Photo Creds: Harlem Globetrotters partners with cllct.
The Globetrotters Are Using Collectibles To Be Cool (Again?):
The Harlem Globetrotters are turning 100 this year. A brand that once defined “basketball-as-entertainment” now faces a modern challenge: how do you get Gen Z and Gen Alpha - who grew up on TikTok highlights, sneaker drops, and Fortnite skins - to care about a century-old exhibition team?
The answer: drops.
This week, the Globetrotters announced a season-long partnership with cllct, the culture-first collectibles company founded by Darren Rovell. Serialized collectibles tied to the Globetrotters’ 100th anniversary will roll out throughout the season: mini jerseys, limited-edition items, and story-driven pieces that turn history into something ownable.
This partnership has the potential to be one of the most innovative of 2025 for two reasons.
Legacy Culture Brand + Innovative Collectibles Startup → New Cultural IP for Gen Z
Exclusive “Episode-like” Drops Throughout The Season → Increases Fan Attention → Decreases Mid-Season Viewership Fatigue
New Cultural IP: A Century Brand Meets a TikTok Generation
Here’s the hard truth: the Globetrotters are iconic - but their cultural footprint skews older. They’re remembered fondly by parents and grandparents, and their live shows still draw families, but they haven’t broken through to Gen Z the way the NBA, WNBA, or even influencer-led basketball brands have.
And the numbers tell the story:
The Harlem Globetrotters’ official Instagram has ~1.07M followers.
The NBA dwarfs them with 91M, and even the WNBA sits at ~3.2M.
Rising stars like Angel Reese now pull 4.6–4.9M followers on their personal accounts - outpacing the WNBA league page itself.
Emerging content-first teams like Rod Wave Elite command 10M+ followers across platforms, showing how digital-native hoops culture is leapfrogging legacy brands.
That’s the cultural gap. Legacy IP isn’t enough anymore. But collectibles are a wedge. Consumers aged 18–34 now make up 55%+ of sports memorabilia buyers, and the global memorabilia market - already $25B in 2024 - is projected to swell to $40.5B by 2030. Younger fans may be less loyal to leagues, but they are deeply embedded in drop culture - sneakers, cards, vinyl. By partnering with cllct, the Globetrotters aren’t re-selling nostalgia; they’re building new cultural IP designed for a younger demographic.
Engagement: Fighting Season Fatigue With Collectible Drops
There’s also a bigger lesson here for sports at large: season fatigue is real.
The NBA lost another 2% in average regular-season viewership this past year, while local TV ratings for some teams have collapsed by 50%.
NFL numbers tell a similar story: despite record-breaking streaming games, 65% of new subs churned the moment the Super Bowl ended.
Even in baseball, engagement wanes heavily until postseason storylines kick in.
Fans show up big at the beginning and the end—but vanish in the middle.
The Globetrotters’ collectibles strategy flips that problem into an opportunity.
By spacing drops across the year - each tied to a milestone, a game, or a story - they give fans a reason to keep tuning in. Instead of watching the season fade into the background, fans are incentivized to “collect the season.” Every release becomes an engagement checkpoint: complete your set, own the moment, stay plugged in.
Think about how leagues pour billions into mid-season tournaments, alternate broadcasts, or gimmick nights to try to keep attention alive.
The Globetrotters are testing something simpler and arguably smarter: turning the season itself into a collectible.
