Category Archives: Featured

Insider Expeditions, Fandiem Offer Chance To ‘Donate to Win’ McEnroe Tanzania Tennis Experience

Insider Expeditions, a leader in global travel excursions, and Fandiem, a digital fundraising platform that harnesses the power of the fan community to do good in the world, have partnered to give away a trip of a lifetime to a lucky fan and their guest, who will join tennis legends John and Patrick McEnroe on an excursion to Tanzania in December. And the real winners will be The Johnny Mac Tennis Project and Asante Youth Foundation; by “Donating To Win” at fandiem.com/mcenroe, people are automatically entered for the chance to be flown out to Tanzania and experience a seven-night excursion of breathtaking nature coupled with the joy of sports with tennis legends.

The winner and their guest will see the best of Tanzania’s National Parks including the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti which are home to lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, leopards, buffalo, and so much more as well as numerous birds and reptiles. They will enjoy and experience nature, wildlife, fauna and flora like never before.

“The ‘Donate to Win’ makes it possible that anyone who pledges support to these two great charities has a chance to be with us in Tanzania” said John McEnroe. “I’m especially proud that this program will benefit organizations that do such important work with children.”

The prize also offers unprecedented access to two of the most iconic individuals in U.S. sports history in the McEnroe brothers. The lucky winners will be witnessing the first professional tennis exhibition ever played in the Serengeti and attending a VIP dinner with both legendary athletes to interact and hear about their experiences on tour.

The expedition is part of a new goodwill, awareness and sport initiative in cooperation and support of the Tanzanian government. The winners will be part of a tour in which the Brothers McEnroe will be accompanied by as many as 120 tennis aficionados which will include the dedication of a tennis court in the Serengeti.

The luxury journey will include a tennis match between the McEnroe brothers in the midst of the Serengeti, one of Africa’s most iconic safari destinations. Unmatched wildlife, local cultures and stunning landscapes combine to produce what is often described as the holiday of a lifetime and coupled with celebrity tennis professionals as hosts—this is truly a once in a lifetime experience. The itinerary includes the best Tanzania’s National Parks including the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti which are home to the Big Five as well as numerous birds and reptiles.

Guests will also join John and Patrick when they visit a traditional Maasai Village to bring good will and cultural exchange and introduce the Maasai youth to the game of tennis as part of a special court dedication.

Travelers will enjoy African hospitality while staying at luxury lodges such as the Four Seasons Serengeti and the Gran Melia. This bucket list tour package includes all gourmet meals on an all-inclusive basis, domestic air, almost daily Safari game drives in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, a welcome reception hosted by the President of Tanzania, tennis themed activities and memories to last a lifetime.

Tennis fans will not want to miss this historic moment in tennis history. This is a once-in-a-lifetime expedition to one of the most majestic landscapes on the planet with tennis legends.

To learn more or join the tour, please visit: https://insiderexpeditions.com/mcenroe.

For Official Rules and entry instructions, including an opportunity to enter without donating, visit fandiem.com/mcenroe. The Sweepstakes will be open through September 13, 2023. *No purchase necessary to enter or win.

Kitman Labs Names Kirk Iwanowski Chief Marketing Officer and Chris Aker Chief Revenue Officer

Kitman Labs, the sports technology and analytics company setting a new industry standard for how high performance organizations use data, today announced the hiring of Kirk Iwanowski and Chris Aker for the newly created positions of Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Revenue Officer, respectively. Iwanowski joins Kitman with over 25 years of experience in entertainment, media and technology marketing and brand building, most recently at AnyClip, where he spearheaded their global rebrand and positioning as The Visual Intelligence Company™. Aker brings over 20 years of experience in sales, business development and execution and revenue generation to Kitman Labs, the last 4.5 years building the successful sales and enterprise strategy at Compass.

“Kirk and Chris’ expansive background and track record of success in scaling, brand building and sales will be critical as we grow the business enterprise value of Kitman Labs and tell our story to an expanding global audience,” said Founder and CEO Stephen Smith. “Our goal in the coming years is to continue to partner with elite sports and public sector companies to revolutionize how data and analytics are leveraged across every level of an organization to optimize performance and maximize return. There is no one better to help us map and execute that plan than these two seasoned executives.”

“What Kitman Labs has built under Stephen and his team in terms of integrated performance technology is not only disruptive but clearly becoming the new standard in driving human performance optimization,” Iwanowski said. “While we continue to amplify our story and drive penetration within the Sports vertical, we are equally focused on introducing this technology to other markets where health, wellness and performance data can be aggregated and leveraged to maximize outcomes.”

“The sports performance and data analytics business continues to expand exponentially every year as the technology and the user experience improves, and there is no better company than Kitman Labs to help blaze the trail and drive broad-based adoption of this practice,” Aker added. “I am looking forward to working with Stephen and the team to find even greater ways to grow the business well beyond what was even possible just a few years ago.”

Most recently, Chris Aker was the Chief Sales Officer at Compass, leading what was a small real estate tech firm to a successful IPO, which became the largest brokerage in the United States and a Fortune 500 Company. Prior to that successful venture, he led the global sales organization for Eventbrite across eight different countries to a successful IPO and the largest independent ticketing company in the world. He has a wealth of experience designing and building global sales and success organizations for Facebook (pre and post IPO), Google, Skype (pre-Microsoft), IBM, and Toshiba as well.

Kirk Iwanowski joined AnyClip in 2021, concurrent with the company’s expansion as a global SaaS company leveraging its proprietary AI technology to power advanced video solutions for business. He oversaw all branding, marketing, demand and lead generation, design, corporate and public relations, thought leadership, as well as the go-to-market strategy for its growing suite of solutions across multiple verticals, internationally. Prior to AnyClip, Kirk was CMO and EVP of EPIX for MGM Studios, prior to its recent acquisition by Amazon. At EPIX, under the ownership of MGM, Paramount and Lionsgate, he was widely recognized for helping the brand evolve from a singular movie channel to a full premium entertainment service while also effectively introducing the network to a mass television and streaming consumer audience on the heels of MGM’s $1B+ acquisition of the network in 2017. Prior to joining EPIX, Iwanowski served as the SVP, Marketing of Bill Pohlad’s Apparition Pictures and GK Film’s FilmDistrict. Earlier, he was EVP of Marketing at Sundance Channel for a decade, a joint venture of Robert Redford, NBC Universal and CBS. As a key member of the company’s Executive Management Team, Iwanowski helped lead the sale of the network to Cablevision/AMC Networks in 2008.

These new senior hires follow other recent business strategy moves Kitman Labs have undertaken. That includes the successful close of a $52M Series C funding round, led by Guggenheim Investments, a global asset investment and advisory firm with more than $259 billion* in assets under management and two strategic acquisitions of The Sports Office and Presagia Sports, both made in the last two years. The combined companies represent the industry’s largest network of elite and youth organizations (700+) and created the industry’s largest dataset of talent, performance, and medical data for all stages of the athlete lifecycle.

FanDuel Teams Up with Major League Baseball as New Official Sports Betting Partner

As fans eagerly await the return of baseball, Major League Baseball (MLB) and FanDuel Group, the premier online gaming company in North America, today announced a multi-year partnership making its industry-leading sportsbook a co-exclusive Official Sports Betting Partner of MLB. FanDuel will have the right to use official MLB branding and category designations both in its products, including FanDuel’s Sportsbook, Daily Fantasy and FanDuel Faceoff platforms and in its marketing campaigns. FanDuel has worked with Major League Baseball as an Authorized Gaming Operator of the league since 2019.

