G13 Sports Bulletin - 10/11/2023

Welcome to the latest edition of the Global13 Sports Bulletin, where our team of sports experts have collected the biggest news stories effecting the sports industry. The bulletin will review emerging trends, major announcements, and sporting achievements, as well as providing you with insights into what our team at Global13 is getting up to in the world of sport.

SPORTS INDUSTRY NEWS ROUND-UP

It has been an exciting two weeks across the sports industry, with new commercial deals being struck as well as some big events news. The Rugby World Cup came to a thrilling conclusion with South Africa beating New Zealand 12-11 in a historic cup final. ?Elsewhere, the England cricket side have had a disappointing World Cup campaign, unfortunately crashing out in the group stages.

Events

Saudi Arabia set to host 2034 World Cup after Australia opts against bid

·?????? Australia has decided not to bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, leaving Saudi Arabia as the frontrunner.

·?????? Football Australia announced this just hours before FIFA's deadline for declarations of interest on October 31st.

·?????? FIFA stated the 2034 World Cup would be held in Asia or Oceania. Australia was seen as the main contender against Saudi Arabia, which already has support from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Saudi Arabia unveils new Esports World Cup

·?????? Saudi Arabia announced it will host an annual Esports World Cup beginning in summer 2024 in Riyadh. The tournament will have the largest prize pool in esports history. Further details on games and format will be revealed in early 2024.

·?????? The Esports World Cup is part of Saudi Arabia's National Gaming and Esports Strategy to increase the sector's GDP contribution by over $13 billion and create 39,000+ jobs by 2030.

·?????? Saudi Arabia also established the non-profit Esports World Cup Foundation to foster collaboration in esports, with former ESL FACEIT Group chairman Ralf Reichert as CEO. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the tournament will help achieve Saudi Vision 2030 goals including economic diversification and entertainment.

NFL lines up Spain or Brazil as new market for international games

·?????? NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed the league will stage a regular season game in a new overseas market in 2024, with a decision expected by end of this year.

·?????? The NFL currently hosts games in UK, Mexico and Germany. Spain and Brazil are being considered as potential new locations based on global marketing rights granted to teams.

·?????? Goodell said the league is debating between Spain and Brazil for the 2024 game location. He also noted Berlin and Düsseldorf have expressed interest in hosting games if Germany gets more NFL fixtures.

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Commercial

Jim Ratcliffe pledges US$300 million on top of proposed 25% Manchester United stake

·?????? Ineos founder Jim Ratcliffe is planning to invest $300 million in Manchester United as part of his proposed deal to acquire a 25% stake in the English soccer club.

·?????? The $300 million investment is intended to address Manchester United's aging infrastructure, primarily focused on improving Old Trafford, which lags behind the stadiums of other leading Premier League clubs.

·?????? Ratcliffe is reportedly providing the financing personally, and it will not increase Manchester United's existing borrowings. The deal is expected to be announced in the near future, pending ongoing negotiations with the club's owners, the Glazers. Additional investments in the club's facilities may be considered in the future.

Saudi Arabia targets US$5bn IPL Investment

·?????? Saudi Arabia, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is exploring an investment in the Indian Premier League (IPL), with talks taking place in September. They propose creating a $30 billion holding company for the IPL and investing up to $5 billion in the league, aiming to expand it globally.

·?????? The Indian government and the BCCI are likely to delay any decisions until after the next federal elections. Changes or investments may require reworking the IPL's existing $6.2 billion broadcast agreements covering 2023 to 2027.

·?????? The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia could serve as the vehicle for the deal, but final decisions are pending.

?Topgolf Callaway buys Bigshots in US$29m deal

·?????? Topgolf Callaway Brands has acquired four BigShots golf venues, including one owned venue and three franchise locations, and secured development rights for potential future venues. The acquisition was made from Invited Inc, a prominent operator of private golf clubs in the US.

·?????? A preferred vendor agreement has been established to feature Topgolf Callaway's products and merchandise at Invited's golf and country clubs.

·?????? This acquisition strengthens Topgolf Callaway Brands' presence in off-course golf, offering various benefits such as expanded venue options, royalty streams from franchise venues, potential technology upgrades, and a stronger partnership with Invited. The deal represents the beginning of collaborative growth efforts in the golf industry.

Women’s Sport

International events drive record women’s sport UK audience figures but WSL viewership dips

·?????? The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, the Solheim Cup, and England women's international cricket have collectively boosted viewership, with record-breaking audience figures.

·?????? The Solheim Cup set new records with 9.5 million hours viewed and the highest live average audience for women's sports on pay-TV.

·?????? Despite international success, domestic women's sports, such as the Women's Super League (WSL) and The Hundred, have seen declines in viewership, indicating the challenge of translating international event appeal into consistent week-to-week viewership.

Billie Jean King Cup Finals to offer record US$9.6m prize money

·?????? The winners of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in international women's team tennis will receive a prize of US$2.4 million.

·?????? The total player prize money purse for the finals is set at US$9.6 million, with runners-up receiving US$1.44 million, semi-finalists getting US$960,000, and group stage teams earning US$480,000.

·?????? This marks the second consecutive year of record payments for players at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, matching the prize money levels of the men's 2023 Davis Cup Finals. These increased payouts are part of the ITF's 'Advantage All' program aimed at enhancing the value of women's tennis.

