Naji H. Kelley’s Post

The women’s college basketball final just outdrew the men’s — by 4 MILLION viewers. To say this is a monumental moment in women’s sports is an understatement. To put it simply: we’ve now proven that women’s sports can be THE main event. Not just the prequel or the companion piece – but the literal headline event during a major sports moment. Why is this important? Because while men’s sports have always received investment based on their *potential* — women’s sports have always had to prove it first. And we’ve now proven that women’s sports aren’t just “on the rise.” They’re ready to own the spotlight, and they can anchor one of the biggest calendar events of the year. If you’re a brand or an investor looking to make an impact in sports – what’s your excuse now for not investing in women’s sports? We have the names, we have the scale, and we’re only getting bigger. Sunday night showed what women’s sports are capable of when they only have a fraction of the resources given to men’s sports. Imagine what happens when you pour real fuel on this fire?

The Sports Business world has not taken this Holiday Season off. For this "TripR"(Read, Reflect, and Response) let's turn to Youth Sports. This Sportico article below is a great jumping off point for students to jump into the Business side of Youth Sport. Near and dear to many of their daily sports experiences, this topic should yield great engagement, creativity, and passion from HS Sports Business students. Large sports complexes that are anchored by a Hall of Fame have created a tractor beam for many aspiring young athletes and their families. Close to home, my nephew has three fund raisers going to help his team go to Cooperstown this Summer for a Baseball tournament.  While the rising costs of youth sport participation is not "new" news, this investment highlights that this trend is not slowing, and in fact becoming a more sophisticated area of investment. From traditional sports like Baseball, Basketball, Football, Volleyball, Lacrosse, or Soccer to more niche sports like Snowboarding, Surfing, or Climbing to the much, unchartered territory of eSports, YOUTH SPORTS IS BIG BUSINESS. For the Reflection and Response, a few questions should get the juices flowing and conversation rolling. What are some things that "must be true" for this investment to be successful? What are some examples of other big investments in youth sports? What are some examples in your local area of Youth Sports flexing some "big business" muscles? What are some potential business opportunities that are under-utilized or untapped in your Local Youth Sports market? #sportsbusiness #sportsbusinesseducation #sportsmanagement Jesuit High School Portland Beaverton School District Fox School of Business at Temple University Portland State University - School of Business University of Oregon Lundquist College of Business

The trajectory of women’s sports is on the rise. Viewership is increasing, revenue numbers are kicking down records, and investment continues to soar. In 2024, revenue from major women’s sports is projected to surpass $1 billion for the first time. Kansas City is poised to play a prominent part in the growth of women’s pro sports in 2024 and beyond.

Abe Stein is very smart, and so clearly outlines the growth of women's sports in terms of valuation and revenue, and the value of investing now. One of the things I am really eager to see is how women's sports properties navigate and capitalize on this growth and changing fan base. A truism in women's sports has been that there is a small (growing!) but passionate fan base, that rewards the companies that invest. This is true, as evidence by SponsorPulse™'s "The Benchmark Report", which highlights that women's sports are one of the strongest drivers of sponsor favorability. These highly passionate, engaged fans aren't going to go away as women's sports become more mainstream and easier to access by a more casual audience. But the broader fan base will give teams and leagues an opportunity to speak to different kinds of partners: those that are primarily focused on reach, and those that want to drive favorability and consideration. By tracking the growth and attitudes of their audiences, and defining the right metrics for talking to different kinds of sponsors, I think women's sports properties will be best positioned to capitalize on this growth.

As valuations of women's sports teams rise, embracing secondary markets could offer significant benefits. These markets allow for greater liquidity, enabling early investors and owners to exit positions while attracting new growth-oriented capital. Women's leagues like the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) and National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) are well-positioned to leverage this opportunity, as they are more flexible than traditional leagues in ownership structures. Introducing secondary markets could accelerate the financial growth of these leagues and provide innovative compensation models, such as athlete equity stakes. Read more here: JohnWallStreet by Adam Grossman

