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NLL To Celebrate Indigenous History Month In Canada With Native Art, Interview Series

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, has long been a leader in championing the awareness of Indigenous Peoples and their crucial role in the continued growth and development of their native sport of lacrosse. In that continued spirit and in conjunction with June’s Indigenous History Month in Canada, the league is proud to announce today’s launch of a pop artist initiative featuring three standout Indigenous pop artists and a player discussion with Georgia Swarm forward Randy Staats, highlighting and celebrating their contributions to the sport and authentically representing unity and inclusion.

The league has commissioned artwork by Yul Baker, a former Rochester Knighthawks player and champion and Squamish Nation citizen residing in West Vancouver, B.C.; Tracey Anthony, owner and operator of Vision Artworks of Six Nations / Delaware / Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations; and Jordan Thompson of Mohawk Art & Design, a citizen of Haudenosaunee Confederacy on the U.S./Canada border. Beginning today and rolling out throughout the month, the NLL will feature the artwork highlighting the artist’s unique journeys and stories via its digital platforms and social media. NLL fans can enter to win custom prizing with the designs throughout the month of June by entering at NLL.com.

Staats participated in a candid conversation with the league on the history of Residential Schools and how they impacted the Indigenous populations across Canada, raising awareness of this important history of these people. As one of the native players within the NLL, Staats will look to highlight the league’s efforts to raise awareness of systemic issues facing these populations as well as the strides made among this community.

Tewanee Joseph, member of the Squamish First Nation and CEO of Tewanee Consulting Group, will host interviews with the artists and coordinate communications efforts surrounding the program. In one of his many accomplishments delivering key partnerships, Joseph negotiated the first licensing agreement to recognize Indigenous artwork as part of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic games in Vancouver.

“The contributions of Indigenous Peoples to the development and maintaining the enduring traditions of the ‘Creators Game’ is epic. We are honored and proud to work together for the continued success of lacrosse shinning a light on the immense contribution by Indigenous Peoples on the game,” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “Yul, Tracey, and Jordan have created unique pieces that capture their unbreakable bond with the sport, and Randy is one of the league’s most outstanding individuals. We couldn’t be more proud to be featuring these beautiful works of art as well as Randy’s interviews, all reflecting our core values of unity, inclusion and character.”

Veteran Sports, Business and Hockey Executives Launch The Carnegie Initiative

Some of the most influential individuals in business, entrepreneurship and at all levels of hockey today formally announced the launch of The Carnegie Initiative, an independent not for profit platform to promote the growth of hockey and ensure opportunity and access to the sport. The Carnegie Initiative will also establish and award academic grants and other incentives for those who are doing work to positively grow and address change in the sport throughout Canada and the United States.

The foundation is named in honor of legendary hockey player and social justice pioneer Herb Carnegie. It is co-founded by Bernice Carnegie and Bryant McBride. Bernice is Herb’s daughter and co-author of their family autobiography, “A Fly in a Pail of Milk”, featuring Part II – Lessons passed on from father to daughter.  Bryant is a longtime businessman and former National Hockey League executive. McBride co-produced “Willie,” the critically acclaimed documentary about hockey pioneer and Hall of Famer Willie O’Ree, who broke the color barrier in the NHL. Board members include well-known figures within hockey and in business, ranging from Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr, veteran NHL executives Brian Burke and Ted Nolan, Olympian Sarah Nurse, legendary broadcasters Ron MacLean and Harnarayan Singh, women’s hockey pioneer and Hall of Famer Angela James, and other key leaders at the grassroots level representing members of the BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and parasport communities.

“Change in hockey, and opening up the game for all, is something that is growing but needs to be accelerated, and we believe that the time to do that has never been better,” said McBride, the first black executive at the National Hockey League. “There are so many efforts going on, both big and small, to help expand the game, and our goal is to shed light on those communities, as well as help those still being marginalized, change problems that exist. We will do it holistically and without any bias.”

“Hockey is a great game, and my father worked hard throughout his life to make sure opportunities existed for all,” added co-chair Bernice Carnegie. “The Carnegie Initiative can now focus with the necessary resources and outreach to expand his work and help those who need it thrive both on and off the ice.”

credit: Pexels/Arthur Brognoli

The Carnegie Initiative will work independently with executives, teams, leagues, federations, brands and leading academic institutions across North America to champion the successes of diverse audiences in hockey as well as work to address and correct issues in the game on all levels with regard to any area of diversity. It will accelerate the work started by Herb Carnegie, a Canadian of Jamaican descent, more than 60 years ago when he launched his first hockey school in Toronto to teach hockey skills while fostering a spirit of diversity and inclusiveness.

The Carnegie Initiative (CI) will work to

• Ensure that hockey is inclusive, supportive and welcoming to all

• Examine the efforts of governing bodies and other stewards of the game to make hockey more diverse and inclusive

• Use rigorous academic research to identify and solve the sport’s biggest issues

• Shine a light on success stories and best practices through media partners

• Create substantive, authentic change throughout the hockey world

In short, advance the change in the culture of hockey.

The Carnegie Initiative’s leadership team includes Stephanie J. Geosits, Executive Director, and Ken Gelman, Chief Commercial Officer. Geosits worked alongside McBride at the NHL in launching the league’s first diversity programs and Gelman was one of the initial creators of NHL Center Ice. Both are long-time sports executives and entrepreneurs.

For information on making a contribution to The Carnegie Initiative, contact Ken Gelman. For information on The Carnegie Initiative grants to academic institutions contact Stephanie J. Geosits.

Carnegie’s hockey career began in 1938 and ran through the mid 1950’s. His chance at playing in the NHL came in the late 1940’s when he was given a tryout with the New York Rangers and offered a contract to play in the Rangers’ minor league system, but because he was offered considerably less money than he was earning in the Quebec League he turned down all three offers made by the Rangers organization during his tryout. As a black man playing hockey in the 1940’s and 1950’s, Carnegie endured his share of racism. In one famous incident, Conn Smythe, the owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, watched Carnegie play as a member of the Toronto Young Rangers. He is alleged to have said either that he would accept Carnegie on the team if he were white or that he would pay $10,000 to anyone who could turn Carnegie white.

After retiring, Carnegie had a successful business career as a financial planner with the Investors Group, and in 1955, he founded one of Canada’s first hockey schools, Future Aces, and through his work in training young hockey players, became a member of both the Order of Ontario and the country’s highest civilian award, the Order of Canada. His hockey career was recognized when he was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. He passed away in Toronto in March 2012 at age 92.

cover image: Pexels/Alexandr Podvalny

Gehrig Career Simulations and ‘What If’ Highlight Strat-O-Matic Celebration Of Lou Gehrig Day

Strat-O-Matic, the market leader in sports simulation, today released the results of three simulations tied to baseball’s observation of “Lou Gehrig Day” as part of its celebration of the endeavor across the sport. Full details of each simulation are posted at http://www.strat-o-matic.com.

