The sports industry has always been a powerful platform for fan passion, loyalty and community. But today, that community lives not just in stadiums and sports bars, it thrives in apps, digital wallets, smart venues and fantasy leagues. With every tap, swipe and scan, the modern fan journey generates a trove of valuable, behavioral, and often highly sensitive personal data.
And it’s a...
The power of the Jumbotron has eclipsed the power of the silver screen in the game of visibility and influence. Celebrities are deliberately showing up not just as fans of the game and its athletes, but also as strategic players in the game of visibility. From Taylor Swift at NFL games and Jack Harlow sitting courtside at the NBA Finals, it’s clear: sporting events have become one of the most...
In the words of famous philosopher Charles Barkley, “College athletics is so f—d up right now. I don’t know what they’re gonna do to fix this thing. It’s out of control. I don’t know how you’re gonna put toothpaste back in the tube.”
Spectators at Paris 2024 huddled under misting sprayers near the Eiffel Tower as a 36°C (97°F) heatwave engulfed the city. Volunteers hosed down fans and...
When I think about relevance — what matters, what moves us, what shapes our future — I return to the power of sport as a force for transformation. Sports have taught me teamwork, grit, sportsmanship, and the value of showing up — especially when it’s hard.
After graduate school, I rode my road bike across America. For massive stretches at a time it was just me and the road facing an...
In the words of famous philosopher Charles Barkley, “College athletics is so f—d up right now. I don’t know what they’re gonna do to fix this thing. It’s out of control. I don’t know how you’re gonna put toothpaste back in the tube.”
He’s right, but despite its flaws, the current system appears to be working for many in the ecosystem:
The coaches , many of whom have huge multi-...
My first L.A. sports heroes weren’t just featured in the morning paper. They were the actual stars of the newspaper themselves: The morning sports columnist.
Jim Murray. Doug Krikorian. Allan Mallamud. Their words told me everything I needed to know about whether Magic and the Lakers could finally beat Boston, why Fernandoma- nia was important to my city, and whether the Triple Crown...
The more things change, the more sports stay the same. Sort of. There’s more money involved, the global stage is smaller, and the scandals more salacious. But they remain a unifying story, provoking a singular kind of collective joy and despair, anticipation and exclamation — the same emotions that make for a great PR campaign. In a world increasingly influenced by AI and misinformation,...
In the ever-evolving luxury playbook, brands are betting big on sports to drive relevance and reach. In the last year, they have been flooding the zone — sponsoring sporting events, tapping athletes as brand ambassadors, campaign stars and design collaborators, immersing in leagues by designing uniforms, merch and trophy cases, and even investing in teams themselves.
The athletes...