic, realistic recreation of the sport, reminiscent of the Fight Night series.
The move could significantly impact the narrative and familiarity held by much of the talent within boxing, noted Andy Marston, Founder at Sports Pundit. This is something that the sport, as with a lot of sports, is in desperate need of.
What Sports Pundit says:
“Back in November, I launched the Sports Pundit Podcast by having a fun conversation with Chelsea Football Club's Zarah Al-Kudcy. Among the topics we spoke about was the impact of including the women's players in EA SPORTS FC24's Ultimate Team mode.
The move significantly boosted the visibility of women's football. Within just 24 days of launch, 357 million unique Ultimate Team games featured at least one female player.
For clubs like Chelsea FC, whose women’s team is among the most picked in the game, this interest has the potential to translate into new commercial opportunities, from selling more tickets and merchandise, to driving greater value from partnerships with brands.
Boxing will be hoping for a similar effect upon the launch of Undisputed.
Though without the user base of an EA FC, the dedicated boxing game aims to rejuvenate interest in boxing by showcasing a diverse roster of legendary and current fighters.
This initiative not only provides visibility to the boxers but also engages a new generation of fans, potentially inspiring them to take up the sport, follow the athletes more closely, and (maybe one day) pay for PPV events...”
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HIGHLIGHTS
British Cycling has agreed a multi-million-pound sponsorship with banking firm Lloyds after taking on the organisation of the men's and women's Tour of Britain races in February 🚴♂️
Oaktree Capital Management says that it’s become the new owner of current Serie A Champions, Inter Milan, after Chinese holding company Suning missed €395 million in loan repayments ⚽️
RedBird Capital and Weatherford Capital are launching Collegiate Athletic Solutions, a college sports-specific investment fund which could lend up to $2 billion to athletic departments across the U.S. 💸
Dick’s Sporting Goods’ exclusive clothing brand, DSG, is collaborating with the WNBA to launch a collection is inspired by “white space” it saw in youth girls’ apparel 🏀
Spurs’ training kit sponsor, Getir, which has this month confirmed it’s plans to exit the UK, still owes the Premier League club a reported £5 million ⚽️
Channel 4 has announced plans to stream 1,300 hours of coverage from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with up to 18 concurrent streams of content, on its YouTube channel 📺
Chelsea’s front-of-shirt partner, Infinite Athlete, has welcomed Apollo to its fast-growing partner network. The athlete management system joins the likes of Slate, Dizplai, Gemini and LiveLike 🤖
CREATION GENERATION
Epic Collaboration: Disney Takes an Adventurous Step Forward 🏰
This week, the Walt Disney Company confirmed it will allow Fortnite creators to develop "Disney-themed gaming experiences."
This collaboration is part of a larger initiative, backed by Disney's $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games earlier this year, to create an interconnected "entertainment universe" offering consumers the ability to play, watch, shop, and engage with content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and Avatar.
Disney aims to extend the reach of its beloved stories and characters by empowering creators to utilise its intellectual property (IP).
While the specifics of this creative freedom remain unclear, Craig Santicchia, Director at Wolfpad Gaming, believes the potential for innovative Disney-themed content in Fortnite is vast and sets a precedent for other IP owners.
What he said:
“Why is this news worthy? Because for the first time, within gaming, you're seeing a major IP owner (that is truly iconic throughout generations) say to the gaming community 'go create'.
This show's that Disney understand younger generations and how they want to interact with IP.
How many other IP owners will be this bold? How many others will give trust to the community with their IP? How many others will clock on that this is the way to do it?
Gen Z and Gen Alpha want to create. They'll produce content most can't even comprehend (in a positive way) and way better than some employees can envision.”
P.S. Take a read of this deck from Zoe Scaman on ‘The Creation Generation’ and how it is revolutionising educational engagement for Gen Alpha. This is further supported by recent gaming reports stating self-expression via gameplay is more important to 60% of gamers than ever before.
It’s also worth reading about ‘The Hatsune Miku Phenomenon’ as well.
FURTHER READING
Sports’ salient role in tackling the loneliness epidemic By Aidan O’Connor, Sportico 👬
BKFC on precipice of broadcast deal, mainstream recognition By JohnWallStreet 👊
Activating Athletes: Delivering impact with the biggest names By Ear to the Ground, Fan Futures Podcast
Sport's problem: What happens when people cease to care? By Paul Macdonald, Game Within The Game ⚽️
Beauty’s opportunity in women’s sports By Emily Jensen, Business of Fashion 💄
Reimagining the FA Cup Trophy With Olaolu Slawn... By Subomi Odanye, Bigger Than Sports 🏆
PODCAST
Want to hear more from my conversation with Faith?
We discuss the Launch of SheSportTech, Faith’s Career Journey, why TeamViewer wanted to sponsor Manchester United, activating sponsorship with enterprise customers, the potential opportunity to engage women with F1 Academy, speaking to different audiences and much, much more.
Listen to the full podcast via the link below - and I’d love to hear what you think! 👇
SOCIAL CLUB
The Sports Pundit Social Club is a monthly series of industry Happy Hours happening in New York and London. This event aims to unite approx. 100 executives, founders, investors, and athletes in a relaxed and informal setting.
Whether you're a seasoned professional, an avid reader of the Sports Pundit newsletter, or a listener or guest on the Sports Pundit Podcast, this gathering promises to be an enriching experience for all.
Thanks to everyone that came to our event in New York. To RSVP for our upcoming event in London (on Thursday, 30th May), use the link below.
JOB BOARD
Project Manager - Arsenal (London, UK)
Marketing Manager, Europe – Formula 1 (London, UK)
Senior Insights Manager - England Rugby (London, UK)
Manager, Strategy & Operations – NFL (New York, US)
Manager, Club Strategy – MLB (New York, US)
To see these jobs, and more jobs like these, visit the Sports Pundit Job Board, hosted by Peak 72.
Do you have a job you’d like to promote to the amazing readers of this newsletter? Email me 📩
TALENT TALKS
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It’s all part of moving from mass emails to meaningful, one-on-one conversations.
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