Top 5 - The Sphere Breaks into Sports
Plus ESPN ventures into tourism and Bronny headlines NBA Summer League
Whatsup Squad,
Let’s get into the top stories of the week:
⭐️ FEATURE STORY
The Sphere Breaks into Sports
The Sphere hosted the 2024 NHL Draft this past weekend, which was the venue’s first live televised event.
Just off the Las Vegas strip, the world’s largest spherical structure has hosted immersive shows, private corporate events and epic musical performances.
But its foray into sports is just beginning.
As the draft went on, custom visuals were displayed inside and outside of the Sphere in real time.
The draft comes just months before the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will host UFC 306 at the Sphere on Sept. 14 (Mexican Independence Day)
With a get-in price of $2900, UFC President Dana White claims it will be the greatest live sporting event ever.
Bottom Line - The venue wasn’t built for sports, but it has every sports executive and investor taking notes. Steven Cohen, hedge fund billionaire and owner of the New York Mets, recently took a 5.5% share in the Sphere’s parent company.
Read more here
The Messi Effect Hits Copa America
The 2024 Copa América features 16 participating countries playing in matches across 14 cities in the US.
According to Airbnb, the largest soccer tournament in the Americas has seen a wave of fans looking to travel.
The brand even created a special landing page specifically designed for soccer fans seeking accommodations near stadiums.
Destinations where Argentina (and their star Lionel Messi) is scheduled to play have seen a surge in listing views on Airbnb.
As anticipation for the event reaches a fever pitch, listing views from guests in competing countries outside the US spiked nearly 40 percent for match days compared to the previous year.
“It is well-known that Latinos are passionate about soccer, so therefore it doesn’t come as a big surprise that fans from across the region would make the long trek to support their teams, participate in the fanfare, and ultimately get a shot at witnessing history,”
- Jordi Torres Mallol, America’s Director for Airbnb
Apart from US guests, fans traveling from Canada, Brazil, and Argentina have booked the most nights during match days.
Bottom Line - If traveler numbers can be used as an indication of interest in soccer in America, Airbnb and other accommodation providers are poised to reap the benefits of the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
Read more here
From Research Hub to Sports Hotspot
Located 80 minutes south of the U.S. Open in Pinehurst, Raleigh benefited greatly from the influx of sports tourists.
While the U.S. Open provided secondary economic impact, the Triangle region is actively engaging in direct sports tourism.
PNC Arena, home of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, has a capacity of about 19,000 and is filled for most games.
It is expected to welcome 1.6 million visitors in 2024 and will undergo a $300 million renovation in summer 2025.
Just west of Raleigh, Cary has become a sports hub with USA Baseball headquarters, Triangle Aquatic Center, and WakeMed Soccer Park.
The new USA Baseball indoor high-performance training area offers flexibility for various activities.
Bottom Line - In addition to building new facilities and renovating existing ones, the region has focused on bringing in events as multiyear agreements and not a one-and-done.
Read more here
ESPN Enters Sports Tourism
The Worldwide Leader in Sports has ventured into sports tourism!
Powered by Adventures by Disney, the “Take Me Out to the Ballparks” tour pairs the thrill of baseball with the adventure of travel.
The Labor Day Weekend experience features:
• Blue Jays vs. Red Sox
• Cardinals vs. Yankees
• Braves vs. Phillies
• Private tours of ESPN HQ, Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, and the Jackie Robinson Museum
• All hotels, transportation, and select meals
And it's no bargain. Prices for this five-day, four-night experience start at $6999.
With ESPN set to launch its own streaming platform, they are going direct-to-consumer in more ways than one.
Bottom Line - This is a strategic attempt by ESPN to leverage its brand and generate new revenue streams. While this trip is geared towards avid baseball fans, ESPN plans to launch more experiences across other sports and leagues.
Check it out here
Bronny to Star in NBA Summer League
LeBron James Jr. — aka Bronny — is perhaps the most discussed second-round pick in NBA history after being selected with No. 55 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft Thursday night.
Minutes after he joined his father's team, ESPN promoted its prime-time July 12 broadcast of the Lakers-Rockets game at the NBA2K25 Summer League.
In other words, Las Vegas now has its own version of Caitlin Clark — someone who will bring more media attention and ticket sales.
Courtside tickets for his debut are already listed for as high as $959.
Bottom Line - Bronny is going to be under an incredible microscope. The Summer League is a coming out party for the NBA stars of the future and everyone wants to be there to see it unfold.
Read more here
Until next time ✌🏾
Are you interested in partnering with BACKCOURT? Click below to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.