The first is a “Home Run Derby” featuring two pairs of famed Yankee sluggers during their most prolific seasons. Gehrig took on his 1927 teammate Babe Ruth and 1961 “M&M Boys” Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in a 10 at-bat format. Gehrig hit just one home run in his first four at bats to two by each of the other competitors, but slammed five in his last six times up to win with six bombs to four each by Ruth, Maris and Mantle.

Second is an imagined contest in which all the competitors wore #4 in their careers. In the simulation, which pitted the N.L. vs. the A.L. Gehrig went 0-for-4 against Blake Snell and 1950s journeyman Hal Jeffcoat, but his Junior Circuit squad took a 3-0 verdict behind two home runs by Hall of Famer Goose Goslin and eight innings of four-hit pitching by 1960s lefty George Brunet.

In the final simulation, Strat-O-Matic reimagined Gehrig’s career had he not been stricken with ALS, beginning with the 1938 season, during which his numbers were likely reduced in the early stages of the disease. In the replay, Gehrig plays through 1942, his age 39 season, amassing a total of 676 doubles (which would have placed him third at the time of his retirement, instead of 11th), 610 home runs (second, rather than third) and 2488 RBI (first, instead of third).

In addition to conducting the simulations, Strat-O-Matic will donate 10% of net sales today (June 2) to The ALS Association Greater New York Chapter, home region to Gehrig and the game company celebrating its 60th year. June 2 was both the day that Gehrig began his consecutive games played streak in 1925 (first game started), and the date of his death in 1941. In addition to increasing awareness of the disease and fundraising to fight it, Lou Gehrig Day also serves to celebrate those working to end ALS.

Strat-O-Matic To Celebrate Lou Gehrig Day With Simulations, ALS Association Donation

With the recent announcement that baseball will observe “Lou Gehrig Day” annually on June 2, Strat-O-Matic, the market leader in sports simulation, today unveiled its plans to honor the all-time great first baseman whose untimely passing from ALS cut short his legendary career. In addition to donating 10% of net sales on that date to The ALS Association Greater New York Chapter, home region to Gehrig and the game company celebrating its 60th year, Strat-O-Matic will simulate several scenarios related to the Hall of Famer.

Beginning on Monday, May 31, and continuing through Wednesday, Strat-O-Matic will release three simulations by its research team that include an extension of Gehrig’s career past 1939, had he not been stricken with the progressive neurodegenerative disease that often bears his name; a home run derby between Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris; and a contest featuring all-time stars who wore his famed #4.

Lou Gehrig (Met Museum/The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection)

June 2 was both the day that Gehrig began his consecutive games played streak in 1925, and the date of his death in 1941. In addition to increasing awareness of the disease and fundraising to fight it, Lou Gehrig Day also serves to celebrate those working to end ALS.

“Lou Gehrig’s accomplishments on the field and impact off the field are immense, and we’re pleased to be honoring him as part of baseball’s new Lou Gehrig Day across the sport,” said Adam Richman, Strat-O-Matic President. “We are proud to incorporate a donation to the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter and we hope fans will enjoy the simulations around one of our most popular historical players.”

Topps, FOX MLB To Celebrate Baseball With Pop Artist Collaborations

Bringing together the worlds of baseball, pop art and broadcasting, Topps and FOX Sports today announced collaborations with some of the most talented and influential pop artists in the world to produce original artwork displays and short-form content to be highlighted during FOX MLB broadcasts this season. The work of noted creators like The Shoe Surgeon, Sophia Chang, CES, Distortedd and others will drop during Baseball Night in America, the 2021 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard and related programming all summer.

The artists, who have partnered with Topps on programs like Project70® and Project 2020 that utilize their skills in reimagining classic baseball cards, will create a variety of pieces which may include shoe designs, paintings, sculpture and more.

“The way that pop art and baseball have come together through the amazing work of these superstar pop artists in Topps Project70 and Project 2020 is a great blueprint for some of the creative ideas we can do in the collaboration with FOX Sports,” said Jeff Heckman, Topps Global Director, New Business Ventures. “Opening up the canvas beyond cards and revealing the work across FOX MLB platforms will further showcase their creativity.”

Integration into FOX’s MLB Baseball Night in America broadcasts begins Saturday, May 22 as The Shoe Surgeon creates an exclusive pair of sneakers for Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts. The running collaboration will be featured through unique teases in respective pregame shows, pre-pitch rollouts for each game and in-game bumps.

“FOX Saturday Baseball and Topps are a perfect pairing of two brands that live and breathe Major League Baseball,” said Robert Gottlieb, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Head of Marketing. “Working with Topps to celebrate special baseball moments is a labor of love for all of us at FOX Sports.”

Further details surrounding the 2021 MLB All-Star Game and related programming will be announced at a later date.

The 2021 MLB schedule for FOX, FS1 and FOX Deportes can be found here. All games are simulcast on the FOX Sports app, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content through iOS and Android devices.

Entain’s PartyCasino and PartyPoker Brands Partner with McLaren Racing

Entain, the leading global sports betting and gaming entertainment group, is pleased to announce that its PartyCasino and PartyPoker brands have entered into a multi-year partnership with McLaren Racing starting from the 2021 Formula 1 season.

Entain and McLaren Racing are technological leaders within their own sectors, therefore this partnership is built on a shared track record of delivering entertainment through cutting edge innovation, underpinned by a common approach to safety and responsibility.
Fittingly, the new partnership will officially launch on 23 May at the iconic Monaco Grand Prix, where the PartyCasino brand will appear on the halos of McLaren MCL35M race cars as well as on the helmet of McLaren F1 driver, Daniel Riccardo.

Through the partnership, Entain will be throwing open the doors to the world of Formula One, providing its customers and McLaren millions of adult fans with a range of dedicated content and exclusive experiences via an all new activation platform called Access featuring:

•       McLaren themed casino content and access all areas games on the PartyCasino and PartyPoker sites
•       Competitions to win access to the McLaren Technology Centre
•       Shared promotions throughout the companies’ social media channels
•       Jointly developed marketing content

In addition, Entain will use its partnership with McLaren to explore strategies to promote safer betting and gaming, benefitting from the team’s unique perspective on maintaining control and managing risk.

Commenting on the new partnership, Entain’s CEO Jette Nygaard-Andersen said:

“We are immensely proud to be partnering with McLaren Racing, a team who are synonymous with creating thrilling entertainment by constantly innovating and staying at the cutting-edge of technology.  This is the same approach we take in providing moments of excitement for our customers and we are truly excited about the opportunities we have to create new content for our PartyCasino and PartyPoker customers as well as bringing these great brands to new audiences.” 

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing said:
“Fan entertainment is a major focus for our team and sport. Like McLaren Racing, Entain brands such as PartyCasino and PartyPoker place a high importance in providing moments of safe and responsible excitement for their customers.

