Monthly Archives: October 2021

For Soccer Ventures Announces Topps, 47 Brand, Umbro Among Partner Lineup for FootyCon, November 10

For Soccer Ventures (FSV) today announced the lineup for FootyCon, a soccer and lifestyle digital festival taking place exclusively on the NTWRK app at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 10.

FootyCon was founded by Curtis Brown and Ben Hooper to unite the diverse communities of the sport of soccer through art, fashion, and culture. The festival on NTWRK will bring together consumers from around the globe and give them access to exclusive products as well as the chance to engage with cultural tastemakers, personalities, and players with deep ties to the sport.

“We’re thrilled to reveal the lineup for the inaugural FootyCon festival,” said Heath Pearce, Chief Creative Officer at FSV. “We know fans of the game and its culture will connect and engage with the creators and brands that are participating and we’re excited to host a great event with NTWRK.”

As part of the announcement, Topps was also revealed as the exclusive collectible partner of FootyCon. Topps and FootyCon will collaborate and feature unique content and exclusive giveaways to fans from its Major League Soccer, UEFA Champions League, and Bundesliga collections during the buildup to the festival and the event itself.

“Topps is excited to partner with FSV for their inaugural FootyCon festival,” said Emily Kless, Topps Communications Manager. “FootyCon provides a unique opportunity for football fans to connect from anywhere in the world, and we’re proud that Topps trading cards are featured as the medium in which to unite creators, brands and fans alike.”

NTWRK presents FootyCon – Festival Lineup, Nov. 10

47 Brand – Premier sports lifestyle brand founded in Boston, Ma. that uniquely melds sport and style.

Angel City FC – Angel City Football Club is a member of NWSL and will take the pitch in Spring 2022 in Downtown Los Angeles. Angel City seeks to set higher expectations on and off the pitch through equality and impact. This is a different way of building a sporting club where mission and capital can coexist and make positive change in the community.

The Black Star Initiative – The Black Star Initiative has been developed to accelerate the growth of soccer in Black American communities and to increase access and opportunity in the sport at the grassroots level, while celebrating and amplifying the diverse Black soccer culture.

Bumpy Pitch – Purveyors of gourmet soccer culture.

Fan Ink – Fi Collection is an official licensed premium football (soccer) inspired lifestyle collection, with a focus on head-wear and accessories that express our passion of the sport and club.

FC Dorsum – F.C. Dorsum is a Los Angeles based brand conceptualized around a fictitious football club to fill the void between football and fashion.

Kicks to the Pitch – Kicks to the Pitch represents the future of soccer through sneakers, fashion, music and art.

LA Galaxy – The most celebrated and decorated club in Major League Soccer.  From uniting a city in ’96 through winning five MLS Cups, the Galaxy have made a lasting impact in the global game and united Angelenos for over 25 years.

LAFC – LAFC is dedicated to building a world-class soccer club that represents the diversity of Los Angeles and is committed to delivering an unrivaled experience for fans. LAFC’s ownership group is comprised of local leaders and innovators of industry with intellectual capital, financial prowess, operations expertise, and success in the fields of entertainment, sports, technology, and media.

NR – Heritage Italian sports brand rooted in style and soccer.

Oakland Roots – Oakland Roots Sports Club seeks to harness the magic of Oakland and the power of sport as a force for social good. Whether on the pitch, in the stands, or within the community, Oakland Roots will represent our one-of-a-kind city with passion, pride, and commitment to all things Oakland.

Umbro – Umbro founder Harold Humphreys believed that style was a performance advantage – if you look smart, you play smart – a belief we retain today, combining stylish and technical team and street wear with a professional service for all.

Venice Beach FC – Venice Beach Football Club is a community of dreamers, drifters, nobodies and somebodies; home to champions, rising stars, beach bums, and everything in between.

Additional participants in FootyCon will be announced at a later date.

