Monthly Archives: March 2023

Kitman Labs, Columbus Crew Unveils Wide-Ranging ‘Innovation Partnership’

Kitman Labs, the performance intelligence company setting a new industry standard for how elite sports organizations use data, today announced a landmark multi-year partnership with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer (MLS). The partnership will be housed at the Crew’s world-class facilities in Lower.com Field and the OhioHealth Performance Center in Columbus.

“We welcome the Crew and their entire Organization, led by Tim Bezbatchenko, into the Kitman Labs performance family,” founder and CEO Stephen Smith said. “As the first club in Major League Soccer history, the Crew are paving the way as the first in MLS to become an ‘Innovation Partnership’ club – a multi-faceted partnership which will impact every level of athlete performance and club operations, from their first team to their scouting and youth programs to their approach to investment and resource allocation. Our collective goal is to create a fully integrated operating system designed to elevate and advance player and team performance in North America, and we are proud to be able to collaborate with a club that has been known as an innovation leader since the founding of MLS.”

“The Crew and Kitman Labs are two organizations with complementary philosophies which is why this groundbreaking partnership makes so much sense,” Crew President & General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko said. “We are both deeply committed to fundamentally changing how data is used in sport to optimize performance, reduce injury risk, support operations, and ultimately drive success across every aspect of the organization, from the First Team, through Crew 2 and to the Academy. That common mission has now evolved into the development of an all-encompassing operations platform that will hopefully yield dividends in every aspect of team operations – not just for the Crew, but for North American soccer in the years to come. We are proud to be the first adopters in MLS as we look to try and set a new standard in how performance intelligence is leveraged across the sport.”

Kitman will collaborate with the Crew to leverage its proprietary performance intelligence platform and analytics to support three key areas of focus:

  • Player Development – delivering a tailored and data-driven talent development process to maximize player potential
  • Evidence-based Coaching – development of a real-time integrated system to enable objective, outcome-driven coaching and planning
  • Scouting and Recruiting – development of a data rich, configurable recruitment analytics solution to maximize the return on current and prospective players

With roots as “The Team of Firsts in MLS,” the Crew – under Bezbatchenko’s leadership since 2019 – have secured three championships: 2020 MLS Cup, 2021 Campeones Cup, 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Cup.

Leading the day-to-day implementation of the partnership are Crew Vice President of Soccer Administration Jaime McMillan, Crew Director of Analytics Alex Mysiw, Kitman Labs Performance Strategy Lead Darcy Norman and Kitman Labs Project Manager Courtney Steward.

The Kitman Labs Innovation Leadership partnership is designed to provide Columbus with deeper, strategic insight into all areas of on-field performance, ranging from developmental club best practices to helping gamify trade and transfer scenarios as well as making sure that injury prevention and maximal performance scenarios are created effectively and easily for all athletes, while giving performance leaders the ability to maximize every area of performance. The Crew and the Kitman Labs teams will work in lock-step to develop and instill the infrastructure and processes necessary at the ground level, to support the accurate, real-time collection and distillation of relevant data across the business to enable the analysis necessary to drive the desired KPIs.

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

Strat-O-Matic Simulation Tabs Yankees Over Dodgers in 2023 Series

Today is opening day across baseball, and what would the start of the season be without the annual simulation by Strat-O-Matic, the market leader in sports simulations, on the regular season and playoffs? Led by Aaron Judge’s 52 home runs, 132 RBI and .313 batting average, the sim has the slugger pushing his Yankees to 102 wins and eventually defeating Los Angeles, four games to two, to win their 28th championship.

Strat’s simulation tabbed Cleveland with a league-best 111 wins earning the A.L. No. 1 seed, with New York at No. 2 and Houston (101 wins) No. 3. The sim has New York beating wild card Minnesota, which had toppled Cleveland in the ALDS, and the Dodgers in the championship.

In the N.L., San Diego’s 100 wins led the circuit, with Atlanta (96) and St. Louis (94) the other division winners. Los Angeles’s path to the final round included a wild card win over New York, revenge 3-1 ALDS triumph over San Diego, and 4-2 series spread over Atlanta.

