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Exciting news for Portland! The recent investments in a WNBA team are not just about growing women's sports—they represent a major opportunity for economic and workforce development in our region. As Portland positions itself as the "epicenter of women’s sports", these investments will create ripple effects across industries—sports management, hospitality, event production, marketing, media, and even construction and technology. This is where Career and Technical Education (CTE) comes in. For CTE students, these emerging opportunities mean real-world pathways into careers that support and sustain major sporting events and organizations. Whether it’s managing game-day operations, creating engaging digital media, or contributing to the fan experience through hospitality, the WNBA’s presence will open doors to high-wage, high-demand jobs that align with CTE pathways. We need to seize this moment by connecting our students to these opportunities. Let’s continue building strong partnerships with industry leaders to ensure our CTE programs prepare students for the evolving workforce. Portland’s future is exciting, and our students deserve to be part of it.

I've had a busy few days preparing for my panel spot at the EuroLeague Basketball Business summit this weekend in Berlin. Along with industry experts from SportBusiness, IMG and Deutsche Telekom, I'll be delving into the topic of 'the Changing Landscape of Media Consumption' There's certainly lots to talk about - here's a few hot off the press learnings from YouGov survey data that we gathered this week: > Short form content remains key to engage younger audiences. > Watching sport live on the TV is still of huge importance, but it's the second choice options that tell more of a story. In Germany - reading the sport stories takes precedence over getting the updates via social media, and in the UK, listening to the radio sport coverage is 'up there' as a strong alternative to the TV screen. > We asked our panellists what they would do if they couldn't access their favourite sports on free to air broadcast options. A higher proportion of GB panellists were willing to 'hold out' for the content to be made available for free than seen amongst our German panellists (37% vs 29% respectively). > But more interestingly perhaps were the 1 in 7 sport fans who said they would invest in a PayTV subscription to overcome the access hurdle. This is a higher proportion than what we see amongst non-sport fans Lots more to come at the event itself, maybe see you there?

🏈 Flag Football's Ascendancy: Insights from the Leaders Join EventConnect's CEO, John D'Orsay, in an engaging conversation with Travis Burnett, CEO of USA Flag, as they explore the remarkable growth of flag football and its bright future. 🌟 Key Takeaways: • A Personal Journey: Travis recounts his transition from tackle football to becoming a leader in flag football. Discover how he transformed individual events into a cohesive tournament experience that resonates with athletes and fans alike. • Focus on Safety: With rising concerns around traditional sports, flag football has emerged as a safe, inclusive alternative. Travis discusses how this shift is attracting more players across various age groups. • Olympic Aspirations: As flag football prepares for its Olympic debut in 2028, Travis shares his vision for expanding the sport internationally, including plans for growth in Mexico and Canada. • Empowered by EventConnect: Travis highlights how EventConnect's platform enhances operations, streamlining tournament management and improving overall experiences with features like live scoring and a white-labelled app. 👉 Don’t miss the whole conversation! Visit the EventConnect blog to watch the video and gain valuable insights into the future of flag football. https://lnkd.in/ggXhKWWF #FlagFootball #EventConnect #SportsLeadership #OlympicDreams

With an investment of $188 million in Portland’s National Women’s Soccer League team and the arrival of a WNBA franchise in 2026, Rose City business leaders are focusing on defining and supporting the city's vision as a global hub for women’s sports. Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/diKuNmU4

This Toronto Star story on what Project 8 Sports Inc., which is leading the creation of a Canadian pro women's soccer league to debut in 2025, can learn from the success of the PWHL is interesting, but it's missing a key factor. While PWHL's success with sponsorship, fan engagement and broadcast production and distribution provide a model to emulate, a key factor not mentioned by Julia Ranney is cost control. PWHL franchises are confined to the East Coast and Midwest, helping reduce travel costs. This is critical for a new startup league that does not yet have fully- developed robust revenue streams. The yet-to-be-named women's soccer league, however, will have teams based coast-to-coast with a franchise announced for Vancouver on the West Coast and soon-to-be-announced Halifax on the East Coast. With less financial resources, lower expected attendance (NWSL averages 10,000 per game), and the unlikelihood of receiving a lucrative broadcast rights fee - all in contrast with the NWSL - reigning in costs will be essential. In this context, Project 8's partnership with Air Canada is a highly significant achievement, beyond the positive optics of securing a founding partner. Given the high costs of travel contributed to the demise of the Canadian Soccer League in the mid-1990s, cost control must be achieved to ensure the league's long-term sustainability. #sportbusiness #soccer #newleague #womenssoccer