About For Soccer Ventures

For Soccer Ventures (FSV) is a new media company, leading a collaborative movement to connect brands and platforms to the diverse American soccer community through immersive storytelling, properties, activations and strategic services. Uniquely positioned within the industry, the company’s mission is to advance soccer in the United States, both on and off the field. FSV’s host of capabilities and properties are aimed at putting the fan and player first. FSV’s current properties and investments include Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union, Alianza de Futbol, Black Star Initiative, FootyCon, The Association, JUGOtv, YSC Academy, YSC Sports, APL Leagues and Tournaments, Best Soccer Show Podcast, Orange Slices Podcast, and the FSV Soccer Influencer Network.

About NTWRK

Named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies and Ad Age’s Hottest Brands, NTWRK is the premier North American livestream shopping platform where “entertainment meets e-commerce” (Forbes). Built on a digitally-innovative model of daily product drops, livestream shopping festivals and exclusive partnerships with world-renowned brands and creators, NTWRK has fostered an organic global community of artists and fans since its launch in 2018. Under the motto “Shopping At The Speed of Culture,” NTWRK provides a curated digital shopping experience and access for Gen-Z and millennial consumers.

National Lacrosse League Signs Historic Multiyear Agreement with ESPN

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, today announced the most extensive United States media rights agreement in its history, giving ESPN and ESPN+ exclusive rights in the U.S. and the rest of the world outside Canada for live NLL games. All NLL games will be carried on an ESPN network or platform. ESPN linear networks – with a minimum of 10 live games annually – and ESPN+ will combine to carry up to 139 games exclusively each year. It will be the largest number of live televised games in the history of the league.

“We are so proud, honored and excited to work with ESPN and ESPN+ in this unprecedented landmark announcement for the NLL. Never before in the 35-year history of the league have fans, sponsors, teams and players had this type of access and exposure across the United States,” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “While we, our sport and the industry continue to focus on digital native fans, we will also have the benefit of expanded reach through live distribution on ESPN linear networks. We’ve been steadily building on our media strategy and towards this kind of distribution over the last few years and are excited about the momentum an announcement like this generates heading into NLL Faceoff Weekend, December 3-4.”

“We’re thrilled to reach this new multi-year rights agreement with the National Lacrosse League, adding to our already extensive commitment to the sport of lacrosse on ESPN platforms. The NLL features elite players competing in an exciting and fast-paced game that we look forward to showcasing across ESPN and ESPN+ in the years ahead,” said Dan Margulis, Senior Director, Programming & Acquisitions, ESPN.

The broadcast schedule for the 2021-22 season on ESPN’s linear networks will be announced in the coming weeks. The regular season begins with the Vancouver Warriors at San Diego Seals on Friday, December 3; and six games on Saturday December 4, including the debut of the expansion Panther City (TX) Lacrosse Club at the Philadelphia Wings and the 2019 NLL Championship Finals rematch between the Calgary Roughnecks and Buffalo Bandits in Buffalo.

The agreement with ESPN follows an earlier announcement for TSN in Canada for both linear television and live streaming coverage of NLL games, the first broadcast deal for the NLL in Canada since 2016.

For the most up-to-date information and breaking news, sign up for the NLL newsletter at NLL.com. Also follow Deputy Commissioner Jessica Berman and Commissioner Sakiewicz on Twitter @JessicaBerman1 and @NLLcommish, respectively.

Caesars Sportsbook App is Now Live in Louisiana

Legalized sports betting is on its way to Louisiana and today, Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) (“Caesars”) announced its best-in-class Caesars Sportsbook app is officially available for download and sign-up by eligible sports fans in Louisiana. In celebration of its longstanding presence in Louisiana, and in advance of the launch of mobile sports betting in the state, Caesars is excited to offer local sports fans an early chance to download the Caesars Sportsbook app, register, deposit funds, and explore a deep array of pre-match and live markets and odds – including for every local team.

In addition, early registrants will receive special benefits. Starting today, customers can combine offers for a first bet experience unlike any other:

Register early to get a $100 Free Bet bonus:
Download and register prior to the first day of sports betting to receive a $100 Free Bet bonus the day mobile wagering goes live
Plus, deposit and have funds in an account at launch, and for every point scored by select local teams during launch week, receive an additional $1 in Free Bet bonuses:
Deposit and retain in your account $50 or more by mobile launch date to earn a Free Bet bonus equal to the points scored by top Louisiana teams during our mobile sports betting launch week
“Louisiana and the entire Gulf Coast region are a special part of the Caesars family. We couldn’t be more excited to build on our longstanding commitments in the state with the launch of legal sports betting,” said Eric Hession, Co-President of Caesars Digital. “We know how passionate Bayou State sports fans are about their teams and we’re confident our brand-new Caesars Sportsbook app and the exciting offers we have for launch can offer them a sports experience that can’t be matched.”

