Emma Raducanu Adds Porsche to Ever-expanding Portfolio
The 19-year-old Brit is set to head to the Sunshine State this week to play in The Miami Open; however, she’ll do so with a new deal. Raducanu, who has secured a long list of sponsorships since winning the U.S. Open, added Porsche to her portfolio. She also serves as a face of British Airways, Evian, and Dior among others, and is estimated by some experts to be on her way to becoming the sports next billionaire.
Al Michaels to Amazon as NFL Announcer Shake-up Continues
Starting next season, NBC’s Football Night in America will have a new marquee voice. Amazon revealed that Al Michaels will lead the play-by-play coverage for the company’s new Thursday Night Football coverage, joining Kirk Herbstreit in the booth. While details of the deal have not been released at this time, insiders estimate that Michaels will take home a similar paycheck to the one Joe Buck just secured for MNF on ESPN, totaling somewhere in the ballpark of $75 million over five years. It’s the end of an era for Michaels and broadcast partner Chris Collinsworth, who have jointly held down the helm of Sunday Night Football since 2009.
WME Signs Bored Ape DJ Duo
Daft Punk walked in anonymous headgear so Bored Ape DJs could run. And the future is now. WME signed ESCAPΞPLAN, which is made up of Bored Apes #309 and #4321, The Hollywood Reporter exclusively reported. While this is the first DJ deal for the NFT collection, it is not the first time that Bored Apes have been involved in entertainment. Electronic musician Dillon Francis recently signed a deal with Big Night Entertainment, which included Bored Ape #378 as a part of his compensation and counts the duo as part of its family. ESCAPΞPLAN and Francis have plans to record together in the near future.
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Naomi Osaka Goes All in on Crypto with FTX Partnership
FTX has drafted yet another all-star ambassador to its team. Naomi Osaka announced on Monday that she is joining the cryptocurrency exchange as its newest global ambassador. As part of their partnership, Osaka will help develop crypto education programs for women, received an equity stake, and will be paid exclusively in crypto. She joins Steph Curry and Tom Brady as the faces of the company.
Goldman Sachs Orchestrates First Over-the-counter Crypto Trade in History
Many big-name banks have celebrated the future of crypto, but on Monday Goldman Sachs became the first to do something about it. The New York financial juggernaut purchased a Bitcoin non-deliverable option from Galaxy Digital. It marks a major milestone for cryptocurrency, as it is the first time an over-the-counter trade has been facilitated by a traditional financial institution, and will likely trigger a wave of transactions, laying the foundation for the future of alternative currencies.
INFLNCR and NBPA Team up for NIL Education Program
This year’s March Madness hits a little bit different with the satisfaction of knowing that players can secure the bag. Nearly one year into NIL, student-athletes around the country have navigated its complex waters and teamed up with everything from big-name brands to mom and pop local spots. The NBPA is building a microsite to serve as an educational resource for collegiate athletes, and INFLNCR will help build and maintain the content as part of its broader mission of empowering athletes.
Nike Earnings Call Reveals Impact of New Business Strategies
The Beaverton-based brand posted one of its strongest quarters in history, even amidst turmoil introduced by supply chain issues. On the brand’s earnings call, CEO John Donahoe indicated that Nike’s success in 2021 has been driven by a “quality over quantity” approach. The Swoosh has cut over 50% of its wholesale partners in the last few years, shifting towards direct to consumer sales. He also flagged the Cool Grey 11 release as the most successful of the last year, shattering SNKRS records. The call occurred one day before Nike launched a first-of-its-kind 3D ad in Tokyo in celebration of Air Max Day on March 26.
Chelsea Draws More than 15 Bids at Deadline
It has been a wild few weeks for the British soccer club, which saw its long-time owner Roman Abramovich step down due to his close ties with Vladamir Putin. The club was put on the sales block, but has encountered issues as Abramovich’s assets have been frozen by the U.K. government. However, on Monday, reports came in that more than 15 parties – some individual and some groups – have submitted bids. The team is valued at $3.35 billion, but will also require a major investment for a new stadium. The next steps are unknown, but reportedly underway.
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