NBA launch new global app to create ‘all-in-one’ destination for fans of every team

The NBA today announced the launch of the reimagined global NBA App, the all-in-one destination for NBA fans of every team. 

With entirely new personalization features, the NBA App will provide wall-to-wall content from every NBA game and feature social-style vertical video, unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to players and teams, new and existing shows and series, and access to the NBA vault for free.  The NBA App – a product of NBA Digital, the league’s joint venture with Turner Sports – is free to download. 

Additionally, the NBA has launched NBA ID, the league’s new global membership program offering fans benefits and rewards from the league, teams and its partners.  NBA ID, which is free to join, will link a fan’s experiences across existing products like NBA League Pass and NBA Pick’Em.  Throughout the season, NBA ID members will get access to new original content and fan favorites from the NBA vault.  Additionally, there will be enhanced members-only experiences from NBA partners, ticket promotions, prizes through predictive and sweepstakes-style NBA Pick’Em fantasy games, voting campaigns and other rewards.  

The NBA App is powered by the NBA’s new integrated digital platform, which was built in partnership with Microsoft, the NBA’s official cloud and AI partner.  The NBA App now includes a sleek new design and a first-of-its-kind “For You” experience, with content recommendations based on fan preferences and personalization powered by Microsoft Azure and Azure AI.  Within the app’s “For You” page, fans can tap into a social-like vertical video experience – with vertical scrolling – that features real-time highlights of all NBA games in progress.  

The league’s direct-to-consumer subscription offerings – NBA League Pass and NBA TV – will be integrated into the NBA App, giving fans the ability to watch live games and highlights and check scores, statistics and standings, all in one place.  For NBA League Pass subscribers, the live streams will feature higher video quality, lower streaming latency and a seamless user experience for consuming live NBA content. 

NBA League Pass returns this season with a new bundle and at its lowest pricing ever.  For a limited time, the standard package is now available for £14.99 per month (£99.99 for full season) and the premium package for £19.99 per month (£129.99 for full season).  Subscribers will automatically receive the NBA TV direct-to-consumer offering as part of the new bundle.    

“Launching our new NBA App and digital platform is a major milestone as we continue to build and strengthen our direct-to-consumer offerings,” said Chris Benyarko, NBA Executive Vice President, Direct-to-Consumer.  “We are thrilled to deliver a reimagined product that will enhance and personalize the way NBA fans engage with the league on a daily basis.” 

“The relationship between Europe and basketball goes beyond the countless players from the continent who have made an impact at the highest levels of the game,” said NBA Head of Fan Engagement and Direct-to-Consumer for Europe and the Middle East, George Aivazoglou.  “The Hoops Cities series showcases the individuals, communities and stories that have shaped the history of basketball in Europe and fueled fandom for decades.  We think that this series – that will premiere on NBA League Pass within the new NBA App – will resonate deeply with our passionate European fans and unite them around their love of the game.” 

Content highlights on the NBA App include: 

Live Programming and Social-Style Content: 

  • Gameday Experience – Fans will be immersed in game-day content all day long and, for the first time, get live access to streams of all pregame and postgame NBA press conferences and media days from every major event.  In addition, NBA ID members will have access to teams’ pregame shows for NBA League Pass games.  

     
  • Lifestyle – Social-style content series looking at the lifestyle, culture, fashion, music and more around the game and off the court, including NBA Kicks, NBA Fits, Jersey Drop, Ride Along, Celebrity Row and NBA Ink, among others.
  • “CrunchTime” – A free weekly whiparound show taking fans live to crucial moments of each game and providing real-time updates and analysis, produced by NBA TV and hosted by Jared Greenberg.
  • “NBABet stream” – A weekly stream produced by NBA TV with betting expert Tim Doyle and a selection of top contributors to provide the latest betting information during live game coverage.
  • Live NBA League Pass Programming – In addition to 24/7 NBA TV programming and out-of-market live games, NBA League Pass subscribers will have access to expanded options for personalized viewing experiences through a wide variety of alternate streams, including additional camera angles, betting-focused streams, influencer-led and analytics-driven options, and in-language feeds with commentary in three languages (Spanish, Portuguese and Korean).  “NBA HooperVision” returns for its second season with former NBA players and hosts Nate Robinson and Quentin Richardson.

     

    External Content Contributors:  
  • All-Access Directly from Teams – Behind-the-scenes storytelling from teams’ social and digital channels. 

     
  • Partner Content – Content produced by popular basketball and sports-highlight creators, including Turner Sports, featuring content from the hosts of “Inside the NBA”, Grant Hill and Greg Anthony, as well as FanDuel, DraftKings, Action Network, Bleacher Report and more. 
  • Influencers – Influencer-created content from popular creators including Thinking Basketball’s Ben Taylor, Jesser, Kris London, Lethal Shooter, Devin Williams, Tristan Jass, and more focused on fashion, lifestyle and NBA culture both on and off the court. 

