Prediction markets are exchange platforms that allow users to buy and sell contracts whose value is tied to the outcome of specific future events. It is essentially investing in — many observers would say betting on — whether a certain event will occur, with values based on probabilities, supply and demand, and other factors. On […]
Tag Archives | National Hockey League
Turning Up The Heat
Heated clothing is a segment of the apparel, accessories, and footwear category that is about to hit its peak selling season in the Northern hemisphere. These pieces, which include battery-powered heating elements to keep people warm when spending long periods outdoors, represent a small portion of licensing deals within the apparel industry. But it is […]
Fashion Labels Shoot and Score with Hockey
As is true of almost all property types, sports IPs have increasingly been collaborating with designers and fashion brands. These are collections that are more fashion-forward or otherwise innovative, and typically more premium-priced, than traditional licensed fanwear ranges. Hockey—which is, in North America, currently deep in the first round of the National Hockey League (NHL) […]
Homegrown Hits
Individual teams that are members of the leading U.S.-based pro sports leagues have increasingly been pairing with local fashion labels—mostly of the streetwear genre—for clothing collaborations available only in their home markets. Clubs in all five of the major leagues have served as examples of this phenomenon: National Football League. The Cincinnati Bengals paired with […]
Consequences of Commercialization
A Licensing University session called “Spotlight: Sports Licensing,” produced by Licensing International and held as part of Licensing Expo in late August, hit on a number of current trends impacting the sports licensing landscape. One interesting topic that came up in the presentation, moderated by the late Bill Burke, senior VP marketing strategy and communications […]
Tokens of Gratitude
By Karen Raugust on May 21, 2020 in Branding/marketing, COVID-19, Design and content themes, Licensing
In the last few weeks, a handful of licensors and licensees have launched marketing campaigns and/or product lines built around thanking the medical professionals and other essential workers who have been risking their health to care for the sick or fill the population’s basic needs during the COVID-19 crisis. While a number of companies involved […]
Taking a Chance on Sports Betting
In May 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. The decision effectively allowed states to legalize sports betting—outside of Nevada, where it was already legal—although there are some court challenges ongoing related to the Wire Act that may alter the landscape somewhat. In the year and a half since […]
Going for the Win
Deals announced in summer and fall 2019 illustrate some of the key current trends in the sports licensing business: Rising activity around women’s sports. The English Netball League, a 90-plus-year-old women’s sports entity, signed a deal with British retailer Oasis for a range of apparel, with players Ama Agbze, Eboni Usoro-Brown, and Jade Clarke appearing […]
The Evolving World of Branded E-Commerce
Licensors and licensees are watching developments in the brand-specific e-commerce space. While recent announcements from Fanatics and Delivery Agent have little in common on the surface, together they reflect the challenges facing property-specific e-commerce due to fast-paced technology changes, quickly evolving consumer shopping patterns, and ever-expanding competition. Service providers either adapt or fail. Fanatics confirmed […]