“We look forward to starting our partnership with Entain from this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix and the activity we have planned together in creating moments of excitement for fans and customers.”

cover image: Flickr/Artes Max

‘American Idol,’ ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Producer Nigel Lythgoe To Launch ‘So You Think You Can Fight’ Series

Nigel Lythgoe, the television mega-producer and creative force behind the powerhouse global television franchises “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance,” is joining forces with the disruptive technology platform Triller Fight Club to create a new series, “So You Think You Can Fight,” it was announced today. The weekly, hour-long series is part of a new overall relationship between Triller Fight Club and Lythgoe, who also becomes Creative Partner, Visionary and an Executive Producer of Triller Fight Club and will bring his celebrated skills as a television producer and entertainment impresario to Triller Fight Club events. The announcement was made jointly by Lythgoe and Ryan Kavanaugh, co-owner of TrillerNet, which is parent company to Triller Fight Club and the global AI-powered short video and music discovery app Triller.

“So You Think You Can Fight” will follow in a similar format to “So You Think You Can Dance,” but with a unique twist. The series will pair a celebrity action star with a pro fighter, each who will select an amateur boxer through a global talent search and competition, along with audience voting and participation. The selected contestants will each go through rigorous mental and physical training, squaring off against each other with one winner for each category, lightweight, heavyweight and MMA. Each winner will go on to a pro bout on a Triller Fight Club main event that will launch their pro boxing career.

As the new creative partner and executive producer of Triller Fight Club events, Nigel will be responsible for blending the intense competition of world-class boxing with edge-of-your-seat entertainment by global music stars and celebrities to create the four-quadrant entertainment experience that defines Triller Fight Club.

Lythgoe is already at work on the Triller Fight Club’s upcoming June 19 event at Miami’s loanDepot park, which will be themed “The Greatest Showman” in recognition of boxing’s current showman, undefeated Teófimo López, who is putting his five championship belts on the line in the headline fight against the undefeated George Kambosos Jr. for the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. The June 19 event will make history by having men’s and women’s undisputed title fights on the same card for the first time ever, with Franchon Crews-Dezurn taking on Elin Cederroos in a four-belt title bout on the main card.

The June 19 event will be followed by Triller Fight Club’s August event, in which one of the world’s most respected and accomplished athletes, Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield, the only person ever to win the World Heavyweight Title four times, will return to the ring to fight Kevin McBride in a six-round fight. The veteran McBride (35-10-1) is best known for ending the career of Mike Tyson in June of 2005 when Tyson retired in the sixth round in Washington, DC. The action will continue in September, when Triller Fight Club hosts the highly anticipated comeback of the Golden Boy himself, Oscar del La Hoya, in a match-up to be announced this summer.

“Nigel Lythgoe is a giant among giants, and his new role at Triller is a total game changer for us,” said Ryan Kavanaugh. “Nigel has changed the face of competition-based television around the world, and there is no one better to help us bring the excitement of Triller Fight Club to our global audiences, both through our exciting new streaming series and by adding his visionary storytelling abilities to our Fight Club events. We could not be more excited to welcome Nigel to the Triller team.”

Snoop Dogg, partner in Triller Fight Club, noted, “Boxing and dancing share the same movements and the same rhythm, and who better to take Fight Club to the next level that the person who brought the world ‘American Idol’ and ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ the iconic talent discovery platforms where music, competition, movement and showmanship all count towards the victory, which in our case is hopefully by a knockout.”

Nigel Lythgoe commented, “Triller has built something extraordinary, and they truly have their finger on the pulse of where live event entertainment is headed. As a lifelong fan of music and boxing, I am thrilled to be getting into the ring with Ryan, Snoop and the whole Triller team to join their disruptive and innovative journey. Everyone is fighting for something in this world, and I’m excited to tell the many fascinating stories behind the raised gloves.”

Nigel Lythgoe is the co-creator, executive producer and head judge of Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” which launched in 2005. Lythgoe produced “Pop Idol” in the UK and its U.S. edition, “American Idol,” which helped change the face of American reality television. Nigel began his career as a dancer and later as a choreographer, eventually choreographing over 500 TV shows. He segued into producing television as Head of Entertainment and Comedy at London Weekend Television, where he commissioned and produced legendary TV shows including “Gladiators” (produced as “American Gladiators” in the US) and “Blind Date.”

“So You Think You Can Fight” is expected to launch later this year on Triller’s new live streaming platform Triller Verzuz TV, which was formed through TrillerNet’s recent acquisitions of Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s ground-breaking live-streaming channel Verzuz and premier global live-event streaming platform FITE (FITE.tv).

The new series is inspired by the growing popularity of boxing among Millennials and Gen Z and by Triller’s successful expansion into boxing, which began with the now-legendary Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr fight and music spectacle that shattered records for digital Pay Per Views in November 2020. Formalized as Triller Fight Club in partnership with Snoop Dogg, the next event was the April 17 Jake Paul vs Ben Askren PPV fight, which became one of the most talked-about, most bet-on and most-pirated sporting events of 2021. The PPV featured nine additional fights as well as performances by music superstars Justin Bieber, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, The Black Keys, Doja Cat, Saweetie, Diplo, Major Lazer and commentators including “SNL”’s Pete Davidson and internet stars Charli and Dixie D’Amelio.

cover image: credit Elvert Barnes

NLL Toronto Rock Relocate Home Games To Hamilton

The Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) have reached a 5- year agreement, with a team option for a multi-year extension, with Spectra managed Core Entertainment to relocate the team’s home games to Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre beginning with the 2021-22 season.

Toronto Rock Owner, President and GM Jamie Dawick made the announcement today at a press conference at FirstOntario Centre along with Rock captain Challen Rogers.

“There are a lot of reasons with a lot of layers to this decision, but when all things were considered, we feel this is best for the future of the Toronto Rock and we’re very excited to work with FirstOntario Centre,” said Dawick who has owned the team since 2009. “There is a strong business case behind the relocation to Hamilton, including a significant reduction in game operations costs as well as the opportunities that exist to better connect with our fan base and most importantly grow that fan base and increase revenues.”

While previously playing at one of the busiest arenas in North America, the Rock were a secondary tenant in the building and faced increasing operations costs while, and rightfully so, being fourth in line for home game dates.

Dawick noted that the Rock will have a much better selection of home game dates at FirstOntario Centre and the vast majority of home games in 2021-22 will be played on Saturday nights. It’s a big advantage for the Rock, with so much of the team’s ticket-buying fan base spread across Ontario.

“Our fans come from all over the province with a very large amount of those fans residing outside of downtown Toronto,” explained Dawick. “We’re very conscious of our fans from east of Toronto and outside of the city. Having access to Saturday night home games gives us the opportunity to become more accessible to even more people. Fans will be able to travel in and out of Hamilton with ease and enjoy the city both before and after the game. We will be able to provide a more affordable full game day experience and engage the community and local businesses at a new level.”