The Caesars Sportsbook app links the excitement of mobile sports betting with the industry-leading loyalty program, Caesars Rewards. Every wager, win or lose, rewards the bettor with Tier Credits and Reward Credits that can be used to unlock unbeatable experiences within the Caesars portfolio of properties and partnerships. Customized offerings, a wide range of betting lines and flexible limits allow Caesars Sportsbook to treat every sports bettor like royalty.

Every bet earns – win or lose, every wager gives you more with Caesars Rewards. Each bet earns Caesars Rewards Tier Credits and Reward Credits. Caesars Sportsbook links with Caesars Rewards, making it as easy to earn and redeem online as it is in person at one of Caesars’ more than 50 destinations across 16 states. Reward Credits earned within the Caesars Rewards network can be redeemed everywhere, meaning everything you earn online can be used for free play, dining, getaways, and specially curated sports and entertainment experiences

Thousands of ways to wager – Caesars Sportsbook provides extensive odds and flexible limits, including live in-play betting, player props, and same-game parlays, making it the most dynamic way to bet sports

Easy to play – Caesars Sportsbook makes it easy to get a bet down, and to deposit and withdraw funds securely through a wide variety of industry-leading wallet options

A trusted name in casino entertainment – Caesars Sportsbook has best-in-class partnerships with some of the biggest leagues, teams, and media companies in Louisiana and nationally
In addition to mobile sports wagering, sports bettors in Louisiana can soon enjoy in-person sports betting at iconic Caesars properties Harrah’s New Orleans and Horseshoe Bossier City. Each casino will soon take in-person bets at temporary retail locations inside their properties, before the unveiling of their new Caesars Sportsbooks, pending regulatory approval in the state. In the fall of 2022, Isle of Capri Lake Charles will be renovated into Horseshoe Lake Charles and reopen with an additional Caesars Sportsbook location.

Caesars’ commitment to Louisiana includes the recent 20-year, exclusive naming-rights partnership with the New Orleans Saints to rebrand New Orleans’ iconic downtown stadium as the Caesars Superdome. Caesars Sportsbook is also the official sportsbook partner of LSU Athletics, the official casino sponsor and an official sports betting partner of the NFL, and has partnerships with the NBA, NHL, MLB, and several individual teams.

For betting insights, a fresh take on the day’s action as games unfold, and special promotions and offers, follow the Caesars Sportsbook social handle @CaesarsSports on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The Caesars Sportsbook app is available for download on iOS or Android.

Costacos Collection Announces Inaugural NFT Drop with Baseball Legend Willie Mays

Today, the Costacos Collection announced its inaugural drop will feature one of the most respected legends in professional sports, Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays. The 90th Birthday Celebration Drop will take place this Sunday, October 24, as an ode to Willie’s iconic number and two days before the start of the 117th World Series. For the fifth year, the MVP of the Fall Classic will be recognized as the “Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player.”

Willie will be donating all proceeds from the drop to his Say Hey Foundation’s effort to honor the people who gave him a start in life, by establishing a baseball academy for underprivileged youth where he grew up in Alabama, and to restore the historic baseball facilities at Rickwood Field where Willie started his career with the Negro League Birmingham Black Barons. Mays said, “I’ve never forgotten the people who supported me, taught me, and helped me find my way. I want every child to have the same chances that I had, and this gives me a way to do that starting in my original hometown. Rickwood was the first place I ever got to see professional ballplayers, and I want these kids to learn the game and be inspired the way I was.” Rickwood Field itself serves as a central theme of the drop’s art.

