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☕ Women's sports growth, Kylian vs. Ethan for Sorare, viewership increase in NFL, 24 job offers, etc.

☕ Women's sports growth, Kylian vs. Ethan for Sorare, viewership increase in NFL, 24 job offers, etc.

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Olivier Spaeth
September 11, 2024

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A young fan of Caitlin Clark

Women's sports are on an upward trajectory as fans, brands engage

Women's sports are experiencing a significant uptick in popularity, attracting both fans and brands. According to Jessica Berman, commissioner of the National Women's Soccer League, the momentum behind women's sports is "only going to get bigger."

Berman highlighted the increased media coverage of women's sports, noting that it has grown from around 5% to 15% ; “We’re trying to grow our share of the pie; no fight over our tiny little sliver of the pie,” she said. This growth is indicative of a broader trend across various leagues and athletes. Importantly, these leagues are collaborating to share best practices and accelerate the overall growth of women's sports.

The Business Case for Brands

Sara Gotfredson, founder of Trailblazing Sports Group, emphasized the strong business case for brands to invest in women's sports. She observed that fans of women's sports are more engaged with brands compared to those who follow men's sports. Companies like Google, Ally Bank, and AT&T have already recognized the value of building equity in fledgling women's sports leagues.

Athlete Perspectives and Challenges

Cameron Brink, a forward on the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, shared her experience with brand endorsements. She explained that while her WNBA contract may not be as lucrative as her off-court earnings, she values the opportunity to represent brands she aligns with. Brink and other athletes emphasized the need for greater accessibility to women's sports games for fans. This includes increased coverage on linear television, podcasts, and other platforms.

The Road Ahead

While the growth of women's sports is promising, Berman acknowledged that there is still significant catching up to do. Leagues like the NWSL, which is relatively young, face the challenge of competing with established men's sports leagues that have a much longer history. Despite these challenges, the future of women's sports appears bright, with both fans and brands recognizing the potential for growth and success.

Read on cnbc

Quick Takes

LA 28

After success in Paris, Los Angeles looks to elevate Olympic Games in 2028 - cnbc

Basketball

Orlando Magic Join Lead VC Fund to Increase Innovation - sportico

Baseball

MLB is aiming for a more national strategy, commissioner says - cnbc

Soccer / Football

Chelsea to leave Stamford Bridge? Blues in talks over building new stadium with £500m plans being discussed - goal

Pioneering platform in Portuguese football brings together all relevant information on FC Porto's structuring business - fc porto

NYCFC shows off model of new stadium - newsday

College Sports

Ex-Michigan Players Sue NCAA, Big Ten Network for $50M Over NIL - sportico

Rugby

England’s RFU to make more than 40 staff redundant just weeks after forging new £100m Twickenham deal - the independant

Stadium & Arena

Venues with Personality - sports biz journal 💰

New Orleans Superdome Renovations Create New Interior Experiences - forbes

Anfield ranked the best stadium in the Premier League - sports joe

Media

Mark Lazarus: Venu Sports is an ‘Incomplete Service’ - barrett media

The NFL Is Helping YouTube Beyond Sunday Ticket - front office sports

Sponsorships

Why Las Vegas is sponsoring NFL football games in London - las vegas review journal

Companies & Brands

Wasserman acquires International Football Management - sponsorship.org

COSM's Revolutionizing Sports with Immersive Dome Experience - cheddar

Nike layoffs send world HQ employment down to 2016 levels - portland biz journal 💰

Economy

No signs of slowing down for sports betting, industry leaders say - cnbc

Men & Women

NFL deputy general counsel leaves role - sports biz journal 💰

Long format

Madeleine Orr is a leading sport ecologist and professor at the University of Toronto. She is the guest of the Unofficial Partner Podcast. Her book Warming Up: How Climate Change Is Changing Sport is an important contribution to the debate about sport navigates the present and near future.

Listen on apple podcast, spotify

Thomas van Scheik, Founder of The Athlete Brand, author of The Athlete Brand Book, is the guest of the Digital and Social Media Sports Podcast, hosted by Neil Horowitz.

Listen on apple podcast, spotify

Video

Last campaign of Sorare with Kylian and Ethan Mbappé - grinta

Figure

14%

This is the increase in viewership for the first five TV windows of the 2024 NFL season compared to the same period in 2023. Specifically, the average viewership in 2024 was 19.86 million, which is 14% higher than the 17.59 million average in 2023.

Read on sportico