Other A.L. awards went to Cy Young winner Shane Bieber of Cleveland (20-6, 2.80 ERA, 228K) and Rookie of the Year Grayson Rodriguez of Baltimore (11-6, 2.97 ERA). In the N.L., Nolan Arenado’s .293 average, 46 home runs and 116 RBI for St. Louis earned the third baseman the MVP, Yu Darvish of San Diego claimed the Cy Young with his 17-4, 2.55 ERA and 221 strikeouts and Corbin Carroll of Arizona taking the Rookie of the Year (20 home runs, 62 RBI).

37-Pound Lunar Meteorite, One of the Largest to Come to Auction, Touches Down at Heritage Auctions

A monstrous, 37-pound Lunar Meteorite (NWA 15368 Lunar Meteorite) discovered in Mali by camel shepherds in 2021 (with a minimum opening bid of $600,000), and a rare, 20-foot long mummified dinosaur tail and vertebrae fossil (minimum bid $50,000) headline the March 31 Heritage Auctions’ Nature & Science Signature ® Auction. “There is nothing that captures people’s fascination quite like the moon does,” says Craig Kissick, Vice President of Nature & Science at Heritage Auctions.

Lunar Meteorite: Once in a great while, an offering will become manifest that is so singular and superlative in its nature that it really has no peer. This unbelievable MAIN MASS lunar meteorite is just such an item. A truly massive specimen weighing 17 kilograms (37.4 pounds), this example of recently classified lunar fragmental breccia representing NWA 15368 is even beyond the term museum-quality. Found in 2021 by camel shepherds in the Northern Saharan Zone of Mali, this fall consisted of a single stone with dark exterior coloration and one side partially covered in caliche. Cutting a test sample from the meteorite revealed fragmental breccia composition, with multiple lithic clasts in a glassy, dark gray ground mass. Evidencing high shock stage and moderate weathering, the origin of the amazing rock is the Highlands area of the Moon. Impact melt textures are present on the enormous extraterrestrial rock transported to Earth from its only natural satellite. To commemorate the Artemis program, this meteorite was dubbed “Artemis 17” prior to the official classification as NWA 15368. Standing 11 inches (28 cm) tall, when set on the flat ‘window’ serving as a base, this stone is relatively colossal and as significant in its dimensionality as it is in height. One of the largest examples of a lunar meteorite likely to be seen – and certainly to be offered for auction – this world-class specimen of the NWA 15368 variety is simply unparalleled. A vial with 3 grams of NWA 15368 dust accompanies this Lot. The highly textural surfaces of this giant meteorite exhibit mottled coloration, shallow planetary crater indentations, and a contrast of light and dark between the primary and secondary display face. In fact, two relatively deep holes give the effect of a pair of “eyes” on the face of the huge space rock. The big, polished section reveals a fine-grained interior with lots of clasts and a two-tone gray and brown color. An otherwise smooth surface features a small channel groove such that its bottom is not perfectly flat. The complexity, texture, and color of the exterior result in a sublime offering that needs to be seen in person in order to fully appreciate. This simply represents one massive and superb piece of the Moon. This Lot comes with a Certificate of Authenticity confirming this rock is the MAIN MASS of NWA 15368.
Measurements: 11.02 x 9.84 x 7.09 inches (28.00 x 25.00 x 18.00 cm), weighs 16.97 kilograms (37.42 pounds)

Dinosaur Fossil: There is no shortage of superlatives to describe this fossil specimen, which is truly remarkable for any number of reasons. While this massive vertebral and tail section from a Hadrosaur is incredibly long, measuring over 20 feet (6 meters), it is the presence of huge sections of extremely rare fossilized skin and tendons that make this such an incomparable specimen. Dating back to the Late Cretaceous, and having come out of the renowned Hell Creek Formation in Harding County, South Dakota, informally known as the “T-rex Capital of the World,” this fully articulated, partial specimen is superb. This level and extent of “mummified” preservation is virtually unheard of in such vertebrate fossils. Although a likely identification of this Dinosaur is Edmontosaurus, it is conjectured that this represents not only a new species but even, potentially, a new genus of Hadrosaur. In addition to these amazing facts about this singular fossil, the remains indicate possible scars or bite marks that could indicate the tail section was used in a defensive manner and could have been bitten by a T-rex in battle. Recovery, after the discovery in 1999 of the fossil on private lands in the Jump-Off Ranch, this specimen was expertly prepared and curated, with the representation most recently having been on display at the Brazos County Museum of Natural History in Bryan, Texas. This is likely one of the largest amounts of fossilized Dinosaur skin ever recovered and, of course, may indeed be a yet unknown variety. This is without question a museum quality offering on all counts with a size, aesthetics, and rarity worthy of any Natural History institution. The specimen consists of segments of fused light brown bone which is presented on a custom base of black metal armatures that hold various parts of the Dinosaur fossil. Breakdown and installation are all easy, and the piece, when displayed in its mounting, is captivating and constantly draws major attention.
Overall Measurements: 250.50 x 55.25 x 19.00 inches (636.27 x 140.33 x 48.26 cm)