Starting this season, FanDuel will bring fans’ viewing and wagering experiences closer than ever before by streaming MLB.TV’s Free Game of the Day through both FanDuel’s sportsbook app and on FanDuel’s OTT platform FanDuel+ (local blackout restrictions apply). The company will also have the right to use highlights both in product and as part of original programming on FanDuel TV. The partnership will also create new opportunities for MLB and FanDuel to collaborate on projects for other sponsor partners of both FanDuel and MLB platforms, as well as to work together to bring consumers new sports betting product innovations to drive deeper fan engagement.

“As one of the top sportsbooks in America, FanDuel has been an industry leader in innovative fan engagement opportunities while also reminding them of the importance of doing it responsibly,” said Kenny Gersh, MLB Executive Vice President, Media & Business Development. “These key priorities of unique fan engagement and responsible gambling align with our focus from the league level and make FanDuel a natural partner to collaborate with as an Official Sports Betting Partner.”

“The baseball fan is one of the most engaged in all of sports, which is why we’re delighted to be the new sports betting partner of Major League Baseball. Our team is eager to showcase FanDuel in nationally broadcast MLB games and help enhance game narratives and bring America’s Pastime directly into our mobile app and OTT platform for fans to watch and wager,” said Christian Genetski, President, FanDuel Group. “We’re also very excited about the opportunity to work together with MLB on new betting product innovations that will give customers the opportunity to enhance their experience on every pitch from March until October.”

FanDuel also believes it’s critical to lead from the front on responsible gambling (RG) and safer play. FanDuel will continue these efforts through this in partnership with Major League Baseball. As part of this agreement, the two companies plan to drive greater advocacy and awareness of the importance of gambling responsibly. For more information on FanDuel Group and the commitment to responsible play please visit https://www.fanduel.com/playwell.

MLB is committed to ensuring that fans who choose to wager also have the tools and resources necessary to bet responsibly. As such, MLB is a partner to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign to educate fans and broaden the league’s responsible gaming efforts. MLB also has an expanded partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), serving as a Platinum Member and a part of the group’s Leadership Circle.

NLL Names Kurt Hunzeker Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, today announced industry veteran Kurt Hunzeker has been named to the newly created position of Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations. Hunzeker brings more than 20 years of executive sales, marketing, and brand building to the NLL, most recently as Vice President, Minor League Business Operations for Major League Baseball. He will report directly to NLL Commissioner Brett Frood and will begin his work this week.

“The National Lacrosse League is enjoying a post-pandemic rebirth on and off the field, as evidenced by our rise in attendance and revenue, media exposure and the expansion of partnership programs by our teams,” Commissioner Frood said. “Kurt has the perfect blend of creative and practical business experience to help us capitalize on this next vital phase of enterprise growth. His experience with disruptive properties like the XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks, and with emerging businesses like MiLB, provide the right mix to help shape and grow the NLL business and promotional platforms like never before.”

“I look at the NLL as a property that has exactly what brands and consumers want—fast paced excitement, great athletes, a growing fan base, a solid ownership structure, and great media partners in ESPN and TSN—and I am looking forward to helping the League realize its business and brand potential beyond what exists today,” Hunzeker said. “The industry has heard about the emerging growth of lacrosse as a sport, now it’s time for the NLL to push the narrative to an even wider audience, while continuing to engage and develop that stronger base of fans who have enjoyed the NLL for years.”

Hunzeker joins the NLL after overseeing all business-driving and revenue-generating functions of MLB’s restructured player development system and its 120 MiLB teams since 2021, including: national commercial sales and partnership activation, marketing and communications, content strategy and creation, media production and multimedia platforms, community relations and fan engagement, ticketing strategy, licensed consumer products, and ecommerce. He also authored the initial five-year business strategy and activation plan for MiLB’s new centralized business fully integrated within MLB, and generated the most commercial revenue in MiLB’s 122-year history in 2022.

It was Hunzeker’s second successful stint in baseball, having served as Vice President, Marketing Strategy and Research for Minor League Baseball from January 2015 to June 2019 where he built, enacted and measured the go-to-market corporate partnership and fan engagement strategies, focused on brand amplification, consumer acquisition, and unprecedented revenue growth for MiLB’s national commercial sales and marketing enterprise representing all 160 MiLB communities at the time. He led the creation of MiLB Copa de la Diversión™ (the “Fun Cup”), and designed and implemented MiLB’s 10-year strategic marketing plan in 2017, including its first-ever national campaign, MiLB It’s Fun to Be a Fan®, amplifying all 160 MiLB Clubs’ fan recruitment and engagement efforts.

Between his time at MiLB and MLB, Kurt was President of the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL, leading the team to landmark growth for the startup league before it was shut down due to the pandemic. The BattleHawks were the XFL’s leader in almost all business categories, surpassing all sales, social media and marketing goals by as much as 97% before the league shutdown. That success also included the signing of a record 12 Founding Partnerships, including national brands with deep, local market connections such as Anheuser-Busch InBev, Centene and McDonald’s.

The St. Louis native and University of Missouri graduate was also Senior Director, Brand Marketing for the Rawlings Sporting Goods Company for four years before MiLB, where he managed the global brand marketing and media buying efforts for the iconic sports brand, focusing on creating engagement platforms targeting next-level players, coaches and parents to maximize brand awareness, drive purchase intent and generate revenues with high potential consumers worldwide.

Insider Expeditions Announces Partnership with John, Patrick McEnroe for Tennis in Tanzania

Insider Expeditions, a leader in global travel excursions, today announced a new partnership with John and Patrick McEnroe to bring the tennis legends to Tanzania this December as part of a new goodwill, awareness and sport initiative. In cooperation and support of the Tanzanian government, the Brothers McEnroe will be accompanied by as many as 120 tennis aficionados during a special eight-day trip which will include the dedication of a tennis court in the Serengeti.

“We are excited to welcome John and Patrick McEnroe and their guests to Tanzania for this special event in December,” said Tanzania’s Hon. President Samia Suluhu Hassan. “Our country continues to grow through efforts like this, which expose the vistas and our people to new experiences from visitors around the world. Adding a special element like tennis to this mix will also help us with another one of our key initiatives, which is to create more health and lifestyle opportunities for our young people. While many know of John, their interests sometimes lie with sports like soccer, so using a great individual sport like tennis to teach life skills from legends first-hand will make for an experience people will never have imagined.”

“My family and I look forward to a very exciting trip to Tanzania, where we will have the chance to introduce tennis to the Maasai youth, probably for the first time,” John McEnroe said. “Thanks to Insider Expeditions for creating this opportunity for us all to learn about this beautiful country while being able to expand the game of tennis to a new audience in a country on the rise in the global business and tourism landscape.”

“To be able to go to on this unique trip with ties to a tennis growth experience for all involved is going to be very special,” Patrick McEnroe added. “We have all heard about the beauty of Tanzania, so being able to make this trip with my wife and those individuals joining us should be quite amazing.”

Travelers will enjoy African hospitality while staying at the Four Seasons Serengeti, And Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and the Gran Melia. This bucket list tour package includes all gourmet meals on an all-inclusive basis, domestic air, almost daily Safari game drives in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, a welcome reception hosted by the President of Tanzania, tennis themed activities and memories to last a lifetime.

Tennis fans will not want to miss this historic moment in tennis history. This is a once-in-a-lifetime expedition to one of the most majestic landscapes on the planet with tennis legends.

To learn more or join the tour, please visit: https://insiderexpeditions.com/mcenroe.

FanDuel Surprises Players With More Than $17 Million in Bonus Bets For the Kick of Destiny

While the Kansas City Chiefswoke up today as Super Bowl LVII champions, any FanDuel players who wagered five dollars or more on Super Bowl LVII were excited to learn that their accounts received bonus bets to be used towards future wagers even though Rob Gronkowski did not make the kick – a thank you for going on this exciting and suspenseful journey with FanDuel during Super Bowl LVII.