Exclusive Original Programming: 

  • “Gold Blooded” – A new seven-episode docuseries telling the story of the Golden State Warriors’ journey to the 2022 NBA championship.  Narrated by Andre Iguodala, the series features never-before-seen footage and new interviews with team executives and players, including Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.  The first episode is available on the NBA App today. 

     
  • “Pass the Rock” – Fans will get an exclusive look at the league’s next generation of stars and their lives on and off the court throughout the 2022-23 season.  The multi-part series is slated to begin in late November. 
  • “Inside the App” – An exclusive weekly segment from TNT’s “Inside the NBA” team that will spotlight the hottest storylines and most topical events from around the league.    
  • “NBA Real Training Camp” with the Philadelphia Sixers (October 29) and Dallas Mavericks (October 30) – A special all-access show produced by NBA TV during the opening week of the season providing exclusive look-ins at the teams’ practices and interviews with players, coaches and front office personnel.  

     

    NBA Vault: 
  • Archived Games – Fans will have access to archival footage from the NBA vault, including 500 of the best classic games in NBA history.  Every NBA Finals game since 2000 will also be available, with more Finals and popular games being released throughout the season.  

     
  • Archived Series – Documentaries and all-access series from NBA Entertainment’s archives will be available on-demand, including “Dream Team”, “The Doctor”, “Wilt 100”, “The Association”, “Unscripted”, “Inside Stuff” and more. 

     

     

    International-Focused:  
  • NBA’s International Games – The NBA App will be the go-to destination for fans to engage with and watch The NBA Japan Games 2022 Presented by Rakuten & Nissan (Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards on Friday, Sept. 30 at 6 a.m. ET and Sunday, Oct. 2 at 1 a.m. ET) and The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 (Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, Oct. 6 at noon ET and Saturday, Oct. 8 at noon ET). 

     
  • “Hoop Cities” – An eight-part, in-language docuseries produced by the NBA’s Europe and Middle East team that explores the local culture, history and basketball communities surrounding the game in key European cities.  Launching on NBA League Pass on Sept. 29 with the first three episodes: Belgrade, Serbia; Bologna, Italy, and Paris, France, the remaining five episodes will be released on a weekly basis including Kaunas, Lithuania (Oct. 6), Cologne & Leverkusen, Germany (Oct. 13), Seville, Spain (Oct. 20), Istanbul, Turkey (Oct. 27) and Thessaloniki, Greece (Nov. 3). 

Sky Sports announce broadcast extension with SPFL

Sky Sports will broadcast more Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) matches than ever before under a new agreement with the League. The four-year extension to the current deal means Sky Sports customers can continue to enjoy the biggest matches from the SPFL live every week of the season until 2029.

In addition, and for the first time, football fans will be able to watch exclusively live fixtures from the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) on Sky Sports from this season. The broadcaster will become an official partner of the SWPL and the title sponsor of the SWPL League Cup for the next seven seasons.

The new broadcast agreements include:

  • Up to 60 SPFL matches exclusively live each season from 2024/25, more than ever before, with scope to increase this over the term of the deal
  • Broadcasting live from each cinch Premiership ground up to five occasions each season from 24/25 – one more than in the current deal
  • A minimum of five SWPL or League Cup matches exclusively live each season from 2022/23, with scope to increase further during the term
  • All cinch Premiership clubs being able to sell Pay Per View streams within the UK and Ireland of up to five league home games per season, with immediate effect, subject to certain conditions including no matches during blocked hours
  • The latest Scottish football news across skysports.com and app, including exclusive features and interviews, plus dedicated live blog coverage and in game clips from games live on Sky Sports
  • Free-to-watch highlights of every Scottish Premiership game on Sky Sports’ digital platforms, YouTube, Sky Q and Sky Glass
  • Alongside coverage and visibility for the SPFL across all Sky Sports’ main social media channels, the bespoke Twitter channel @ScotlandSky will continue to be the home of all Scottish football content on Sky Sports
  • Dedicated weekly highlights show on Sky Sports Football

In addition, the only 24-hour sports news channel in the UK – Sky Sports News – will continue to bring viewers the latest news, exclusive interviews, results and best stories from all the teams in both Leagues, making Sky Sports the destination for fans of Scottish football.

Stephen van Rooyen, Sky’s EVP and CEO UK and Europe said: “Every time we extend our partnership with the Scottish Professional Football League, more football fans are watching. With this latest extension of our long running partnership, Sky Sports customers will continue to be treated to the biggest games and even more live matches. For the first time they will also have access to Scottish Women’s Premier League matches as well, as we look to continue to bring the best football to an even wider audience.”