Dawick also thanked Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) for being a great partner throughout his ownership of the team.

“I’ve owned this team for 11 seasons and everything I do on a daily basis represents a commitment to winning, first and foremost, and running the Toronto Rock as the premier franchise in the league,” said Dawick. “I want to sincerely thank MLSE for playing a pivotal role in the Rock’s successful 20-year run at Scotiabank Arena and the two seasons before that at the Gardens, they’ve always been good to us.”

Four of the Rock’s six NLL championships were won while the team played out of Scotiabank Arena, with the 2005 and 2011 titles being won on the turf at 40 Bay Street.

“The Rock have been an important part of the Toronto sports fabric for the past 22 years and they will always hold a special place in the history of this venue,” said Nick Eaves, Chief Venues and Operations Officer at MLSE. “The team has always been a tremendous partner of MLSE’s and we wish them every success in this new chapter in the franchise’s history. As an organization, the Rock, and their fans, can know that we will always support them in any way we can moving forward.”

The team name will not change with the relocation of the team’s home games to Hamilton. Dawick states there was consideration put into changing the name, but in the end this team and this franchise is the Toronto Rock.

“We absolutely considered it,” explained Dawick. “That being said, we have always represented the GTHA and nothing’s changed in that regard, just the location of our home games. We’re the same team, the same franchise, playing our games in a different building and community. We are playing in Hamilton because it’s where we want to be for the long-term.”

The relocation of Rock home games has also been met with excitement from the league level.

“The Rock continue to consistently serve up the best lacrosse in the world and the fans throughout Ontario will now have them as a primary tenant at the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton,” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “The organization and the fan base can now have the best of all that the great City of Hamilton provides while maintaining the standard of excellence all of Ontario has come to know both on the field from the Rock and in the community.”

The Rock have been welcomed with open arms by City of Hamilton staff who have rolled out the red carpet and assisted the organization with forming strategic partnerships from the very beginning of the relocation process.

“We are very excited to welcome six time National Lacrosse League Champions, the Rock, to Hamilton,” said Fred Eisenberger, Mayor of the City of Hamilton. “Lacrosse is a great sport with great fans and I am certain they will receive a very big, very loud Hamilton welcome. We look forward to enjoying the energy, togetherness and opportunity to reconnect our close-knit community as The Rock prepares to kick off their 2021-22 season.”

The new home of Rock City will allow fans the opportunity to enjoy an enhanced game experience that will only increase in quality and value in the coming seasons with FirstOntario Centre playing a key role in Hamilton’s downtown revitalization project.

“Spectra is thrilled that the Rock have chosen Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre as their new home. The announcement of another professional team making their home in Hamilton, is an exciting moment for sports fans across South Western Ontario,“ said Andrew Nash, General Manager of the Spectra managed FirstOntario Centre. “Coming off this difficult time in the sports and entertainment industry makes us even more anxious to see FirstOntario Centre filled with Rock fans this upcoming season.”

Today the team has also announced the introduction of the Rock City Builders Club which locks in season membership pricing and the best ticket value for three years. All members of the Rock City Builders Club receive all the benefits of a regular annual season membership, along with increased benefits highlighted by the inclusion of an exclusive Rock City Builders Club jersey for each and every seat purchased. Existing season members will have the first right of refusal to renew their season membership and approve their FirstOntario Centre seat location until June 15. New season members can join the priority waiting list and reserve their membership with a $100 deposit per seat and guarantee a ticket to every 2021-22 Rock home game at FirstOntario Centre.

The Rock will be capping the number of season memberships available at just 5,000 to accommodate the possibility of socially distanced seating being in effect in December. Should there be no limitations, the number of season memberships will be raised at the appropriate time. In short, secure your season membership if you want to lock in your opportunity to watch the Rock live at FirstOntario Centre in 2021-22.

“I have toured the FirstOntario Centre and can honestly say I’m so excited to have a true home,” said Rogers, the youngest captain in Rock history. “This city was built on hard work, perseverance and a never-say-die attitude. My teammates and I are looking forward to competing in front of such passionate fans. I think our team is something the City of Hamilton can really get behind and help push us towards our ultimate goal of winning a championship.”

The Rock will continue to run the team’s business operations at Canada’s premier lacrosse-first facility, the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC) in Oakville, ON. The TRAC also serves as the team’s practice and training facility.

In the coming months, the Rock will be announcing local partnerships, community engagement initiatives and more. Please follow the Rock on social media for the latest news.

NLL Announces Sale of Saskatchewan Rush To The Priestner Sports Corporation

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, announced today that the Priestner Sports Corporation has acquired the Saskatchewan Rush from owner Bruce Urban. The group, led by Mike Priestner, the owner of Go Auto, a Deloitte Best Managed Company that spans 47 car dealerships across Canada as well as the owner Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League, takes over the club effective today, solidifying the Rush’s position in Saskatchewan for the long term. Colin Priestner will act as the team’s Governor while continuing his role as the GM/President of the Blades, while Jared Priestner will serve as Alternate Governor.  All lacrosse operations will continue to be run by Rush GM Derek Keenan.

“This is a transitional and progressive day for our league and the sport of lacrosse, as we welcome Priestner Sports to the NLL and thank Bruce Urban and his team for years of hard work and success both in the community and on the field of play,” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “The Rush have been, and will continue to be, a model franchise not just for the National Lacrosse league but for all of sports in North America, and are key to our continued growth and business success as we head toward our 2021-22 season this fall.”

“First and foremost, we must thank Mr. Bruce Urban for allowing us the privilege of carrying on the Rush legacy,” said Colin Priestner. “We recognize all he has done to bring the best lacrosse in the world to Saskatoon, while giving back to both the city and its surrounding areas. We welcome the challenge of maintaining the winning tradition he established here, while pushing ourselves to find new and interesting ways to grow the game and the Rush fanbase which, in our humble opinion, is already the best in the league.”

“I am pleased to transfer ownership of the Rush organization to Jared, Colin, and Mike Priestner,” said Bruce Urban. “The Priestners are experienced operators, who will continue to run this team with pride and professionalism. Cindy, Brandon and I will greatly miss the Rush fans, sponsors, media, and of course the players, coaches, and team staff. We will cherish the wonderful memories made over 10 seasons in Edmonton and 5 in Saskatchewan.”

The Rush have been one of the most successful franchises not just in the NLL but in all of North American sports, winning the NLL title in 2016 and 2018, and finishing as runner-up in 2017, all under head coach Derek Keenan. The team was 7-3 and again in first place in the NLL Western Division when the 2019-20 season ended due to the Pandemic. The Rush have averaged over 13,400 fans in their past five seasons in Saskatoon, the best in the NLL during that timeframe.

