Rob Schaefer

Chicago, New York, United States

Tech Sports Reporter at Sports Business Journal

tech/racquet sports reporter @SBJ • as seen @NBCSChicago https://t.co/bg8kmoeHXc @TheAthletic @suntimes_sports @FortuneMagazine @ringer • 📩 [email protected]

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Articles

Winners of the 2024 Sports Business Awards

1 day ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Alex Silverman |Mollie Cahillane |Austin Karp |Joe Lemire |Rob Schaefer |Tom Friend

The 17th Annual Sports Business Awards were celebrated Wednesday night in New York City. Below is the running list of the winners in the 16 categories:The inaugural award for Brand Activation of the Year went to one of the more unique, hilarious and viral sensations in recent memory -- the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Sportime Randall’s Island underwent a $55 million upgrade that will expand and improve tennis coaching for community members

1 week ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Rob Schaefer

A 16-year-old New York City tennis facility just completed a major expansion — and is promising community members major benefits. Sportime, a facility operator with more than a dozen tennis-focused clubs across New York state, recently cut the ribbon on $55 million of privately funded upgrades to its Randall’s Island location that organizers say makes it the largest indoor tennis facility in the country.
Lumen Technologies powering Kentucky Derby connectivity

1 week ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Rob Schaefer

To solve for the increased capacity the Kentucky Derby brings, Churchill Downs is utilizing an innovative connectivity solution from longtime tech provider Lumen Technologies. Lumen calls the offering “network as a service” (NaaS), and it powers use-cases ranging from WiFi access (for guests and media) to mobile point-of-sale to streaming.
WTA Ventures taps Will Staeger, Sonoma Sports & Entertainment for media consulting

2 weeks ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Rob Schaefer

WTA Ventures has contracted longtime sports media exec WILL STAEGER, via his consulting practice Sonoma Sports & Entertainment, to advise on production, content and broadcast partnerships, pursuant to the WTA’s goal of growing viewership and media rights revenue. Staeger’s title with WTA Ventures, the commercial arm of the WTA, will be exec producer and he will report to WTA Ventures CEO MARINA STORTI.
National Pickleball League inks QC Kinetix to title sponsorship deal

2 weeks ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Rob Schaefer

The National Pickleball League, a 12-team league for players over 50, has signed pharmaceutical company QC Kinetix to a multiyear title sponsorship deal.
Inside the camera tech powering NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby coverage

2 weeks ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Rob Schaefer

NBC Sports Supervising Producer Lindsay Schanzer, who leads the network’s Kentucky Derby coverage, affectionately calls the week leading up to the greatest two minutes in sports a “crescendo.”With months of planning now behind them, Director Kaare Numme and the rest of the 300-member production crew will descend upon Churchill Downs this week with a treasure trove of camera tech for the network’s 25th consecutive Derby broadcast on Saturday.
Cybersecurity study reveals concerns for tech leaders

2 weeks ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Rob Schaefer

Cybersecurity research firm Cybernews recently conducted a study on 100 of the “most trusted” companies in America -- and the results should be top-of-mind for tech leaders, including those in the sports industry.
Sinclair appoints ex-Amazon exec Jeff Blackburn CEO of Tennis Channel

2 weeks ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Rob Schaefer

Longtime Amazon SVP Jeff Blackburn is coming out of retirement to take over as Chairman & CEO of Tennis Channel. Blackburn will lead growth initiatives for the network and the expansion of its digital and streaming platforms. He will relocate from Seattle to Santa Monica, Calif., and work out of the Tennis Channel offices there, reporting to Sinclair President & CEO Chris Ripley.
USTA financial statements show US Open revenues continue to rise

2 weeks ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Rob Schaefer

Operating revenue associated with the 2024 U.S. Open rose 9% year-over-year from $514.1M to $559.7M, according to financial statements recently published by the USTA. The bump continues a consistent upward trend since the event emerged from its 2020 edition, which was held without fans, when it booked just $181.2M in overall revenue (only $755,000 of which derived from ticket sales).
ASB GlassFloor, NBA tout success of ‘Athletes Lab’ testing center

2 weeks ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Rob Schaefer

ASB GlassFloor’s glass-paneled, LED-embedded basketball courts first caught the NBA’s attention at the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in 2023. Less than a year later, ASB’s flagship video floor, the LumiFlex, was canvas to the NBA celebrity game, dunk contest, 3-point shootout and skills competition at the 2024 All-Star weekend in Indianapolis. The futuristic floors haven’t been used in an NBA exhibition since, or an NBA game at all.