Scottish Professional Football League CEO Neil Doncaster said: “This is a very significant financial and promotional deal for the SPFL and I’m delighted our clubs have overwhelmingly supported deepening their relationship with the UK’s leading sports broadcaster. Today’s announcement represents a major financial boost for our 42 member clubs at a time when the UK economy is facing significant headwinds, and will increase the exposure of Europe’s most exciting and passionate league.

“We have much work to do to achieve our target of paying fees to member clubs of £50million per season – but this is an important and significant first step towards that target. Sky has an unparalleled track record of capturing the spectacle and passion of our sport and this partnership will bring Scottish football’s action-packed drama to an even wider audience.”

SWPL Managing Director, Fiona McIntyre said: “This is an historic moment for the SWPL and an enormous step forward for the women’s game in Scotland. This deal brings significant financial investment to the new leagues and enhances the visibility of the SWPL at this crucial time for the game. I’m delighted that Sky Sports recognise the value and potential of the SWPL and will be a key partner for us as we enter into this new era.” 

“Our clubs have invested considerable resources and we can now see the rewards of that work, with increasing commercial interest. This deal will allow clubs to invest further and will put the SWPL on the map as one of the most progressive women’s leagues in the world.”

Sky Sports is the home of domestic football in the UK and Ireland, with more than 400 games per season across the SPFL, Premier League, WSL, and EFL.

DAZN Group announces acquisition of ELEVEN Group

DAZN Group, a leading global sports platform, has today announced an agreement to acquire the ELEVEN Group’s global sports media businesses. The deal expands DAZN’s capabilities in the live sports streaming sector and establishes DAZN as a global leader in this rapidly evolving space.  The benefits are threefold.

New and expanded territories. The transaction, when completed, will propel DAZN to become the broadcaster of top football leagues in Portugal and Belgium, two enthusiastic European footballing nations. ELEVEN Group’s businesses will also complement DAZN’s existing market-leading positions in Italy, DACH and Spain, where DAZN holds top tier domestic football rights. ELEVEN also has a presence in Taiwan and other Southeast Asian markets, giving DAZN a greater foothold in the region where it has a market leading business in Japan. 

This geographical expansion gives DAZN access to new audiences as it builds out its global platform and becomes a one-stop shop for everything a sports fan wants – a place for them to access the largest library of live and on-demand content, analysis, highlights, merchandise, ticketing, gaming, and betting.  It strengthens the business and drives economies of scale.

New revenue stream in social media. The acquisition of Team Whistle, the ELEVEN-owned media business, will enable DAZN to reach younger audiences, diversify and expand its fan engagement capabilities, and maximise the value of DAZN’s rights portfolio. Team Whistle is ranked within the top ten US media sports properties on ComScore with over 700 million followers across its channels, and a growing distribution network that generates around five billion views per month across social platforms. Combining the complementary business of Team Whistle with DAZN’s content rights creates a powerful proposition.

Expanded football rights. The acquisition cements DAZN as a global home of football through the integration of ELEVENsports.com and the 40,000 games it streams each year. Through a strategic relationship, ELEVEN plays a key role in FIFA’s OTT service FIFA+, supporting the production, delivery, and distribution of live games from over 90 FIFA Member Associations. Of note, combined, the companies will create the world’s biggest portfolio of women’s football content. ELEVEN boasts women’s content drawn from across six confederations, adding to DAZN’s impressive roster of UEFA Women’s Champions League, Liga F in Spain, the English FA Women’s Super League and the Women’s FA Cup, and Japanese WE League, among others.

The deal introduces a growing c.$300m a year to DAZN Group’s revenues.

Shay Segev, CEO, DAZN Group said: “The acquisition adds scale to our business. It is a big step forward in our mission to be the leading global sports platform. I have a great deal of respect for what Andrea, Marc and the team have achieved and look forward to working with them as we further expand our ambitions. Together we form the strongest and most credible management team in the sector. DAZN has invested in building a revolutionary digital sports platform, where fans can enjoy the full range of interactive sport entertainment. We are looking forward to expanding these capabilities to new markets as well as leveraging ELEVEN’s capabilities in DAZN.” 

Marc Watson, CEO Eleven Group, said: “We see DAZN as the future of digital sports broadcasting and the ideal home for ELEVEN. Sport is global entertainment and joining with DAZN will be transformative, allowing us to access greater economies of scale and a global platform for our talented team. We couldn’t be more excited about this deal, and I’m really looking forward to working with Shay and the team at DAZN.”

