Member Exclusives - SportsPro

Netflix, Roblox and Football Manager: World Cup 2026 reveals the benefits and limitations of Fifa’s post-EA video game strategy

Steve McCaskill — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:06:27 +0000

Fifa and EA Sports used to launch World Cup video games together. Their strategies for this year’s tournament epitomise their divergent paths four years after the high-profile split and why Fifa may not challenge EA’s soccer supremacy any time soon.

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“There will be a premium”: Canada’s CSME poised to raise sponsorship floor after World Cup

Sam Carp — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:51:19 +0000

CEO James Johnson says some deals are deliberately timed to expire after event to capitalise on demand.

The post “There will be a premium”: Canada’s CSME poised to raise sponsorship floor after World Cup appeared first on SportsPro.

What does Comcast split mean for NBC, Sky and sports broadcasting in the UK and US?

Steve McCaskill — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:38:03 +0000

Comcast is dividing its communications and media businesses into two separate companies. SportsPro explains what this means for the future of sports broadcasting either side of the Atlantic and the industry as a whole.

The post What does Comcast split mean for NBC, Sky and sports broadcasting in the UK and US? appeared first on SportsPro.

The business of Wimbledon: Careful modernisation of tennis tradition protects a unique commercial model

Josh Sim — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:30:00 +0000

Wimbledon's brand preservation over revenue maximisation has made it tennis's most prestigious event. Now it is seeking to modernise its facilities and broadcast coverage to maintain this position.

The post The business of Wimbledon: Careful modernisation of tennis tradition protects a unique commercial model appeared first on SportsPro.

‘The most valuable real estate’: How the 2026 World Cup became a springboard for AI innovation

Steve McCaskill — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:01:00 +0000

Four years on from the launch of ChatGPT, the 2026 World Cup is the first edition of sport’s biggest event to truly integrate AI across the board, with Lenovo playing a major role. With intelligent technologies influencing everything from tournament broadcasts to referee systems, SportsPro breaks down how AI is transforming how the competition is operated and consumed by fans.

The post ‘The most valuable real estate’: How the 2026 World Cup became a springboard for AI innovation appeared first on SportsPro.

‘It’s bigger than the world marathons combined’: How Hyrox is turning fitness into the world’s next mass participation sport

Josh Sim — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:32:12 +0000

With millions of athletes competing in events all over the world, the fitness organisation explains its commercial growth journey and the path towards becoming an Olympic sport by 2032.

The post ‘It’s bigger than the world marathons combined’: How Hyrox is turning fitness into the world’s next mass participation sport appeared first on SportsPro.

‘We relied on benevolent individuals’: Inside Prem Rugby’s plan to turn financial crisis into investment opportunity

Steve McCaskill — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:39:40 +0000

With radical changes set to take effect from next season, senior figures within Prem Rugby believe the game is now better positioned to grow.

The post ‘We relied on benevolent individuals’: Inside Prem Rugby’s plan to turn financial crisis into investment opportunity appeared first on SportsPro.

The biggest sports production in history: How Fifa World Cup 2026 broadcasters will deliver the most complex tournament of all time

Josh Sim — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:34:02 +0000

The 2026 World Cup is unprecedented with 104 games and four time zones. SportsPro unpacks the differing approaches to production, distribution and consumption for the tournament.

The post The biggest sports production in history: How Fifa World Cup 2026 broadcasters will deliver the most complex tournament of all time appeared first on SportsPro.

Why the biggest World Cup ever could be the hardest for sponsors to get right

Sam Carp — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams promises sponsors more inventory, more engaged markets and more time in the spotlight. But it also creates more noise, more complexity and, in some cases, more activation costs.

The post Why the biggest World Cup ever could be the hardest for sponsors to get right appeared first on SportsPro.

Record attendances, mainstream exposure and lasting legacy: How the 2026 ICC T20 Women’s World Cup will take English women’s cricket to the next level

Josh Sim — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:10:52 +0000

Beth Barrett-Wild, the T20 Women’s World Cup tournament director explains how record revenues and rising audiences will drive lasting change for women's cricket.

