David Lehanski

The future of sports is bright! Fitch Ratings projects a stronger financial outlook for the industry in 2025, fueled by global expansion, growing interest in women’s sports, and favorable economic conditions like lower U.S. interest rates. Key drivers include robust income streams from media rights, sponsorships, naming rights, and premium seating, alongside increased demand for sports content and concert tours utilizing professional facilities. “The rise of women’s sports and global engagement are unlocking exciting new revenue opportunities,” says Fitch’s Ben Munguia. The game is changing—and the opportunities are boundless! #SportsBusiness #WomenInSports #GlobalExpansion

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Soccer fandom is evolving at an incredible pace. Understanding the fan or consumer is complex….. There are a million ways to measure fandom so we (@forsoccer) took a crack at creating some of our own fan profiles that better represent modern fandom. Download the United States of Soccer report on Forsoccer.com #soccermedia #sportsmedia #sportsbusiness #soccermarketing #sportsmarketing #grassrootssoccer

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The U.S. sports betting market continues to grow as more Americans wager more money on live events. The AGA reported YTD commercial sports betting revenue reached $8.36bn through August (+30.4% YoY). However, the related advertising dollars are not flowing as easily as they once did with FanDuel and DraftKings Inc. entrenched as the regulated market leaders in all 30 legal mobile betting jurisdictions and the pace of states adding new OSB or online casino legislation having slowed to a crawl. Logic would suggest that reality will begin to impact sports rights owners and holders over time–if the trend doesn’t change. One “shouldn't assume that just because available ad dollars have dropped off this year, spending will stay at this level or drop off further in the future," Chris Grove (co-founding partner, Acies Investments) said. "There are numerous reasons why marketing spend could turn back upward.” But there is a new class of gaming companies –social sweepstakes casinos (think: VGW Play, Stake.us) and sportsbooks (think: Fliff Inc)– capable of helping sports properties and their media partners replace lost revenues in the interim. These entities are growing faster, operating in more states, and can be more profitable than regulated counterparts (though, none are nearly as profitable as FanDuel or DraftKings). For context, Virtual Gaming Worlds reported in September that it increased annual net profits by 30% YoY to $335mm on record revenues of $4.15bn. Sweepstakes are games of chance where no purchase is necessary to win. In a social sweepstakes sportsbook or casino players can also buy virtual coins that can be wagered and redeemed for real cash prizes. #sweepstakes #gaming #sportsbetting #sportsbiz #marketing #advertising #trends https://lnkd.in/egRbEuQp

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A few years ago, we embarked on a mission to reimagine basketball competition. Our goal was to create a lifelong basketball experience, much like golf, allowing players to enjoy the game and compete for a lifetime. We wanted to keep the passion for playing alive, not just spectating. The result: a game centered around shooting, capturing the thrill of a real basketball game including the excitement and drama around a real crowd and announcer generated through AI. This shooting game format allows players to enjoy the game without the typical hurdles of needing to be in good aerobic shape, endure physical contact, and play defense. Our game is played locally and virtually across the Shoot 360 network. It's structured in four quarters, with teams of three players and dynamic scoring involving 2, 3, and 5 pointers, adding elements of skill and strategy. We use our scoreboards above the baskets to track real time individual and team scoring and stats. It's all summarized in our App with all the game schedules, stats, game results, and leaderboards. The game can be played in leagues, tournaments, and open runs, offering a range of competitive formats just like the traditional game. Above all, the game is simply fun to play, focusing on the thrilling aspect of shooting. We're focused on getting basketball enthusiasts off the sidelines and back into the game, engaging millions of people in the U.S. and worldwide. With over 175 million enthusiasts in the U.S. and 2.5 billion globally, the potential is enormous and incredibly exciting! I've never been prouder of our team, and after countless hours of development and testing, we launched Shoot 360 Leagues a few weeks ago, starting with a beta across the U.S. and into Canada, involving 300 players in an international league with over 100 teams all playing locally and virtually across our facilities in real time! The feedback was phenomenal, and we're excited to see hundreds and then thousands of teams playing Shoot 360 Leagues soon. Here's a link to see the fun in action: https://lnkd.in/gUbheF-v