Kevin Mayer, DAZN Chairman, said: “This deal marks an acceleration of our strategy to diversify our offerings and leverage our fantastic sports properties and our platform into new markets and business models. Team Whistle is a growing business that has a proven track record in monetising short form content. It will be hugely valuable to DAZN as we look to generate the maximum value from our enviable rights portfolio, creating new formats of content to reach new audiences and generate powerful incremental revenue streams. We look forward to welcoming all our new colleagues.”

Andrea Radrizzani, ELEVEN Founder & Chairman and Owner of Leeds United said: “We have developed a successful sports media company in the last six years with ELEVEN, and we’re delighted that this journey continues. The merger will provide greater opportunities as a group to continue to build a global destination for sports fans, which was our mission from day one.”

Upon completion of the deal, Andrea Radrizzani, ELEVEN founder, will join DAZN’s board as an executive director, and will support the DAZN Group’s business development.

Established in 2015, ELEVEN is a sports media destination delivering world-class entertainment to fans around the world, broadcasting over 65,000 hours of live content over the past year. From the world’s biggest sporting events to the best local sport and award-winning original programming – fans enjoy a 24/7 offering of the best live and non-live content across the ELEVEN Group.

As a global, digital sports entertainment platform, DAZN is fast becoming the daily destination for sports fans across the world. DAZN’s ambitions go beyond broadcasting. DAZN’s platform is becoming a one-stop-shop for everything a sports fan wants. Soon, DAZN customers will be able to not only watch live and on-demand sport, but listen to and read about sport, play games and bet, buy sporting NFTs, tickets, and merchandise.

The deal is subject to anti-trust review; as such, the completion date remains unknown.

Guggenheim Securities acted as financial advisor to ELEVEN Group on this transaction.

Guild Esports and Sky Broadband announce new partnership

Guild Esports, a global team organisation, and Sky, one of Europe’s leading media, entertainment and connectivity companies, join forces to offer UK gamers a next generation esports experience.    

With over 17m passionate gamers playing over seven hours a week across the UK, the gaming revolution is set to continue, which is why Sky, with its fast and reliable full-fibre broadband, and Guild are coming together to help enhance the experience for gamers.  

Together, Sky and Guild are committed to supporting and developing the gaming community, with initial focus in three core areas: 

  • Women in gaming – providing greater opportunities for women in the esports industry 
  • Driving esports performance – leading the way in player performance and best practice coaching developments   
  • Engaging audiences – bringing esports to Sky customers with exclusive competitions and experiences across all of Guild’s titles  

As part of the partnership, Sky will be Guild’s official HQ, Wi-Fi and Broadband and Mobile Network partner for the next three years and the Guild Esports performance centre in the heart of London’s Shoreditch will be named the Sky Guild Gaming Centre. To transform the gaming experience, Sky Full-Fibre Broadband will power the centre, with its reliable and game-changing speeds, giving Guild’s professional players a faster edge as they learn, train, and compete online.  

Sky’s branding will feature in a striking outdoor mural on the building and be the headline partner on Guild’s team jersey for the 22/23 season. The new jersey will be worn for the first time by Guild X, Guild’s all female Valorant team, as they play in Riot’s Game Changer tournament this week.  

And for gamers at home, Sky Broadband offers full fibre to millions of homes across the UK, with gigafast speeds of up to 900 Mb/s, so more people can benefit from an ultra-reliable in-home gaming experience. 

Rory Moran, Director of Global Partnerships at Guild Esports, said: “We are incredibly proud to welcome Sky to Guild Esports, and be the first major partnership for Sky in esports. Sky is a media, entertainment and connectivity powerhouse that will help drive Guild to the highest levels of performance in competitive esports globally. 

“This landmark partnership is built on a shared vision for success and a commitment to driving the esports sector forward, through initiatives powering women in gaming. Not only does this partnership represent Guild’s successes to date and plans for the future but it’s also a testament to the values that sit at our core.”

Stephen van Rooyen, EVP & CEO, UK and Europe at Sky, said:“Sky transformed the way families watch TV, now we want to transform the gaming experience. In esports every second counts, so Sky’s full fibre broadband will be perfect for Guild’s gaming HQ. Speed and reliability, hallmarks of Sky’s broadband service, will give the Guild team and gamers across the nation the edge over the competition.”

David Beckham, Investor in Guild Esports, said: “It’s great that Guild Esports has a fantastic new partner in Sky and I’m pleased to welcome them to the Guild family.”

Women in gaming
Building on the success of Guild’s all female Valorant team, Valorant X, signed in September 2021, the partnership will see Guild launch a new all-female Rocket League team. With the ambition to foster greater female participation in gaming, Sky and Guild are committed to creating an inclusive environment through thought leadership, education, promotion and by establishing suitable professional opportunities for women in esports. 