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Sports-Tech Market Activity: Investors & Deals
Accelerators
The Players Company, an athlete-investor collective, launches startup incubator program, names Cache AI first cohort company (Aug. 22nd)
Focused on startups in athlete financial literacy, brand building, and NIL strategy, among others
Backed by 800+ athlete and investor members, with advisors including Bob Iger and Maverick Carter
Cache AI named first cohort company, offering athlete impact measurement and NIL brand value tools [VCNewsWire]
Venture Capital
Polymarket raises ‘multi-million investment’ led by Donald Trump Jr.-backed 1789 Capital (Aug. 26th)
Sleep.ai (FKA SleepScore Labs), an AI/ML health and wellness platform turning sleep data into personalized insights, raises $5.5M in venture funding (Aug. 26th)
Funding supports commercialization, partnerships, and expansion into health, wellness, insurance, and lifestyle markets
Investment led by Treasure Coast Ventures; other investors include Nurture Ventures, HBS Alumni Angels, and Supermoon Capital [Athletech]
Payment Labs, a gaming and SM&E-focused fintech startup specializing in global payments, raises $3.25M in oversubscribed Seed funding (Aug. 26th)
Platform serves Microsoft, AVP, Snow League, and X Games, among others
Funds will expand into college sports NIL, addressing cross-border tax, onboarding, and payment diversity needs; now targeting NIL micropayments, royalties, and compliance tools
Investment led by Aperture Venture Capital; other investors include Capital Eleven, Collective 150, and Cloud Castle [SBJ]
BIGC, a South Korean ‘All-in-One Digital Venue’ platform connecting artists and creators with their global fanbases, raises $14M in Series A funding (Aug. 27th)
Funding will drive expansion beyond K-pop into global live performance markets
Platform surpassed 1.1M members across 224 countries; 80% of users are international fans
Investment led by Stonebridge Ventures and BonAngels; bumps total funding to $25.4M [FinSMEs]
New York Atlantics, a Pro Padel League franchise, raises strategic funding round, adds tennis star Frances Tiafoe as investor-advisor (Aug. 26th)
Tiafoe takes ‘mid-single-digit’ ownership stake, becoming the first active pro tennis player to collaborate with a padel team
Founded in 2023, the PPL spans 10 teams across N. America, with events in Miami, San Sebastian, Guadalajara, and New York
Funding round was strategic, adding athlete-investors including FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes, among others [Sportico]
PodUp, an all-in-one podcasting software platform enabling creators to produce, grow, and monetize podcasts, raises $5.8M across two funding rounds (Aug. 27th)
Funding will accelerate platform development and expand PodAllies, its podcast marketing and monetization agency
Investment backed by North Texas Angels and HBS Alumni Angels, among others [FinSMEs]
While on Earth, a performance wellness footwear and apparel brand, adds 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey as co-founder–investor (Aug. 25th)
McCaffrey will shape product design and expand brand reach
Move follows shift from Nike, McCaffrey takes equity stake in the Rhode Island-based brand, launched fall 2024 [Athletech]
WeMade, a leading South Korean gaming developer, backs $7.2M strategic investment for 25% stake in console studio Studio Rasa to bolster Korean games in North American and European markets (Aug. 25th)
Funds to back prototype building, support production operations, and expand development team — developing its first console title for 2028 launch
Deal grants WeMade global publishing rights and secondary investment option for ‘Project IL’ [GamesBeat]
Guild, a blockchain-powered music creator-ownership platform, raises $2M in Pre-Token financing (Aug. 27th)
Over 2.5K artists contributed to product testing; set to launch public beta
Platform introduces dual-token model: ‘Note’ tokens for on-platform rewards and payments, and Access Passes as unique, lifetime tokens for exclusive privileges
Investment backed by Capital Factory, Polygon, and ex-Meta executives, among others [CityBiz]
Incrediwear, a recovery wear brand that develops compressionless, anti-inflammatory sleeves and braces, adds Novak Djokovic as investor, global ambassador (Aug. 21st)
