Going to the 2026 World Cup? Get ready to pay three times more than fans did just four years ago. Welcome to the new economics of live sports. Over the past few months I’ve been deeply immersed in how live-event ticketing, resale and pricing strategies are evolving (and the upcoming World Cup is an interesting case study). Here are 3 trends worth noting:  1️⃣ Prices at record highs - First hand Final tickets start at $2,030, triple past tournaments. While Secondary Re Sale Final tickets reaching up to $57,000.  2️⃣ FIFA created a Secondary Marketplace - Charging ~15% from both buyers and sellers on its own platform.  3️⃣ Tickets as assets = Dynamic pricing + speculation turns fandom into a financial market. What this means for industry players: - Brokers/marketplaces: Need tools that predict prices, not just react. - Fans: Buying a ticket now means navigating layers of fees and speculation. - Rights-holders: Must balance monetization with keeping access (and trust) alive. 💡 My take I believe what we’re witnessing is the “next generation” of live-event pricing and ticket markets. It’s no longer just “dynamic pricing” or “automatic pricing”. It’s predictive pricing that will make the difference, tied to sentiment, supply shifts, ancillary variables (weather, trades, injuries), and multi-layered resale economics. The stakeholders who embrace this evolution - with openness, transparency and fan-centric thinking - will lead the next wave. The era of intelligent pricing networks is beginning. #Ticketing #SecondaryMarket #WorldCup2026 #Mexico #Canada #USA

Inside the pulse, when football meets emotion. It’s the thump in your chest before kick-off, the roar that rattles through a stadium, the split-second where hope and heartbreak collide. For fans, the game isn’t about statistics or screens, it’s a physical, emotional experience that lives in every heartbeat. Football isn’t just watched, it’s felt. Now, science has caught up with that truth. A new study from Germany tracked over 200 fans during the 2025 German Cup Final, using smartwatches to measure heart rate, stress levels and emotion in real time. The data showed what we’ve always known deep down, our bodies play the game too. Heart rates spiked up to 50% above baseline before kick-off, surged during key moments and stayed elevated long after the final whistle. This is the future of fan engagement, where technology doesn’t replace emotion, but reveals it. Imagine stadium lights that pulse in sync with crowd excitement, broadcasts that adapt to fan intensity, or digital experiences that respond to the rhythm of passion itself. Data like this isn’t about analytics, it’s about empathy. It’s about understanding what fans feel, not just what they see. As we look ahead to World Cup 2026, this study reminds us of something simple but profound: connection is the heartbeat of the game. Every cheer, every gasp, every shared silence between strangers — that’s what unites us. So, here’s the challenge: • How are you designing for the feeling of football, not just the viewing of it? • What would it look like if your next activation, matchday or campaign truly pulsed with the energy of the fans themselves? Because the future of the game isn’t measured in clicks or views. It’s measured in heartbeats. And when those hearts beat together, that’s when we’re truly Winning Together. #WinningTogether #WhitewallCreative #FanEngagement #FootballEmotion #SportsInnovation #WorldCup2026 #SportsScience https://lnkd.in/eCvRkYtV

🚨 Everything you need to know in #SportsBiz today 👇 1. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club majority owner ENIC injects UK£100 million of new capital into the club 2. FIFA President Gianni Infantino urges an “open mind” on future World Cup scheduling, warning that overseas games carry major risks 3. Formula E’s global cumulative audience grew 14% YoY to 561 million during the 2024/25 season, a new all-time high for the championship 4. RCD Espanyol de Barcelona officially acquired by a group led by Burnley chairman Alan Pace, Velocity Sports Partners 5. Louisiana State University reportedly has a jersey-patch sponsorship deal ready, pending NCAA approval of new patch regulations 6. WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) star Angel Reese to appear in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, becoming the first professional athlete to walk the runway 7. National Hockey League (NHL) on ESPN rebounds with opening-night viewership up 37% YoY 8. National Basketball Association (NBA) China signs multi-year partnership with Alibaba Cloud as official Cloud Computing and AI Partner to enhance live viewing and fan engagement 9. Super Rugby names Swyftx as title partner through 2027 for both Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Women’s, with the crypto exchange’s logo on all Australian teams’ kits 10. Mexican Football Federation appoints TEAM Marketing to exclusively manage global media-rights sales for all national teams from 2026–2034 Keep your finger on the pulse with all the major stories and news announcements by checking out The Wire – our one-stop shop and super-feed of sports business news 👉 https://lnkd.in/dJKSjMv5

✅ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱: The competition authorities in Germany and Austria have cleared the way for 𝗥𝗦𝗠𝗚 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝘄𝗲𝗶𝘇 𝗔𝗚, the joint venture between Ringier Sports Media Group and Kicker Ventures (Olympia-Verlag GmbH). 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲: the brand-new 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗛 𝗮𝗽𝗽, now available in all app stores. It starts with extensive Swiss football coverage and will grow into a comprehensive home for all Swiss sports. A Zurich newsroom produces daily local sports content, enriched by RSMG’s European network (A BOLA, Gazeta Sporturilor GSP.ro, Sportal.rs, Sportal Media Group etc.) and kicker’s editorial expertise in Germany and Austria. The result: relevant local coverage with international depth. With already 1.5 million unique users and 23+ million page views per month, the joint venture kicks off with momentum – and a clear ambition to set new benchmarks for digital sports media in Switzerland. For more information: https://lnkd.in/eD_E_tzV Robin Lingg | Stilian Shishkov | Tim Kollmann | Lucas Haenni | David Meier | Markus Krienbühl | Alexander Grimm | Bärbel Schnell | Dr. Lars Thomas Ihme | Stefan Benkert | Christopher Tausend, CAIA | Kira Schiller | Anita Dünner | Tobias Offergeld | Tommy Dobs | Nadja P. | Johanna Walser | Oliver Kühn | Lennart Löscher | Bjoern Rosenthal | Panagiotis Sourilas | Thomas Passen | Mitja Grušovnik | Kathalin Suppanz |Soeren Beermann | Dhündup Carangelo | Laurence Hulliger | Christoph Schindler | RSMG kicker Schweiz