VKTRY Insoles Worn By Record 74 Selections In 2021 NFL Draft

VKTRY GEAR, the fast growing, industry leader in Performance Insoles, today announced that a record number of 74 NFL Draftees, 33 in the first three rounds, wore their carbon fiber insoles as a key part of their prep for the Draft. Included on that list are players from almost every position, including first rounders: Florida TE Kyle Pitts (fourth by the Atlanta Falcons), Northwestern OL Rashawn Slater (13th by the LA Chargers), Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins (16th by the Arizona Cardinals), Miami DE Jaelen Phillips (18th by the Miami Dolphins), and Alabama Running Back Najee Harris (24th by the Pittsburgh Steelers). Only Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets (third in 2019) was a higher draft pick to use VKTRY Gear in the history of the company.

“The world’s best athletes are discovering the increased performance benefits and the injury protection that our carbon fiber insoles provide, and that was very clear in this year’s NFL Draft,” said VKTRY CEO Steve Wasik. “Every day we get more requests from athletes for our insoles, none more than in the NFL, be it in this next generation of stars or in the growing number of veterans who are making VKs ‘Must Haves’ when they take the field.”

“We’re always told by our coaches that you’re only as strong as your foundation… it all starts with your feet and VKs give me the ability to explode forward and absorb force,” said Rashawn Slater. ”The energy return is the biggest thing… you can feel it. VKs feel way different than a normal insole and they help me reduce the risk of injury and that means everything.”

“Once you become accustomed to the feeling of VKTRY Insoles, it helps to elevate your game. From a lower body standpoint, the explosiveness with VKs is crazy,” added Zaven Collins. “The only time I wasn’t wearing them was when I was sleeping. That subconscious thought helps you play at least 1% faster or 1% better, which is a giant gain in the league.”

“VKTRY Insoles made me a lot more explosive,” said running back Javonte Williams, who the Denver Broncos traded up to take with the 35th pick from the University of North Carolina. “In the past when I didn’t have them I would have to stop or slow down because my feet started hurting. With the VKTRY Insoles I can keep going all day.”

During the 2020 NFL season, a record number of over 200 NFL players, from 29 of 32 clubs, wore VKTRY’S carbon fiber insoles, a 300% increase from 2019. Some of the brightest young stars and respected veterans in the NFL, including Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb, LV Raiders RB Josh Jacobs, Washington RB Antonio Gibson, Buffalo Bills RB Devin Singletary, SF 49ers WR “Deebo” Samuel, Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf, NY Jets Williams, Buffalo Bills CB Josh Norman, Chicago Bears WR Anthony Miller, LA Chargers OT Brian Bulaga, Denver Broncos TE Noah Fant, New York Giants TE Evan Engram, Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, Pittsburgh Steelers LB Devin Bush and many more are now part of the VKTRY using team. Players from every Power Five Conference used VKs for the first time during their Pro Days.

Made from aerospace-grade carbon fiber, VKTRY Insoles store and return energy to the athlete. They also provide a “spring-like” effect to improve shock absorption and reduce the load and stress on the athlete’s body. In independent performance testing, athletes wearing VKs increased their broad jump by an average of +4.0”, their vert by +1.6” and improved their 40 times by 0.12 seconds.

VKTRY Insoles are available in five different levels of flexibility to optimize performance, protection and comfort. Athletes at more than 300 professional and college teams wear VKTRY Insoles for training and competition. A recent study of 263 NCAA athletes showed 41% less foot injuries and 22% less lower leg injuries when athletes use VKs.

VKTRY Insoles were originally invented for the US Olympic Bobsled Team to improve athletic explosiveness. In 2010, these carbon fiber insoles helped Team USA win gold in the 4-man bobsled – first time in 62 years. Now, more and more people are discovering the benefits of energy return, improved stability and the shock absorption that VKs provide.

Strat-O-Matic, Marquee Sports Network Continue Partnership With Season, Historical Simulations

Strat-O-Matic (www.strat-o-matic.com), the market leader in sports simulations, and Marquee Sports Network, the broadcast home of the Chicago Cubs, today announced the continuation and expansion of their partnership to provide data and simulations of past, present and future Cubs-related content for use in various multimedia formats this year.

Among the planned simulations are a tournament featuring the top 32 teams in Cubs history and matchups between the all-time greatest Cubs players and the best of each of their 2021 opponents. Last week, the Cubs-Braves matchup was featured, with the Cubs winning 5-3 in 10 innings. See that coverage here: https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/ultimate-lineups/.

The partnership began last year, when Strat-O-Matic conducted several Cubs-related simulations, including Marquee announcer Jim Deshaies pitching against the vaunted 1927 Yankees and the Ultimate Cubs Lineup, a tournament of all-time great Cubs teams as selected by numerous Marquee broadcasters.

“We are pleased to be expanding our partnership with Marquee Sports Network after a great start last year,” said Strat-O-Matic President Adam Richman. “We just touched the surface of the many opportunities to bring Marquee’s tremendous content to share with Cubs fans, who are so passionate about the team’s history as well as the 2021 team.”

“The simulations last year proved a hit with viewers, and we couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with Strat-O-Matic again this season,” Marquee Sports Network General Manager Mike McCarthy said. “Our broadcasters enjoy being involved and we look forward to getting them as well as fans involved in the new programming.”

Additional content using Strat-O-Matic data will be announced in the coming weeks.

Topps, Lawrence Release NFTs Created By Brother, Sister-In-Law Today On Mintable

Following the overwhelming success of the recent sold-out issue of an exclusive box set of cards depicting this week’s likely No. 1 pro draft selection Trevor Lawrence, Topps has teamed with the winningest starting quarterback in Clemson history on the release of its first football-related NFTs (non-fungible tokens). The six-piece collection was created in collaboration with Trevor’s brother and sister-in-law, professional artist duo Chase and Brooke Lawrence. The NFTs, which include five open-edition cards, with the opportunity to receive an exclusive Chrome card, and a one 1/1 auction of a signed Superfractor card and signed Artist Proof card from Chase and Trevor. The store will launch on Tuesday, April 27, at 11 a.m. ET via Mintable and will be available for 24 hours only. The Lawrence NFTs are stored on the Mintable blockchain.

Each of the five open-edition Lawrence NFTs are priced at $200, with the goal of making these collectibles available to as wide an audience as possible. Any collector purchasing all five open-edition Lawrence NFTs will receive a special exclusive limited edition physical Chrome card. This will be Trevor’s first and only Chrome card and it is only available with the purchase of the Open Edition NFT’s.

“The amazing response to the Trevor Lawrence card set and his status as a transcendent figure in football makes the issue of these NFTs a natural for us,” said Jeff Heckman, Global Director, New Business Ventures. “As was the case with the sold-out cards, Chase and Brooke bring their unique talents and connection with Trevor to their creations, and we are pleased that the lower price point will make their work accessible to many more fans and all level of collectors.”