Djokovic acquires ‘significant’ equity stake after using Incrediwear in 2024 post-surgery recovery
Partnership aims to expand Incrediwear’s reach across sports, medical, and wellness sectors; expected to boost brand awareness and support new clinical research [PRNW]
M&A and Investments
NBCUniversal reportedly nearing $600M MLB rights deal, Netflix eyes $105M Home Run Derby pact amid ESPN ambitions to integrate MLB.TV into DTC app (Aug. 21st)
NBCU in advanced talks for 3-year, ~$200M annually package spanning NBC, Peacock, and postseason rights
Netflix close to 3-year, $35M annual deal to stream Home Run Derby through 2028
Minnesota Twins’ prospective $1.7B sale delayed by Pohlad family until post-2026 MLB labor deal (Aug. 25th)
Sale paused after 10 months of talks, opting to retain ownership until resolution
Buyer, reportedly been preparing financing for $1.7B purchase, but the Twins instead added two limited partners to help cover $400M in debt
Partners speculated to contribute ~$200M each, possibly with rights of first refusal for future ownership [SBJ]
Monarch Collective, a US-based women’s sports investment fund, in talks to acquire up to 49% of West Ham United Women at UK£55m valuation (Aug. 28th)
Current owners would retain control, while Monarch provides funds to strengthen squad and resolve stadium rental disputes
Monarch Collective, expanded to US$250M AUM in 2025, has invested in three NWSL clubs and pursued stakes in Chelsea Women and a WNBA franchise, although not reached [SportsPro]
Guild Esports, a pro esports organization formerly backed by David Beckham, shuts down after insolvency listing (Aug. 21st)
Company was listed for sale on August 14, but failed to secure a buyer, following unpaid invoices to players and creators
Founded in 2020, Guild became the first esports org on the LSE but struggled with mounting losses despite past funding and DCB Sports’ £100K acquisition in 2024 [Esports Insider]
Motorsport governing body FIA launches tender for new World Rally Championship promoter (Aug. 21st)
Red Bull and KW25, joint owners of WRC Promoter GmbH, depart after acquiring rights in 2013, despite seven years left on contract
JPMorgan retained for advising; Sale could value WRC commercial rights at up to €500M ($581M) [Reuters]
PUMA shareholder Artemis explores sale of 29% stake worth ~€800M following 50%+ drop in market value (Aug. 25th)
Artemis, the Pinault family’s holding company, weighs options for its €800M ($936M) Puma stake, working with advisors to sound out buyers
Potential buyers Artemis has reportedly sought out include Anta Sports, Li Ning, US sportswear firms, and Middle Eastern SWFs
Lyric Capital, a music royalties and related IP assets PE firm, leads $1B financing backed by The Weeknd’s catalog (Aug. 26th)
Deal structure includes $500M senior debt, $250M junior debt, and $250M equity tied to The Weeknd’s publishing and master recording rights
Would be among largest music rights financings, rivaling Sony’s $600M Michael Jackson acquisition and Bieber’s $1.47B bond deal
Marks shift as younger artists tap private equity-backed financing to monetize catalogs, beyond legacy acts [PEInsights]
Arbiter, a K–12 athletic and event management software platform, acquires athletic scheduling and team management company BigTeams to expand US high school sports tech reach (Aug. 28th)
Acquisition unites Arbiter, rSchoolToday, and BigTeams—combining 100+ years of experience in school, districts, and state associations
Arbiter serves 20K+ schools, 4.5K leagues, 30+ state associations, and 7M families nationwide — processing $3B+ in payments and supporting 10M+ official assignments annually [PRNW]
Frasers, a UK sportswear and fashion retailer, acquires minority stake in immersive leisure & hospitality company We Do Play (Aug. 27th)
Firm enters UK leisure market via gaming and social venues, including ‘Activate’ and ‘Rumble Rooms’
Plans to open 40+ new ‘Activate’ locations across the UK in coming years; move adds to Frasers’ expansion push across fashion, retail, and experiential sectors [Reuters]
Photo Creds: DAZN acquires licensing rights to stream college football & basketball in Europe + MENA.
