FOS Pro (01/06/23) - Front Office Sports

January 06, 2023

Happy Friday, and a great New Year!

We hope you enjoyed the holidays. Pro is back this week with an investor roundtable Report, where we look ahead to the exciting trends of 2023.

As always, we are looking for feedback on the Pro platform. Fill out our quick survey and let us know how we can improve the product for you.

If you have any comments, feel free to reach out on Twitter @Ronenain to continue the conversation!

2023 Look Ahead: Investor Roundtable

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

With 2022 in the books, we’re all eager to figure out what 2023 will bring for the sports business.

What better way to learn about the future than hearing firsthand from investors?

We talked to several C-level execs and top managers from relevant PE and VC funds in sports and tech for insights on ticketing trends, sports betting, ChatGPT, Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” broadcast, and more.

Expectations for growth are high, especially in sports betting, but our expert respondents are also watching the personalization of fan experiences, the continued development of connected fitness, and more notable investment in women’s sports.

Our report features insights from top-notch executives from Drive by DraftKings, Sports Innovation Lab, KB Partners, Techstars, Elysian Park Ventures, Sharp Alpha Advisors, SeventySix Capital, ADvantage VC, and Ryan Sports Ventures.

Keeping an eye on what’s coming in sports helps decision-makers plan and execute. As we continue to analyze the sports industry through our Pro platform, do not hesitate to reach out and discuss the potential for deep-dive topics and new features for the site.

Want to learn more? Check out the 2023 Investor Roundtable report here.

ICYMI: Our last report of 2022 was an annual wrap-up of the best and most influential things of the year. You can access that and all our previous reports on Pro HQ.

Deal Tracker

This week’s Pro Deal Tracker highlights:

Several NFL owners approved an investment in the sneakers and apparel brand NOBULL for an undisclosed amount.
Billionaire Mat Ishbia agreed to buy a majority stake in the Phoenix Suns and Mercury professional basketball teams at a $4 billion valuation in one of the biggest deals in the history of the NBA.
The Players’ Lounge, a college sports-focused fan engagement platform, raised a seed investment from Draper Associates and partnered with Brinx.TV — a content company founded by John Brenkus.
Shot Scope, a golf shot-tracking and wearables company, raised a $3.2 million Series A round from Guinness Ventures.
Gearbox Entertainment Company acquired tech Captured Dimensions, which specializes in 3D capturing and scanning tech, and has worked on games and movies before.

Try out the full Deal Tracker.

Written by Ronen Ainbinder

Edited by Brian Krikorian