Driving esports performance
Establishing the UK as a top-five nation in the global esports landscape, the Sky Guild Gaming Centre will support esports players from grassroots to professionals and act as a hub not only for top tier players, but for the wider gaming community – powered by Sky’s ultrafast, full fibre broadband to provide a seamless gaming experience with speed, reliability, and low latency. 

Engaging audiences
Bringing Sky customers closer to Guild’s teams and players, Sky and Guild will work together to deliver exclusive esports competitions for Sky customers across all of Guild’s titles, alongside access to exclusive merchandise and bespoke digital collectables. 

Sky Broadband Gigafast is perfect for gamers with full fibre speeds of 900 Mb/s and the ability to connect more than 100 devices at the same time. Offering a high performance, seamless and reliable connection, Gigafast gives you the freedom to simultaneously game, stream and work online, whether it be via live stream on Twitch, Discord or holding a gaming online party, and lets you download games and buffer large game updates all at the same time. 

The agreement was identified and brokered by MediaCom PLAY, the Global gaming, metaverse & web3 experts. 

NBA announces series of youth basketball engagement programs in Abu Dhabi Games

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced a series of youth basketball engagement programs that will be hosted in collaboration with the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks as part of The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022.

The week of activities, which will include the league’s first Jr. NBA Week in the Middle East, will run from Monday, Oct. 3 – Sunday, Oct. 9 and will reach nearly 2,000 youth, coaches and basketball stakeholders from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and across the Middle East and Europe.   Jr. NBA Week will be comprised of youth basketball clinics, camps and showcases focused on teaching the game of basketball, promoting health and wellness, and empowering the next generation of female players and coaches.  The events will feature appearances by Hawks and Bucks players and coaches, NBA and WNBA legends, and USA Basketball Head Coach/Coach Director, Youth & Sport Development, Don Showalter.

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 will feature the Hawks and the 2021 NBA champion Bucks playing two preseason games at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, Oct. 6 and Saturday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. GST, marking the league’s first games in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf.  The games are part of a groundbreaking multiyear collaboration between the NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) that earlier this year saw the launch of the first Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League, a youth basketball league for 450 boys and girls ages 11-14 from schools across Abu Dhabi.  The collaboration also includes a variety of interactive fan events featuring appearances by current and former NBA players, a series of NBA FIT clinics promoting health and wellness, and an NBA 2K League exhibition event.

Football Fan app launches FanCoin in build up to Qatar

FIFA Football World Cup 2022 in Qatar is nearly upon us, the leading football social app ‘Football Fan’ launches its FanCoin® for private sale just in time for it.

Football Fan app that is owned by fans via equity shares has created a new way for fans to interact, engage, create, and be rewarded with their proprietary blockchain-secured digital utility token called FanCoin®. FanCoin® was first made available to Football Fan app users in January 2022 where fans collected FanCoin® for posting content, engagement, and gamification on the app. These blockchain-based FanCoin® rewards make the social app unique compared to any other traditional social media app.

And now FanCoin® is available for the Football Fan app community and stakeholders to purchase in the private sale ending on 31st October 2022. FanCoin® is priced at £0.01 per FanCoin® and community members can also buy them at a bulk purchase discount ranging between 5% – 20%, for a limited period only.

Post private sale, FanCoin® will be available to everyone via an IEO (Initial Exchange Offer) by a cryptocurrency exchange followed by FanCoin® listing on the cryptocurrency exchange for trading before the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar this year.

Football Fan app aims to bring the global football community even closer by increasing interaction and engagement by making their utility reward FanCoin® available to everyone right before the FIFA World Cup. FanCoin® holders can convert their owned content into NFTs or buy other NFTs using FanCoin® on the app. FanCoin® can be redeemed against several official products such as the England team shirt along with over 30,000 products on the FanCoin® Marketplace on the app.

What makes FanCoin® a game-changer is that it is backed by a strong community of fans and an extraordinary business case with real-life utility, unlike several other meaningless tokens. It also stands out in a way that it is not tied to any football club like several club fan tokens where the demand for those tokens is limited to their fanbase only. It is difficult to imagine an Arsenal fan buying Tottenham Hotspur’s fan tokens or vice versa. Whereas in the case of FanCoin® it is club or brand neutral making it more widely accepted by the community or anybody else in the world.

At the time of writing this article, the Football Fan app has rewarded its userbase with over 850,000 FanCoin® for their efforts resulting in over 29 million active engagements on the app. FanCoin® seems to become a popular way to engage with the fan community and reward them for their contribution, which has been missing from traditional social media platforms.

Speaking about the app, Amit Singh Rathore, Founder and CEO of Football Fan, said: “We started with the concept of creating a platform that helps and rewards every effort made by the users, who are creators themselves. We never had millions in our bank account to reward creators, but we had passion and dedication to make a difference with our innovative thinking.

