Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

Sports Business

NBA Sets 2021 Draft Date

by

NEW YORK – The NBA announced that NBA Draft 2021 presented by State Farm, is scheduled for  Thursday, July 29, beginning at 8pm EDT. The first round will be televised by ESPN and ABC, and the second round will air on ESPN.

The NBA also announced additional key dates relating to the draft.

NBA Draft Combine: Subject to evolving public health conditions, Microsoft Surface NBA Draft Combine 2021 is scheduled to take place Monday, June 21 through Sunday, June 27. ESPN networks plan to televise the NBA Draft Combine, with coverage featuring five-on-five games and strength and agility testing.

NBA Draft Lottery: NBA Draft Lottery 2021 will take place on Tuesday, June 22, airing on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET.

NBA Early Entry Application and Withdrawal Deadlines: The deadline for an early entry player to apply for this year’s NBA Draft is Sunday, May 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The deadline for an early entry player to withdraw from the NBA Draft is Monday, July 19 at 5 p.m. ET.

Additional information regarding the Draft, Combine and Lottery, including the location for each event, will be announced as details are finalized.

Basketball Africa League: Debuts in May

by

DAKAR – (Source: Official FIBA News Release) – The Basketball Africa League (BAL) announced that the league’s historic inaugural season will tip off Sunday, May 16 at the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, with 12 teams from the continent of Africa competing in the new professional league.

The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA), builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Regional Office Africa has organized on the continent and marks the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside of North America. The first BAL Finals will be held Sunday, May 30.

The BAL has created robust health and safety protocols for the 12 teams and personnel traveling to Rwanda, based on guidance from the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, with advice from public health officials and medical experts.

“We are thrilled that the inaugural Basketball Africa League season will take place at the world-class Kigali Arena,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. “Through the BAL, we will provide a platform for elite players from across the continent to showcase their talent and inspire fans of all ages, use basketball as an economic growth engine across Africa, and shine a light on Africa’s vibrant sporting culture.”

“We are extremely happy to finally launch the highly anticipated first season of the BAL,” said FIBA Africa and BAL Board President Anibal Manave. “FIBA and the NBA have been working closely together to develop protocols to address the health and safety of all players, coaches and officials. The experience of hosting the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in Rwanda late last year will contribute to a safe and successful inaugural BAL season.”

The league today also announced an adjusted competition format for the inaugural season, which will feature a total of 26 games at the Kigali Arena. The competition will tip off with an 18-game group phase with the 12 teams divided into three groups of four. During the group phase, each team will face the three other teams in its group once. The top eight teams from the group phase will qualify for the playoffs, which will be single elimination in all three rounds.

Below are the 12 club teams from 12 African countries that will compete in the inaugural BAL season:

COUNTRY TEAM
Algeria GSP (Groupement Sportif des Pétroliers) **
Angola Petro de Luanda (Clube Atlético Petroleos de Luanda) *
Cameroon FAP (Forces Armées et Police Basketball) **
Egypt Zamalek*
Madagascar GNBC (Gendarmerie Nationale Basketball Club)**
Mali AS Police (Association Sportive de la Police Nationale) **
Morocco AS Salé (Association Sportive de Salé) *
Mozambique Ferroviàrio de Maputo**
Nigeria Rivers Hoopers BC (Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club)*
Rwanda Patriots BC (Patriots Basketball Club)**
Senegal AS Douanes (Association Sportive des Douanes) *
Tunisia US Monastir (Union Sportive Monastirienne)*
*Champion from national league that earned representation in the inaugural BAL season
**Secured participation in the inaugural BAL season through a BAL qualifying tournament

Champions from the national leagues in Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia earned their participation in the inaugural season.  The remaining six teams, which come from Algeria, Cameroon, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique and Rwanda, secured their participation through BAL qualifying tournaments conducted by FIBA Regional Office Africa across the continent in late 2019.

The BAL groups and additional details about the league will be announced at a later date.

Sports Biz: Tour and Travelers Ink Deal

by

HARTFORD, CT – (Official News Release) – The Travelers Companies, Inc. and PGA TOUR  announced that they have reached an agreement to extend Travelers’ title sponsorship of the Travelers Championship through 2030. The company has been a partner of the tournament since its inception in 1952 and has served as title sponsor since 2007. This agreement will make Travelers the longest-running title sponsor in the event’s history.

