SPONSORSHIP AND PROMOTION
When it came to social media valuation, the Los Angeles Lakers’ jersey patch sponsor Wish was the most valuable during the 2018-19 NBA season. GumGum Sports, a division of GumGum that provides an AI-powered measurement platform enabling brands to assess value across linear, social and streaming vehicles, estimated that Wish earned nearly a $9.3 million value, up from $4.9 million the prior year. Benefiting from the presence of LeBron James, Wish displaced Goodyear, which held the top jersey patch the prior season for The King’s former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. “Next to Nike’s apparel sponsorship, the jersey patch is the biggest sponsor location in arena on social media,” said GumGum Sports general manager Brian Kim. “It’s worth noting that due to the variety of factors we use to calculate value – clarity, prominence, visibility, size, placement, and share of voice – still images actually generated 86% of the overall social media compared to 14% for video.”
Mars Inc.’s M&M’s is offering unique experiences around a pair of upcoming NASCAR races at Kentucky Speedway on July 13 and Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 17. The sport’s “official chocolate” will provide a VIP experience for race fans from glamping tents to garage tours. The M&M’S Glampground will also feature an appearance from NASCAR’s “Candy Man,” Kyle Busch, the circuit’s 2015 champion and driver of the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota. Busch’s wife Samantha and other drivers will also make the scene.
ESPORTS
In this week’s edition of Cynopsis Esports... - Riot formalizes college plans with launch of RSAA
- WarnerMedia’s synergistic Kombat plans
- Breaking down MSI
- Razer takes in Evil Geniuses
- Riot eyes mobile League
- Sony launches PlayStation Productions
- Netflix eyes game breaks
DIGITAL AND STREAMING
Twitter will have a big presence at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup from France. Karina LeBlanc and Aaron West will co-host FOX Sports’ FIFA Women’s World Cup Now live on the social media platform every matchday from the tourney’s opener June 7 through the championship contest on July 7. The company said each match will have its own dedicated page, featuring multiple timelines for top commentary and the latest tweets, as well live video from publishers covering every, shot, save, and goal. Twitter will also be on the lookout for the best Women’s World Cup tweets from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Spain, South Korea, the U.S, and the U.K. Following the final, the most popular Tweets across multiple categories will be crowned #GoldenTweet winners.
Promoter Golden Boy and streaming service DAZN are stepping into the ring with MSG Networks on a new monthly boxing series that will air in the New York metro area. The three-hour Thursday Night Fights series comprises a two-hour block of live fights followed by a one-hour studio show, Ring Report. The latter features renowned writers from Ring Magazine who will provide analysis and previews from boxing events around the globe. The next edition is set for June 13 from 10 p to 1 a. Seniesa "Superbad" Estrada (16-0, 6 KOs) headlines the card as she looks to defend her WBC Silver Light Flyweight Title in a 10-round main event against Gretchen “Chen Chen” Abaniel (18-10, 6 KOs) from Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles.
ROSTER MOVES
As ESPN has reshaped its Monday Night Football booth, the franchise will have a leader at the helm, with Jimmy Platt being named the director of the telecasts. A nine-year ESPN veteran, Platt has directed football since he joined the company full-time in 2010, and has spent the past five years, leading ESPN and ABC college football action, including at least one New Year’s Six bowls annually. Platt succeeds Chip Dean, who served as MNF director for the past 18 seasons. Dean is now working with event managers to create a path for aspiring directors and develop a succession plan across ESPN’s portfolio of sports properties.
John Needham is the new global head of Riot Games’ League of Legends esports. Needham, who previously served as managing director of Europe and North America for Riot Games, succeeds Jarred Kennedy and Whalen Rozelle who remain at the company. Kennedy is now heading the division charged with building and operating new businesses and has oversight for Riot’s strategic partnerships, while Rozelle is helming new esports initiatives across the organization.
THE MAIN EVENT
Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between St. Louis and Boston airs at 8 p on NBC.
ON THIS DAY in 1977, the Bill Walton-led Portland Trail Blazers won their only NBA crown over Julius “Dr. J” Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers, 4 games to 2.
In the Know: Damon Stoudemire was the Toronto Raptors’ first pick in the club’s inaugural 1995 NBA draft. Who is the only player the team selected as the league’s overall No. 1 choice and in what year? (Email chris-sports@cynopsis.com with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city.)
Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question: Which are the four NBA teams that won their only championship during the 1970s? Answer: Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazer, Washington Bullets and Seattle Supersonics. Congrats: Michael Ritz Northwestern Mutual, NY, John Baghdassarian Olympusat, Los Angeles, Allison Stevens Comcast Spotlight, SF, John Ward JT Ward-Spark Foundry, Chicago, David Westberg SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union, Burbank, Tom Moore Kalt Productions, Los Angeles, and Steve McNair KUBE TV, Houston,
Later – Chris