Fanatics Betting and Gaming Names Former DoorDash Executive Hank Couture as Chief Operating Officer

Today, Fanatics Betting and Gaming announced the appointment of Hank Couture to the new position of Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Reporting to Fanatics Betting & Gaming CEO Matt King, Couture will be a member of the FBG executive team and play an integral role in developing strategies across operations as the Fanatics Sportsbook is poised to launch nationwide in mid-2023.

“We are excited to add Hank to our leadership team as COO,” said Matt King, CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming. “Hank’s experience in building one of the largest marketplaces in the U.S. is exactly the type of person we are looking for at Fanatics Betting and Gaming, and as our new COO, his impressive track record of success will provide us with valuable insight as we build a sportsbook that is easy to use, trustworthy and more rewarding for sports fans.”

Couture’s time at DoorDash, a technology company that connects consumers with their favorite local businesses in 27 countries across the globe, will serve him well in accelerating the growth of Fanatics Betting and Gaming. At DoorDash, he oversaw the company’s U.S. Marketplace, including many critical building blocks to the company’s success including pricing, loyalty/subscription, promotions, merchandising and growth.

“This is an exciting opportunity to build something from the ground up,” said Hank Couture, COO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming. “I look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience in building DoorDash to the sports betting industry and help build something that exceeds expectations for our customers.”

At DoorDash, Couture most-recently served on the executive management team as a Vice President, overseeing the company’s U.S. Marketplace. Couture joined DoorDash in 2016 and helped grow the e-commerce marketplace into an industry leader. As an early employee, he oversaw DoorDash’s Chicago operations. He then led the company’s expansion across the Midwest that helped define the company’s suburban growth strategy. While leading the U.S. Marketplace, Couture oversaw the $50 billion marketplace and many critical business lines, such as DoorDash’s subscription program, DashPass, and the Caviar marketplace.

Prior to DoorDash, Couture honed his skills at Goldman Sachs where he worked on the equity trading floor in Derivatives Structuring.

Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit Launches Anonymous Whistleblower Platforms

The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit announced today the launch of its anonymous whistleblower platforms that enable participants in the Thoroughbred industry to submit tips safely and anonymously regarding potential violations of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program. The text and email platforms are supported through a partnership with RealResponse, the leading provider of safe and secure reporting platform for athletes, teams, and organizations, while the telephone platform is supported by Ansafone.

Using the designated telephone line, text line, or email address, any industry participant can anonymously submit information relating to Covered Horses, barns, trainers, or other Covered Persons for review by HIWU’s Investigations Unit. Submissions are accepted 24/7. Whistleblowers can include their contact information if they are open to potential follow up from HIWU’s investigators. However, this option is voluntary.

“Our anonymous whistleblower platforms will empower concerned individuals to safely and securely alert HIWU to potential violations of the AMDC Program, including situations where the welfare of the horse or integrity of the sport may be compromised,” said Michelle Pujals, HIWU’s general counsel. “We look forward to working with RealResponse, which has a proven track record in administering this type of technology, to facilitate the success of this key component of the ADMC Program.”

“We are honored to work with the leadership of the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit,” said David Chadwick, RealResponse Founder and CEO. “We have seen significant interest from leading integrity agencies who seek a more efficient and effective platform to enhance their investigative process. Working with HIWU as it launches platforms to protect against efforts that compromise the integrity of horse racing, as well as to protect the wellbeing of the equine athletes, is important to us. Our service makes it simple and easy for those in the field to report concerning incidents they witness to ensure fairness and safety across the industry.” 