Based on the fan excitement for the live field goal attempt, FanDuel upped its pledge of Bonus Bets for those who wagered five dollars or more on Super Bowl LVII, issuing more than $17 million dollars worth of Kick of Destiny Bonus Bets this morning.

A historic moment, Super Bowl LVII is officially one for the books as it marks FanDuel’s first-ever national Super Bowl commercial and the sportsbook’s most generous Super Bowl to-date with the company giving more than $34 million in Bonus Bets to players.

Some additional stats that highlighted a historical and successful Super Bowl weekend:

More than 2 million active players bet throughout the game
At our peak, FanDuel was taking a record 50,000 bets per minute
$250,000 was issued in wins for ‘Tails Never Fails’ coin toss

National Research Group Sports Super Bowl Survey: 37% of Americans to Bet on Super Bowl

National Research Group (NRG) Sports, a global insights leader at the edge of sports, technology, and content, today released key survey findings specific to Super Bowl betting and viewership.

The survey is highlighted by the fact that 37% of Americans say they’re planning to bet on the game through a sportsbook and 33% are planning to open a new sportsbook account specifically for the Super Bowl.

Additional key data and insights surrounding Super Bowl betting, viewership and commercial branding are included below.

Super Bowl Betting Insights:

This weekend’s Super Bowl represents a significant opportunity for betting sites to bring in new customers. 37% of Americans (21+) – including 53% of avid sports fans – say that they’re planning to bet on the game through a sportsbook.
33% of Americans – including 46% of avid sports fans, say that they’re planning to open a new sportsbook account specifically for the Super Bowl.
53% of Americans say they’re more likely to watch a game if they’ve wagered on it (up from 46% last year), including 39% of non-sports fans. Similarly, 50% of consumers overall and 59% of avid sports fans say that betting on the Super Bowl makes it much more interesting.
65% of likely Super Bowl gamblers are planning to bet $100 or more on the game, while 20% are planning to bet upwards of $500.
Among likely Super Bowl bettors, the most commonly used online sportsbooks are: Draftkings (55%), FanDuel (54%), BetMGM (43%), Caesars (38%), and FOXBet (37%).
The most popular types of wagers that bettors are planning to make on this year’s Super Bowl are: Moneyline (40%), Live bets (38%), Spread (27%), and Boxes/Squares (26%).
- Boxes / Squares is the only type of bet that declined year over year.
The least popular types of wagers are: Over/Under (24%), Parlay (24%), Same Game Parlay (24%), Prop Bets (24%), and Micro Bets (16%).
61% of Americans support legalized online sports betting, compared to just 15% who are opposed to legalization. At this time last year, support was at 50%. Two-thirds (67%) of those in favor of legalized online sports betting believe that it should be done at the federal level, compared to 33% who feel it should continue to be left up to individual states.
49% of active sports bettors now use multiple online sportsbooks, compared to 32% who just use a single site.

Super Bowl Viewership and Branding Insights:

89% of polled fans expressed excitement for watching Super Bowl commercials, which slightly outweighs the 86% who expressed excitement for watching the game itself
75% of fans like to hear about what brands are planning for their commercials ahead of the Super Bowl
41% of fans say they have become a fan of a product because of its Super Bowl commercial and 56% say past Super Bowl commercials have deepened a connection they had with a brand
53% of Americans plan on attending a Super Bowl party this year, while 37% plan to watch at a bar. Either way, this may explain why 42% of Americans – including 57% of avid sports fans, think that the day after the Super Bowl should be a national holiday. 52% of consumers and 60% of avid sports fans would prefer if the Super Bowl was played on a Saturday.
33% of avid sports fans bought a new TV specifically for the Super Bowl.

SGPN’S Sean Green & Ryan Kramer Back On Radio Row For Super Bowl

On the heels of a record-setting growth trajectory in 2022, Sports Gambling Podcast Network (SPGN) hosts Sean Green and Ryan Kramer will return to Super Bowl Radio Row this week, producing live shows for the Blue Wire Podcast Network at the National Football League’s annual promotional extravaganza.

Two highlights of the week’s activity come Thursday with Green and Kramer hosting a pair of open-to-the-public events at The Ainsworth, one of Phoenix’s most prominent restaurants, a sports-centric destination located in the Collier Center next to the Phoenix Convention Center. They will produce their Sports Gambling Podcast Live Show from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. with previews, picks/analysis and fantasy sports talk featuring NFL-related guests and promotional attractions.

Beginning at 5 p.m., Green and Kramer will host the WynnBET Kickoff Party with a guest list that includes former NFL standouts Chris Long, Chad Ochocinco, Nick Mangold and Julian Edelman.

Green, a Philadelphia-area native, will provide deep-dive analysis on his hometown team at The Ainsworth Thursday and on Radio Row Wednesday and Friday, both out of BlueWire studio set-ups. A regular contributor to the Pat Callaghan Show for JAKIB Media in Philadelphia, Green is among the Eagles experts who will also be doing media interviews for other outlets throughout the week.

To meet the challenge of providing 57 trackable picks on the Kansas City Chiefs-Philadelphia Eagles confrontation, Green and Kramer have immersed themselves in the prop markets with a promise to cover the most popular offerings. Kramer is recommending “Blue” as the Gatorade color prediction, deducing that the +400 selection has value because blue is not in the color scheme of either team and the Gatorade color is selected by the NFL.

Both Green and Kramer are partial to the unders on Travis Kelce receptions (7.5) and receiving yards (80.5) because of their shared belief that Eagles coaches will call for heavy bracketing of the All-Pro tight end to neutralize the Chiefs’ top pass-catching threat.

“The sports wagering industry is exploding and the Super Bowl is an extraordinary multiplier for all channels of interest,” said Kramer, who specializes in using analytics to drive his selections. “We appreciate the visibility of the BlueWire and WynnBet platforms as we join in on this biggest week of the year.”

This past year, SGPN’s 12^th since the humble beginnings of a garage launch in 2011, saw tremendous growth in audience thanks to expansion to television streaming platforms with YouTube the most fruitful. Over 600,000 YouTube views, eight million unique podcast downloads, 4.1 million website page views and over 12 million social media impressions characterize the SGPN phenomenon with strong growth projected for 2023.

“This wave of interest continues to build and our formula of sophisticated, all-free content presented as entertainment has found a growing audience,” said Green, who funded the business in 2017 with $200,000 he won in a fantasy football competition. “We hope to find some new followers this week as America’s attention turns to the biggest game and the most widely viewed television event there is.”

SGPN hosted the first-ever podcast in 2021 from the showpiece Blue Wire Studio at Wynn Las Vegas and they make regular visits to the studio throughout the year as major sports events come about.

American Cornhole League SuperHole IV To Feature Fitzpatrick, Lockett, Turner and Pederson Live on ESPN

The American Cornhole League (ACL) is thrilled to announce the return of “SuperHole,” presented by Johnsonville – an annual pro-am series of competitive cornhole events that kicks off the Friday before the Big Game and pairs ACL Pros with celebrities to compete LIVE on ESPN in what has become one of TVs “must see events” around Big Game weekend.

SuperHole IV is a multi-event cornhole series hosted throughout the year where 32 ACL Pros are paired with 32 celebrities to compete for charity – culminating in the finals alongside the ACL World Championships, which take place this August. The first prelim will be held on Friday, February 10 live at 10:30 PM MST / 12:30 AM EST from Scottsdale, Arizona and features a “football vs baseball” theme, with former QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and star WR Tyler Lockett joining current baseball stars Justin Turner and Joc Pederson to square off in everyone’s favorite backyard game under the bright lights.