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"Loft extends beyond a number—it's the dynamic angle of the clubface at impact, known as effective loft. Mastery of this concept boosts driving performance, ensuring optimal impact with every swing." See article to learn more about how to master the effective loft! https://lnkd.in/eZviVQeN

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NBA Owners Reportedly Frustrated With Lack Of Financial Return From WNBA. SportsBiznet View -Women’s sports need a unique approach. Viewing it through the same lens as men’s sports only invites comparisons and ultimately does a disservice to its growth and distinct value. >> NBA owners are reportedly expressing frustration over the lack of financial return from their investments in the WNBA, despite the league's recent surge in popularity. >> The WNBA has seen record-breaking interest this season, driven by the arrival of star rookies like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. However, the league is still projected to lose $40 million this season, marking the 26th consecutive year without turning a profit. The NBA owns approximately 60% of the WNBA, and this financial strain is impacting the owners’ pockets. >> NBA owners’ frustration underscores the broader issue of financial viability in women’s sports.  #sports #sportsbiz #india

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Are Injuries the Reason the Giants Let Dynamic Players Go? Explore the Giants' decision to let go of players like Zach King and the impact of injuries on their worth. Discover the considerations made by GMs and player personnel in evaluating contracts and potential replacements. #GiantsDecisions #PlayerInjuries #DynamicPlayers #GMConsiderations #ContractEvaluation #PotentialReplacements #FootballAnalysis #InjuryImpact #PlayerWorth #FootballContracts

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Will Dana White Veto Fights? Inside UFC Decisions! Dana White isn't afraid to step in and veto a fight if he disagrees with it. Discover how his trusted team influences these crucial decisions in the UFC. Get insights into the fight promotion dynamics and what happens behind the scenes. #DanaWhite #UFC #MMA #FightPromotion #SportsManagement #UFCDecisions #BehindTheScenes #FighterSafety #CombatSports #MixedMartialArts

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Defense Wins titles? (a CFB playoff 2024 observation) The most important performance metric we use to quickly evaluate team quality is scoring efficiency. The last 25 national champs have finished the regular season in the TOP 3 of offense or defense scoring efficiency. With the new 12 team playoff we should see 9 of the top 10 power 4 scoring efficiency defenses in playoffs. Currently that is Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee, Alabama, Oregon, Penn State, Indiana, Ole Miss and South Carolina. Offense sell tickets but defense is going to win the title. Side note for playoff interested folks: Strength of Schedule has zero correlation with the quality of a team and should only be used as a tie breaker. And please understand with just 3 non conference games, there will never be a SOS model that is statistically relevant. We prefer our simple model with has just the 3 biggest game outcome predictors in CFB, but we feel it is not good enough because the data doesn't exist to make it so.

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Great article by Alison Aguilar Haehnel in Steel Sports Beyond The Game series. With female participation in youth sports expected to exceed boys participation in the next few years, its important that all organizations reflect on this and how best to train coaches and build curriculum that benefits all players. #youthsports #buildyourlegacy #kidsfirst Steel Partners Holdings Youth Sports Business Report Steve Jones Ian Hughes Veronica Allonardo Sports Endeavors Skechers Yokohama Tire Corporation

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Golf is evolving, and the future is here with TGL. Imagine watching world-class golfers like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, and Justin Thomas tee off from a platform, launching their drives into a massive screen just 35 yards away. The innovation doesn't stop there—approach shots are played from 21 yards away as players strategically advance to a forward platform when their ball is within 140 yards of the green on the simulator. This is more than just a new way to experience golf; it’s a revolution that blends cutting-edge technology with the traditional excitement of the game. TGL is set to redefine how we watch, play, and engage with golf. Ready for the future? ⛳️

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I think the best leadership webinar yet! Such practical insights from those who have achieved so much, and openly share the challenges they overcame. Watch the recording for the full stories - it is exceptional all the way to the last words.