The first drop tells the story of Willie’s path to the majors, from Fairfield Industrial High in Birmingham, to the Negro American League, culminating with his move to the New York Giants with whom he would win the Rookie of the Year Award in 1951. The various edition pieces capture the key themes and statistics of those periods, and the 1/1 hero piece adds to the story with a number of never-before-seen personal documents and images from Willie’s journey – most notably, a copy of Willie’s high school diploma, in which he was assigned a career in “cleaning, dyeing, and pressing.” Willie recalls that all Black kids were assigned trade careers, while white kids “on the other side of the barbed-wire fence” were able to choose their paths and professions. Willie’s journey to becoming one of America’s most beloved sports figures and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom was only possible because of baseball and the people of Fairfield and beyond who helped him chart a different path. The NFT art piece includes a voiceover in which Willie’s powerful story is told by an iconic voice of sports, Bob Costas, who will join Mays in donating to the baseball academy and Rickwood Field restoration project.

Costacos explained, “In the mid-1960s, I learned to read a box score by stealing my dad’s paper to see what magic Willie Mays had done the night before. Yet with all the historic moments in his career, Willie, the humblest GOAT you’ll ever meet, asked us to focus not on his 24 All Star Games, 2 MVP awards, World Series victory in ‘54, his 12 Gold Gloves or 660 home runs – rather, he saw this as a unique opportunity to pay tribute to his roots and earliest days growing up in Fairfield, Alabama. We’re honored to partner with the great Willie Mays and to give fans an opportunity to connect with the legend through one-of-a-kind digital art in support of the Say Hey Foundation.”

MSG Networks Announces Expanded Lineup of Sports Betting Programming

As it looks to further serve the growing sports betting market, MSG Networks today announced an expanded lineup of original sports betting programming. The expansive content push signifies the network’s continued foray into sports betting as it aims to engage fans in a fun and informative way.

The lineup will feature “Odds With Ends,” a new Sunday morning show that will air from 11:00am-12:00pm ET during the football season, with former Giants defensive end and 2x Super Bowl Champion Mathias Kiwanuka and former Giants wide receiver and Super Bowl Champion David Tyree. The one-hour program will serve as the premier sports betting show on game days, providing fans with in-depth player analysis, game breakdowns and top picks and betting predictions in the lead-up to kickoff. Drafted in the first round in 2006, Kiwanuka went on to record 38.5 sacks during his nine seasons with the Giants, finishing ninth on the franchise’s all-time list. Tyree earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as a special teams player with the Giants in 2005, although is most known for his iconic late game catch against his helmet in Super Bowl XLII that helped propel the Giants to victory.

As former NFL players and teammates with the Giants, Kiwanuka and Tyree will provide valuable insight and bring a unique betting perspective to the broadcast. A mix of other former New York athletes will also regularly join the show to lean into all the football betting action that day and discuss the latest betting lines and point spreads across the league. The first episode will air on Sunday, October 24th.

“As I go from the defensive line to now breaking down betting lines, I’m looking forward to connecting with the fans again every Sunday morning on MSG Networks,” said Kiwanuka. “David and I will provide fans with a unique perspective around sports betting that only former players can give. We will chop it up and deliver analysis that will be helpful for NFL fans betting on games each week.”

MSG Networks will also premiere “The Bettor Half *Hour,” a fast-paced, energetic show that will give an inside look at the sports betting landscape. Hosted by sports betting host Alex Monaco, the show will entertain, yet educate viewers on how to approach sports betting. Monaco will break down effective betting strategies, analyze the latest storylines and react to the latest odds and betting action each night. The half-hour program will include interviews with industry leaders and expert voices in the betting field that will present the viewer with even more tips, news and information. “The Bettor Half *Hour” will air at 5:00pm ET every Monday through Thursday, beginning tonight, Wednesday, October 20th.

MSG Networks’ recently launched “The Betting Exchange,” a dynamic roundtable style show that dives into the latest betting trends across the sports world. Hosted by sports betting on-air personalities Katie Mox and Jeff Johnson, the half-hour show delivers news and analysis through the sports betting lens, while also exploring and providing insight into the nuances of betting. After initially debuting as a weekly program in September, the show will now expand to four nights a week, airing Monday through Thursday at 5:30pm ET, starting tonight, Wednesday, October 20th.

A rotating mix of New York athletes, such as Tyree and former Jets safety Erik Coleman, and sports betting experts including Minty Bets, Alex Glaze and Sean Little, will regularly join Mox and Johnson each night, where they will take part in spirited and entertaining debates on everything from upcoming game lines, player props, over/under totals, future bets and more.