Individuals who would like to submit tips should utilize the following contact options:

Phone Line: (888) 714-4498

Text Line: (855) 901-8477

Email Address: [email protected]

Industry participants should note that the HIWU Investigations Unit can only consider tips regarding the ADMC Program and will not respond to potential violations of HISA’s Racetrack Safety Program or other violations or inquiries that fall outside the jurisdiction of the ADMC Program. Potential violations of the Racetrack Safety Program will be forwarded to HISA.

Those with information regarding potential violations of HISA’s Racetrack Safety Program should call (877) 513-2919 or email [email protected]. Submissions will be treated anonymously.

Sean Green, Ryan Kramer To Host Final Four Watch Party On SGPN YouTube Livestream

The Sports Gambling Podcast Network, the leading all-free sports betting picks and analysis content platform, will host SGPN Live – The Final Four Watch Party on the SGPN YouTube Channel Saturday, April 1, starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

SGPN personalities Sean Green and Ryan Kramer plus college basketball expert Colby Dant will hold court as followers join via smartphone and laptop, offering their signature analysis and commentary for the national semifinal games.  The trio will also provide attendees with live, in-game wagering advice for the competition featuring the San Diego State Aztecs, the Florida Atlantic Owls, the Miami Hurricanes and the Connecticut Huskies.

The livestream will be interactive with viewers invited to weigh in with comments, wagering advice and questions in a format similar to the Sports Gambling Podcast and College Basketball Experience Podcast.  Special guests from among SGPN’s scores of podcasters and contributors will appear throughout the two games, which will be telecast on CBS.  The SGPN YouTube content will include live and halftime wagering advice, analysis and reaction from Green, Kramer and Dant, who are among the few national handicappers whose breakdowns and predictions are all-free, all-the-time on the SGPN digital platforms.

“As the sports wagering universe grows, so does our audience and the technology allows us to connect directly in real time to help fans enjoy the games from the sports wagering perspective,” stated Green, the SGPN CEO.  “We’ve become a welcome addition to family rooms and mancaves with our entertaining, no-cost content over the past 11 years. Saturday will be fun. Everyone’s invited.”

Green and Kramer launched SGPN over 10 years ago and co-host the network’s flagship show, The Sports Gambling Podcast. The duo has built SGPN into the leading free and independent sports wagering network in the country. Dant hosts both of SGPN’s popular college podcasts, The College Basketball Experience and College Football Experience. He previewed every team prior to the start of the season and his daily podcasts offer expert wagering analysis and insight on each team.

With over 60 contributors and more than 30 podcasts, the LA-based company covers every major, bettable sporting event in the world, offering entertaining and accurate wagering content for millions on their array of available outlets. SGPN saw a record 8 million downloads last year and is already tracking at a 15 percent increase year-over-year.

New York Islanders To Host Third Annual Nickelodeon Night Saturday

The New York Islanders and Nickelodeon are teaming up again to give Isles Nation a slime filled multi platform experience on Saturday, March 25. The third annual event will build on the success of past collaborations and elevate the Islanders’ game experience with the integration of Nickelodeon’s beloved shows and characters, across social and digital channels and in arena.

Fans at UBS Arena and those following along on social platforms will receive Nickelodeon themed content throughout the game, which will feature characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Transformers: EarthSpark, The Loud House, Rubble & Crew and more. SpongeBob SquarePants will also join Islanders mascots, Sparky and Nyisles, for a meet and greet with fans at the matchup against the Buffalo Sabres.

Nickelodeon themed activation spaces will be scattered throughout the concourses at UBS Arena for fans to enjoy, including: a DIY slime station where fans can assemble their own exclusive jar of slime, a Nick Jr. Kids’ Corner with themed giveaways, and a photo opportunity on Nickelodeon’s famed SNICK “Big Orange Couch,” where one lucky Season Ticket Member family will be able to watch the game. There will also be a Nickelodeon themed t-shirt toss, presented by Arctix.

Social media followers will also be able to sign up to win a one-of-a-kind Isles x Nickelodeon Happy Face painting.