Beyond the Court: Rich Paul's Impact on Sports and Culture 🌟 From Glenville to Global Influence: The Rich Paul Story 🌟 In the world of sports and beyond, few stories are as inspiring as that of Rich Paul. Rising from the challenging streets of Glenville, Ohio, to the pinnacle of sports management and entrepreneurial success, Rich's journey is a testament to the power of ambition, vision, and resilience. 🚀 Achievements That Speak Volumes: Innovation in Fashion: Launched an exclusive apparel line with New Balance under the Klutch Athletics banner, setting new trends in sports fashion. Strategic Leadership: Holds influential positions on the boards of directors at both Live Nation Entertainment and United Talent Agency amongst others, guiding the future of entertainment and sports representation. Impactful Partnerships: Forged a groundbreaking partnership with Robinhood, emphasizing community and social impact. Wide-Ranging Influence: Manages approximately 200 clients across all major sports, showcasing a deep understanding and reach within the sports industry. Commitment to Diversity and Equality: Leads a team of 80 at KLUTCH SPORTS GROUP, LLC, priding itself on diversity and equal opportunity, mirroring the diversity of its clientele. Championing Women in Sports: Advocates for female athletes and executives, ensuring they receive top-notch representation. Expanding UTA Sports: Since 2019, has significantly developed UTA Sports into a full-service powerhouse across all major sports sectors. Literary Inspiration: Authored "Lucky Me," a New York Times Best-Seller, sharing his journey and inspiring countless others to dream big and overcome adversity. Rich Paul’s story is not just about individual success but about how determination, strategic thinking, and a commitment to equity can shape industries and influence lives. His trajectory from the streets of Glenville to the boardrooms of the biggest names in sports and entertainment is a compelling read for anyone interested in the dynamics of sports, business, and making an indelible mark on the world. 📚 Uncover the pivotal lessons, strategic maneuvers, and critical insights that have catapulted Rich Paul to unparalleled heights. Learn how he persistently reshapes the contours of leadership in our rapidly transforming world. Stay ahead of the curve by subscribing to my complimentary newsletter, "The Bag." Join us here: http://newbagdrops.com

My latest for Forbes Sports Money looks at how experienced and high-profile investors are bullish on the future of youth sports as evident in recent announcements courtesy of Unrivaled Sports and Perfect Game. #youthsports #sports #sportsbusiness https://lnkd.in/eU4sZ5aJ

🚨 This has the potential to directly affect MILLIONS of young athletes in the United States and, eventually, around the WORLD! 🌍 I am sure there is a more-than-healthy level of skepticism surrounding this announcement 😒 with the doom-and-gloom youth sports observers ready to pounce on the idea that this is another step toward the over monetization of youth sports. 💰 But what if we paused ⏸️ and allowed this to develop before passing judgement? What if this was an opportunity for a group of people to come together and move the youth sports needle in the RIGHT direction? 📈 What if that doom-and-gloom crew thought less about clicks and page views (where fear sells much better than hope) and used their position to provide guidance and positive influence on this development? 🤔 I am going to beat the daylights out of this drum 🥁 until it falls apart, and then I am going to get a new drum: the point of youth sports needs to be focused on the development of better people and better leaders. 💪👊 Our world is suffering from a DRASTIC lack of leadership, and has been for a very long time. ⏳ We need a new breed of dedicated and conscious leaders to step forward NOW and certainly in the future. 🙋♂️🙋♀️ Not only this, but we everyone to understand and be able to recognize positive leadership qualities in ours so that, when the time is necessary, they know the right person to get behind. 👀 I am hopeful that #UnrivaledSports sees this as an opportunity to have an INCREDIBLY positive affect, not just on the physical development of millions of children and teens, but their mental and emotional development as well. 🙌💕

Last night I was privileged to spend time with Billy Nixon’s Sports Management class (thanks for having me!), presenting on one of my absolute favorite topics: youth sports. We talked about the industry as a whole, but here is my main point that I hope gets remembered. Yes, sports inherently come with competition. But when I asked the class why youth sports exist, nobody mentioned anything about trying to win. Yes, there is money in youth sports, but nobody mentioned to make money. Yes, kids develop athletic skill and a very small handful will go on to play at the highest levels of sport, but nobody mentioned developing professional athletes either. What they did mention were the physical, mental, emotional, social, and community benefits that come from youth sports. Whatever your involvement in the youth sports arena - parent, uncle, coach, administrator, etc. - don’t forget: it’s about the child! And parents most especially, always remember the five magic words to say after every game - win or loss, good performance or bad… “I love watching you play.” #youthsports

Angel City FC gets a record-breaking valuation It’s always great to see a sports team owned by its fans, but this isn’t like the Green Bay Packers. Hollywood power couple and OG Angel City FC fans, TV journalist Willow Bay and her husband, Disney CEO Bob Iger, finalized a deal to buy the LA-based women’s soccer team. The sale values the club at $250 million, making it the most valuable women’s sports team in the world. Some details of the agreement: Bay and Iger will invest $50 million and take controlling ownership from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Bay will lead the board and represent ACFC on the National Women’s Soccer League’s Board of Governors. All existing owners—a group that reads like the invite list to Oprah’s birthday party—will continue to be involved, including Natalie Portman (a co-founder), Billie Jean King, and former USWNT players such as Abby Wambach and Mia Hamm. Show me the money: Bay predicts that ACFC can ride growing interest and investment in women’s sports to a $1 billion valuation in the “modestly near term.” The team generated $33 million in revenue last year, the most of any women’s sports team in the world (according to the team), and was No. 1 in NWSL attendance and sponsorship revenue. But it’s not without its devils…the team ranks 11th out of 14 teams this season and has been dogged by reports of infighting.—CC https://lnkd.in/eWbiTPiN