The ACL will also debut its third annual ACL Pro Shootout Series airing live on ESPN2 immediately following SuperHole IV. The Pro Shootout Series is presented by DIRECTV who joins the ACL family for the first time as the presenting sponsor of the series as well as a supporting sponsor of SuperHole IV’s kickoff broadcast. Representing DIRECTV in Scottsdale will be Tyler Lockett, who will qualify to play for Ronald McDonald House Charities in Rock Hill should he win.

Since launching in 2016 the ACL has become one of the fastest growing sports in the world, attracting broadcast deals with ESPN and CBS / CBS Sports. The league’s tagline “Anyone can play, anyone can win” along with its ability to be played anywhere has the league on a fast track for success. Along with the “SuperHole”series, the ACL hosts a variety of pro and amateur events. The ACL’s strong sponsor support includes year-long partners Johnsonville, Bush’s and AllCornhole.com, along with individual event sponsors Ultra Cornhole and Reynolds Bags.

The first SuperHole began in 2019 as a one time event where Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold in a “battle of New York” match-up. Since then a multi-event series has taken off with a variety of personalities participating, including two-time SuperHole champion Doug Flutie, Rashad Jennings, Mac Jones, Devonta Smith, Jay Cutler, Shemar Moore, Phil Hellmuth, David Lim, Dawn Staley, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, Dale Moss, Chuck Lidell, Vernon Davis, Zach Miller, Dion Dawkins, Kyle Van Noy, Greg Gaines, Terry Kirby, Brett Young, Jeff Mauro and more.

“We’re excited to continue building on the popularity of SuperHole, which has been a huge success in past years with fans – last year’s model of extending the excitement throughout the season was a resounding hit with our audience, both in person and with those tuning in from home,” said Stacey Moore, Commissioner and Founder of the American Cornhole League. “This year will feature all of the action, celebrities, and competition cornhole fans have come to know and love.”

“I played in a lot of cities in my career, and one thing was consistent across all of them – cornhole being the game of choice for tailgaters,” added former QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. “While I obviously never had a chance to join them before, I’m excited to show off my bag skills!”

“I know the fans love this game, it’s perfect for tailgating – you can even pick up cornhole bags with my name and jersey number at our team shop,” remarked star WR Tyler Lockett. “I’m planning on going out there and showing the fans that their favorite players can mix it up on the cornhole boards as well as on the gridiron.”

“Me and my wife Kourtney love to play cornhole, we even had it at our wedding– it’s actually one of our favorite pastimes,” said all-star 3B Justin Turner. “Hopefully I can go out there and make her proud!”

“When I heard Justin was playing I couldn’t resist the opportunity to go out and compete against him,” added star OF Joc Pederson. “Sure, we’re friends but once the bags and boards are out all that goes out the window!”

SuperHole IV Matchups on Friday, Feb. 10 at 10:30pm MT include:

ACL Pro Cheyenne Bubenheim (current Women Singles World Champion) and star WR Tyler Lockett vs

ACL Pro Ryan Smith (5 time ACL Title Winner) and former top QB, Ryan Fitzpatrick

ACL Pro Daymon Dennis (5-time Senior singles World Champion) and All-Star 3B Justin Turner vs

ACL Pro Jimmy McGuffin (current Senior Singles World Champion) and baseball star Joc Pederson

The American Cornhole League hosts competition and tournaments across the amateur, collegiate, and pro ranks with thousands of players taking part every year. For additional information on how to participate visit iplaycornhole.com.

CELSIUS Partners With Female NASCAR Driver Logan Misuraca for 2023 ARCA Menards Series

Logan Misuraca announces she will be racing in the 2023 ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 63 Spraker/PCW Racing CELSIUS Essential Energy Chevrolet at superspeedways Daytona and Talladega.

Misuraca attended the Preseason ARCA Test at Daytona International Speedway January 13-14th. During the season, the Ilmor engine Chevrolet will be sponsored by CELSIUS Essential Energy Drink while embodying the brand’s mantra, “Live Fit”, staying energized all race weekend long.

Speaking on the sponsorship, CELSIUS VP of Marketing, Kyle Watson, added, “CELSIUS is thrilled to be the primary sponsor and Official Energy Drink of Logan Misuraca? for the 2023 ARCA Menards Series season. We are excited to sponsor our first female driver in motorsports and help fuel Logan all season long as she crosses the finish line!”

CELSIUS is functional, Essential Energy, a better-for-you, premium alternative to traditional energy drinks. Made with a clinically proven formula of energy boosting ingredients, 7 Essential Vitamins and zero sugar, CELSIUS was created to help people LIVE FIT, exceed their goals, and elevate their everyday lives.

Logan’s first ARCA race of the year will take place at Daytona International Speedway on February 18th at 1:30 PM EST. Additionally, she will be racing the Talladega Superspeedway ARCA Race on April 22nd. Both races will be broadcasted on FS1.

Logan holds many accomplishments in her home state of Florida including New Smyrna Speedway 2020 ‘Champion’ and ‘Rookie of the Year’ in the pro late model series and atop 10 finish in the 2022 ARCA East Race at NSS.

Logan is very experienced with both superspeedways through her work with NASCAR Racing Experience where she gives ride-alongs to race fans and adrenaline seekers at speeds over 170 mph. Logan has recorded more than 20,000 laps at Daytona International Speedway. Spraker Racing has over 30 years of racing experience and has had major successes in the ARCA series with record making top 5 and top 10 finishes over the years. The team and Logan are looking forward to an exciting 2023 ARCA season.

Higashioka, Showalter, Nimmo, Sörenstam to be honored at 43rd Annual Thurman Munson Awards Dinner Feb. 7

The 43rd annual Thurman Munson Awards Dinner will benefit AHRC New York City Foundation on Tuesday night, February 7th at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers (23rd Street at West Side Highway) in New York City, and the honorees have been announced today: New York Yankees catcher and ’21 Roberto Clemente Award nominee Kyle Higashioka; New York Mets centerfielder Brandon Nimmo; New York Mets manager and four-time Manager of the Year Buck Showalter; and LPGA champion & World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam will all receive Thurman Munson Awards in the “Class of 2023.”

The “Thurmans” are presented to individuals for on-field excellence, community outreach, and betterment of their sport. The AHRC NYC benefit has helped to keep the memory of the legendary Yankees catcher and captain Thurman Munson alive since his untimely passing 43 years ago, while raising more than $19 million for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead richer, more productive lives.

Thurman’s widow Diana Munson is an honorary chair who has supported AHRC NYC and its fund-raising efforts through the Thurman Munson Awards for four decades, and will be in attendance.

For media inquiries contact John Cirillo/Cirillo World by email at [email protected] or text 914-260-7436.

For tickets call 212-249-6188 or email [email protected]. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ahrcnycfoundation.org/munson2023

The co-Masters of Ceremonies will be FOX 5 lead sports anchor and Sports Extra host Tina Cervasio and Michael Kay, the Voice of the Yankees on YES Network and host of the Michael Kay Show on ESPN NY Radio.

Special guests for the evening will include previous Thurman Award honorees: Radio Hall of Famer and WFAN Yankees analyst Suzyn Waldman (previous Media Hero recipient), Football Giants Super Bowl champions Harry Carson, Chris Canty and Karl Nelson; as well as Thurman’s teammate and two-time Yankees World Series Champion Roy White, Giants Super Bowl champ Howard Cross, YES Network personality Nancy Newman, former women’s featherweight boxing champion Heather Hardy, popular New York Radio/TV personality Sweeny Murti, WFAN Radio golf and tennis reporter Ann Liguori, and former Mets pitcher Nelson Figueroa with others to be announced.

The list of previous Thurman Munson Award recipients reads like a “Who’s Who” of sports stars for the ages including: Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Yogi Berra, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Joe Torre, Bernie Williams, Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, Gary Carter, David Wright, Willis Reed, Patrick Ewing, Julius Erving, Jim Brown, Harry Carson, Aly Raisman, Nancy Lieberman, Theresa Weatherspoon, and Mark Messier, just to name a few.