“With the rapid rise in sports betting interest around the country, we are excited to expand the reach of the MSG Networks brand and further immerse our fans in the sports betting culture,” said Kevin Marotta, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Content Strategy, MSG Networks. “We will significantly increase our sports betting presence with the launch of these fun and energetic shows, which will uniquely position us to become one of the premium destinations for sports betting content.”

The sports betting programming airing on MSG Networks will also be available to watch on MSG GO, the network’s live streaming and video on demand platform.

To coincide with the programming launch, MSG Networks is also significantly expanding its online presence by debuting a new social media handle on both Twitter and Instagram tied to sports betting, @MSGPlusMinus. The new handle will serve as the dedicated social media home for the network’s sports betting initiatives. The @MSGPlusMinus channels, along with MSGNetworks.com and the network’s YouTube page, will feature exclusive content, highlight top picks and drive the overall betting conversation amongst bettors each day.

MSG Networks’ expansive push into sports betting is the latest example of its commitment to innovation. In 2017, MSG Networks became the first network to offer a live fantasy/gaming infused broadcast of a live game (Knicks), in partnership with DraftKings. In 2018, MSG Networks was the first regional sports network to integrate live stats and interactive games on its MSG GO streaming app, which the network will continue to expand and build on going forward. And last year, MSG Networks became the first regional sports network to announce a standalone app, MSG Networks Pick ‘Em, for free-to-play pick ‘em-style contests. The prediction gaming app will now include new football contests for fans this season, in addition to its existing basketball, hockey, baseball and soccer offerings.

Iconic Sports Pop Culture Artist Costacos Unveils New Blockchain-based Digital Collectibles Company

Iconic, award-winning pop culture artist John Costacos, who established a genre of sports art with his famed sports personality poster creations, along with co-founder and CEO Justin Moorad and Digital Art Director Mike Campau, today unveiled a new blockchain-based digital collectibles company, the Costacos Collection.

The Costacos Collection is partnering with an initial lineup of legendary NFL, MLB, and NBA players and their charitable foundations, including Warren Moon, Troy Aikman, Pudge Rodriguez, Jim McMahon, Roger Clemens, Will Clark, and others to be announced in the coming weeks. The Costacos Collection – the predecessor of which sold over 30,000,000 posters from 1986-96 – utilizes the blockchain medium to help the world’s greatest athletes capture their most significant moments, tell their most meaningful stories, and create new digital experiences to connect with fan communities. In addition to re-imagining John’s revered poster art, the Costacos Collection is creating new digital art as NFTs, with the tokens serving as the ticket to the company’s upcoming Hall of Fame Metaverse.

The Topps Company will also be a partner of the Collection, drawing on content from its vast historical archives and working with Costacos to create new content with Topps’ current-athlete partners.

CostacosCollection.com will serve as the gateway to the company’s listings as well as post-sale experiences, which will include communities and experiences exclusive to NFT owners. The company plans to fill the gap where Big Tech’s social media has failed: enabling fans to connect with and support their heroes directly. Through community engagement features, museum-style social displays, games, raffles and giveaways, trading and staking based on live and AI-generated sporting events, and the bridging of the digital with physical items and events, the company is pursuing a vision not held back by any one particular partnership or association.

“We believe in the long-term power of the technology,” said CEO Justin Moorad. “With a chain-agnostic approach, we’re able to form partnerships across the ecosystem – from the highest-quality art minted securely on Ethereum, to games built on Solana, to opportunities for proprietary fungible tokens, the Costacos Collection is building technology that positions our athletes at the center of the evolving landscape.”

John Costacos’ posters included imagery, slogans, and nicknames that stuck with players for the rest of their careers, including his first poster, Kenny Easley’s “The Enforcer,” the Oakland A’s “Bash Brothers,” Charles Barkley’s “Get Off My Backboard,” Jerry Rice’s “Goldfingers,” Michael Jordan’s “Space, The Final Frontier,” Joe Montana’s “The Golden Great,” Jim McMahon’s “Mad Mac,” Walter Payton’s “Chicago Vice,” Rickey Henderson’s “Man of Steal,” Troy Aikman’s “Strong Arm of the Law,” and many others with athletes such as Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Ken Griffey Jr., Bo Jackson, John Elway, Dominique Wilkins, and Magic Johnson. In addition to working with legacy athletes, Costacos will create new digital artwork with a growing number of today’s future Hall of Famers, Rookies of the Year, and Heisman-level college athletes.