As part of the sponsorship extension, Travelers will remain the Official Property Casualty Insurance Provider of the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and Korn Ferry Tour.

“So many historic and exciting moments in golf have happened at the Travelers Championship over the years, but it’s the amazing moments that are made off the course that capture the real value of our hometown tournament,” said Alan Schnitzer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Travelers. “As a company rooted in taking care of its customers and communities, the charitable mission of the Travelers Championship reflects who we are as an organization. This tournament is important to so many people across the region – both as an economic driver for the state and as a funding source for hundreds of charities – and we are proud to continue its legacy for years to come.”

Since Travelers became title sponsor, the tournament has generated more than $20 million for nearly 800 nonprofits. All net proceeds from the Travelers Championship go to charity, and the funds raised each year have increased substantially, from $650,000 in 2007 to $2.1 million in 2019. The 2020 Travelers Championship, held as a TV-only event due to COVID-19 restrictions, generated more than $1.6 million.

“The Travelers Championship has established itself as a premier PGA TOUR event, thanks to the inspirational leadership provided by Travelers, the dedication of thousands of volunteers and the passionate fans who watch or attend every year,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Connecticut and the PGA TOUR are fortunate to have a company like Travelers that helps deliver an outstanding experience every year for our players, for golf fans and for local nonprofits. We are extremely excited about the future of the Travelers Championship.”

The tournament has been recognized with 15 “Best Of” awards from the PGA TOUR over the past several years, including Tournament of the Year in 2017, Players Choice in 2017 and 2018, and Most Fan Friendly Event in 2010, 2012 and 2017.

“The Travelers Championship wouldn’t be possible without the overwhelming support we receive from people across the state and the thousands of volunteers who help each year,” said Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers. “The event may be branded with our company name, but this is really Connecticut’s tournament. Together, we have made it one of the best stops on the PGA TOUR for players and fans.”

With Travelers as title sponsor, many significant enhancements have been made at TPC River Highlands, including the addition of a 23-acre practice facility, a multimillion-dollar course improvement project and a 40,000-square-foot clubhouse, which opened prior to the 2019 Travelers Championship. The tournament purse has also increased by $200,000 annually for six straight years, reaching $7.4 million in 2020.

Sports Biz: Good for the Goose!

by

CHICAGO – Where is Goose Gossage when you need him?

Wrigley Field, Chicago (Getty Images)

TeamWorks Media announced that Chicago’s Goose Island Beer Company will become the presenting sponsor of Being Guillén, La Vida Baseball’s regular visit with the Guillén family for the opening month of the MLB season. The show will stream from the Goose Island Brewhouse opening week to coincide with the Cubs home opener and then April 8 (White Sox home opener) before moving back to the La Vida Baseball® studio in Chicago for the rest of the month. It will feature Ozzie Sr, Ozzie Jr, and Oney Guillén offering their always entertaining take on baseball and family.

TeamWorks Media is the parent company of La Vida Baseball® and this is an expansion of the partnership with Goose Island that began last October.

“We are all looking forward with a return to normalcy this spring, and nothing could be more fun than to spend it with the Guillén family as fans and baseball return to Chicago,” said Jay Sharman, CEO of TeamWorks Media in the official news release. “Our partnership with Goose Island got off to a great start in October as the season ended, and we are ready to expand it with some fun engagement during MLB’s opening month.”

The show will touch on all the recent developments in and around the Chicago teams and look ahead to what is one of the most anticipated seasons in baseball in The Windy City for some time. There will be special guests from around the country as well as engaging fan segments and a host of other promotions as Being Guillén™ and Goose Island help celebrate the exciting return of baseball.

Additional La Vida Baseball programming includes the live social media streaming series, La Vida Baseball ¡Live!, the brand’s weekday interactive, fan-centric live show, hosted by Jennifer Mercedes (@Chica_Deportes) and Julie Alexandria (@JulieAlexandria); Gaming with The Guilléns™, a live, engaging Twitch experience where Ozzie Guillén Jr. challenges Major Leaguers to play him in the video game “MLB The Show,” and the rowdy and hilarious Spanish language show, Pólvora, Voz y Diamante, hosted by Polo Ascencio, Pliego Villa and Jesse Castillo, offering baseball conversation like you’ve never seen before and mixing hilarious pop-culture sensibilities with an undeniable love for the game.