Kyle Higashioka was a seventh-round selection by the Yankees in the 2008 MLB Draft. After battling a series of injuries early in his minor league career, Kyle made his major league debut for the Yankees in 2018 when Gary Sánchez was sidelined. After starting his major league career 0-for-22, the longest hitless streak to start a Yankee career of any position player ever, he had his first major league hit, a home run, on July 1 against the Boston Red Sox. His next two hits, on July 3 and July 4 against the Atlanta Braves, were also circuit blasts, making him the ninth MLB player since 1920 to have three home runs as his first three hits. On September 16, 2020, Higashioka hit three home runs in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays to became the 24th Yankee to hit three HR in a game. On May 19, 2021, Higashioka caught Corey Kluber’s no-hitter against the Texas Rangers, the first Yankees to catch a no-hitter since Joe Girardi caught David Cone’s perfect game in 1999.

Higashioka was the Yankees 2021 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award which embodies representing the game of baseball through extraordinary character and community involvement, both on and off the field. In 2006, MLB opened its first Urban Youth Academy in Compton, CA. Among the athletes who attended the inaugural camp was Higashioka. He grew up roughly 25 miles away in Huntington Beach, looking for any and every opportunity to achieve his goal of playing professional baseball. He never forgot the impact the MLB Youth Academy had on him and the trajectory of his career. He spent numerous offseasons volunteering his time to support the social reach of the program. The academy focuses on Inner City youth, and assists after-school programs, preparing kids for any type of life, whether it’s professional baseball or getting in the workforce. Kyle has embraced the causes of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which ensures complete post-secondary educational support and additional educational opportunities for eligible surviving children of fallen Special Operations Personnel and children of all Medal of Honor Recipients; and provides immediate financial assistance to severely wounded, ill, and injured Special Operations Personnel.

Four-time Manager of the Year Buck Showalter, in his first season at the helm of the Mets last season, led the team to a 101-win campaign en route to the best skipper trophy. During a 30-year managerial career, Showalter has amassed 1,652 victories managing the Yankees, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Orioles, and Mets. Like Thurman, Showalter was drafted by the Bronx Bombers, and is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame. (Thurman led the Chatham A’s to their first league title with a .420 batting average, while Showalter, playing for the Hyannis Mets, won the league batting title with a .434 average). Showalter was an All-American and set the Mississippi State record for batting average in a season by hitting .459 during the 1977 season.

Showalter participated in the Amazin’ Mets Foundation’s second annual Homeruns & Highballs fundraiser last July, the team’s largest fundraising event of the season. AMF is committed to providing needed services and opportunities to children, families and underserved groups in neighborhoods and communities to inspire change and make a lasting impact on and off the field. On the 21st anniversary of 9/11, Showalter and the team paid tribute to the first responders during the game against the Marlins. While managing Baltimore, Buck supported the LUNGevity Foundation, a charity inspired by the Orioles late public relations director Monica Pence Barlow.

The homegrown smiling, starting centerfielder Brandon Nimmo was a first round pick by New York in the 2011 MLB draft, and made his big league debut for the Mets in 2016. The seven-year veteran enjoyed his finest season last year, recording 159 hits, 30 doubles, and 64 RBI with 580 at bats in 151 games, all career highs. His 16 home runs fell one short of equaling his lifetime best of 17 circuit blasts. During the off season, the Cheyanne, Wyoming native signed a nine-year contract with the Mets. Nimmo played for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic in 2017.

During the off season, Nimmo dressed as an elf at the Mets annual holiday party. Last season, Nimmo held a special sandlot baseball game for local Little Leaguers at Flushing’s Hinton Park on July 8 with two dozen Little Leaguers taking part. Following a pre-game pep talk, Nimmo spent much of the game pitching to the kids, playing the outfield, and giving players fist bumps when they made a good play. Nimmo has also taken part in the fundraiser Call of Duty: Warzone Charity Royale to support veterans with teammate Pete Alonso. Nimmo was named the Mets recipient of the 2022 Heart and Hustle Award, awarded to players who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game, by the MLB Players Alumni Association.

Annika Sörenstam is the most celebrated and winningest female professional golfer in history as a three-time Women’s U.S. Open champion, three-time PGA champion and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. In 2003, she achieved a career Grand Slam, winning at least once in her career each of the four tournaments recognized as major championships. She tops the LPGA’s all-time money list with earnings in excess of $22 million. In all, the native of Sweden has captured 72 official LPGA tournaments and has been named Player of the Year a record eight times.

Annika created the ANNIKA Foundation (www.annikafoundation.org) to provide opportunities in women’s golf at the junior, collegiate and professional levels while teaching young people the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition. It annually conducts six major golf events for aspiring junior girls throughout the world. And with the support of the Haskins Commission, the Foundation created the ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel, which is given annually to the best collegiate female golfer. Since 2014, the Foundation has also annually hosted the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M, a college tournament featuring 12 top Division I schools. Each year, the Foundation also conducts several “Share My Passion” grass roots clinics designed to introduce kids to the game.

cover image: credit All-Pro Reels

World Long Drive Announces Expanded Tour, Largest Purse

World Long Drive returns in 2023 with new owner GF Sports and Entertainment at the helm, an expanded tour, the largest purse in the competition’s history, and over 50 hours of programming by NBC Sports on GOLF Channel, 10 annually.

The World Long Drive Championship is the largest annual domestic professional golf event not associated with the PGA of America, the PGA Tour, or the LPGA. It was first held in 1974, and since 2000 consisted of Open, Women’s, Seniors (over-45s), and Amateur events.

GF Sports and Entertainment also acquired the Pro Long Drive Association (PLDA) in December 2022. With that acquisition, World Long Drive will now serve as the singular premier long drive tour expanding to 12 events domestically and over 30 events being held by World Long Drive affiliates internationally.

“We are committed to growing the sport of Long Drive and making it a competition where athletes world-wide can make a living with this impressive skill set. With the acquisition of World Long Drive and the PLDA we look forward to expanding the tour, making it larger than it’s ever been, not only domestically but internationally,” said President of GF Sports & Entertainment Shawn Tilger. “To be able to showcase World Long Drive in a five-year deal with GOLF Channel and the commitment of 50 hours of national television programming we know the fandom for the sport is just going to continue to grow.”

The World Long Drive tour tees off March 10-12, in Mesquite, NV, culminating with the Championship October 18-22, at Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta, Georgia.

“World Long Drive is exciting, challenging and fun,” said professional golfer and 2022 PLDA Championship runner-up Bryson DeChambeau. “I started long drive to increase my swing speed and then I got addicted to hitting it farther and farther. I’m looking forward to qualifying for Atlanta and competing on a National stage in 2023.”

Players on the professional circuit will battle for over $1.1 million in cash prizes, the largest prize purse in the tour’s history. Competitors will have the opportunity to qualify for the World Long Drive Championship at eight qualifying North American events, vying for 128 total qualifying spots. Amateur level competitors from all over the world aspiring to join the tour will be able to compete for the opportunity to play in the World Long Drive Championship at select local host ranges. This opportunity is the first of its kind in the sport and makes long drive accessible for competitors not only across the U.S. but in over 18 other countries.

“To say I am thrilled for World Long Drive to be returning to television is an understatement,” said Two-Time World Champion, Current World Record Holder and #1 Ranked World Long Driver Kyle Berkshire. “The sport and its athletes deserve to be showcased on this platform, and I am excited for all of us to deliver many memorable moments and storylines to the viewers over the years to come.”