Bold and progressive steps have been made to help the growth of women's football today as Mercury/13 announce new and significant investment from Avenue Sports while adding a strong female leader to their board of directors. Former USWNT player Lauren Holiday joins the Mercury/13 board at a very exciting time and will provide her expertise and leadership skills to shape the direction of growth in the right way. We love seeing female investors backing women's sport and it's inspiring to see organisations recognise the importance of retaining talent from within the sport and utilising their transferable skills. Read more by clicking the story below: https://lnkd.in/dX9V6WQG

2024 turning into big year for sports business in Columbus. Columbus, Ohio, is the most prominent hot spot for sports to be held there. The Greater Columbus Sports Commission explained that 2024 will be their record's most significant year for sports. The City of Columbus is currently in the spotlight for hosting the MLS NEXT Pro All-Star game at Lower.com Field. This is one of the many major sporting events calling Columbus home this year. Jesse Ghiorzi, the sports commission, said that in the first six months of the year, major sporting events have already brought more than $80 million in visitor spending. Ghiorzi explained that they had the biggest fencing event in history earlier this month, with 63,000 competitors, showcasing the diversity of sports in the city. There have been so many different types of events than that one. Ghiorzi explained that the momentum isn’t stopping there; earlier this year, the city submitted more than a dozen bids to host the NCAA championship from 2026 to 2028. Columbus was approved to host the NCAA women’s basketball final four in 2027 and the U.S. Chess Center Championship in 2029. Ghiorzi said these big-ticket events will bring thousands of people to the city. Ghiorzi predicts that the MLS All-Star week coming to Columbus will add another $20 million to the visitors spending numbers and call this summer “the summer of soccer.” It continues on August 3rd when the top two Premier League teams, Manchester City Football Club and Chelsea Football Club, will face off at Ohio Stadium, where almost 80,000 people will attend.  By: Anna Hoffman Yahoo Sports #ColumbusOhio #JesseGhiorzi #OhioStadium #YahooSports #ManchesterCity #Chelsea  #MLS #MLSAllStar #soccer #finalfour #NCAAChampionshipbasketball  #NCAAChampionship #USChessChampionship  #LowercomField #USAFencingChampionship

In football, few events stir as much passion and excitement as a derby match. These local rivalries, often rooted in history and regional pride, are not just thrilling spectacles but also key drivers of a league’s growth. Derbies foster unparalleled fan engagement. They ignite strong emotions, filling stadiums with roaring supporters and drawing millions of viewers on TV. This connection strengthens the bond between clubs and their communities, deepening fan loyalty. For sponsors and broadcasters, derbies are goldmines. Their high-profile nature attracts lucrative sponsorships and premium broadcasting deals, while the buzz surrounding these games boosts merchandise sales and advertising revenue. These matches become cultural events, embodying the history and identity of the regions involved, and making the league more relatable and appealing. Finally, derbies fuel healthy competition, pushing teams to perform at their best for the sake of pride and bragging rights. This level of intensity enhances the quality of play and raises the overall standard of the league, attracting more fans and investments. I’m excited to contribute to this vibrant tradition as I take on the role of TV director for the upcoming Nyanza Derby between Gor Mahia and Shabana FC in the Kenyan Premier League. This historic rivalry is not just a game but a celebration of football in the region, and I’m honored to be part of bringing this spectacle to fans across the nation and beyond. In essence, derbies are more than just football matches—they are the lifeblood of a thriving league, capable of transforming it into a global powerhouse. #Tvdirector