Sports stories without the shouting
With Rugby Australia considering a partnership with Private Equity, the total investment in the sport since 2018 is soon likely to top one billion pounds. While the investors are promising not to change the number of games being played, they are still likely to have a major influence on what fans get to see in …
Continue reading “What the future might hold for rugby’s partnership with Private Equity”
The Kentucky Derby is marketed as the ‘Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” but a 43% drop in TV ratings in 2020 must have sent shivers up the backs of organisers, sponsors and broadcasters. Thankfully, the figures for 2021 show a significant increase from 2020, and while slightly behind 2018 and 2019, they will provide …
In September last year the European Club Association (then chaired by plotter-in-chief Andrea Agnelli) published research on the Fan of the Future. Looking at this report you can see why the ‘Dirty Dozen’ and their bankers were so sure they were on to something with a new super league of top team across Europe. The …
Continue reading “What the Fan of the Future research didn’t understand about football fans”
Everybody loves a grand National favourite, especially the bookmakers. Looking back over the race since the turn of the century shows that only four favourites in the last twenty years have won the race. However, before you give up all hope it is interesting to note that a ten pound bet on the favourite each …
Continue reading “Backing the Grand National favourite isn’t what it used to be”
Data and eCommerce are driving Amazon’s sport strategy When it comes to sport Amazon is not the goose to lay the golden eggs that many people expected. Instead it has cleverly positioned itself to get what it wants from sport – more sales opportunities and a foothold in the data market. Sports administrators used to get …
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A bit of personal research has shown that new running shoes can increase speeds by nearly 5%. If they do that for an ordinary runner, what must shoe technology be doing for the elite? I have a weird habit with new clothes and shoes where I tend not to wear them if there is any …
One of the most interesting things about the cost of attending an NFL game is how there is no relationship between how much you pay and how good the team is. In fact, only three of the ten most expensive NFL teams to watch had winning seasons last year. This is worse than the ten …
Continue reading “On the pitch, NFL fans aren’t getting what they paid for”
Last night’s Copa Libertadores wasn’t much of an advertisement for Brazilian football (something I’m sure supporters of Palmeiras aren’t worrying about this morning), but what was amazing was how an injury time that saw a manger sent off and sensational last gasp winner seemed so tedious. Going back and timing the game shows that although …
Continue reading “When time doesn’t fly – analysing the Copa Libertadores final injury time”
This year’s Premier League could be won with the lowest points haul in ten years. Is this a new trend or Covid related blip – and could we see another Leicester? Last week my blog was like a half-time report on the English Premier League. Looking at league position and points per game after most …
Continue reading “The lowest points total in a decade is likely to win the Premier League”
The Premier League is highly competitive and an analysis of the first half of the season shows that it moving up the league requires significant performance improvement. This weekend marked the halfway stage of the Premier League for most clubs (although Covid postponements have not made it a perfect split). Since most teams have now …
Continue reading “The Premier League half-time review – winners and losers”
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