The 2023 World Long Drive Tour Schedule is as follows:

March 10-12

WLD Mesquite

Mesquite, NV

April 14-16

WLD Hobe Sound

Hobe Sound, FL

May 5-7

WLD Mesquite

Mesquite, NV

June 9-11

WLD La Salle

La Salle, CO

June 23-25

WLD Memphis

Memphis, TN

July 7-9

WLD Port Rowan

Port Rowan, Ontario

July 28-30

WLD Connecticut

Portland, CT

August 10-12

WLD West Bountiful

West Bountiful, Utah

August 25-27

WLD Kingsport

Kingsport, TN (televised)

September 29-Oct 1

WLD Oceanside, CA

Oceanside, California (televised)

October 21

WLD Celebrity ProAm

Atlanta, GA (televised)

October 18-22

WLD Championship

Atlanta, GA (televised October 22)

NLL Announces League-Wide Activation for ‘Every Child Matters’ Initiative

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, today announced its expanded support and awareness schedule for “Every Child Matters.” It is a league-wide initiative that brings awareness to the forcible placement of Indigenous children in residential and boarding schools by the Canadian and United States governments from the 19th century to as late as 1996 in Canada.

In the campaign’s second year, all 15 teams will participate in the program, which will run from Week 9 (Jan. 23-29) through Week 11 (Feb. 6-12) of the 2022-2023 season. Then for the remainder of the season, players will wear specially designed helmet decals supporting “Every Child Matters.”

All 15 NLL teams will be involved, either as host or as a road participant, with a planned home activity later in the season for some teams. Players will sport the NLL’s “Every Child Matters” logo on a specially designed warmup shirt, along with the helmet decal. The league will also produce audio and video messaging for broadcasts on TSN and ESPN. Additional content will be incorporated into NLL.com and league social channels, as well as into game presentations.

“Our continued work with Indigenous athletes and communities is a major priority for the National Lacrosse League, and the ‘Every Child Matters’ education process and activations are key components of that platform,” said NLL Commissioner Brett Frood. “This program presents an opportunity to facilitate meaningful conversations about the atrocities perpetrated by the residential and boarding school systems, continue the journey toward reconciliation, and honor survivors and their families.”

The “Every Child Matters” initiative is a part of the league’s ever-growing participation and awareness programs tied to Indigenous culture, which is at the core of the league’s values and the history of the sport of lacrosse. The work includes educational programs for athletes, coaches, staff and fans, land acknowledgment ceremonies, and charitable and social responsibility programs to strengthen and enhance the ties between league stakeholders and the Indigenous community.

Several NLL teams played games and conducted youth programs on Indigenous reservations earlier this season, with Philadelphia facing off against Georgia on Nov. 26 at Tsha’ Thoñ’nhes (Where They Play Ball) Arena at Onondaga Nation. Meanwhile, Las Vegas, San Diego and Halifax played a mini tournament in Akwesasne at the A’nowara’ko:wa Arena (colloquially called the Turtle Dome). This was the first of more in-person events ranging from clinics to other happenings that are currently in the planning stages and will be announced later in the season.

For “Every Child Matters,” the league created a new logo for this season with designer Justin Gilbert of Kuvua Designs. Justin was selected due to his work in support of Indigenous organizations and his connection to the cause, being born and raised on the Southern Ute Reservation. The logo contains the silhouette of an Indigenous child wearing a ribbon shirt and holding a traditional wooden lacrosse stick. The text “Every Child Matters” appears next to the image with a heart and feather.

“In this logo, I wanted to celebrate the culture we as Native Americans endured to keep. Since there are so many tribes that were affected by residential schools, my goal was to represent the vast collective of tribes who were affected,” Gilbert said.

Fans will be able to purchase cotton shirts through the league’s online stores, NLLShop.com and NLLStore.ca. For every shirt sold, the NLL will donate to the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund in Canada and The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition in the United States.

“With support from third-party fundraisers like the National Lacrosse League, we are reaching even more people throughout Canada, building cultural understanding, and creating a path to-ward reconciliation,” said Sarah Midanik, CEO and President of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. “Thank you for answering Gord’s call to ‘Do Something’ to improve relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.”

“We are grateful for the National Lacrosse League’s willingness to partner with us and use its platform to bring awareness to the atrocities forced upon Indigenous children, families and sovereign nations across Canada and the United States,” added Deborah Parker (Tulalip), CEO of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. “As we continue to work with boarding school survivors, educate the public, and advocate for policies that promote truth, justice and healing, partnerships like this will make our work more impactful.“

Rob Gronkowski to Attempt Live Field Goal During Super Bowl with $10 Million

Today, FanDuel Group, the premier online gaming company in North America, announced the “Kick of Destiny,” a campaign featuring four-time Super Bowl Champion and five-time NFL Pro-Bowler, Rob Gronkowski, who will attempt to kick a field goal during a live Super Bowl LVII television commercial. Any customer who places a Super Bowl bet of five dollars or more on FanDuel will win a share of $10 million in free bets if Gronkowski kicks the field goal.

FanDuel introduced the campaign with the first spot in the campaign featuring Gronkowski returning to football for the Super Bowl – this time as a Kicker during a commercial. The integrated campaign will follow Gronk’s journey throughout the NFL playoffs, including his training with a legendary NFL kicker, as he aims to win fans their share of $10 million in free FanDuel bets.

“Whether it’s kick-off, a touchdown or an important play that will decide a season, FanDuel knows moments matter. Our first-ever Super Bowl commercial will be more than just a television spot – it will create a moment that will bring fans together, and give them something to collectively cheer for,” said FanDuel Executive Vice President of Marketing, Andrew Sneyd. “It’s an unprecedented field goal attempt on live TV…so anything can happen.”

Additionally, FanDuel will spread the word about this historic campaign through a series of digital and promotional activities on the ground in Phoenix during the run-up to the big game:

Fans will be able to take photos with the “The Foot of Destiny,” a replica of Gronkowski’s foot that will be signed by him and auctioned off after the Super Bowl
Fans 21+ can take their own shot at the “Kick of Destiny” on-site at the Super Bowl Experience with the chance to win $25 at the FanDuel SportsBook at the Footprint Center

“I spent my career catching the ball, but I always knew I could kick it and now I’ll do it live in front of football fans everywhere during the Super Bowl,” said NFL legend Rob Gronkowski. “With $10 million in free FanDuel bets on the line, I’m training every day to give fans something to root for and to watch the “Kick of Destiny” live on national television.”

Gronkowski joined the FanDuel team as an exclusive brand partner in December. In addition to the “Kick of Destiny,” he will play a significant role in many aspects of the company’s business, including appearing regularly on its network FanDuel TV with Kay Adams, host of Up & Adams. Gronkowski will also make sportsbook picks and suggested bets, make appearances at newly opened retail sportsbook locations and at other top-tier FanDuel events. FanDuel will also work with him to build awareness for enjoying sports wagering responsibly.

Fans can stay up to date with Gronk’s training for the Kick of Destiny by following @FanDuel and @FDSportsbook on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, or subscribing on YouTube at YouTube.com/FanDuel. Fans can also follow #KickofDestiny on Twitter for the latest updates.

RealResponse Continues Its NCAA Partnership Growth

RealResponse (@RealResponseHQ), the leading safe and secure feedback, monitoring and anonymous reporting platform for athletic teams and organizations, announced today that over 10 additional colleges and universities have been added as partners since August, bringing the rising total of institutions well over 100 across all divisions as well as in the NAIA. More than 200,000 athletes, coaches and administrators, from colleges to the most elite levels of professional sports now have the ability to use RealResponse to share feedback and report needs or concerns to administrators in real-time on everything from team culture, NCAA violations, mental health, social injustice, COVID-19 policy infractions, misconduct, hazing, sexual harassment, and gambling as well as using the system to highlight successes and best practices which might go otherwise unnoticed.