Strategic Ventures
American exhibition basketball team Harlem Globetrotters partners with media and collectibles company cllct for centennial collectibles (Aug. 28th)
Partnership launches ahead of 100th anniversary season tip-off, Dec. 14 at MSG
Fans will access limited-edition physical and digital drops, including a serialized 100th anniversary mini jersey
Collaboration spotlights Globetrotters’ cultural legacy across sports, music, film, and fashion through collectible storytelling [cllct]
Homeless World Cup Foundation announces partnership with sports media asset management startup ScorePlay ahead of its 20th iteration ‘Oslo 2025’ (Aug. 23rd)
ScorePlay will streamline tournament’s photography and content distribution
Partnership elevates the Homeless WC’s visibility, positioning it as a major global soccer event [HomelessWC]
Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based prediction market, speculated to relaunch in the US ahead of NFL season (Aug. 21st)
WWE partners with Ligue 1’s PSG in long-term strategic deal to expand brand reach across audiences (Aug. 27th)
Collaboration spans content, merchandising, fan engagement, and community
Launch aligns with WWE’s first Premium Live Event in Paris, ‘Clash in Paris’ on Aug. 31 at La Défense Arena [PSG]
ATP, PIF partner to launch next-gen ‘ATP Tennis IQ’ platform to expand data and performance analytics insights within PIF ATP Rankings (Aug. 22nd)
Platform expands access to 2K+ players across ATP Tour and Challenger Tour
Features span enhanced scouting, video tools, and wearables integration for real-time performance tracking
Marks major step in PIF’s strategy to invest in sports tech and elevate tennis globally [PIF]
NFL partners with Abercrombie & Fitch in league’s first-ever official fashion deal, expanding beyond traditional athletic brand tie-ups (Aug. 25th)
Multi-year partnership includes ‘Style Concierge’ service for NFL players, plus limited-edition collections designed by stars like McCaffrey, Higgins, and Lamb
Move comes amid shift in sport leagues’ culture, including focus on player fashion via developments such as the NBA-WNBA tunnel walk [SI]
MLB to grant ESPN digital rights to all out-of-market games in new pact (Aug. 21st)
Framework deal gives ESPN exclusive digital rights to all out-of-market games and in-market rights for 5 MLB clubs over 3 years
ESPN will shift from ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ to a weekday slot, while continuing to air ~30 exclusive regular-season games
YouTube to launch ‘Watch With’ alt-streams for NFL’s Sao Paulo match, partnering with IShowSpeed, among other streamers (Aug. 26th)
YouTube is paying at least $100M to stream Chiefs vs. Chargers globally on Sept. 5, marking its first exclusive NFL broadcast and first free NFL match
Other creators include Tom Grossi and Spanish streamers Robegrill and SKabeche; Fans can switch between traditional coverage and creator-led ‘Watch With’ streams, blending TV and creator culture [SportsPro]
Shared reality venue company Cosm extends multi-year partnership with the NFL (Aug. 27th)
Cosm to produce and distribute ‘Thursday Night Football’, ‘Sunday Night Football’, and The NFL on CBS and FOX in its Shared Reality venues
Amid Cosm’s expansion efforts, with venues in Atlanta (2026), Detroit (2026), and Cleveland (2027) planned [Cosm]
University of Kentucky Athletics partners with media rights and venue development company JMI Sports to launch opt-in NIL cooperative ‘BBNIL Suite’ (Aug. 27th)
BBNIL provides 500+ UK athletes with centralized NIL services, including deal sourcing, compliance, content creation, and contract execution
Aims to boost NIL revenue, aid recruiting, and streamline corporate deals while ensuring NCAA/state compliance [UK]
College tennis governing body ITA taps electronic line calling system PlayReplay in 3-year deal for ITA championships (Aug. 28th)
PlayReplay becomes the exclusive electronic line calling provider for ITA championships, covering singles and doubles across all divisions
Member schools receive preferred pricing, enabling broader adoption and access to in-match analytics beyond line calls [ITA]
Porsche partners with smartphone-controlled multiplayer gaming platform AirConsole for in-car gaming Macan launch (Aug. 28th)
Passengers can play 40+ casual, multiplayer titles via smartphones as controllers, including UNO, Overcooked, WWTBAM, among others
Marks AirConsole’s fourth major OEM deal in two years; follows partnerships with Audi, Volkswagen, MINI, and BMW [GamesBeat]
DAZN enters multi-year sublicensing agreement with ESPN for US college football and basketball rights in Europe & MENA (Aug. 27th)
Deal covers 25 football games per week, all CFP games, major bowls, and 20+ basketball games weekly from 2025