The post Record attendances, mainstream exposure and lasting legacy: How the 2026 ICC T20 Women’s World Cup will take English women’s cricket to the next level appeared first on SportsPro.

The NFL is selling more games to Netflix – but is it nearing peak growth?

Steve McCaskill — Thu, 14 May 2026 16:10:34 +0000

The NFL is creating new packages and renegotiating media deals to extract more revenue and increase influence. So far it has been hugely successful, but at which point will broadcasters say ‘enough is enough’ and will government intervention scupper growth?

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Scarcity, data and a pricing floor: How the Williams F1 team rebuilt their sponsorship portfolio

Cian Brittle — Thu, 14 May 2026 12:56:24 +0000

Peter Kenyon explains how Williams’ data-driven sponsorship approach is helping the team attract partners ahead of the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.

The post Scarcity, data and a pricing floor: How the Williams F1 team rebuilt their sponsorship portfolio appeared first on SportsPro.

Why BT is banking on Euro 2028 to reassert telco market dominance

Steve McCaskill — Tue, 12 May 2026 16:03:32 +0000

BT’s 5G, fibre and security services will deliver the digital backbone for the tournament. But it also reflects how international soccer is a unique marketing opportunity for national telecoms champions.

The post Why BT is banking on Euro 2028 to reassert telco market dominance appeared first on SportsPro.

Why the ICC believes cricket’s two billion fans are still under-commercialised

Josh Sim — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:22:30 +0000

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta outlines the global governing body's plans to reduce cricket's reliance on media rights and diversify revenue streams through data, digital and the event experience.

The post Why the ICC believes cricket’s two billion fans are still under-commercialised appeared first on SportsPro.

Inside Newcastle’s business plan to challenge for the Premier League by 2030

Steve McCaskill — Thu, 07 May 2026 12:32:20 +0000

Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson outlines how the club plans to increase revenues by nine figures, take advantage of PSR changes, and challenge for titles by the end of the decade.

The post Inside Newcastle’s business plan to challenge for the Premier League by 2030 appeared first on SportsPro.

Why Gary Neville’s the Overlap bought Mark Goldbridge’s YouTube channels

Josh Sim — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:45:58 +0000

SportsPro unpacks what the once unlikely union between Gary Neville and YouTuber Mark Goldbridge reveals about the growth of fan-led media.

The post Why Gary Neville’s the Overlap bought Mark Goldbridge’s YouTube channels appeared first on SportsPro.

Crisis or opportunity? How the Premier League betting ban is resetting the shirt sponsorship market

Sam Carp — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:22:29 +0000

The Premier League’s front-of-shirt betting ban has left nine clubs still needing a new sponsor for next season.

The post Crisis or opportunity? How the Premier League betting ban is resetting the shirt sponsorship market appeared first on SportsPro.

What next for LIV Golf and sport’s relationship with Saudi Arabia?

Josh Sim — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:29:33 +0000

LIV’s arrival initiated a golfing civil war, but reports suggest the end might be nigh for the breakaway circuit, despite insisting business as usual.

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‘Personalisation is not optional’: How ESPN is using AI to turn one show into millions

Steve McCaskill — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:56:15 +0000

ESPN's Brian Marshall explains how AI and tech reliability are enabling the broadcaster to create tailored experiences for fans.

The post ‘Personalisation is not optional’: How ESPN is using AI to turn one show into millions appeared first on SportsPro.

Rebuilding college sports: Pac-12’s Teresa Gould and Big East’s Val Ackerman talk conference realignment

SportsPro — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:18:16 +0000

In US college athletics, realignment is often framed as a reactive process. But proactive leadership is key to shaping what comes next.

The post Rebuilding college sports: Pac-12’s Teresa Gould and Big East’s Val Ackerman talk conference realignment appeared first on SportsPro.