“Our platform was created to give a voice to the student-athlete and that remains our core mission, even as we expand with new relationships across campuses such as Clemson University. Adding these new partners is very gratifying and extremely important,” said David Chadwick, the founder of RealResponse and a former Division I basketball player at Rice University and Valparaiso University. “We will not rest until we are able to help every athlete, coach, administrator, parent feel like they are safe anywhere on the globe by understanding and using RealResponse as they need it.”

“Equipping institutions with essential solutions for those in their care to provide feedback and report concerns, has allowed us to continue to be at the forefront of addressing the need of prioritizing mental health and well-being,” said Samantha K. Huge, Executive Vice President for Collegiate Athletics. “I have personally seen the positive impact that RealResponse can have on a department, and I am humbled to lead our collegiate team as we walk alongside administrators in all that they do for their athletes.”

Following a recently announced partnership with NASCAR; New collegiate partners with RealResponse include: Ohio University, University of Miami, University of Toledo, George Mason University, University of Illinois, Loyola University Chicago, University of Washington, Eastern Washington University, Sacred Heart University, Rutgers University, University of South Florida, and Jacksonville University.

What They Are Saying

Dan Radakovich, Vice President / Director of Athletics at University of Miami

“We are excited to partner with RealResponse in our continued efforts to enhance the student-athlete experience at Miami. RealResponse is an innovative and intuitive platform that gives our student-athletes the opportunity to communicate in real time and share important feedback.”

Pat Hobbs, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Rutgers University

“The health, wellbeing and safety of our student-athletes is always the first priority of our department. We are committed to providing them with all the resources necessary for a great experience during their time as a Scarlet Knight. The RealResponse platform is another tool that speaks to having a direct impact on our student-athletes.”

Judy Ann Riccio, Director of Athletics at Sacred Heart University

“Our student-athletes needed a proven, professional way to connect with us on a regular basis, and this was the perfect choice for Sacred Heart. We look forward to the feedback and creating a better student-athlete experience for all of our Pioneers.”

Bryan B. Blair, Vice President and Director of Athletics at University of Toledo

“Our number-one goal is providing our student-athletes with the best possible experience, while prioritizing their health, safety and well-being. Our partnership with RealResponse gives them another tool to communicate and share important feedback with our administrative team in real-time. We look forward to working with RealResponse as we continue to look for ways to enhance the student-athlete experience at the University of Toledo.”

For Soccer Ventures Completes Another Year of Growth With FIFA Women’s World Cup Coming in 2023

For Soccer Ventures (FSV), a media and experiences company spearheading a collaborative movement to connect brands, players, fans, families and platforms to the diverse American soccer community, completed a third consecutive year of record growth, expansion and engagement in 2022 as it looks forward to 2023, expansion of its properties and partnerships, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“While the just completed FIFA Men’s World Cup certainly helped raise awareness and engagement for soccer, it was just the culmination of a year where we saw partnerships soar everywhere from grassroots, to community impact and media, to brand engagement,” said Heath Pearce, President, FSV. “2023 is shaping up to be an epic year for soccer across North America with the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the debut of the Leagues Cup – which will feature all of the clubs from MLS and Liga MX in a completely reimagined, month-long, World Cup style tournament.” “As brands and platforms look to engage soccer fans, players, families and communities across North America, FSV is poised to deliver the most authentic media and marketing solutions in the market today.”

Since the pandemic, FSV has seen a 600% increase in revenue, and are now at 40 full-time employees, up from just eight in 2020. In the past year, FSV has continued to expand partnerships with some of the biggest brands in the world: adidas, Pepsi, Lays, Verizon, CBS Sports/Paramount+, Telemundo, Allstate, Soccer.com, BodyArmor, Ford, Topps, Umbro, Chevron and CVS among them.

Some highlights:

The Black Star Initiative, a platform accelerating the growth and popularity of soccer in Black American communities, continued its expansion, celebrating Black soccer culture, building community, and providing players and coaches access to soccer development pathways through its free Community Pick Up, First-Touch Youth Clinic, Girls and Boys ID Showcase, and U.S. Soccer Coach for Community – Coaching Clinic events. Paramount+ was presenting sponsor for all Black Star events in cities ranging from Detroit and Washington, DC to Los Angeles and Houston.

FSV teamed up with BodyArmor for their MLS All-Star Activation, providing a free soccer clinic for underserved communities in Minneapolis and also an influencer led soccer tournament (“Community Cup”), including Minnesota Aurora FC goalkeeper Sarah Fuller.

FSV Extended partnerships to support Paramount+’s growing soccer portfolio in the US, Mexico and across Latin America.

Alianza de Futbol, which FSV acquired in 2020, continued its own meteoric growth, overcoming the pause caused by the Covid 19 pandemic which kept thousands of soccer fans in the Hispanic community away from the fields for over a year. This year, the tour visited ten different cities prior to the National Finals: Phoenix, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San José, El Paso and Austin. One of the 2022 tour record figures was accomplished in Houston, where all tournaments were sold out and at capacity, with more than 34,000 fans and upwards of 2,000 participating players in attendance.

FSV extended its partnership with Allstate and “Allstate Sueno Alianza” which gives thousands of players the opportunity to be scouted by professional and national teams as well as colleges and universities.

The company built out an extensive multilingual influencer activation with FIFA World Cup broadcaster Telemundo to increase awareness for their talent and platform during the games in Qatar.

On the media side, FSV signed a strategic partnership with Men in Blazers to represent their iconic brand and continued to build on partnerships with Umbro, Topps, and adidas.

On the community and grassroots side, FSV continued to build on its partnership with Chevron and launched a new program with CVS Health.

FSV launched the Association – an experiential soccer league celebrating the sport, culture, and people that make the game vibrant. The 2022 installment (presented by BodyArmor) featured teams from CAA, Sony, Religion Of Sports, 424, The Shoe Surgeon, Winston House, AEG, Immortals FC, the American Outlaws, and Google.

In collaboration with Pepsico, The Team of Champions Platform (entering its third year) is now supporting over 15,000 players – giving black, Hispanic and female clubs around the country financial resources to make soccer fields and equipment more accessible and tournaments/league fees more affordable.

The ACCESS U Foundation – a non-profit organization that mentors underserved Hispanic and Black players and their families about the college pathway, including collegiate athletic scholarship opportunities and the college recruiting process to help them achieve their educational goals is supporting more than 70 players in their college recruitment and mentorship process.

The Soccer Collective, FSV’s owned and operated network of social media accounts, surpassed 2.6 million followers across 10 social brands. The Collective’s broader creator community, featuring partners like Men In Blazers, ThisWeekInMLS, and USMNTOnly, contributed to best-in-class influencer campaigns for a range of partners, including Paramount+, Topps, Telemundo, Umbro, and more.

On the Original Content side, FSV’s “Orange Slices,” a podcast hosted by former U.S. Men’s National Team player and Major League Soccer All-Star Heath Pearce and 22-year-old emerging U.S. international Mark McKenzie celebrate the past, present, and future of American soccer through generational storytelling and unprecedented access to rising U.S. stars around the world. Recent guests have included the likes of current US Men’s National Team players – Timothy Weah, Brendan Aaronson, Tyler Adams and Yunus Musah. As well as USMNT legend Tim Howard.

NASCAR Announces Partnership With RealResponse

NASCAR and RealResponse, the award-winning reporting platform for athletic teams and organizations, today announced a partnership that provides NASCAR and national series industry members with a safe and anonymous tool to secure feedback, report concerns and seek assistance from professionals in countless areas of expertise.

