Venus Williams Tapped as Lacoste’s Global Ambassador
The Lacoste alligator is a country club uniform. The preppy staple announced that tennis sensation Venus Williams will serve as its new global ambassador. In a shoot for British Vogue, the elder Williams sister models Lacoste’s fashion-forward, sporty designs. For Williams, the collaboration allows her to lean into her two passions of fashion and tennis simultaneously. The news came the same day as her sister, Serena Williams, took the runway for Off-White at Paris Fashion Week.
FC Barcelona Announces Crypto and Metaverse Launch
FC Barcelona is pioneering its own path into the blockchain and web3. The world’s most valuable football club is worth $4.96 billion and has thwarted partnership offers with cryptocurrency companies in order to pursue its own. In the lucrative world of European soccer, FC Barcelona has always blazed its own trail as a fan-controlled football club. Many questions remain about the functionality of the cryptocurrency and what fans can expect from the metaverse presence, but time will tell.
FTX Foundation Unveils $1B Philanthropic Futures Fund
FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried continues to identify areas for impact for his rapidly growing cryptocurrency exchange. On Monday, Bankman-Fried announced that FTX is launching a $1 billion Futures Fund, which will invest in nonprofit and for-profit efforts with one common goal: “to improve humanity.” The company has pledged to give away $100 million in 2022 to a wide range of projects that could include everything from documentary production to critiquing the approach of FTX.
Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.
Naomi Osaka Steps in to Tell Her Story with Fortnite
Naomi Osaka has a story to tell. The tennis star teamed up with Fortnite to produce a narration of her life demonstrating that she’s “way more than an athlete,” highlighting her heritage and her passions. The clip features animations by her sister Mari. It is not the first time the two have paired up on a creative project, as Mari produced the monarch butterfly-inspired illustration for Osaka’s NFT drop with Autograph earlier this year.
Tickets Skyrocket for Coach K’s Regular Season Swan Song at Cameron
Mike Krzyzewski has left an indelible mark on the sport of basketball. As his reign at Duke approaches its end after 42 years, his final games are quickly becoming one of the most expensive tickets in town. A seat to Saturday’s Duke/UNC game – his final regular season home game at the Cameron Indoor Stadium – set fans back an average of $5,392, per Front Office Sports.
Jeter Walks Away from Marlins, as Upcoming Season Still in Jeopardy
Talks between the MLB and MLBPA carried on until 2:30 a.m. this morning, but the resolution of the current labor dispute continues to elude both sides. At this rate, it appears that opening day is destined to be pushed back. Baseball received another surprise as Derek Jeter announced that he is renouncing his 4% ownership stake in the Miami Marlins, citing misalignment in visions for the future of the team. In the wake of the news, reports emerged that ESPN will pursue him for a position in the broadcast booth once the game returns.
ESPN Introduces Andscape, the Undefeated Rebrand
ESPN closed out Black History Month by announcing the rebrand of its platform Undefeated. The new endeavor will be called “Andscape” and will focus primarily on telling the stories at the intersections of race, sports, and culture. As part of the evolution, Andscape will extend its production into live events, film, and music. The efforts will be led by its editor-in-chief, Raina Kelly.
FIFA Bans Russia from International Play
The most powerful sports governing body in the world has dropped the hammer. FIFA will move to ban Russia from the remainder of the 2022 World Cup cycle. At this point in the play-in competition, Russia had not yet qualified for the global competition set to take place in Qatar. However, they were scheduled to play Poland, who previously announced a boycott of the game in solidarity with Ukraine.
Maximo Carrizo Makes History as MLS’s Youngest Player
Maximo Carrizo got an unprecedented birthday present on Monday, as the 14-year-old signed a deal with NYCFC. The arrangement makes him the youngest player in the league, eclipsing Axel Kei‘s 14 years, 15 days when he signed with Real Salt Lake in January. While NYCFC rides high on its championship season, the club is equally focused on its future, as this is the second 14-year-old signing they have made in the last six months with Christian McFarlan joining the team in September.
NFL Unveils 2022 Overseas Schedule
The shield is looking to extend its global audience, and to do so it has expanded its wildly successful International Series. Last week, reports emerged that the NFL had come to terms to play a regular-season game in Munich. Buccaneers (Germany), Cardinals (Mexico City), Jaguars (London), Packers (London), and Saints (London) will each secure their passports for international play during the 2022 season. It will be the first-ever international game for the Packers.
Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.