“So, we invented blockchain-secured FanCoin® where users are in control. We were very conscious about choosing the right name, getting the intellectual property rights, regulatory environment, brand reputation and most importantly doing the right thing in favour of the fans. We never wanted to create just another token else what’s the point in all the hard work we have done over the years?

“We wanted to create an extraordinarily strong business case so that our FanCoin® holders can get the maximum value. We took inspiration from successful public companies where their stocks return value to their holders. We have been very successful in bringing our vision to date and the future looks exciting. Once our legal and regulatory counsel gave us a go-ahead, we were ready to launch the private sale for our community to get the most benefit. Also, it was the right time to launch the private sale as it is the year of the FIFA Football World Cup.” 

FIBA and celebrity streamer partner to make first 3×3 tournament viral success

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and celebrity streamer Ibai Llanos partnered to make 3×3 viral during the first edition of the FIBA 3×3 Streamers Tournament on September 12, 2022.

The event broadcast was the number one most watched stream worldwide on Twitch that day. An average of 150,000 fans followed the game live, with a peak at 193,000 users. In total, more than 2 million people have already watched the event on Ibai’s Twitch channel.

Ibai has won the Best Streamer of the World Award twice and currently ranks as the number four most followed account on Twitch. His young urban audience came from all around the world, from Spain, USA, Argentina, Mexico to France. 

The event saw some of the most famous streamers and content creators from Spain and Latin America lace up their sneakers to compete in an actual 3×3 event on an official court with the official rules of the Olympic discipline.

This means the outstanding live views and engagements were just the tip of the iceberg. After the final buzzer, the participating influencers went online to review, react and share content about the event, generating more than 20 million views. The event also had a significant, positive impact on FIBA3x3’s owned channels, in the form of 10,000 new followers in a few days.

Member Insights: Federer’s final curtain call: a moment that moved the world of sport and beyond

Michael Pirrie, takes a look at the farewell of one of not just Tennis but Sport’s true greats, and why it meant so much to fans.

Like prime real estate, great events are often all about location, location, location. Roger Federer’s farewell was located perfectly in the end at the London O2, one of the world’s leading entertainment centres if not centre courts.

And this was hot property. 

Like a great movie, which Federer’s career and life will no doubt soon become on Netflix, the farewell had a cinema-like quality as viewers around the world tuned in on screens of all shapes and sizes for this unique sporting occasion. 

And like many great movies, it was also a real tearjerker.

This was not an opening night premier but a final showing; different to anything seen in sport or entertainment before. 

While the traditions of English tennis were perhaps most suited to Federer’s style and temperament, he developed a new personality and brand for tennis that spanned the world’s grand slam capitals and beyond.

Everything about his farewell was surreal and a dream-like quality filled the cavernous O2 venue.

It qualified as sport but it was the most surreal of sporting experiences.

This was a celebration for the ages disguised as a sporting event.  Unusual and unique like Federer.

It was more like travelling in a 21st century sports time machine back to London for a final performance by Federer who had almost reinvented much about the sport over the past two decades.

The O2 event was more like a concert than a competition for Federer, the player other players stayed behind to watch play.

“Baryshnikov in sneakers,” according to US tennis champion and commentator, John McEnroe  

The Laver Cup blurred the lines between tennis and theatre as the event was transformed into a one-man tournament.  

Award winning British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding tried to tap into the moment, singing out the evening with Falling for You to Federer, even if some of his favourite road songs include music by Queen, Bon Jovi and Roxette.

The only thing missing was end-of-show fireworks and atmospheric fog or mist-like special effects, possible only at the O2 but not Wimbledon.

Federer owned this Laver Cup even before the first ball was bounced. 

It was a sell out with scarce tickets going for many thousands of dollars on the black market even if it had been almost two years since Federer’s last public performance.

The event was fun but had finality too. 

Federer’s ageing body means there will be no more comebacks – unlike like NFL quarterback great Tom Brady, who like Federer had achieved almost all that was possible in his sport, but suddenly cancelled his plans to quit football shortly after his retirement announcement earlier this year.

Federer’s farewell can only possibly be extended via holograms, avatars or video games. 

Ultimately Federer was much more than the results he achieved – the frequency and longevity of his success even had some critics complaining of boredom until they stopped and looked more closely at the unprecedented improvisation and innovation he created in shot making mid point that left opponents shattered.

With Federer it was much more about what he brought to the game and to sport more widely.

While there were no five set epics this time, the O2 farewell held deep meaning for the legions of fans. 

There were no love matches but much love for the athlete who surpassed conventions and expectations, bringing new outcomes and possibilities for tennis and in life beyond sport.  

