Caroline Fitzgerald的动态

Led by Toronto billionaire Larry Tanenbaum’s Kilmer Sports Venture, the team will begin play in 2026. It will use the 8,000-seat Coca-Cola Coliseum as its home arena. The Toronto franchise will be the WNBA’s first based outside of the United States. The league has played exhibition games in Canada in the past two seasons, including in Toronto in 2023. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert called the exhibition a “seminal moment” for the league in its desire to expand a global platform. A WNBA franchise has been a thorny issue inside Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the multi-pronged ownership group that runs the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, Toronto Marlies, Raptors 905 and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. The expansion into the Canadian market also comes amid a period of significant growth in the WNBA. As viewership numbers are skyrocketing to record highs and a new crop of potential stars enter the league, the WNBA announced that it would be instituting a full-charter program beginning this season. Philadelphia, Portland, Ore., Denver, Nashville, Tenn., Charlotte, N.C., and South Florida are other places the league is exploring as options for expansion. #DrexelSBIZ #SportBusiness #WNBA #Toronto #TorontoRaptors #NBA #Basketball #CaitlinClark #AngelReese

GameAbove Sports has announced its acquisition of an ownership stake in the Brisbane Bullets, a premier team in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL). NBA Hall of Famer George Gervin, known globally as “The Iceman,” will also join the ownership group with GameAbove Sports in the franchise.

?If you’re into sports, this one’s a must-read! We’ve all seen those jaw-dropping headlines about franchise valuations skyrocketing. But behind those numbers lies the real story—the grit, vision, and relentless drive it takes to build something extraordinary. Andrew Petcash recently shared an amazing podcast clip on what it really takes to build a legacy in sports—and trust me, it’s worth a watch. As Brett M. Johnson wisely says: "You can't treat sports like a hobby." Take Jeff Vinik’s incredible journey: ?He bought the Tampa Bay Lightning for $170M, and now? It’s worth $1.8B. But here’s the thing—it wasn’t just about the money. It was about showing up with leadership, belief, and a long-term vision. At FiduciaAI, we get it. Sports aren’t just games—they’re stories, legacies, and connections. We’re on a mission to make those experiences unforgettable with: ?AI Visual Overlays that bring fans closer to the action. ?AI Sports Agents to help teams and fans unlock new possibilities. ?Innovations that are reshaping the future of men’s and women’s sports. ?What’s your biggest takeaway from Jeff Vinik’s story? Does it inspire you to think differently about sports and leadership? Let’s discuss! And while we’re at it, let’s reimagine what the future of sports can look like together. Check us out at? www.fiduciaai.com Because together, we’re not just watching the game—we’re changing it. #FiduciaAI #SportsInnovation #AIInSports #FutureOfSports #ImmersiveExperiences

With record attendance and record sponsorship, the 2023-24 season was a banner year for the NBA, producing some $13 billion in league-wide revenue. But that number could see another double-digit-percentage jump this season—and that doesn’t even account for the national media deals the league signed over the summer. (The new contracts take effect next season and come with a roughly $4 billion annual raise over the old agreements.) The relentless rise in revenue is sending the value of the league’s 30 franchises skyward, to an average of $4.4 billion, up 15% from last year. No team would sell for less than $3 billion, Forbes now estimates, and three clubs are worth at least $7 billion. Take a closer look at the NBA's most valuable teams: https://trib.al/0auO8Tx

Las Vegas' path to being "sport capital of the world" includes attracting major sports franchises. Here’s my newest story on how Las Vegas is going from Sin City to the sports and entertainment capital of the world:

Everything’s coming up roses in Portland. ?? ? We're in your inboxes with all the latest in women's sports biz! Subscribe for free today: https://lnkd.in/e8sEiSAD ? Per Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report, the Bhathal family — which already owns the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)’s Portland Thorns FC — is buying Portland’s newest sports franchise. Talk about trailblazers. ?? ? Similar to Toronto’s journey to WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) ownership under Larry Tanenbaum, the expansion effort has now found a new champion under the Bhathals, who have been principal co-owners of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s Sacramento Kings since 2013 and recently bought the Thorns for a record $63M this January. ? While the league has yet to officially confirm the bid and sale price, close sources indicate the Bhathals beat out multiple bidding groups. And despite the failed deal last year, Oregon’s largest city was still widely considered the frontrunner to land a new franchise, which will begin play in 2026. ?? ? A Portland team also adds another West Coast rival for Seattle and Golden State, meaning the W’s 16th expansion franchise city could be anyone’s game. Multiple cities, including Philadelphia and Denver, are still campaigning. ?? ? It’s too bad it didn’t work the first time around for Portland, because it’s only getting more expensive to add a WNBA team. Golden State paid $50M, then Toronto put up a full $115M commitment that included a $50M expansion fee. This summer, the average WNBA team was worth $96M, and that was before the W netted $2.2B in media rights. ?? ? Values are rising quickly, and investors want in, with entrepreneurs in the NWSL and WNBA snatching up stakes wherever possible. The Bhathals paid a record asking price once, and they’ll likely have to do it again — but it’s oh so worth it. ? Who's taking the 16th franchise spot, GISTers? ??

With record attendance and record sponsorship, the 2023-24 season was a banner year for the NBA, producing some $13 billion in league-wide revenue. But that number could see another double-digit-percentage jump this season—and that doesn’t even account for the national media deals the league signed over the summer. (The new contracts take effect next season and come with a roughly $4 billion annual raise over the old agreements.) The relentless rise in revenue is sending the value of the league’s 30 franchises skyward, to an average of $4.4 billion, up 15% from last year. No team would sell for less than $3 billion, Forbes now estimates, and three clubs are worth at least $7 billion. Take a closer look at the NBA's most valuable teams: https://trib.al/xeS5B1A

Celtics are on the block after taking NBA title. The team’s ownership group, Boston Basketball Partners LLC, has decided to sell the franchise for estate and family planning considerations, according to a Celtics statement. The owners expect to sell a majority interest this year or early 2025, with the remainder closing in 2028. The Celtics are going on sale at a time of surging valuations for pro sports teams. That’s prompted more franchises to sell minority stakes or offer up control. In the past year, the NBA alone has seen three franchises change hands, with the Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Hornets and Dallas Mavericks all going for $3 billion or more. Sportico values the Celtics at $5.1 billion, the fourth-highest in the league. The current ownership group, led by Wyc Grousbeck and including Stephen Pagliuca, bought the team for $360 million in 2002. #estateplanning #premiumfunding #lifeinsurance #premiumfinance #taxstrategies #estatetax #PPLI

The recent data on the growth of sports franchise values is quite striking. As the chart shows, sports franchises, especially in leagues like the Major League Soccer and National Basketball Association (NBA), have significantly outpaced the S&P 500 in terms of growth over the past two decades. Considering this data, the question arises: is it time to diversify investments into sports franchises instead of traditional indexes like the S&P 500?

This is the inevitable outcome for exclusive franchise soccer clubs: the novelty of teams like Atlanta United has faded, resulting in dwindling attendance. Once Messi departs and the World Cup hype subsides, this trend will likely define the future of U.S. soccer. The over-commercialization of privatized soccer, along with ludicrous billion-dollar franchise valuations, highlights an industry that is fundamentally misguided. It’s built on shaky ground by individuals who lack a genuine understanding of the sport, prioritizing profit over passion and community. This approach is unsustainable and threatens to undermine the very essence of soccer in America.