Ripken Baseball’s Post

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Here's my Washington Business Journal story about Monumental Sports & Entertainment and Alex Ovechkin cutting a deal with an Arlington company to sponsor the Capitals player's pursuit of the National Hockey League (NHL) goals record. #dc #washingtondc #dcsports #sportsbusiness

While speculation runs rampant over Salesforce's abrupt departure from its LA28 and USOPC commitment, the Olympic orgs can find comfort in some other sports' newest deals. Why that's the case and even a theory about LA28's new deal with Guild causing a rift with Salesforce in today's blog post. #sponsorship #sportsmarketing #sportsbusiness

Houston’s NRG Stadium Set to Host 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Final for the First Time For the first time ever, Houston's NRG Stadium will host the Concacaf Gold Cup Final, marking a huge milestone for Texas soccer fans. Scheduled for July 6, 2025, this will be the final match of an international tournament featuring 16 national teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, just one year before Houston welcomes the world again for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Why This is Big News The announcement highlights Houston’s reputation as a top destination for major soccer events. This will be the eighth time NRG Stadium hosts Gold Cup matches, more than any other venue, and the seventh time for Shell Energy Stadium. NRG Stadium has been chosen as one of five Gold Cup venues that will also serve as host locations for the 2026 World Cup, underscoring its central role in the future of international soccer. What’s in Store for Houston? Houston Texans President Greg Grissom expressed his excitement about hosting the 2025 final, noting the city’s "rich history" of hosting major soccer events. The collaboration between NRG Park, Houston First, and the Harris County Houston Sports Authority promises to bring an unforgettable experience for fans in “H-Town” next summer. In preparation for the World Cup, NRG Stadium will undergo minor upgrades, including widening the field starting in summer 2025 and installing a new grass field in May 2026. A Boost to Houston’s Sports Economy Houston’s role as a soccer hotspot isn’t just about fandom; it’s also a major economic driver. The 2023 Gold Cup matches in Houston drew an average attendance of 35,341, exceeding the tournament’s overall average, and generated an estimated $18.6 million in economic impact. This trend of high turnout for international matches positions Houston as a premier market for soccer events. What’s Next? The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup officially kicks off on June 14, with the quarterfinals set for June 28 and 29 and the semifinals on July 2. The official tournament draw will take place on April 10, 2025, setting the stage for an exciting summer of soccer in Houston. The Takeaway Houston is stepping onto the world stage as a premier host city for major soccer events. With the 2025 Gold Cup Final and the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, NRG Stadium is solidifying its position as a global sports venue. This is more than just a game; it's a testament to Houston’s commitment to the growth of soccer in North America. Get ready, Houston. Soccer history is about to be made in your backyard.

𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟭𝟬 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 Baseball: Originating in the #US, baseball is a bat-and–ball game It is rather popular in the #Caribbean, #NorthAmerica, #Japan, and #SouthKorea. Two teams of nine players alternately bat and field in the game according to structure and major leagues. While the World Series is the annual championship for the sport, Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States is the top professional league. Read More: https://lnkd.in/eDcfsDeR

Wimbledon 2024: How to Watch the Tennis Tournament for Free Without Cable https://ift.tt/E0IeY3W All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. For the first time in 27 years, Venus and Serena Williams won’t be at Wimbledon, but the absence of the Williams sisters hasn’t stopped the headline-making moments. Naomi Osaka advanced to the next round after defeating Diane Parry on Monday (July 1). Osaka landed her first Wimbledon win in five years — and she’s not the only American player to secure a victory. Coco Gauff also moved on to the next round after a win against fellow American tennis player Caroline Dolehide. Read on for ways to watch Wimbledon without cable. How to Stream Wimbledon Matches Without Cable Wimbledon is held in London, but if you’re in the U.S., matches usually start at 6 a.m. ET on ESPN. Cord cutters can stream Wimbledon on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes via platforms that carry live television such as DirecTV, Sling TV, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV. ABC will broadcast coverage of certain matches. DirectTV Stream lets you access live, cable and local channels. Watch all your favorite sports championships, games and more for one low price, plus a few extra benefits. DIRECTV Stream 5-day free trial DirecTV Stream’s Choice streaming plan comes with over 125 channels including ESPN, Nickelodeon, HGTV, MTV, BET, VH1, MLB Network, college sports networks and more. The Ultimate plan includes over 160+ channels, the Premier package has over 185+ channels and the cheapest streaming packages: Entertainment and Optimo Más (which includes English and Spanish channels) offers 90+ channels for $79.99 a month for 90+ channels. Not only can you stream for free for the first five days, but you can get Max, Showtime, Starz and Cinemax for free for the first three months when you subscribe to the Ultimate plan. If you’re interested in Sling TV, you can join for a discount and stream ESPN and more. Subscribe today for $20 for the first month, down from $40 a month. Sling TV $20/month $40/month 50% off Buy Now For tennis fans streaming from outside of the U.S., ExpressVPN works with several platforms. Need more streaming options? Hulu + Live TV is another solid and affordable choice, and you’ll get a free trial when you join. Plans start at $76.99 a month to stream over 90 channels, plus you’ll get access to ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+. You can also stream Wimbledon coverage on ESPN+ in addition to football, basketball, UFC and other sporting events and documentaries such as In the Arena: Serena Williams, an ESPN+ docuseries premiering on July 10. ESPN+ $9.99/month Wimbledon begins with two days of men’s and women’s singles matches. Mixed doubles matches start on...