Federer, often compared with Muhammad Ali or Pele, played the way his many fans dreamed tennis could be played – how they would play if they could.

He turned fan fantasies into reality and rarely disappointed. 

The farewell event said much about Federer and about the sport

Federer returned the love and affection inside the London stadium as well as his return of srvice.

This was the big dance for tennis and while there were many potential partners, Federer’s choice of Rafael Nadal as his doubles buddy was as inevitable as it was heart warming.

It was also epic.  Two legends together on the court, representing an almost incomprehensible 42 grand slam titles between them.

This is the dream of every sports governing body and federation. 

Novak Djokovic, the vaudeville villain of tennis, was waiting in the wings for a possible call up with 21 grand slams.

Never had such an assembly of tennis achievement or been assembled in one place in recent times.

“We al knew it would be an emotional farewell for Roger but we were all taken away by the moment,” Djokovic said later.

“I think we would all agree this was one of the most beautiful moments anyone has experienced on a tennis court.”

Federer’s toughest opponent on the night was not himself nor his rivals on the other side of the net.

The biggest challenge came from the master of ceremonies, Jim Courier, in his post match interview about retirement.   

While Federer’s emotional post comments were the highlight of the night, it was the images beamed across London and the world that did most of the talking.

Images of tears of exhaustion and emotion rolling down Federer’s face and Nadal’s too and no attempt hide the emotions.

Tears of overwhelming emotion that flowed from the legends and across the faces of fans standing in ovation for an encore that would never come.

Perhaps more than any grand slam victory, this night will be the most memorable for Federer. 

Member Insights: London leads goodbye to King of Tennis

Michael Pirrie, looks at the impact of Roger Federer’s retirement, secrets of his success and careful planning behind his farewell performance in London tonight and associated events over the weekend – events that will be draped in history with royal overtones.

London’s time at the centre of global interest and attention following the death of the Queen is passing rapidly as the capital transitions to a post-Elizabethan world.

As well as uncertainty, more familiar rituals and pursuits will endure from the late Queen’s reign in the coming days, weeks and beyond.

These include major sporting events, beginning with a grand goodbye to possibly the greatest sporting figure of the generation.

After decades of thrilling tennis performances and thrilling audiences around the world, Roger Federer will turn out for one last showing in London later tonight and at associated events over the weekend.

While it is unclear if the new King of England will embrace sports as his late mother did, the Laver Cup is the first major sporting showpiece since the Queen’s funeral and will be draped in history and royal overtones

Federer’s farewell, ending his reign as king of modern day tennis, comes at the end of the same dramatic week the world mourned and celebrated the Queen of the second Elizabethan era.

Traditional royalty now merges with sporting royalty in the week of the Queen’s historic farewell. 

Sport was an important part of the Queen’s soft power, deployed with discretion in telling and surprising ways that remain largely unknown.

The endorsement by the late anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela for London to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games is a powerful example.

Mandela’s support was vital for our campaign against New York, Paris, Moscow, Madrid and other global capitals for the Games.

I recall working on the top secret project with London bid chair Seb Coe who collaborated closely with UK Sports Minister Richard Caborn to secure Mandela’s agreement to be an ambassador for London’s bid. 

Mandela’s endorsement generated enormous global credibility and momentum for London.

We later learnt that Mandela agreed to support London in the epic battle between the mega cities for the Olympics because of his affection for Queen Elizabeth 11 and the Commonwealth. 

Federer’s final appearance in London marks the end of an era that will also be celebrated and mourned by many, like the life of the Queen.

Federer’s decision to retire was similar to the death of the Queen in various ways. 

While we knew it was coming, there was still profound shock when it happened. 

If the Queen was the most well known global figure of the times, then Federer is probably the best-known sporting figure. 

Like final farewells to the Queen, Federer’s sign off performance will also attract global attention, and follows the recent retirement of the queen of women’s tennis, Serena Williams.

While Federer’s swan song comes at the Laver Cup, essentially an exhibition event that does not have the pressure of a sudden death grand slam championship, the farewell is borne of the same forensic planning behind Federer’s unprecedented career.

After chasing tennis dreams, titles, and fame on courts across the globe for decades, it seemed appropriate Federer and his management would bring his professional career to an end in London.

Famous for its majestic castles, palaces and theatres of dreams and destiny, London is uniquely equipped for fairytale endings.

Memorable farewells can require spectacular backdrops and settings and no city can give a farewell like London, as demonstrated by the majesty and grandeur of the Queen’s long goodbye.

Federer’s team knows London is also the world’s biggest media market place, equipped with the most extensive international media connections to showcase Federer’s unique sporting personality and career achievements to global audiences for one last time.