“We are thrilled to team up with Nickelodeon again and offer Isles Nation a unique and unparalleled slime filled fan experience at UBS Arena and at home,” said Simone Perrin, the team’s Vice President of Marketing. On March 25th, content will be featured on NewYorkIslanders.com, Islanders Facebook (@NewYorkIslanders), Instagram (@NY_Islanders), Twitter (@NYIslanders) and in the UBS Arena app.

NLL Begins ‘The March to May’ as Teams Vie for Eight Playoff Spots in Season’s Final Weeks

With its teams battling for playoff berths and seeds in the remaining weeks of the regular season, “The March to May” is on in the National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the world’s largest and most successful professional lacrosse league. Every matchup down the stretch will influence the eight-team NLL Playoffs that begin May 5-7.

“The March to May” begins with every NLL team in action during an eight-game slate this weekend, including seven contests on Saturday. The new campaign will be incorporated across all NLL channels, including broadcasts, NLL.com, social networks, and in-venue by all teams to promote their remaining regular season contests and push towards the playoffs.

“’The March to May’ clearly defines how the run up to the NLL Playoffs is an exciting time for fans, players, teams, and league partners as we collectively march towards the postseason played through the month of May,” said Kurt Hunzeker, Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations. “The campaign easily communicates the importance of every game as teams pursue the ultimate prize, the NLL Championship.”

As previously announced, the 2023 NLL Playoffs format will again feature the top four teams from the East Conference and top three from the West Conference, plus a “wild card” entry with the best record between the fourth-place team in the West standings and the fifth-place finisher in the East. This “wild card” will play in the West Conference side of the bracket as the fourth seed. The unique qualifying format gives fans in nearly every NLL market a chance to earn a spot in the postseason tournament.

Last year, the final week of the regular season featured 32 possible playoff seeding and qualifying combinations, and the final NLL Playoffs bracket wasn’t settled until the final game of the regular season was completed.

The first round will be single elimination, while the East and West Conference Finals and NLL Finals will each be a best-of-three series. Game 1 and 2 of the NLL Finals will be played during Memorial Day Weekend, while Game 3 of the NLL Finals, if necessary, is scheduled for the weekend of June 2-4. The complete broadcast TSN and ESPN broadcast schedules will be announced at a later date.

FanDuel Advances Partnerships to Promote Awareness and Education During Problem Gambling Awareness Month

To promote the importance of safer play during Problem Gambling Awareness Month, FanDuel, the premier online gaming company in North America, announced a series of initiatives and donations to further support a culture of Responsible Gaming.

Expanding Support Behind Non-profit Partnerships

FanDuel will donate $100,000 to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) that will further support the NCPG’s Agility Grants program, in partnership with the NFL Foundation. This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations across the country for problem gambling prevention in areas that currently have no such services. “FanDuel’s commitment to supporting a spectrum of services from problem gambling prevention to responsible gambling education is a reflection of their dedication to building a safe and sustainable gambling ecosystem,” said Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director. “We are excited to continue to partner with FanDuel on our Agility Grants program, the first-ever national grants for problem gambling prevention. Together, we are taking an important step forward in mitigating gambling-related harm.”

Additionally, FanDuel will expand its support of the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) to fund ground-breaking research designed to understand gambling behavior in the U.S. With this research, ICRG and FanDuel aim to enhance the industry’s tools to identify potential harm, mitigate risk, and improve responsible gambling programs. “FanDuel’s substantial support plays a crucial role in promoting important research,” stated Arthur Paikowsky, President of ICRG. “We commend the company for its unwavering dedication towards advocating responsible gaming and increasing awareness about it.”

Raising Awareness through the RG Ambassador Program

FanDuel also will expand efforts to raise responsible gaming awareness through its RG ambassador program. RG ambassador Craig Carton, host of “The Carton Show” on FS1 and “Carton and Roberts” on WFAN 101.9/660 AM radio in New York, recently kicked off a “Responsible Gaming College Tour” with stops at college campuses across the northeast to raise awareness and educate young adults around the risks of problem gambling. In March, the tour will continue with a stop at Sacred Heart University.  “March is an important month to highlight advocacy for responsible gaming,” said Carton. “Whether it’s connecting with young adults about my story on campus or promoting safer play among sports fans on social media, I look forward to continuing to promote a culture of responsible gaming with FanDuel.”