83% of brands plan to increase media investments into women’s sports in 2024

·?????? According to SIL's third annual 'The Fan Project' report, 68% of brands intend to increase their spending on women's sports by one to ten percent.

·?????? The report reveals that, on average, brands currently allocate nine percent of their sports media budget to women's sports.

·?????? Data from SIL indicates that fans of women's sports are 20% more likely than fans of men's sports to subscribe to sports streaming platforms. The report highlights the cycle where insufficient investment in women's sports leads to a perceived lack of interest and underestimation of media values, discouraging brands from increasing their funding in the sector.

Stadium & Venues

Wasps announce new Kent Home plans

·?????? Wasps RFC, a professional rugby union team, is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to establish a long-term home in Kent, UK. They are actively collaborating with the Sevenoaks District Council to identify a suitable location that aligns with both the club's needs and the broader community.

·?????? The club, which had faced challenges and entered administration in 2022, is planning to construct a new venue called the 'Wasps Nest Stadium' and aims to make a return to the Premiership by the 2025-2026 season.

·?????? This move signifies a new chapter in Wasps' 156-year history and reaffirms the club's commitment to professional rugby, reflecting their determination to revive the team at the highest level despite previous setbacks.

Allianz Arena set to welcome major concerts

·?????? Allianz Arena, home of Bayern Munich, is set to become a concert venue for the first time through a deal that will see it step in whilst the club’s former home, Olympiastadon, undergoes redevelopment.

·?????? Renovation work recently began at the Olympiastadion, as a result of which the stadium will have to be completely closed from autumn 2025 through to at least spring 2027.?MSG, OMG and the State Capital of Munich (LHM) are currently regulating how the suspension of the usage restrictions in the leasehold agreement between MSG and LHM will be achieved through an agreement that has yet to be concluded.?

·?????? A strict ban on concerts at the Allianz Arena is currently in place, written into the terms of the 90-year lease deal for the stadium, designed so it cannot establish itself as a competitor in this market to Olympiastadion. However, amendments to the deal have been made, notably when the Allianz Arena?held its first NFL game?last year.

Mets owner unveils metropolitan park vision

·?????? New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has revealed plans for a $8bn (￡6.5bn/€7.5bn) mixed-use development on land surrounding the Major League Baseball (MLB) club’s home, Citi Field.

·?????? Metropolitan Park will seek to transform the 50 acres of asphalt around Citi Field into a sports and entertainment park that will feature the likes of a music venue and casino.?“It’s time the world’s greatest city got the sports and entertainment park it deserves,” said Cohen.?

·?????? The site will also be home to a planned new stadium for Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise New York City FC. This wide-ranging scheme?moved a step closer?last month with the beginning of the Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP).

Technology

ESPN apologises for using AI to create ‘fake’ Damian Lillard NBA interview

·?????? ESPN issued an apology for utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology to digitally alter a historic interview with NBA star Damian Lillard.

·?????? The sports broadcasting giant shared what seemed to be a post-game interview with Lillard following his debut for the Milwaukee Bucks, but it was later revealed that the footage was manipulated. The interview actually took place in 2020 when Lillard played for the Portland Trail Blazers.

·?????? Fans noticed discrepancies, including social distancing measures, distinct quotes, variations in the jersey, and microphone branding, which confirmed that the interview had been edited and did not occur as presented.

PGA of America dials up T-Mobile as 5G wireless innovation partner

·?????? PGA of America partnering with T-Mobile to install a 5G hybrid network at the organization's new $500 million headquarters in Frisco, Texas as well as at major golf events like the PGA Championship. This aims to leverage 5G to create improved fan experiences at tournaments.

·?????? The 5G connectivity will also be implemented at the PGA of America Coaching Center to enhance coaching tools and player performance analysis through new 5G capabilities.

·?????? As part of the collaboration, a new broadcasting and content innovation hub will be developed at PGA headquarters to explore 5G-enhanced innovations for producing golf content and expanding access to the sport through wireless tech.

Millwall sets stadium first with Ebar rollout

·?????? English Championship football club Millwall has introduced the first fixed permanent self-serve EBar Beerwall facility at a European stadium.

·?????? The venture has been made possible through Sodexo Live!, the club’s venue partner at The Den in South London since 2012, where it offers retail food and beverage services.

·?????? UK startup EBar’s Beerwall is a fully automated self-serve drinks facility or kiosk, which can deliver two pints in 30 seconds. It was designed to transform the bar experience at large events and venues by providing a quick and simple way for customers to purchase a drink

Global 13 Sporting Moment of the Week

There is only one option for Global 13’s moment over the last two weeks! South Africa made history by becoming the first nation to win four men’s Rugby World Cup titles after holding off New Zealand in a dramatic final at Stade de France. There was late drama as Jordie Barrett missed a long range penalty that might have won it for New Zealand as the springboks maintained their perfect record in finals.

Global 13 Sports Round up

The G13 netball team climbed to second in the table after an impressive 18-11 win!

Project Associate, Max returned to football for his first game in over 4 months, unfortunately his team lost 4-2 but great to see him back on the pitch!

We wish Eddie the best of luck in the next round of the FA National Sunday Cup re-commencing this weekend.

Movember Update:

The Global 13 Team have raised ￡221 already and we are not even halfway through Novemeber!