Highlight Reel: NFL wants to keep its European tour going 🏈
This week's top stories features the NFL, FC Barcelona, Nike, Real Madrid, Novak Djokovic, and the PTPA.
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Happy Friday!
The weekend is approaching and media focus is narrowing in on the upcoming World Cup. That said, here’s 5 headlines from elsewhere which caught my eye this week…
NFL eyes games in Spain and France after UK and Germany success
FC Barcelona’s Laporta scores Super League own-goal
Nike launches .SWOOSH, a new digital community and experience
Dubai Parks and Resorts to launch first ever Real Madrid theme park
Djokovic's PTPA open to starting rival tour alongside ATP and WTA
NFL eyes games in Spain and France after UK and Germany success 🏈
The NFL wants to keep its European tour going now that Germany has joined the UK in hosting games, with Spain and France atop the league's wish list as it continues to look to grow internationally.
Such was the interest in Sunday's first game in Germany that the league received three-million ticket requests according to Alexander Steinforth, Head of NFL Germany. That would be 40 Allianz Arenas worth of fans.
FC Barcelona’s Laporta scores Super League own-goal ⚽️
Barcelona president Joan Laporta said the club are set to receive an initial bonus of €1 billion if the breakaway European Super League goes ahead, solving the club's financial woes and making the team more competitive.
However, commenting on this statement from Laporta, The New York Times’ Tariq Panja has claimed “His words immediately ruin the PR efforts of A22 and others to suggest [their] new plan is egalitarian,” rather than focused on finances.
Nike launches .SWOOSH, a new digital community and experience 👟
Nike recently launched .SWOOSH — an inclusive digital community that uses web3 tech to allow athletes, creators, collectors and consumers to design and own the future of sport. “It’s really about community and co-creation and letting consumers help us build the future of Nike.”
Here, Nike Members can learn about and collect virtual creations (think interactive digital objects, like virtual shoes or jerseys) and eventually co-create with the company.
Dubai Parks and Resorts to launch first ever Real Madrid theme park 🎢
Real Madrid and Dubai Parks and Resorts have inked an agreement for the launch of the first Real Madrid theme park in the Middle East. This innovative new experience will allow families and sports fans to immerse themselves in the culture of one of the world's greatest football clubs.
Visitors will be given the opportunity to engage in interactive experiences, including a variety of unique games and attractions inspired through the spirit, passion and success that define Real Madrid as the ‘greatest club of the 20th century’.
Djokovic's PTPA open to starting rival tour alongside ATP and WTA 🎾
Ahmad Nassar, executive chairman of the Novak Djokovic-led Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) shut down talk of the PTPA aiming to replace the existing Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) before hinting that things might change if any suitable proposals are on the table from potential investors.
He told the SportsPro Podcast: “Would we partner with other people, would we negotiate with others? Absolutely. That is our job. We’ll negotiate with anybody who wants to employ tennis players, we’ll negotiate with anybody who wants to do things on their behalf, whether they’re sponsors, licensees, events, or any other types of opportunities for the players.
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