Seven-division boxing champion and FanDuel RG ambassador Amanda Serrano and Carton also will share video content on their respective social channels reminding sports fans of the importance of playing within limits and encouraging those choosing to wager on sporting events to use FanDuel’s ‘Play Well’ tools including wager, deposit, and time limit technology, to help manage their play. “As a FanDuel Responsible Gaming Ambassador, I’m proud to work with the team at FanDuel to promote education around responsible play,” said Serrano. “During Problem Gambling Awareness Month, it’s even more important to remind those who choose to wager of the tools and resources available to them to help stay in control of the way they play.”

Collaborating with League Partners on a Shared Mission

FanDuel works closely with its professional league and team partners to promote responsible gaming to sports fans and applauds the efforts of those who are working to raise awareness of safer play this March. Building off FanDuel’s partnership with the NBA, at games this spring, FanDuel and team partners are sharing critical responsible gaming messaging and raising calls to action at arenas throughout the country, furthering the reach of efforts to promote RG education and tool usage, enabling fans stay in control of their play. “Prioritizing responsible gambling efforts has been integral to our relationship with FanDuel from day one,” said Scott Kaufman-Ross, Senior Vice President, Head of Gaming & New Business Ventures, NBA. “Responsible gambling is a key pillar of our approach to legal sports betting and we are grateful that FanDuel shares that vision.” 

Throughout the month, FanDuel is proud to support the PGA TOUR’s newly launched campaign for Problem Gambling Awareness Month on FanDuel TV and through FanDuel social media channels. “When the PGA TOUR made the decision five years ago to enter this space, we did it fully understanding that integrity programs and responsible gaming initiatives would lead the way,” said Scott Warfield, VP of Gaming for the PGA TOUR. “Because of that, we’ve developed deep relationships with operators such as FanDuel that also have that mindset and see responsible gaming as a shared priority and collective responsibility.”

Encouraging Customer Usage of Player Protection Resources

As part of FanDuel’s commitment to lead on responsible play, the company promotes awareness and encourages customers to use responsible gaming resources and tools to help manage their online casino, sports betting, horse racing and daily fantasy sports play. The tools are available in our apps and can be viewed on FanDuel’s Play Well site. These ‘Play Well’ tools include the following:

·       Deposit Limit – Decide how much you can deposit within a given time period.

·       Wager Limit – Decide how much you can wager within a given time period.

·       Maximum Wager Size Limit – Decide how much you can wager on a single bet.

·       Time Limit – Decide the max daily number of hours you can spend on FanDuel apps.

·       Time Out – Decide if you want to take a break from betting.

As part of Flutter’s Play Well strategy, FanDuel and Flutter’s other global divisions are committed to together reaching a global goal by 2030, that 75 percent of active online customers will utilize at least one Play Well tool, with over 50 percent using at least one tool by 2026.

“This March marks the 20th anniversary of Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and we will once again use this as a moment to demonstrate how FanDuel aims to set the standard for what it means to be a responsible operator,” said Amy Howe, FanDuel Group CEO.  “Through collaboration with our valued partners, we can continue to raise Responsible Gaming awareness and encourage our customers to incorporate our Play Well tools into their experience.”

Performance Hydration Leader Ready® Joins Global Tennis Market with Miami Open Official Sports Drink Status

Ready® (@ready_nutrition), one of the fastest growing sports nutrition companies in America with co-owners NFL superstar Aaron Donald and world basketball icon Giannis Antetokounmpo, is making its mark in the tennis world, being named the Official Sports Drink of the Miami Open Tennis Tournament.

Ready® Athlete Jessica Pegula, America’s top ranked player and #3 in the world, will join fellow participants for one of the largest combined ATP/WTA combined tournaments in the world scheduled for March 19 – April 2 at Hard Rock Stadium.  The tournament sports a who’s who of past champions including Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic along with Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf and the Williams sisters on the ladies’ side.

Ready® will use the high-profile exposure of the Open to highlight the launch of Ready® Light Sports Drink, its advanced, science-based beverage designed to optimize hydration replenishment and energy production.

