• Sports Business Coffee Break
  • Posts
  • ☕ Crypto is Back, Liquid Death look to sponsor a NASCAR fan, new threshold for Volleyball TV, 21 job offers, etc.

☕ Crypto is Back, Liquid Death look to sponsor a NASCAR fan, new threshold for Volleyball TV, 21 job offers, etc.

Your daily shot of sports business.

Your daily dose of sports and esports business news is here! Thanks for reading, and don't forget to share the love.

Let us know what you think!

Top Story

Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix

Is crypto making a sports sponsorship comeback?

The cryptocurrency market, once reeling from a dramatic collapse, is making a cautious comeback in the world of sports sponsorships. Teams, particularly those outside the elite, are increasingly open to these partnerships, driven by a combination of market recovery and the need for additional revenue streams.

However, the return of crypto sponsorships is not without its challenges. Price volatility, reputational risks, and the complexities of due diligence remain significant hurdles. Teams are now prioritizing strong contractual protections and clear communication with fans to mitigate these risks. “I think, really, the main reputational risk is that clubs or any rights holder that enter into these deals don’t clearly communicate what the product is that their partner is marketing through the relationship,” Daniel Haddad (Octagon) says.

One notable trend is the emergence of established brands like Crypto.com and Coinbase, which have successfully navigated the market downturn and are actively seeking new partnerships. This offers teams a greater sense of security and stability compared to the more speculative ventures of the past.

While large-scale spending is unlikely to return to the levels seen before the crash, crypto sponsorships are expected to play a more prominent role in the sports landscape. Shorter-term deals and partnerships at lower tiers of the market are becoming increasingly common.

Nascar's recent partnership with esports company Blast is a prime example of this trend. By sponsoring esports events, Nascar is actively seeking to attract younger audiences and expand its reach beyond traditional racing fans.

As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how long-term the resurgence of crypto sponsorships will be. However, it is clear that this trend is here to stay, albeit with a more cautious and strategic approach.

Quick Takes

Football / US Football

PE in the NFL Won’t Be the Bloodbath You Think - front office sports

Basketball

Junior Bridgeman buying stake in Milwaukee Bucks in a deal that values team at $4 billion - cnbc

Baseball

Blue Jays to open ‘one-of-a-kind’ space at Rogers Centre - the stadium business

Ice Hockey

NHL monitoring teams’ income-tax advantages, but ‘there are no easy fixes’ - the athletic 💰

Take a first tour of the new field-level seats, exclusive club at State Farm Stadium - 12 news 🎥

Soccer / Football

Inter launches pitchside club experience at San Siro - the stadium business

Everton stadium architect admits Farhad Moshiri could have picked a ‘less expensive’ site than Bramley-Moore Dock - everton news

The digital fan engagement opportunities around English women’s club football - chris hurst

Cristiano Ronaldo Claims 1 Billion Social Media Followers - sportico

Economy

Horizon: Younger People Have Their Own Take On Sports Fandom - mediapost

AC Milan owner says private equity investment has “massively inflated” sports team valuations - sports pro media

Companies & Brands

Classic Football Shirts Adds to Investor Pool; Plans New LA Store in World Cup Run-Up - sgb media

DubClub raises Series A to help connect sports cappers and bettors - chicago biz journal

Stadium & Arena

Anfield Presents Amazon Dome may be closer than we think – and fans will be livid - the guardian

How the Ball Arena redevelopment could keep pro sports teams in Denver until 2050 - denver biz journal 💰

ICC to fund Zimbabwe Cricket for construction of new multi-sport stadium near Victoria Falls - wionews

Sponsorships

Frito-Lay upgrades FIFA sponsorship with fan awards at men's and women's World Cups - abc news

Long format

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the esports World Cup Foundation, is the guest of the SportsTech Allstars Podcast

Video

NASCAR Joins Hands With $1.4 Billion Worth Sponsor To Offer Fans a Chance at $30,000 - essentially sports

Figure

1.5 Million

This is the number of members that VBTV has reached globally in 2024. This represents a 77% year-on-year growth.

Did you miss it?

This was the most popular link in the last newsletter:

LVMH Could Become a Major Sponsor of Formula 1 - robb report

Jobs

USA / Canada

The State University of New York

Golden State Valkyries

Swish Analytics

UFC

On Location

Barstool Sports

Nike

NFL

Anaheim Ducks

Los Angeles Rams

UK & Ireland

NBA

The Talent Space

Handle Recruitment

Rise Resourcing

JD Sport

Sigmar Recruitment

Australia / NZ

Pepperstone

Entain Australia & New Zealand

Cricket Australia

Inverleigh

Other parts of the World

Campeón Gaming

Olivier Spaeth

Thanks for being a valued subscriber! I hope this newsletter provided you with valuable insights.

To help us grow, please share it with your network.

Let's connect on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.