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Big question to the tennis community! 🎾✨ What would make your playing, organizing, or connecting experience better? 🤔 What features should the Tenni app have next? We’re building this app for YOU, and we want to hear what YOU need most! Your input matters—drop your thoughts in the comments or message me directly. 💬 #TenniApp #SportsCommunity #Tennis #SportsTech

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Part I: The NWSL and links to MCO through their investors Overview * NWSL formed 2012, began playing 2013 * Expanding to 16 teams 2026 * NWSL collective worth $1.46bn * 57% increase in franchise value 2023-24 * Collective revenues to pass $215m - 91% YoY * All teams to lose $5-10m 2024 * 4yr Broadcast Deal $240m ($4m per team per yr) * Min salary to increase $48-$82 by 2030 * Salary cap to increase $3.3M - $5.1M by 2030 * Attendance increased 42% in 24 passing 1m fans 3yrs in a row * 49 matches passed 10k fans * The Yates Report 2022 (investigation into systemic abuse and misconduct within NWSL) highlighted Thorns, North Carolina, Red Stars, Racing Louisville & Seattle Reign as all failing to protect players Seattle Reign  * Valued $78m * Franchise Fee $0  * Formed 2012 as Seattle Reign FC * 2019 renamed Reign FC due to a relocation (Tacoma) * 2020 OL Group paid $3.5m for 89.5%, name changed to OL Reign * 2024 Sold for $58m, reverted back to Seattle Reign FC * Between time of purchase and sale, OL Group changed ownership to Eagle Football Holdings *OL Groupe was financially distressed & sold OL Reign to Carlyle Group 50% & Adrian Hanauer, owner of Seattle Sounders, 2012 Alan was a past investor in Reign * Hanauer has a minority stake in NHL Seattle Kraken & previously held 15% in EFL Cambridge Utd early 00s * The Carlyle group (AuM $426bn)formed part of the financial vehicle Stephen Pagliuca consortium used to purchase Atalanta Bergamo FC  * Pagliuca acquired a 55% in the holding company that owns 86% of Atalanta for €250m in 2022 * Pagliuca is co-owner of Boston Celtics * Pagliuca in discussion to acquire Red Star FC (France) Portland Thorns  * Valued $93m * Franchise Fee $0 * Formed by Merritt Paulson (Peregrine Sports LLC) who owns Portland Timbers * As a result of the yates report sold the Thorns to RAJ Sports for $63m 2023 * RAJ Sports is led by the Bethal family * 2024 The Bhathal family was awarded WNBA's 15th franchise for Portland (Name TBC) to begin 2026 * The Bhathal family previously owned several Sacramento franchises * Other investors include Sam Garvin (Phoenix Suns) Angel City  * Valued $250m  * Franchise Fee $2m * Formed 2020  * Founding ownership group included Natalie Portman, Serena Williams, Eva Longoria * Longoria is part-owner of Club Necaxa & associated with Wrexham * 2024 Willow Bay and Bob Iger purchased 35% for $87.5m which valued the franchise at $250m * Their total investment is $137.5m providing $50m for operations  * Sept 2024 LAFC invest $50m acquiring a small stake * LAFC acquisition stems from warrants that were part of city stadium lease agreement. These warrants gave LAFC the rights to purchase shares. * Mia Hamm is a minority investor in both LAFC & Angel FC * LAFC own Grasshopper Club Zürich & Austrian club FC Wacker Innsbruck * LAFC formed a JV with FC Bayern (Red&Gold) which owns Racing Club de Montevideo (Uruguay) and Gambinos Stars (Gambia) #multiclubownership #footballbusiness #footballfinance

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