The partnership follows Ready’s® signing of Pegula last August as a Ready® Athlete to represent both the brand’s products and provide a shining example of the unique goal achievement and perseverance mentality that is an integral part of the brand’s messaging and Pegula’s career.

Ready’s® sponsorship assets include product integration (sports drink, protein bars and powder) in player and recovery areas for competitor use, court and video board signage, on court cooler placement, product sampling, tournament social and digital branding, and commercial opportunities on the Tennis Channel’s coverage of the tournament reaching over 11 million viewers worldwide.  Ready® will premier Pegula’s first promotional spot for the brand on the telecast.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be chosen as a partner with such a prestigious tournament featuring players from all over the world,” said Ready® Founder and CEO Pat Cavanaugh.  “We’re especially looking forward to our best-in-class products being available to help fuel the players and assist them in their recovery.”

Final X, Beat the Streets’ 2023 Annual Benefit, set for June 10 at Prudential Center

Beat the Streets New York and USA Wrestling will present Final X, presented by Tezos, on Saturday, June 10 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Final X, presented by Tezos, will determine the 2023 U.S. Senior World Teams in all three Olympic disciplines: men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. There will be 30 weight classes contested, 10 in each Olympic discipline.

The top two U.S. athletes in each weight class will compete in a best-of-three series in Final X to determine who will wrestle at the 2023 Senior World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. The medalists and the fifth-place wrestler in each weight at the 2023 Senior World Championships will qualify the United States for their weight class at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

This will be the first time that Final X will be held in one location, as previous Final X competitions were held in either two or three cities. It will also be the first time Final X will be contested on three mats. It is the second time Final X will be hosted in New Jersey, as Final X Rutgers was held in 2019 in Piscataway.

“USA Wrestling is excited to partner once again with Beat the Streets New York to present the most important domestic wrestling event of the year, Final X, presented by Tezos. The nation’s greatest athletes will compete for the right to represent Team USA at the 2023 Senior World Championships, as well as an opportunity to qualify our nation for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Final X will once again be intense and exciting, as our elite men and women wrestlers put it all on the line in Prudential Center, a world-class facility. Make plans to join us in Newark,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.

Final X, presented by Tezos, will be broadcast live on FloWrestling.

It is the second straight year Final X will serve as the Beat the Streets Annual Benefit. In 2022, BTSNY hosted Final X New York at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This year’s event will be the 13th BTSNY Annual Benefit.

These unique and electrifying annual events help BTSNY raise more than $1 million each year to support local youth wrestling programs which empower young people in New York City. BTSNY provides a safe, positive atmosphere for student-athlete to learn essential life lessons of discipline, perseverance, self-reliance, humility and a strong work ethic through wrestling. The BTSNY Annual Benefit after party will follow the conclusion of Final X.

Session times will be 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time, with the Beat the Streets after party to immediately follow. Ticket information for Final X will be available on Ticketmaster at a later date, while tickets for the BTSNY Annual Benefit after party can be purchased at btsny.org.

“Beat the Streets New York is excited to host Final X once again for our Annual Benefit this year alongside one of our strongest partners in USA Wrestling. This event is our largest fundraiser of the year and will support 75 percent of our annual expenses, so we can continue to make a lifelong impact on the 2,500 boys and girls in New York City that rely on us. We are looking forward to hosting this event at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, a state filled with rich wrestling traditions. We have no doubt this year’s event will add to that tradition and provide exciting moments for some of the World’s greatest men and women athletes who are looking to earn a spot on Team USA at the 2023 World Championships,” BTSNY Executive Director Brendan Buckley said.

“Wrestling in the state of New Jersey has proven to be the incubator for success on the international level. It’s only fitting for Prudential Center to now host the best wrestlers in our nation as they compete to represent Team USA at the upcoming World Championships,” said Dylan Wanagiel, Vice President of Sports Properties & Special Events for Prudential Center. “On the heels of Top Rank Boxing (April 8) and UFC 288 (May 6), Final X (June 10) will keep all eyes in the combat sports world on Newark. Previously we have established ourselves as a top venue for college wrestling with the creation of ‘Garden State Grapple.’ We are now thrilled to add freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling to our diverse calendar and are very appreciative of our partners at USA Wrestling and Beat the Streets for bringing this marquee event to New Jersey.”