 

David Levy Becomes a Genius

by

NEW YORK – (Official News Release) – Genius Sports Group, a  provider of sports data and technology powering the sports, betting and media ecosystem, has appointed sports industry pioneer David Levy as its new Chairman. In his new role, Levy will lead the Board’s oversight of Genius’ operations and strategy.

Levy is one of the most respected figures in the global sports industry, with a career spanning a range of leadership positions; including President at Turner Broadcasting, Inc., and senior advisor roles at Raine Group and Arctos Sports Group respectively.

During his 30-year tenure at Turner, Levy played an instrumental role in defining and expanding the company’s media rights and securing long-term partnerships with the NBA, MLB, NCAA and PGA. He also assumed executive oversight for increased investment in original premium content across the portfolio. He negotiated a variety of multi-faceted agreements, each representing a significant change extending far beyond traditional television rights.

In 2010, Levy orchestrated a landmark NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball deal, partnering with CBS for multi-media rights, including exclusive televised rights to the 2014 Final Four and National Championship Game in 2016. This marked the first time in the event’s history that these key games were televised by a cable network. In 2017, under Levy’s guidance, Turner added to its portfolio of premium sports properties by acquiring rights to UEFA, including UEFA Champions League, Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup. In 2018, Turner programming was nominated for 33 Emmy Awards.

In the Genius announcement, Levy said: “The capture and analysis of data has become fundamental to the rapid progression of the sports and media sectors. Genius is central to this unique ecosystem and is consistently leading the sports data and technology industry’s development. I am thrilled to join the business at such a historic time and look forward to working as part of the team.”

Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports Group, said: “With his incredible track-record working with many of the biggest names in sports and media, David’s appointment as Chairman is the latest historic milestone in Genius Sports Group’s growth journey.”

“The worlds of sports, media, advertising, betting and streaming are converging rapidly and David’s unique expertise and experience will be invaluable to positioning Genius and our partners at the forefront of this trend,” he added.

Genius Sports Group is the official data, technology and commercial partner that powers the global ecosystem connecting sports, betting and media. We are a global leader in digital sports content, technology and integrity services. Our technology is used in over 150 countries worldwide, empowering sports to capture, manage and distribute their live data and video, driving their digital transformation and enhancing their relationships with fans.

No International Fans in Tokyo

by

TOKYO, JAPAN – (Official News Wire Report) – The Tokyo Olympic Games are scheduled to be staged this summer, but only local fans will be allowed to attend. The decision to bar spectators from outside of the country was announced after a virtual meeting between the International Olympic Committee, the governments for both Japan and Tokyo, the International Paralympic Committee and local organizers.

Embed from Getty Images

“In order to give clarity to ticket holders living overseas and to enable them to adjust their travel plans at this stage, the parties on the Japanese side have come to the conclusion that they will not be able to enter into Japan at the time of the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” a statement from the Tokyo organizing committee read, in part.

The Games are scheduled to begin on July 23, but approximately 600,000 tickets already have been sold to fans abroad. Japan, which is spending a reported $15.4 billion on the Games, has sold more than 4 million tickets domestically.

“We could wait until the very last moment to decide, except for the spectators,” said Seiko Hashimoto, head of the organizing committee. “They have to secure accommodations and flights. So we have to decide early otherwise we will cause a lot of inconvenience from them. I know this is a very tough issue.”

Tickets outside of Japan are handled by third-party retailers who charge fees on top of the ticket prices. It’s unclear if those fees will be included in refunds.

“We have to take decisions that may need sacrifice from everybody,” said Thomas Bach, the IOC president, who called it a “difficult decision.”

VKTRY Worn by 100+ NFL Prospects

by

MILFORD, CT – (Official News Release) – VKTRY GEAR recently announced that a record number of NFL top prospects will be wearing their carbon fiber insoles as they go through their on campus Pro Days in the coming weeks. The NFL Combine has moved from Indianapolis to local workouts due to COVID 19 restrictions. Over 100 prospects from more than 60 schools will be wearing VKTRY Insoles in this critical stage of career preparation.