“As an athlete of color and an entrepreneur, and as someone with roots in Seattle personally and professionally, nothing exuded cool more than a Costacos poster,” said Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon. “The Costacos Collection will now be able to recapture that cool in digital art, which is going to be fun for all the veteran athletes from all sports who became part of his ‘must have collection’ as well as for a new generation who will be engaging with this unique artwork for the first time. It’s an honor to be part of this unveiling.”

“My relationship with every athlete came from listening to their creative process and thinking of what we, as fans, would want to see, and that process has never really changed over the years,” Costacos said. “The growth of digital technology gives us an exciting chance not just to offer pieces in digital form, but to take them and retell the story with the athlete’s input now 20 years later, along with all-new digital art pieces.”

“John Costacos and his artwork helped expand the reach of the most legendary athletes of a generation to fans who knew us for being in unique artwork sometimes more than what we did on the field,” said Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez. “Now being able to revisit that artwork as NFTs will open new doors for fans who can collect the pieces yet again. I know for the LatinX audience that craves connecting with its heroes, this will be a fun and unique experience that should open more opportunities for NFTs as well.”

Completion Of Unikrn Deal Underpins Entain’s Launch Into Esports Wagering In 2022

Entain, the leading global sports betting, gaming, and interactive entertainment operator, has completed its acquisition of the assets of Unikrn, a leader in esports betting and skill-based wagering. The deal paves the way for Entain to launch innovative new esports products for customers in 2022.

Entain has bought the technology, products, platform, and brand from Unikrn which, together with its 50-strong international team, will spearhead its launch on a global scale.  Justin Dellario, who recently joined Entain from Twitch as Managing Director of Esports, is leading the push into this new market as part of a greater drive into interactive entertainment. 

Unikrn is known for a suite of products and services, including U-Mode, which stands out in the market for enabling gamers to bet on their own ranked matches in some of the world’s most competitive video game titles, and Streamer Bet, their AI-powered real-time updating odds for betting on Twitch streams.

“Entain is all about creating exciting and innovative products for our customers. With Unikrn, we’ll now be able to offer competitive gamers and esports fans alike rewarding experiences surrounding the games and events they love,” Justin Dellario said.

Esports is now established as a mainstream sport, with over 450 million gamers aged 18-35.   Entain believes that many of these have strong potential to become new customers in other areas of its business, recently noting that video gamers are more than four times more likely to participate in sports-betting and iGaming than others in the same demographic.

Entain will extend its safer gaming initiatives and player protections to new customers across skills-based wagering in sports, and interactive entertainment products. Through its not-for-profit Entain Foundation, The Group has also forged partnerships with external organisations to provide education and support to players at potential risk of gaming disorder. These include the Counter-Strike Professional Players Association, which represents professional players across esports, Kindbridge and Rise Above the Disorder.

TeamWorks Media Launches La Vida Sports

TeamWorks Media, the parent company of La Vida Baseball, today announced the launch of La Vida Sports, a newly created business to connect brands, media companies and content creators with the LatinX community, the largest growing and most underserved demographic in the U.S. La Vida Sports is a natural progression of TeamWorks Media’s development and growth of La Vida Baseball which launched in 2017. More than $10 million of investment capital has been committed to develop La Vida Baseball and La Vida Sports.

“We have had a growing number of clients, from brands to media companies to leagues and teams, come to us and say ‘we’ve seen how your reaching the LatinX audience through baseball, but we’d like you to help us with our ability to connect with audience in other ways’ to the point where we know we are responding to an important business need,” said Jay Sharman, CEO of TeamWorks Media. “Our opportunity is to help solve this gap for clients to connect with English, Spanish and bilingual fans by leveraging our decades of experience producing engaging content and building media platforms to the vital and underserved Latinx audience. Very few have the track record or cultural understanding of the Latinx audience like our La Vida Sports team does and we are excited about this opportunity to empower millions of fans at the intersection of culture and sports.”