There are 15 wrestlers who won a 2022 Senior World medal that are eligible to advance directly to the Final X best-of-three series, if they accept their position and compete in the same weight class in Final X, presented by Tezos. They must declare they will compete at that weight class and accept their direct Final X qualification by April 21. USA Wrestling will announce when athletes accept their Final X position.

Once World medalists have either accepted or refused their Final X position, the rest of the field will be determined at the U.S. Open on April 26-30 in Las Vegas and the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament on May 20-21 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

In weight classes where an athlete has advanced directly to Final X, the U.S. Open champion will earn the opposing Final X spot. In weight classes in which no athlete earned an automatic Final X berth, the U.S. Open champion and World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion will advance to Final X.

World Team Trials Challenge Tournament qualifiers are determined based on the approved World Team Trials procedures for each of the Olympic disciplines, which are posted in the Team Selection section of USA Wrestling’s website.

FINAL X locations

2018 – Lincoln, Neb.; State College, Pa.; Bethlehem, Pa.

2019 – Piscataway, N.J; Lincoln, Neb.

2022 – Stillwater, Okla., New York, N.Y.

2023 – Newark, N.J.

*Please note if Prudential Center’s tenant, New Jersey Devils, host a playoff game on June 10 the contingency date for Final X would be Friday, June 9.

cover image: Sarah Hildebrandt (credit: Justin Hoch)

FanDuel Celebrates Massachusetts Mobile Betting Launch with Boston Bruins Partnership

As FanDuel Group launches its leading FanDuel sportsbook app and online experience in Massachusetts, FanDuel is also announcing a new multi-year partnership with the Boston Bruins who named the company an Official Sports Betting Partner. 

Starting today, FanDuel is bringing its best-in-class online sports betting experience to sports fans who are at least 21 years of age in Massachusetts who can now place wagers across football, basketball, baseball, golf, soccer, and tennis with a multitude of betting and payment options available. Customers who sign up for the FanDuel Sportsbook, make a deposit of at least $10 and place a bet of at least $5 will automatically receive $200 in sportsbook Bonus Bets.

“Massachusetts is home to some of the most passionate fan bases across the country and we’re excited to enhance their viewing experience with the launch of the FanDuel Sportsbook app,” said Mike Raffensperger, Chief Commercial Officer, FanDuel Group. “Bruins fans are the true embodiment of that passion and we look forward to supporting the team this season and beyond.”

As an official sports betting partner of the Boston Bruins, FanDuel will be permitted to use the Boston Bruins’ marks. Additionally, FanDuel will have signage both on dasher boards inside the TD Garden and the NHL’s new digitally enhanced dasher boards. The two will also partner together on digital and social media content including homepage takeovers and other exclusive content on Bruins and FanDuel social channels.

“We’re thrilled to welcome FanDuel to the Bruins and TD Garden family,” said Glen Thornborough, Chief Revenue Officer of the Boston Bruins. “With the legalization of sports betting in Massachusetts in January 2023, it’s an exciting time to be partnering with an industry leader in FanDuel.”

The FanDuel Sportsbook app, which is America’s most downloaded and best-rated sportsbook app, is simple, secure and convenient with a number of key features, including:

·        An Innovative Spirit: FanDuel was the first U.S. sportsbook to offer Same Game Parlay™ bets, the first to offer live streaming of sporting events inside a betting app, the first to provide Bad Beat Relief, the first to give early payouts for championship teams, and the originator of the crowdsourced Spread the Love promotion.

·        Customer Focused: FanDuel Sportsbook offers safe and secure banking, lightning-fast payouts, a Cash-Out early feature, and 24/7 customer service.

·        Sports Betting 101: FanDuel Sportsbook has a sports betting guide to help customers learn the ins and outs of legal sports betting.

·        Commitment to Responsible Gaming: FanDuel is the industry leader in promoting responsible play, including in-app tools that allow customers to set time, deposit and wager limits, as well as its PlaySafe site where customers can find additional support services.

Massachusetts becomes the 19th state where FanDuel offers mobile sports betting, joining Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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