Includes 63 March Madness games, with full Elite Eight, Final Four, and National Championships for men’s & women’s tournaments [ESPN]
McLaren Formula One welcomes title sponsor Mastercard in reported $100M-a-year deal (Aug. 28th)
Marking the largest commercial deal in McLaren’s history, running into mid-2030s
McLaren leapfrogs rivals, surpassing Ferrari and Red Bull’s title deals, estimated at $60M–$70M per season, respectively [SportsPro]
Fox, YouTube TV to work out carriage renewal negotiations, reach short-term extension (Aug. 27th)
Existing deal covered Fox broadcast network, Fox News, and other linear channels, set to expire Aug. 26 at 5PM ET
Dispute centers on Fox seeking higher programming fees; Google calls terms ‘out of step with the marketplace’ [SBJ]
Teamworks, a software company providing an ‘Operating System for SportsTM’, partners with ESPN to power college football analytics (Aug. 22nd)
ESPN’s research team to use Teamworks’ Coaching and Scouting platform, featuring computer vision, player tracking, and AI/ML
Follows Teamworks’ expansion via 2023 Telemetry Sports acquisition and $235M Series F in 2025 at $1B+ valuation [Teamworks]
Fanatics partners with gambling-hospitality company Boyd Gaming to launch Missouri sportsbook, launches ‘Fanatics Advertising’ division (Aug. 25th, 26th)
Sportsbook: Launch expected Dec. 2025, pending Missouri Gaming Commission approval
Advertising: New division integrates advertising across commerce, collectibles, betting, events, and content, reaching 100M+ global fans
ESPN reportedly in talks to integrate UFC Fight Pass into newly launched DTC app (Aug. 27th)
Move would bring UFC’s Fight Pass library - archives, prelims, and other MMA promotions - into ESPN’s new standalone DTC platform
Follows ESPN's US rights loss to UFC’s flagship events to Paramount+’s $1.1B-a-year deal, making Fight Pass integration a way to retain UFC presence
Sorare, a fantasy sport blockchain-based game, partners with LFP Media to feature Ligue 1 & Ligue 2 players (Aug. 27th)
Sorare gains full licensing to produce digital cards for all Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs, expanding its NFT-based fantasy soccer game
Deal strengthens Sorare’s home-market presence while adding to 300+ global club and league partnerships, including the EPL, LaLiga, and Bundesliga [Sportcal]
Lawsuits
Enhanced Games, a pro-PED sports competition, files $800M antitrust lawsuit against WADA, World Aquatics & USA Swimming (Aug. 28th)
Suit alleges illegal campaign to block athletes, coaches, and staff from joining Enhanced Games, violating the ‘Sherman Act’
Enhanced Games seeks $200M+ in damages, potentially rising above $800M with trebling and punitive awards
Follows World Aquatics' move to introduce ban on athletes/officials endorsing doping, escalating conflict ahead of the 2026 Las Vegas debut [SportsPro]
India, a fast-growing fantasy gaming market, bans money-based online games, ads, and transactions (Aug. 21st)
Parliament passes bill outlawing all real-money online games with penalties up to 3 years jail + fines
Projected $3.6B industry, backed by Tiger Global, Peak XV, faces app shutdowns once the president signs bill into effect
Phoenix Suns sued by minority owners Kisco WC Sports and Kent Circle Investments, over transparency and valuation disputes (Aug. 27th)
Minority owners file suit in Delaware, alleging breaches of LLC agreement, mismanagement, and conflicts of interest
Dispute centers on a June 2025 ‘capital call’, plaintiffs claim, was used to pressure and dilute minority stakes at artificially low valuations
Plaintiffs argue Suns’ implied valuation conflicts with recent NBA benchmarks, citing Celtics’ $6.1B sale and Lakers’ $10B sale [Sportico]
Fanatics loses trademark battle in Australia to sports tour and merchandise company FanFirm (Aug. 27th)
FanFirm wins federal court ruling barring Fanatics from using its brand name in the country; it’s used ‘Fanatics’ since 1997
Despite loss, Fanatics claims Australia remains one of its fastest-growing markets and plans to keep investing in partnerships and licensing
Ruling may limit Fanatics’ ability to sell official gear in Australia unless it licenses rights from FanFirm [Sportico]
Disney sued live TV streamer Sling TV over alleged carriage violations via new ‘passes’ bundles (Aug. 27th)
Disney claims Sling included its networks in bundles without permission, undercutting its standard monthly subscription
Bundles launched ahead of college football and NFL season, targeting price-sensitive viewers reassessing streaming options
Case highlights rising tension between media owners and virtual MVPDs as short-term, flexible packages test legacy carriage agreements [SBJ]
Job Board & Opportunities: Week of August 29th
Here are some cool roles we found and personally curated this week - enjoy!