When you actually digest how LARGE these numbers are getting, it is really a bit staggering... I would say that the last deal would be considered a success for both sides - and now... "...(the current) deal pays out $608 million per season, making the new (pending) arrangement worth a little MORE THAN TWICE the value of the legacy pact." #sponsorship #sportsbiz #marketing #sportsbusiness #partnership #sports #activation #linkedinsports #sportsmarketing #marketing #business #sportssponsorship #fandom #ESPN #ncaa #ncaafootball https://lnkd.in/gN8fe22w

🚀 How Can Lesser-Known Sports Leagues Attract Fans? Sign Star Players! 🌟 The Japan SV.League 🏐 did it well this summer, by signing high-profile players from Big Championships. T.Defalco: Asseco Resovia ➡ JTEKT Stings R.Lucarelli: Gas Sales Piacenza ➡ JTEKT Stings A.Sliwka: ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle ➡ Suntory Sunbirds A.Nimir: Halkbank Ankara ➡ Wolfdogs Nagoya Here’s why this strategy works: 1️⃣ Instant Buzz & Media Attention: A star signing gets people talking! Announcements, interviews, and media coverage bring your league into the spotlight. 2️⃣ Access to a New Fanbase: Big-name players come with loyal fans. Use this momentum with branded merchandise and fan engagement campaigns. 3️⃣ Increase Ticket Sales & Viewership: Fans love to see their favorites live. More star power also leads to better streaming or TV deals—essential for growth. 4️⃣ Attract Sponsorships: Popular players appeal to sponsors. Leverage the player's visibility for partnerships and cross-promotional opportunities. 5️⃣ Build Long-Term Engagement: Get creative with fan experiences—behind-the-scenes content, meet-and-greets, or youth clinics led by the star. 💡 Signing a star is more than just a name on the roster—it’s a strategic move that drives growth, engagement, and credibility for the league. Would you watch a championship you are not used to if your favorite player joined it? #SportsMarketing #BrandBuilding #FanEngagement #Sponsorship #GrowthStrategy #Leadership #SVLeague #Volleyball

I've had a busy few days preparing for my panel spot at the EuroLeague Basketball Business summit this weekend in Berlin. Along with industry experts from SportBusiness, IMG and Deutsche Telekom, I'll be delving into the topic of 'the Changing Landscape of Media Consumption' There's certainly lots to talk about - here's a few hot off the press learnings from YouGov survey data that we gathered this week: > Short form content remains key to engage younger audiences. > Watching sport live on the TV is still of huge importance, but it's the second choice options that tell more of a story. In Germany - reading the sport stories takes precedence over getting the updates via social media, and in the UK, listening to the radio sport coverage is 'up there' as a strong alternative to the TV screen. > We asked our panellists what they would do if they couldn't access their favourite sports on free to air broadcast options. A higher proportion of GB panellists were willing to 'hold out' for the content to be made available for free than seen amongst our German panellists (37% vs 29% respectively). > But more interestingly perhaps were the 1 in 7 sport fans who said they would invest in a PayTV subscription to overcome the access hurdle. This is a higher proportion than what we see amongst non-sport fans Lots more to come at the event itself, maybe see you there?

Via Alex Wauthy: "The PWHL's latest partner, trading card and sports collectables company Upper Deck, plans to release two PWHL hockey card products before the end of 2024, Paul Douglas Zickler, Director of Sports Brands for The Upper Deck Company, told The Hockey News. This news comes days after Upper Deck released its free 'Inspirational Icons' digital trading card set [get your cards by March 26: https://lnkd.in/gPKDur-5 ] on International Women's Day to kick off its historic partnership with the league... There are two products in the works for Upper Deck. The trading card company aims to have both in the hands of collectors by the end of 2024. The first is a scaled-down set likely containing some physical components, with creative photography. This set Upper Deck hopes to release in-season. The second will mirror some of the company’s standard trading card products, have an expanded checklist, and potentially feature autographs. The checklist will not be as expansive as their flagship Upper Deck Series One and Two products. Still, it will be a sizable addition to the Upper Deck line while having quality representation across all six PWHL clubs... "It's important for us to create high-quality, innovative products, and we are excited to bring those products to the PWHL," Zickler said. "As all collectors would say, people like to hold on and memorialize these collectables forever, so we're excited about capturing this exciting and important moment in women's hockey history and being able to commemorate that with trading cards is exciting.” "These are going to become collectables forever." 📰 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gP_7SEhF #hockey #womenshockey #pwhl #sportscards #upperdeck #sportsmarketing #sportsmedia #womeninsport #womeninsports #sports #linkedinsports #nhl