RealResponse is the industry leader in providing a platform for safe and secure feedback, monitoring and anonymous reporting. The partnership will provide any NASCAR national series team member with the ability to confidentially reach out to express concerns or report issues via a customized communication tool. NASCAR personnel receive the encrypted and anonymous messages directly and designate a subject matter expert to respond immediately to the concern.

Concerns can range from competition-based items such as gambling or integrity, safety and security, abuse or harassment, or for seeking mental health support. The identity of the industry member reaching out is protected through the RealResponse reporting program, ensuring anonymity.

“NASCAR wanted to be proactive in providing a tool for industry members such as drivers, crew and other team personnel to safely reach out for help,” said Meghan Miley, Managing Director of Racing Operations for NASCAR. “In partnering with RealResponse, we now have a confidential method for reporting. We don’t have a limit to the types of reports industry members can submit, and we can ensure their privacy as they reach out for anonymous support at any time.”

RealResponse was launched in 2016 by former NCAA Division I student-athlete David Chadwick, who saw a need for athletes to have a safe and confidential way to bring feedback to their athletic administration. Today, numerous sport governing bodies, organizations and teams such MLB, the NFLPA and NFL teams, USA Swimming and other Olympic organizations, the National Women’s Soccer League, and a multitude of colleges and universities work with RealResponse to provide the same service.

“We are honored to engage in this historic partnership with NASCAR,” said David Chadwick, Founder and CEO of RealResponse. “NASCAR executives recognize the responsibility to make the sport of racing safer, more inclusive and more valuable in the eyes every stakeholder involved in the sport. Their embrace of RealResponse sends a clear message that the health and safety of its community members away from the track is as important as safety of drivers on race day.”

The program was introduced to the NASCAR national series teams in October.

Famer, 3STEP Sports Partner To Deliver Lacrosse Training Curriculum to 3d Players, Coaches

Famer, the virtual sports coaching and mentorship platform, today announced a partnership with 3d Lacrosse, one of the largest and most successful youth lacrosse organizations in the United States and part of 3STEP Sports. Founded in 2009, 3d Lacrosse has grown to over 2,500 players and 125 teams in 9 states.

Under terms of the deal, Famer’s video production arm, Famer Productions, will work with 3d Lacrosse to produce a custom library of hundreds of holistic player and coach training videos covering everything from lacrosse skills, drills and game situations, to leadership and mental toughness. This on demand content will be provided to every member of 3d Lacrosse as part of their commitment to innovation and providing the best training tools to their members. 3d Lacrosse members will download the Famer app and get access to the on demand video library as well as exclusive weekly content from 3d Lacrosse year-round.

“Famer shares 3d Lacrosse’s mission to deliver content and experiences that allow players and coaches to reach their full potential,” said Famer Chief Executive Officer Bill Richardson. “We are proud to have been chosen to power 3d Lacrosse’s digital player and coach development programming. Virtual coaching and training has become a critical component of the way forward thinking organizations coach and train their players and coaches. As we move beyond the pandemic, physical and digital training have merged forever. This partnership demonstrates the value of virtual coaching and mentorship extending and enhancing the core work coaches and athletes do on the field.”

“3d Lacrosse has developed an innovative Methodology for coach and player development,” says Greg Waldbaum, VP Lacrosse, 3Step Sports. “Famer enables us to bring together our best resources and share those amongst our coaches, players, and parents in an effective manner. By providing access to our coaches ‘in their pocket’ through Famer, we will be at the forefront of education and innovation for our sport and will continue to help our athletes develop their skills and be the best they can be”.

Famer and 3d Lacrosse will work closely to bring the best coaching and mentorship programming exclusively to 3d Lacrosse members. Local coaches will be able to use the Famer Team platform to provide interactive team training with group chat and workouts with their own custom content on top of the core 3d Lacrosse video library. Kids and parents will have access to the 3d Lacrosse Methodology library to train and improve anywhere and anytime.

For more information, visit 3d Lacrosse at https://www.3dLacrosse.com or Famer at https://www.famer.us.

CELSIUS Partners With Caleb Williams as NIL Athlete

CELSIUS fitness drink today announced its new partnership with the University of Southern California’s quarterback, Caleb Williams. CELSIUS continues its support of collegiate athletics by partnering with athletes nationwide as part of the company’s growing Collegiate Program.

CELSIUS University, which officially launched in August 2022, has begun partnering with college athletes nationwide as part of the NCAA’s new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy that allows college athletes opportunities to monetize their name. The CELSIUS Program aims to provide best-in-class consumer experiences with elite brand partners within NIL and collegiate sports.

“Proud to be a brand partner of CELSIUS who has been pioneering their way into college football,” said the University of California’s star quarterback. “I’m looking forward to the projects we’ll do together to support college athletes in the future and bring more visibility to NIL as a whole.”

Athletes partnering with CELSIUS are further educating their peers and audience through their social media channels, while promoting the energy drink and LIVE FIT lifestyle, the brands mantra which aims to inspire people to LIVE FIT in the world around them and in everything they do. LIVING FIT isn’t just for the gym, it’s a mindset and a lifestyle. CELSIUS provides people with the Essential Energy they need to elevate their everyday lives and achieve their personal bests.

Caleb’s work on and off the field truly embodies the CELSIUS “Live Fit” mentality and lifestyle. His shared passion for supporting his community, and love for the brand is the type of partnership CELSIUS® is proud to be part of and looks forward to continuing to help empower collegiate athletics. The partnership with Caleb and CELSIUS will run for 6 months.

National Lacrosse League, San Diego Seals Announce First-Ever Outdoor NLL Game March 4

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the world’s largest and most successful professional lacrosse league, and the San Diego Seals today announced that the Seals’ March 4th game against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs will be staged outside at San Diego’s new Snapdragon Stadium, the first regular season outdoor game in the history of the NLL. The game will be played at 4:30 pm ET/1:30 pm PT and will be distributed live on ESPN+, TSN.ca and the TSN app. Additionally, the game will re-air the same day on ESPNU at 11:00 pm ET/8:00 pm PT.

“Our goal for the NLL and for the sport of lacrosse is to continue to increase awareness, enthusiasm and enterprise value well beyond where it exists today. This epic setting gives us another unique opportunity to showcase our world class athletes and on-field product, and not only engage with our core audience but attract diverse sports’ fans in search of new entertainment passions,” said Brett Frood, NLL Commissioner. “We are looking forward to working with the Seals and all our supporters in Southern California to making this an event to remember.”

“The Seals have been working on this event for a long time now, and we’re very excited to see this idea come to life. It’s crazy that in the 36-year history of the league this has never been done before,” said Seals President Steve Govett. “We can’t wait to build our box on the field of Snapdragon and play in the San Diego sunshine. Let’s take this outside!”

“We’re honored to host the Seals first ever outdoor NLL game,” added Adam Millar, General Manager of Snapdragon Stadium. “Looking forward to seeing another amazing San Diego team out on our field, and excited to welcome a whole new set of fans to the stadium!”

In addition to the Seals-Desert Dogs game on Saturday, Snapdragon Stadium will also be hosting an NCAA Women’s lacrosse tournament with two games on Friday and two on Sunday. Teams include: San Diego State University, Stanford University, Kent State University, and UC Davis.

This will be a weekend celebration of lacrosse in San Diego that lacrosse fans around southern California will not want to miss. Broadcast talent and other events connected to the game will be announced in the coming weeks.

Snapdragon Stadium will be scaled for 10,100 seats for the special event. A limited number of tickets for the Snapdragon Showdown are now available at SealsLax.com. If you are interested in a group outing for game, please contact the Seals at 619-375-3755 or email [email protected].

The Seals will open their home season this Friday against the Saskatchewan Rush at 7:00 pm at Pechanga Arena, available to watch on ESPN+, TSN.ca and the TSN app.

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