Covid-19: All our latest coverage on the impact to the global sports industry
Australia, New Zealand pull out of Rugby League World Cup
Australia and New Zealand have today (Thursday) withdrawn from the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, citing player welfare and safety concerns amid the “stark differences” in how Covid-19 is being handled in …
Tokyo 2020 battles cancellation speculation and other challenges on home straight
There has been no let-up in the challenges for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the final days before it starts
Packers post record national revenue despite pandemic
NFL team releases financial report, showing healthy state of the league
PIF, Ares part of McLaren’s £550m equity raise
British luxury automotive, motorsport and technology company McLaren Group, which includes the eponymous Formula 1 and IndyCar motor-racing teams, has secured an equity raise of £550m (€640.4m/$753.7m
Latest Video
Gaudenzi: “Linear programming wasn’t a good fit for tennis”
In the latest video interview from SportBusiness, ATP chairman, Andrea Gaudenzi, speaks to Europe editor Ben Cronin about plans to resume the international tennis tour in August and his vision to centralise…
Infront’s Bruno Marty – Smaller properties can flourish if they innovate and engage
Bruno Marty, senior vice-president of the ProSports unit at Infront, discusses the impact of sport's Covid-19 induced liquidity crisis, how properties can emerge stronger, the role of private equity i…
Youth sports in US look for reinvention, industry unity
LeagueApps president Jeremy Goldberg and Gators Baseball Academy partner Joe Lopez speak to SportBusiness US Editor Eric Fisher on the state of the $19bn American youth sports industry amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The second of a two-part series.
US youth sports industry grapples with heavy Covid-19 uncertainty
LeagueApps president Jeremy Goldberg and Gators Baseball Academy partner Joe Lopez speak to SportBusiness US Editor Eric Fisher on the state of the $19bn American youth sports industry amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The first of a two-part series.
Blue Jays to return to Toronto on July 30
Canadian club to go back to Rogers Centre after nearly two years
Uefa compensates Bilbao, Dublin, Istanbul for loss of key hosting rights
Uefa, European football’s governing body, has moved to compensate Bilbao, Dublin and Istanbul for the loss of club and national team competition hosting rights due to Covid-19 by reordering its future c…
Rugby League World Cup confirmed for 2021, doubts remain over Australia
Rugby League World Cup 2021 organisers have today (Thursday) confirmed this year’s tournament will go ahead as scheduled in England, despite admitting that Australia has yet to commit to the event amid C…
Toronto FC, CF Montreal gain approval for home games in Canada
Major League Soccer clubs Toronto FC and CF Montreal have been given clearance to play home matches at their stadiums in Canada from this weekend, signaling a major step in the return to normal for the…
Latest Inside Track
Jared Melzer | The real power of sponsorships – driving social activism
Having led sponsorships for major B2C and B2B brands in the US, Jared Melzer shares his perspectives around sponsorships and Black Lives Matter
Mohit Lalvani | Public health a fruitful theme in search for sponsorship spend and ROI during Covid-19
Mohit Lalvani, founder and CEO of 1 Play Sports, the Singapore-based sports streaming services provider, identifies a potentially valuable avenue for sponsorship during the pandemic, that may resonate with the public and governments
Kevin McCullagh | Coping with disaster
With a curtailed Tokyo Olympics about to begin, it is clear there is a long road ahead out of the pandemic for the Asia-Pacific sports industry. Some admirable qualities traditionally associated with Japan could prove valuable along the way.
Luca Massaro | Five steps to maximise post-Covid attendances
Luca Massaro, CEO of performance marketing agency WePlay, offers five marketing steps that will encourage fans back into stadiums once lockdown restrictions ease
Bo Pearl and Anna Alvarado | Are vaccine passports the ticket to packed live events?
Paul Hastings LLP attorney James "Bo" Pearl and law student Anna Alvarado explore the legal landscape around teams requiring Covid-19 vaccines to attend live events
Lars Haue-Pedersen | Hosting sector needs to reassert itself
Now is the time for rights-holders and cities to make the case for hosting sports events again, argues Lars Haue-Pedersen, head of BCW Sports
Sponsorship market dynamics favour premium sports brands in the pandemic
There is an expectation that sponsorship sales at premium sports properties tend to be more resilient during economic crises. Matthew Glendinning looks at whether big really has proven best during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Caradh O’Donovan | Athletes have not had adequate preparation for the Olympics
Irish athlete Caradh O'Donovan says many athletes have not had appropriate training and qualification opportunities for this year's Olympics, and should have had a bigger say in the organisation of the postponed event
“One big, complicated event” | Cricket Australia’s CEO on its toughest season
Cricket Australia's interim CEO Nick Hockley explains how his organisation had to adapt in order to deliver a full season of cricket in 2020-21. Kevin McCullagh reports.
MLB clubs relishing chance to sell tickets once again
After going a full year without being able to sell any tickets, MLB clubs are embracing the restart of fan attendance in local markets. Eric Fisher reports.
NHL’s Lake Tahoe games poised to become league’s most spectacular outdoor event
It took the NHL just a matter of seconds before deciding that Lake Tahoe would be the ideal spot for an outdoor tentpole event. The logistical challenges, however, have been significant, explains NHL chief content officer Steve Mayer.
Nick Sakiewicz | Why the NLL chose to sit this one out
National Lacrosse League commissioner Nick Sakiewicz explains why the league is continuing to halt its play amid the Covid-19 pandemic and is instead preparing to return in the fall.
Martyn Turze | Following your team during Covid-19
Martyn Turze, consumer research account director, Publicis Sport & Entertainment, has monitored the attitudes of the agency’s personnel to the live sports lockdown in the UK and uncovered 10 key areas of changed experience
Sampson Yimer | US sports fans at tension point on return to live events
Last weekend’s NFL Super Bowl highlighted the tension point between the return of fans to live sporting events and the dangers inherent in that return. Sampson Yimer, vice-president, sponsorship consulting at Momentum Worldwide, looks at the pros and cons, backed by the agency’s proprietary study on fan sentiment.
George Pyne on Bruin Capital’s recent run of dealmaking
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview George Pyne, Bruin Capital founder and chief executive. Eric and Chris also discuss the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, tension surrounding the planned shift of the Universities of Texas and Oklahoma to the Southeastern Conference, and Barstool Sports’ acquisition of both the naming and media rights for the Arizona Bowl.
LaLiga’s Mediacoach harnessing the power of match data
Forming part of the league’s expansive technology offering, the sports data and analysis platform is benefiting a range of stakeholders, including clubs, media partners and fans.
Adam Karg | Pre-Covid trends and post-Covid learnings that indicate the path ahead for sport
Adam Karg, director at the Sport Innovation Research Group, Swinburne University of Technology, picks out some of the most valuable lessons for sports organisations from the past year's disruption