Embed from Getty Images

“Many of our relationships with NFL stars began at the Combine where athletes experience +9.3% added explosiveness from their VKs,” said VKTRY CEO Steve Wasik. “Most athletes see significant improvements in the broad jump, the vertical jump and their time in the 40. They really feel the difference and understand how VKTRY Insoles can help them get an edge both at the Combine and on the playing field. Athletes also appreciate the improved injury protection with VKs, recently proven by one of the top athletic research facilities in the world, the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut.”

Amongst those athletes using VKTRY Insoles for their Pro days are projected first round picks: Alabama Running Back Najee Harris, Florida TE Kyle Pitts, Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley, Miami DL Gregory Rosseau, Miami DE Jaelen Phillips, and LSU WR Terrace Marshall. Players from every Power Five Conference will be using VKTRY Gear for the first time during their Pro Days.

Made from aerospace-grade carbon fiber, VKTRY Insoles store and return energy to the athlete. They also provide a “spring-like” effect to improve shock absorption and reduce the load and stress on the athlete’s body. In independent performance testing, athletes wearing VKs increased their broad jump by an average of +4.0”, their vert by +1.6” and improved their 40 times by 0.12 seconds.

VKTRY was created and founded by Matt Arciuolo, Certified Pedorthist for the USA Olympic Bobsled and Skeleton teams. The product design evolved following the Olympics and Arciuolo received a product patent in 2015.

NBA: Most Popular Jerseys

by

NBA STATUS: This week, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association jointly announced that LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers secured the top spots on the NBA’s Most Popular Jersey and Team Merchandise lists. Results are based on NBAStore.com sales for the First Half of the 2020-21 NBA season.

Embed from Getty Images

No big surprises here:

Top 15 Most Popular NBA Jerseys:

1. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

2. Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks

3. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets

4. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

6. Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets

7. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

8. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

9. James Harden, Brooklyn Nets

10. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

11. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

12. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

13. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers

14. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

15. Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards

Celtics Take a Shot with Bushmills

by

BOSTON – Bushmills Irish Whiskey, from the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, announced its designation as an official partner of the Boston Celtics, one of America’s original NBA teams. Extending through the 2023 season and just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, the deal celebrates two champion institutions coming together and marks Bushmills’ first partnership with an NBA team

Embed from Getty Images

As both brands honor a unique, rich history, Bushmills and the Celtics unite to bring Boston fans a taste of two iconic originals. “We’re an organization that places a great value on tradition and authenticity, and found Bushmills to be a seamless fit. We are proud to welcome Bushmills Irish Whiskey as an official partner of the Boston Celtics and we look forward to working together to create unique and memorable experiences for our fans,” said Ted Dalton, Senior Vice President, Partnerships & Business Development of the Boston Celtics.

Bushmills is teaming up with one of the most beloved Celtics in team history, 2008 NBA World Champion Paul Pierce. “As a former player on the Boston Celtics, one of the original NBA teams, I recognize another original when I see one. Bushmills is the original Irish whiskey and to celebrate the partnership, they’re buying the city of Boston a drink made for champions. No better way to cheer our team on,” said Pierce.

 

Lawrence Featured by Topps Football

by

BROOKLYN – (Official News Release) – Having just completed one of the most decorated careers in college football history and weeks away from the likely No. 1 selection in the pro draft, Trevor Lawrence has signed on with Topps in a landmark deal that will see the winningest starting quarterback in Clemson history featured in an exclusive box set of cards scheduled for release in April. The set will be created in collaboration with Trevor’s brother and sister-in-law Chase and Brooke Lawrence, professional artists who will create exclusive artwork of the decorated 2018 national champion and first quarterback ever to win three ACC Championship Games.

The series will include 50 cards, including autographs on select pieces and will feature a mix of oil paintings and digital depictions crafted by Chase and Brooke. To create the exclusive artwork, Chase and Brooke took inspiration from psychedelic period pieces from the 1960’s-70’s as well as classic comic book and graphic novel illustrations.

“Trevor Lawrence is one of the most popular and visible players in college football in years and we can’t wait to capture his talent and personality in this set,” said Jeff Heckman, Global Director of Ecommerce. “We look forward to revealing the unique designs that Chase and Brooke will develop, and we think football fans across the country will love the series.”