🏟️ Olympic venues with brand names? LA28 will be the first to do it. New YouGov Sport survey data shows U.S. fans are more likely to support this change (34%) vs. not (18%), with younger and engaged fans particularly more positive about the idea. Does this approach change how you think about or experience the Games? Let us know, and check out our full write-up here: https://lnkd.in/eYZQJGSw

For the first time in Olympic history, LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games will allow naming rights for competition venues in a move which should boost funding for the Games and support the vision for a no-new-build, privately funded Olympics. YouGov Sport surveyed fans in the US and found that: - 76% of U.S. sports fans plan to watch at least one event at LA28. - 34% feel positive about the introduction of venue naming rights, while only 18% view it negatively. - Younger Millennials (28–34) are the most receptive, with 52% in favour – indicating generational differences in attitudes to commercial innovation in sport. With new and existing venues in line for Brisbane 2032, should Aussie brands be keeping a keen eye on the success of naming rights at LA28? And because naming rights associations take time to build, is now the right time to consider a venue naming rights partnership in the build up to a home Games?

Every year, hundreds of young footballers shine on international stages — but how many truly make it to the top? Are international youth tournaments the launchpad for tomorrow’s stars, or just a beautiful illusion that fades too soon? Every year, international youth tournaments light up the football world with raw talent, ambition, and hope. From the FIFA U-17 World Cup to the UEFA Youth League and the Future Cup, these events are not just competitions — they are laboratories of potential where the next generation of stars takes its first real test. For young players, stepping onto these stages means more than just wearing a national shirt. It’s about adapting to different styles of play, coping with pressure, and showing maturity beyond their years. Pedri, Enzo Fernández, and Jamal Musiala all used these platforms to accelerate their rise, turning youth promise into professional success. Still, the path is not always linear. Many who shine at 17 struggle to transition to the senior level — a leap that demands resilience, consistency, and the right environment. Talent opens the door, but mentality keeps it open. At the same time, clubs and academies have learned to treat these tournaments as strategic assets. Strong performances enhance an academy’s reputation, attract sponsors, and build global partnerships. Youth visibility has become a currency — where development meets business, and where the next generation drives both sporting and financial value. So, are these tournaments true springboards or fleeting showcases? The answer lies somewhere in between. For the prepared, they are a launchpad. For others, they are a moment in the sun — bright, but brief. What’s undeniable is their lasting importance: international youth tournaments continue to shape football’s future, one rising star at a time.

🎯 The UK sport industry is thriving : ➡️ That is one of the many findings of The Sport Industry Report 2025 survey, 80% of sports fans and 96% of sports professionals polled agree that sport can have huge influence over the behaviours and attitudes of the UK public.

How Atlanta turns FIFA chaos into community wins 🏆 Over the past few months, FIFA events have made headlines for controversy, from the expanded Club World Cup schedule to debates over ticket pricing for the 2026 World Cup. However, today's story draws attention to the positives of the tournaments. Atlanta is a perfect example. Having hosted this year’s Club World Cup matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the city is now set to play a role in 2026, including hosting a semi-final. Dan C., President of the Atlanta Sports Council and the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee, highlights how the city uses its compact urban layout, world-class infrastructure and strong local partnerships to deliver experiences for teams, fans and residents. Key takeaways: 💰 Economic impact - The Club World Cup boosted tourism, hospitality, retail and infrastructure. In 2026, Atlanta is projected to generate over $500m for the city and state. 🫂 Community engagement - Initiatives like the FIFA Fan Festival and Showcase Atlanta ensure local communities actively participate in and benefit from the events. ⚽ Grassroots growth - Programmes like Soccer in the Streets and StationSoccer make soccer accessible year-round, while the new US Soccer National Training Centre strengthens the entire local soccer ecosystem. 🤝 Local partnerships: Atlanta-based companies and small businesses play a key role in delivering authentic fan and team experiences, ensuring benefits reach beyond major sponsors. Read the full interview below 👇 #FIFA #Atlanta #WorldCup #football #SportBiz

Swiss Football League & LaSource: Building on our collaboration to shape the future of ticketing 🎟️🤝 After successfully supporting the Swiss Football League in 2024 on its ‘Digital Vision 2027’, we are excited to take the next step together. This new project will look at ticketing as a cornerstone of digital transformation, exploring how a more unified approach could: - Serve as the gateway to stronger fan relationships - Unlock harmonised data and new growth models - Support clubs in creating more personalised matchday experiences Together with the Swiss Football League and its clubs, we’ll assess different models and design a roadmap towards a potential unified ticketing ecosystem: one that balances club needs, creates operational efficiency, and unlocks future growth. Building long-term connections with every supporter resonates with the ecosystem approach we advise sports organisations on. We are looking forward to collaborating on this initiative and enabling the Swiss Football League to #takethelead Learn more about our renewed collaboration with the league below 👇 https://lnkd.in/dTRwKZ3j