London is a city synonymous for famous farewells, where stars of stage, song and screen have often taken their final bows, bouquets and curtain calls.

And for sports stars too. None bigger than Olympic sprinting legend Usain Bolt who delayed his retirement after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games to compete for a final time at the world athletic championships in 2017 in London. 

London also carries many important personal and career milestones for Federer that were vital in his choice of farewell city.

These include multiple victories at Wimbledon, the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament and the first major singles title of his career.

Other Wimbledon titles and performances would provide the foundations of Federer’s spectacular career.

These include his Wimbledon loss in 2008 to long time rival Rafael Nadal in an epic match regarded as one of the greatest sporting contests in the history of the game. 

It has been said that greatness in sport can be measured by achievement, longevity, style and graciousness.

While Federer measures almost off the scales in all categories, he regards longevity as the key.

“I think looking back, that has a special meaning to me because I always looked to the Michael Schumachers, Tiger Woods, all the other guys that stayed for so long at the top that I didn’t understand how they did it. Next thing you now you’re part of that group, and its been a great feeling,” Federer said in London recently.

Federer, extraordinarily, won three Grand Slams singles titles each year in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

“He made the game look so easy,” said one of his coaches. “I’ve always felt he was Picasso with a tennis racket. What I will miss most is the beauty he brought to the game.”

Federer’s blend and brand of exceptional athleticism, composure and grace under pressure and public appeal was almost unique, transforming him into the first tennis player to earn more than $1 billion through career prize money and especially through extensive sponsorship deals.  

If London was always destined to be the final location in Federer’s career, then the Laver Cup seemed the most appropriate farewell event. 

It brings together several of the best players in Europe and from around the world in team competition.

This year’s event will include a stellar line up which will see Federer combining in doubles  with Rafael Nadal, with whom he has forged a strong bond of friendship and respect.

https://twitter.com/andy_murray/status/1572942133970993152

Appropriately, this Laver Up will also include Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, completing the Big Four of tennis who have dominated and created possibly the most sustainably successful and thrilling era of modern sport.    

Beginning with the Queen’s funeral on Monday, the Federer Laver Cup farewell will complete an extraordinary week in London that has touched the world emotionally like rarely before.

AC Milan announce partnership with Web3 football game, Monkey League

AC Milan is delighted to announce a new partnership with MonkeyLeague, a AAA-quality, web3 football game built atop of the Solana blockchain, becoming the Rossoneri’s new NFT Gaming Partner.

MonkeyLeague is a strategy-based football game, in which users build and manage their own dream team of at least six MonkeyPlayer NFTs (striker, midfielder, defender and goalkeeper), compete against real players, and climb the league ranks. The game economy is centered around an in-game currency, MonkeyBucks ($MBS), and in-game assets that hold value in and out of the game.

The new wide-ranging, strategic, and design partnership between MonkeyLeague and AC Milan includes the creation of exclusive, Rossoneri-branded NFT game assets, wearables, special game tournaments, co-marketing events, and a host of other exciting initiatives, such as club players playtesting the game.

As part of the deal, MonkeyLeague will work closely with the Italian Champions to launch a new collection of branded AC Milan NFT game assets, including new MonkeyPlayers, skins and Stadiums. The first and more exclusive batch will be auctioned on 6 October on MagicEden, with the NFTs going to the highest bidders. Some of the highly-sought after AC Milan MonkeyPlayers to be auctioned will come with physical AC Milan jerseys signed by the entire Club.  

In addition, MonkeyLeague will launch its initial MonkeyPlayer NFT breeding season in partnership with AC Milan where AC Milan branded assets can randomly come out through the breeding process. There will also be additional NFTs available, including in-game Stadiums and land.

The partnership marks a significant new growth phase for the entire MonkeyLeague community and fits perfectly in MonkeyLeague’s mission to bridge web2 and web3. For AC Milan, the new partnership with MonkeyLeague is part of a wider Web 3.0 strategy that sees the Club working with experts to create unique digital experiences for its fans, which aim to give them more access, more ownership and bring them even closer to their beloved Club. 

Casper Stylsvig, Chief Revenue Officer of AC Milan commented: “We are thrilled to kick off this partnership with MonkeyLeague, a collaboration that allows us to strengthen our positioning in the field of digital innovation. We are particularly proud to be the first football club to partner with MonkeyLeague, bringing this game to our supporters around the world and offering them a new innovative way to engage with their favourite team.” 

Oren Langberg, Head of Marketing & Partnerships at MonkeyLeague said: “Partnering with champions like AC Milan, an absolute iconic Club throughout football’s history, is another testament to what we are building and where we are headed as a game and game studio. It also represents a key step in our plans to bridge the Web2 and Web3 worlds.”