Rising Ballers: From Foden DMs to Nike campaigns and multi-million revenue Sport Business How three friends turned the Rising Ballers Instagram account into a lucrative content business, via Phil Foden, Jamal Edwards, Iliman Ndiaye and some big life decisions. Jamie Pollitt vividly remembers the day that changed his life. He was spending more time on his hobby – a social media account showcasing promising young footballers – than [...]
Away ends in Premiership Rugby have arrived, but what do fans think? Sport One of the commandments of the “Rugby Values” brigade is the ability for home and away fans to sit next to each other, enjoy a beer and have some healthy banter. For the vast majority of rugby fans this approach is the preferred one, with the kettling of supporters pre-and post-match – as is the [...]
Allianz Stadium: What could Twickenham rugby arena look like after facelift? Sport Business We’ve all been there, kettled into Twickenham station after a day out at Allianz Stadium watching England Rugby take on top international opposition. The 82,000-seat national stadium is the biggest purpose-built rugby arena in the world and sits behind only Wembley Stadium’s 90,000 in terms of UK capacity. But Allianz Stadium and its surrounding area [...]
McIlroy Masters success tees up PGA TV rights price hike for Sky Sports April 16, 2025 Ahead of the Game: Can Sky Sports hold on to PGA rights, how do Hundred teams claim their cash, will Everton’s women stay at Goodison Park, and what will Super League look like in 2028? The PGA Tour is hoping to capitalise on the Rory McIlroy effect by securing a significant increase in the value [...]
How League One Lincoln City are helping to shape the football regulator April 14, 2025 Consultation has been one of the hot topics surrounding the introduction of the independent football regulator, although one club at least is trying to ensure that it is not a one-way street. While much of the discussion has been on what the watchdog will demand of clubs in return for being granted a licence, Lincoln [...]
Ineos and Ratcliffe need a sporting win and fast April 11, 2025 “Ineos Britannia announces that it has withdrawn its intention to challenge for the next America’s Cup.” Those were the words issued this week in the latest sporting scaleback by British chemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The stream of negative news out of Manchester United – including hundreds of job losses, brutal cost-cutting and criticism over [...]
Northampton Saints chief: Champions Cup run is financial tonic April 10, 2025 Northampton Saints may be the sole English representative remaining in the Investec Champions Cup but they’re out only to look out for themselves. A run in the world’s premier club rugby competition is a money spinner, up until a certain point, and can open doors to countless commercial and fan activation opportunities. For Julia Chapman, [...]
Volleyball World: How CVC Capital Partners woke sport’s sleeping giant April 9, 2025 Volleyball World CEO Finn Taylor on how CVC Capital Partners has commercialised the sport, its successful D2C platform and ambitions to woo British fans. Private equity in sport can provoke suspicion that it will be funds rather than fans who benefit most from the transaction, yet in volleyball there can be little doubt that it [...]
Premiership clubs cannot get bored of Champions Cup failures, it’s the pinnacle April 8, 2025 Looking across the results from the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup at the weekend with a focus on the seven English teams, there were six results that went the way many expected and one that didn’t. Gloucester’s victory in France against Montpellier was a real surprise, but wins for Northampton Saints and Bath, [...]
How club revenue turns Champions Cup into cash of the titans April 4, 2025 This weekend’s Investec Champions Cup round of 16 may be about getting the win in one of Europe’s most iconic stadiums, but in reality competitions such as this – seen by many as the top club rugby competition in the world – can have a monumental impact on rugby finances. The classic cliches in rugby [...]