Any collector or fan can acquire, trade, and resell NFTs through the platform using a debit or credit card. NFTs are a type of digital asset in which ownership is recorded on a digital ledger blockchain, in this case Mintable. Each NFT is unique and can be viewed as a collectible that cannot be duplicated, making them singular and potentially valuable. NFTs can represent a variety of digital files, such as art, videos, music and other forms of creative work, several of which are incorporated into the Lawrence pieces.

“I couldn’t be happier with how the card set came out, and I am even more excited to get into the world of NFTs with this series,” said Trevor Lawrence. “Everyone saw how amazing Chase and Brooke’s designs turned out, and I think they’ll love the pieces we worked on together for the NFTs.”

Chase and Brooke Lawrence (https://bclawrence.art), whose 50-card set issued via Topps this month was a huge hit with collectors, took inspiration from psychedelic period pieces from the 1960’s-70’s as well as classic comic book and graphic novel illustrations for both the physical cards and the NFTs.

“We are honored by the response to the physical cards we created and are excited to collaborate with Trevor and Topps on our first NFT collection,” said Chase and Brooke. “This collection is meant to showcase Trevor’s natural energy and charisma paired with colorful nostalgia, and retro-psychedelic works of art.” 

Lawrence, the 2018 national champion and first quarterback ever to win three ACC Championship Games, finished second in the 2020 Heisman Trophy balloting as he led Clemson to the national championship game. In his storied three-year career, he completed 758-of-1138 career passes (66.6 %) for 10,098 yards with 90 touchdowns and 17 interceptions for a pass efficiency rating for 164.26 in 2,237 snaps over 40 career games (36 starts).

Electronic Gaming Federation, Special Olympics New Jersey Form First-Ever Unified Esports Program

The Electronic Gaming Federation (EGF), the national governing body for formalized collegiate D-I esports and high school level leagues, today announced a new, first-ever expansive partnership with Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ) to create EGFH Unified. Unified Sports® joins people with and without disabilities (known as Unified partners) on the same team promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. The first EGFH Unified season will be a 5-week competition featuring up to 50 high schools throughout the state  bringing all esports student-athletes into an interscholastic schedule of competition beginning with Rocket League this Spring and continuing with rolling competitions throughout the 2021-22 school year. 

“Creating impactful experiences for students has always been the core of why EGF was founded and it’s an honor to be able to work with the Special Olympics New Jersey to celebrate these athletes through esports, ” said Tyler Schrodt, EGF Founder. “Part of the magic of esports is its level of accessibility and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with SONJ to learn from their long history of impact through traditional sports to help develop these experiences for their community and recognize those athletes for their passion and their achievements. ”

“Special Olympics New Jersey is proud to partner and work with EGF on this very important program,” said Heather Andersen, President and CEO of Special Olympics New Jersey. “Esports competitions create shared experiences for our athletes and their partners in a unique way to empower their lives and social experiences. Being the first Special Olympics organization to run a Unified esports program is even more meaningful for us, and we look forward to sharing our experiences with others nationwide as this expands.”  

Each school will have at least one Unified team expected to participate in five weeks of regular competition, with a one week pre-season and four-week regular season. Schools will compete against teams from other schools in weekly online matches, beginning with Rocket League this Spring, with plans to extend the program to more schools and games in the future. The competition will culminate with a full championship on June 4th and 5th.

Captain Morgan, Fanduel Announce Exclusive Soccer Contest Partnership

Captain Morgan and FanDuel have announced today the launch of the Captain Morgan Soccer Pick ‘Em contest series as one of the most highly anticipated seasons in the history of the United States and Canada’s top-flight professional soccer league gets underway. Fans across the country have been waiting months to settle back into their gameday routines, and this season, they’ll be able to play for a chance to win cash prizes as they cheer on their teams each week.

On Saturdays (and other designated days) throughout the 2021 regular season and postseason, the Captain Morgan Soccer Pick ‘Em contest series will offer fans 21 and up the chance to win cash prizes† by making quick predictions about the day’s matches and earning points for each correct pick. Prizes will be awarded each week, and even if you don’t score with all of your picks, you could still take home a share‡ of up to $3,000 in total winnings!†

“Enthusiasm for the game of soccer in America is at an all-time high, and we’re so excited to be working with Captain Morgan as our first soccer partner ahead of what will undoubtedly be a season to remember,” said Alyssa Zeleznik, VP of Sponsorship & Advertising Sales, FanDuel. “We are fully aligned with Captain Morgan in that we both strive to give fans a fun and engaging way to enhance their viewing experience, and we can’t wait to get this season going with the Captain Morgan Soccer Pick ‘Em.”

“All of us at Captain Morgan have been looking forward to this season for several months now, and we know there are millions of soccer fans out there who are as eager as we are to see teams back in action at their home stadiums once again,” said Sam Salameh, Vice President Captain Morgan. “We know soccer fans are some of the most passionate in all of sports, and we can’t wait to help fuel that passion. We’re so thrilled to have found a partner in FanDuel that will help us offer fans new ways to consume and engage with the game we all love this season.”

In addition to the Captain Morgan Soccer Pick ‘Em contest series, Captain Morgan will also be activating across various platforms throughout the season to remind soccer fans to Sub in the Captain for any monotonous, bland or just plain boring elements of their gameday routines that may be in need of a refresh. As soccer fans know best, substitutions are a key part of any match – managers must make the decision to bring on the right players at the right times, whether it be for tactical reasons or to give the team a necessary spark.

This season, Captain Morgan encourages fans to take the same approach when managing their drink choices. When your gameday routine becomes flat and sluggish, introduce some variety and spice things up by subbing in a Captain Morgan cocktail that’s fun and delicious. With a new season comes an opportunity for new traditions, new experiences and making new memories, so no matter what team you’re rooting for this year, be sure to Sub in the Captain and make it one to remember with Captain Morgan.

Messier, Frazier, Bird, Boone Lead Off Steiner’s New ‘Athlete Direct’ Marketplace

A plethora of champion players and coaches – from New York Rangers Stanley Cup icons Mark Messier and Mike Richter to Football Giants Super Bowl legends Tom Coughlin and Mark Bavaro to women’s basketball greats Sue Bird and Nancy Lieberman to Yankees World Series champs Aaron Boone and Willie Randolph to college coaches Lou Holtz and Jim Boeheim – have all lined up to partner with Brandon Steiner’s brand new “Athlete Direct.” “Athlete Direct” is just another Steiner brainchild. He launched the new sports marketplace CollectibleXchange.com just over a year ago.

Steiner, who revolutionized the sports memorabilia and collectibles industry during 32 years as founder of Steiner Sports Marketing and Memorabilia, has transitioned from that company to transform the industry once again with the launches of “Athlete Direct” and (earlier) CollectibleXchange.com (in 2019); AD gives the players and coaches a “one-stop-shop” to sell memorabilia – autographed, game-used and commemorative items – as well as new product lines – directly to their fans.

