Highlight Reel: Super League chiefs propose an open, multi-divisional format ⚽️
Highlight Reel: Super League chiefs propose an open, multi-divisional format ⚽️
This week's top stories feature the ICC Women's T20 Cricket World Cup, Super Bowl LVII, A22, Saudi Arabia, Carmelo Anthony, and Isos Capital
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Happy Friday!
This week has seen the lead up to some huge sporting action... The Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup begins today in South Africa and there’s a pretty big football game happening in Arizona on Sunday.
So, with all that about to unfold, here are five key stories from across the sports industry that have made headlines and caught my attention this week👇
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup draws increased Indian sponsor attention
Super League chiefs propose an open, multi-divisional format
Saudi pushing to host 2030 World Cup with Greece and Egypt
Super Bowl ads sell out despite the economic turn
NBA star joins WWE board members to launch a $750m private equity fund
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup draws increased Indian sponsor attention 🏏
The opening weekend of the Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup has a little extra riding on it this year as 409 shortlisted players hope to catch the eye ahead of the Women’s IPL auction on Monday (with only 90 set to secure a spot).
With all this additional attention on women’s T20 cricket, Disney+ Hotstar is cashing in. The Indian broadcaster has roped in four more big sponsors ahead of the tournament: Tata AIA, Accenture, HUL (Boost) and Bumble.
Ajit Varghese, Head of Network, Ad Sales at Disney Star, said commercial interest has been boosted by “India’s recent win at the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup [which] has grabbed the nation’s attention.”
Super League chiefs propose an open, multi-divisional format ⚽️
A new-look European Super League could contain 80 teams in a multi-divisional format, would be an open competition with no permanent members, and based on sporting performance, says A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart.
The company, which backed a 12-club ESL proposal in 2021 that failed to materialise after protests against it, continue to push the Super League agenda, alongside Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus.
The idea of more fluidity between more clubs, as well as no clubs being ring fenced is far removed from that initial plan of a single 20-team league, 15 of which would have been permanent members.
📚 Further Reading:
Saudi pushing to host 2030 World Cup with Greece and Egypt ⚽️
According to a report from POLITICO, Saudi Arabia has offered to pay for construction of stadiums in Greece and Egypt if they agree to team up for a joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The Saudi-led proposal will face competition from a joint South American bid, as well as one from Spain and Portugal.
The addition of Greece and Egypt uniquely means that, whilst Saudi is expected to stage 75% of all the matches, there would be games played across Africa, Europe, and Asia. This gives the bid a geographical balance and a unique pull across the voting interests of three confederations.
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Super Bowl ads sell out despite the economic turn 🏈
Fox Sports sold 95% of their advertising inventory for Super Bowl LVII by September of last year, as per Variety. However, it then faced an unexpected and difficult challenge as the economy turned: Getting rid of the final 5%.
“As the economic climate in October changed a bit, people’s enthusiasm to spend $7 million waned,” explains Mark Evans, executive vice president of sales for Fox Sports.
It is reported that Fox struck a deal for its last bit of available in-game commercial inventory in late January and was comfortable enough with client commitments to declare a sell out on Monday.
P.S. This reply from MrBeast provides either a warning or food for thought - depending on whether you sit rights-holder or brand side…
NBA star joins WWE board members to launch a $750m private equity fund 💸
NBA star Carmelo Anthony is joining Isos Capital and its founders, WWE board members Michelle Wilson and George Barrios, to launch Isos7 Growth Equity Fund I, according to an investment deck reviewed by Sportico.
The $750 million sports-focused private equity fund is reported to be focused on meaningful minority investments in teams, leagues and sports-adjacent businesses in North America, Europe and Asia.
They join a growing segment of institutional investors who are drawn to the track record of sports properties, which are seen to be outperforming equities markets while offering lower correlation to stocks.
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