Less than four years after launching, The Players’ Tribune is expanding its reach abroad as the digital platform heads to both London and Barcelona to set up shop.
By attacking the international market, TPT will have the ability to capitalize better on the stories of soccer players, who just so happen to be some of the most well-known athletes in the world.
With offices in London and Barcelona, this new venture will be in partnership with Gerard Piqué and his investment group, Kosmos, which will play an integral part in shaping the business.
“While The Players’ Tribune has already become a trusted destination for many athletes, it’s clear that there is a real opportunity to double down on our traction on a global scale. Our athlete community is extremely important and has been the driving force behind everything we do, so I’m excited to welcome Gerard to the team and look forward to working with him on building an even larger community as part of the next evolution of TPT.” – Derek Jeter, cofounder of TPT
Alongside Piqué, athlete launch partners include Dani Alves, Ronaldinho, Carmen Jordá, Thibaut Courtois, David Villa, Pau and Marc Gasol, Ivan Rakitić, Tomáš Berdych, Stipe Miocic, Thiago Alcântara, among others.
The EMEA platform will officially launch later this spring with comprehensive, multilingual content leading up to the 2018 World Cup. The platform will feature original and athlete-generated programming across all sports, with an emphasis on video. In addition to TPT’s powerful and signature storytelling, the platform will strive to redefine the “live sports” window through the lens of the athlete.
For Piqué, the excitement is apparent.
“On behalf of athletes worldwide, I can undeniably say there has never been a bigger need for a platform like The Players’ Tribune,” says Piqué. “There are so many things that happen in our lives and careers, away from the media spotlight and beyond what is reported in the news. The Players’ Tribune gives us a chance to share our voice, our emotions and our perspective — things that simply cannot be found anywhere else on the Internet. I am excited to work with The Players’ Tribune to further connect with fans.”
For TPT executive staff, the ability to go abroad opens up a new global audience.
“In just three years, we have become a premier global brand for engaging and authentic content that transcends sport,” says Jeff Levick, CEO of The Players’ Tribune. “We aim to be the unequivocal global leader in athlete-generated content, across all platforms and in conjunction with strategic partners. We are thrilled to partner with Gerard — he is passionate about building this company and developing a global roadmap for The Players’ Tribune.”
As the battle between the athlete created content platforms heats up, TPT is taking the fight internationally.