In addition, collector’s will be able to have their own photos, jerseys, balls and other items personally-signed by the athletes. And that’s not to mention fan experiences for zoom one-on-ones to such video greetings as birthday messages, and specialize products.

“This was always the big picture I had in my mind,” says Steiner. “I found that over the years, there was too much of the same thing, hundreds, thousands of balls and jerseys signed by the same player. People bring collections to us, and are disappointed in their value because players just signed so much. Now we are away from the volume and give propriety to high end exclusive stuff; those ‘hard to get,’ cool, pieces. We’re trying to work on not only collectibles but also private items – from exercise machines to skin care products to healthy snacks.”

NFL Announces Official Sports Betting Partners

The National Football League (NFL) today announced their first-ever U.S. sportsbook partnerships naming three exclusive partners. As part of the multi-year agreement, FanDuel becomes an Official Sports Betting Partner of the NFL and will have the ability to leverage NFL marks within the sports betting category and activate around retail and online sports betting. The company will also engage with fans through NFL-themed free-to-play games.

FanDuel, becomes the NFL’s newest partner and will have a series of content integrations including both in-game and post-game highlights directly available within its sportsbook and fantasy sports platforms this coming season. The company will have access to footage rights that bring the NFL’s excitement to FanDuel’s owned and produced content across its various platforms and will work with the League on pre-game integration opportunities on the NFL Network for the seven regular season games the network will air in 2021.

“On Superbowl Sunday we got a glimpse at how powerful the combination of the NFL’s excitement and our platform can be in delivering an enhanced fan experience. We are delighted to make that combination official by pairing America’s #1 sportsbook with America’s #1 sports league,” said Matt King, Chief Executive Officer at FanDuel. “This partnership provides our shared customers with a new level of innovation and unmatched premium content directly within our platform ultimately enhancing every gameday.”

Additionally, FanDuel will have the right to integrate relevant sports betting content directly into NFL Media properties including NFL.com and the NFL App. FanDuel will enhance fan experiences with NFL highlights, footage and Next Gen Stats content.

“As the sports betting landscape has continued to evolve in the United States, we have been thoughtful with our strategy and are excited to announce three partners who share the NFL’s vision and goals,” said Renie Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Vice President of NFL Partnerships.

Chicago Fire FC Becomes First MLS Club to Launch Gambling Awareness Session

Chicago Fire FC, entering into their 24th season in Major League Soccer, have become the first football club in the United States to deliver problem gambling and gaming awareness sessions to teams throughout their organization through a partnership with EPIC Risk Management and Entain Foundation US, Entain plc’s unique non-profit subsidiary that is dedicated to promoting responsible gambling and sports integrity.

Epic Risk Management will lead sessions with the Chicago Fire’s U-13’s through U-19’s, plus the first team. Each session will be appropriately tailored for the varied audience and age groups through the Club’s roster, covering issues such as problem gaming, disordered gambling and sports betting integrity.

Delivery of these sessions will begin in May and continue throughout 2021, aiming to provide continued support across Chicago Fire’s P.A.S.S. program. Due to COVID-19, sessions will take place via videoconference and move to in-person sessions when safely allowed.

“We know that young athletes are at greater risk of being effected by problematic gaming and gambling, and we recognize the need to take a proactive approach to educating our players and parents on these risks,.” sSays Brian Roberts, Director of Performance, Advisory and Support Services (P.A.S.S.) at Chicago Fire FC. “The real-life stories that EPIC Risk Management use in their educational sessions brings focus to gambling in a way that will have a true impact and will provide our Academy players with the understanding needed to make informed decisions. We are excited to work with an organization open to customizing an approach to educating our Academy players.”

“We are delighted to be able to work closely with Chicago Fire and their Performance, Advisory, and Support Services (PASS) staff to customize our program to integrate into their existing PASS Education,.” says John Millington, VP of US Operations at EPIC Risk Management. “Our collaboration with the Entain Foundation US represents a key strategic piece of our prevention pillar. It is essential that professional sports teams and leagues recognize a collective responsibility to educate their players, staff, and their fan base, and we are delighted Chicago Fire have proactively embraced the importance of integrating this market leading education into their existing programs. I hope many more teams will follow their lead.”

Martin Lycka, Entain plc’s Senior Vice President for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling, and trustee of the Entain Foundation US, noted, “This new partnership among Chicago Fire FC, EPIC Risk Management and the Entain Foundation US is another important milestone in promoting player protection and responsible gambling—a top priority of our Foundation. I am proud to affiliate our Foundation in the US with these two outstanding partners.”

To date, EPIC Risk Management and the Entain Foundation US have launched collaborations with the NFLPA Professional Athletes Foundation, colleges across the U.S., and the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital, on research into elite athletes’ relationships with problematic gambling behavior.

cover image: credit Michael Barera

FanDuel Group Collaborates with MotorCity Casino As Official Gaming Partner Of Tigers, Red Wings

FanDuel Group today announced a new collaboration with MotorCity Casino that provides FanDuel Sportsbook with official gaming partner status with the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, two of Detroit’s most iconic professional sports franchises. 

FanDuel Sportsbook will be prominently featured on static and digital signage at both Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena – including the outfield wall and on dasher boards – and be featured on the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings Radio Networks, which reach fans across the state of Michigan.

In collaboration with MotorCity Casino, FanDuel Group recently launched a fully integrated, real money online gaming experience for residents and visitors to the state of Michigan. The FanDuel Sportsbook & Casino app and the standalone FanDuel Casino app are both available for iOS and Android.  

“After a very successful launch in Michigan, we are excited to continue our momentum by partnering in this way with two of the most iconic sports organizations in the country,” said Mike Raffensperger, CMO of FanDuel Group. “To celebrate, we are offering a $25 registration bonus for all eligible Red Wings and Tigers fans that use the code DETROIT after registering for a FanDuel Sportsbook account.”  

This partnership with the Tigers is part of FanDuel Group’s continued strategy of aligning with Major League Baseball teams in markets where mobile gaming is permitted. FanDuel is recognized by Major League Baseball as one of roughly fifteen MLB Authorized Gaming Operators. FanDuel is also an official sports betting partner of the National Hockey League. 

The Tigers and Red Wings are also marketing partners with MotorCity Casino. MotorCity Casino is FanDuel Group’s sports betting and casino collaborator in Michigan, and the home of the state-of-the-art FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity Casino in Detroit that opened in March 2020.  Little Caesars Arena, home of the Red Wings, features the MotorCity Casino Club where fans in select seating locations will, when safe to do so, be able to enjoy a lively VIP experience with gourmet food and beverage options.  For select Red Wings road games, MotorCity Casino, when safe to do so, will be hosting viewing parties featuring food, drink, giveaways, and the occasional appearance by a Detroit sports legend.  Comerica Park features the MotorCity Casino Tiger Club.  Baseball fans will also be able to grab a cold drink at the MotorCity Casino Hotel “Off Ramp Bar” located inside Comerica Park.     