“We’ve demonstrated the concept of building an engaged audience and delivering culturally relevant content,” said Jesse Menendez, Managing Director of La Vida Baseball. “What we do within La Vida Baseball has always been transferable. We’re expert storytellers and each sport is brimming with incredible Latinx stories that demand to be told. We’ve supported others with their engagement within the Latinx space; so now to meet the demand for culturally rich content, we are proud to expand our scope with the launch of La Vida Sports.”

Menendez further added, “This move allows us to expand our mission beyond one sport. We truly believe in creating inroads into the Latinx community in a way that amplifies the incredible stories that exist. We’ve done this for current partners at Marquee Sports Network, NBC Sports Chicago, Minute Media and look forward to many more.”

La Vida Sports contains three business units, delivering both Spanish and English language solutions:

Consulting – Research clients’ existing approach to the LatinX marketplace, build new revenue-generating roadmaps, and implement new creative strategies and execution plans.

Content Studios – Expand existing resources to create, execute and manage turn-key Latinx-focused content solutions for media companies and brands, similar to La Vida Baseball’s recent projects with Turner Sports, MLB, NBC Sports, Topps, Goose Island and the Smithsonian.

Media Publishing – La Vida Baseball, the four-year old LatinX baseball and culture media company, provides daily, year-round content to US & Latin American baseball fans reaching 10 million per month. A trusted award-winning supplier, La Vida Baseball is currently producing primetime TV content for NBC Sports Chicago, Marquee Sports Network and will have new content partnerships to announce soon.

“La Vida Baseball has a stellar reputation in the industry for creating culturally relevant sports lifestyle content,” added Carlos Sanchez, EVP and GM, FOX Deportes. “The expansion to create a company dedicated to connecting with the rapidly growing US LatinX population in both English and Spanish through all sports makes a ton of sense given the momentum in the marketplace and brands’ increased awareness of this important audience.”

In recent months, TeamWorks Media has launched a partnership with NBC Sports Chicago for content around Ozzie Guillen and his sons, ‘Being Guillén,’ with other projects that include ‘Locker Room Talk’, a weekly show highlighting the achievements of women and Latinas in sports hosted by Julie Alexandria and Jennifer Mercedes, ‘Pólvora, Voz & Diamante’, a high-energy Spanish language show hosted by Jesse Castillo, a two-time Mexican League MVP, Polo Ascencio, the Cardinals Spanish language broadcaster, and Mexican rock star Pliego Villarreal, as well as a Latino Heritage Month show on Chicago Cubs Marquee Sports Network.

More programs and a now expanded portfolio outside of baseball will be coming in the fourth quarter and in 2022.

Electronic Gaming Federation To Launch Season Three With New Titles and Over 100 Teams

The Electronic Gaming Federation, the national governing body for formalized collegiate D-I esports and high school level leagues, today announced their most comprehensive lineup for both games and participating schools in the organizations three year history. The season three of EGF will have participation from over 100 teams representing 60 colleges and universities from across the country,  as well as full participation from both the MAAC and BIG EAST Conferences returning. EGF will run leagues for Rocket League, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and FIFA 21 as well as adding CS:GO and Chess to their growing list of supported titles. Play begins on Friday October 8 with live streams being broadcast on twitch.tv/officialegf..

“Our goal with season three was to continue to bring uniformity, consistency and a continued raised quality of play to EGF events, and we see by the increased number of schools, increased games and expanded and inclusive format we can say mission accomplished,”  said Tyler Schrodt Founder of the Electronic Gaming Federation. “Most importantly this fall will set the tone for aggressive and calculated expansion into the winter and spring, with our goal of having the largest, most comprehensive Division I esports competition in place well ahead of our five year goal.”

In addition, the organization will also begin its expansive high school program, EGFH, with 600 teams concluding with a National Championship to be played in-person at ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in June. 

New schools for the fall include:  Iona College, Bowling Green State University, University of Montana, University of South Alabama, and Washington State University for this fall, with over 100 schools expected to compete in EGF events this coming spring as well.