For more information on the FanDuel Sportsbook and sports betting content, follow @FDSportsbook on Twitter.  All core services affecting wagering for online gaming and sports betting will be administered by FanDuel, in compliance with gaming law and sports league rules.  

cover image: Pixabay/bk_advtravlr

ShotTracker Secures An Additional $2m Financing From Hearst Ventures

DDSports Inc. (ShotTracker), a revolutionary sports technology that captures rich performance data via sensors and provides statistics and analytics with sub-second latency, today announced a new round of financing by Hearst Ventures, the venture capital unit of Hearst. The $2 million USD investment by Hearst Ventures is in addition to an $11 million USD investment led by Evertz Technologies Limited (Evertz) and Verizon Ventures, which was announced earlier this year and completes the current funding round for the company.

“We are proud to have brought on Hearst Ventures as our latest investment partner,” said ShotTracker Chief Executive Officer Bill Moses. “Their expertise and knowledge of the media partnerships space will be pivotal as we refine and grow not just our offering to NCAA men’s and women’s basketball programs, but to broadcast partners as well. That broadcast integration has been the most requested element for our technology and we feel will be a key for our growth in the coming years.”

“Our goal with ShotTracker from day one is to go beyond the work we do with our partner schools,” said ShotTracker Co-Founder and President Davyeon Ross. “This investment, on top of our work with Evertz and Verizon Ventures, gives us a much wider runway and a greater opportunity for scaling success of our business going forward. We will continue to focus on our platform for NCAA men’s and women’s basketball, but additional opportunities are now coming into focus that will make this partnership very important for us.”

“ShotTracker’s autonomous, low-latency data collection is giving broadcasters, fans and other sports data consumers unprecedented insights in real time,” said Hearst Ventures Managing Director David Famolari, who will also be joining ShotTracker’s board of directors. “We see this as key to innovating the viewing experience and delivering data-driven storylines and visualizations that bring fans into the action in new and compelling ways. Bill, Davyeon and the ShotTracker team are leading the industry in developing technology to make unique sports data immediately actionable across a range of use cases.”

ShotTracker currently brings elite-level, real-time analytics to the court. The company’s patented technology tracks data in three parts: a ShotTracker-enabled ball, sensors on players’ jerseys and court sensors that map the court in 3D. Data is processed through the company’s proprietary algorithm displayed on the ShotTracker app and dashboard and is also integrated with Evertz’s cloud-based live production solutions. The real-time data can be used to automate camera productions from remote locations and can be licensed by media and sports data companies and will be enhanced by all the innovation Verizon is bringing through their cutting-edge work in 5G.

Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company Unveils Cities, Team Names and Logos for the Hall Of Fantasy League

Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company (“HOFV” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: HOFV, HOFVW), the only resort, entertainment and media company centered around the power of professional football, is excited to unveil the team locations, names and logos for the Hall Of Fantasy League (“HOFL”), the first national fantasy league that allows you to experience a fantasy team with a community of shared stakeholders. The 10 franchises that will comprise the HOFL include:

  1. Atlanta Hot Wings
  2. Boston Barflies
  3. Chicago Hogmollies
  4. Los Angeles Sidekicks
  5. New York Bodega Cats
  6. Ohio GOATS
  7. Philadelphia Powderkegs
  8. Seattle Haze
  9. Texas Y’allers
  10. Vegas Pocket Kings

Unlike traditional fantasy sports leagues where individuals pay an entry fee, manage their own teams and compete against friends over the course of a season, the HOFL reimagines fantasy entirely through a professional sports league structure and community-driven format. Utilizing the concept of staking, the HOFL’s model aggregates fan bases and large communities of fantasy players by unifying them as shared team stakeholders in a season-long national fantasy league. Each franchise will be managed by a dedicated front office consisting of prominent fantasy experts and will include high-profile personalities from the world of professional football as team ambassadors. Staking – making a financial contribution to cover a portion of a participant’s entry fee, and in return taking a percentage of the winnings – is made possible through HOFV’s previously announced partnership with StakeKings.

“Today is another very exciting day for our company and for the millions of fantasy football fans across the country,” said Michael Crawford, President and CEO of HOFV. “The HOFL will transcend the way people have traditionally participated in fantasy sports, allowing them to be part of a community that financially stakes a regional franchise to receive a percentage of any winnings and interacts with a dedicated front office consisting of top fantasy players. No other fantasy sports platform can offer its participants an experience like this over the course of a season. We look forward to the growth of the league and to each of our franchises becoming embedded in the sports cultures of their respective locations.” 

Starting today, sports fans and fantasy football enthusiasts throughout the country can purchase stakes in any of the HOFL’s franchises. Team stakeholders will be entitled to a portion of their teams’ winnings based on their entry amount, and will have access to exclusive content, communications and team governance features. This will provide opportunities for stakeholders to collaborate and engage with each other, as well as provide direct input on key roster moves with their franchises’ front office teams, which will be unveiled at a later date.

The HOFL leverages and replicates key aspects of pro sports leagues with its professional management of its franchises and merchandise/apparel with team branding. Beginning this morning, staking, the purchase of merchandise as well as high-quality content providing contextual coverage and analysis of the HOFL will be live, all of which can be found at www.thehofl.com. Participants can also stay engaged with the HOFL community year-round via the Hall Of Trivia, a live, weekly sports and fantasy-themed trivia show airing exclusively on the HQ Trivia app every Tuesday at 8 p.m. EDT. The show is hosted by sports broadcaster Jeff Eisenband, and features appearances by NFL legends as well as prominent sports and fantasy personalities.

“We are so excited to kick off a new era in fantasy sports by unveiling the locations, team names and logos of the HOFL,” said Mat Sposta, Senior Executive Consultant for HOFV. “In addition to transforming the way fantasy sports are played altogether, the HOFL solves one of the biggest pain points fantasy players are subjected to each year: the solitary fandom and lonely experience of managing a team by yourself. By financially backing one of the HOFL’s regional franchises, individuals become part of an immersive community with similar rooting interests and financial incentives.” 

In addition to announcing who will comprise the front office of each franchise over the coming weeks, HOFV will be launching the HOFL mobile app, which will serve as the league’s main platform. What’s more, HOFV plans to leverage its partnership with Dolphin Entertainment to offer fans opportunities to buy and sell NFTs associated with the HOFL’s unique gameplay, content and talent.

To learn more about the HOFL and stay updated on all league announcements (including signing up for its newsletter), visit www.thehofl.com or follow it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (@TheHOFLeague).