Terry Lefton

1 day ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Terry Lefton

SoFi CMO Lauren Stafford Webb said sports was a “big part of what helped accelerate our trajectory,” as the company has grown “from a relatively unknown brand to now a leadership brand in our category,” notes SBJ’s Michael Boylan. Webb, speaking during a Wednesday panel at the CAA World Congress of Sports, said as the company knew it had to “grow awareness,” there was “no better place to do that than to tap into sports.” Webb: “You have to go where people are, and people are watching sports.

1 day ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Terry Lefton

Topics diverse as consumer behavior, rationale behind property selection and aligning advertising were deliberated during a wide-ranging sports sponsorship panel at the CAA World Congress of Sports on Tuesday afternoon. Many of the biggest brands buying sponsorship assets have little need for greater consumer familiarity. That hasn’t dissuaded sellers from consistently trying to sell those companies branding assets.

3 days ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Terry Lefton

Around 50 years ago, the final choice in the NFL Draft, which renews again this week, was branded “Mr. Irrelevant” by former CFL/NFL wide receiver Paul Salata. • Looking for a tie-in to this week’s NFL Draft, Ike’s Love & Sandwiches, a 100-location Western chain, will be selling a “Mr. Irrelevant “sandwich this week designed by the aforementioned Chef Cora (ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato, American cheese, chips, honey mustard and Ike’s Godfather sauce on sourdough).

1 week ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Terry Lefton

Licensing industry sources tell me that bids for Super Bowl merchandising rights have recently been submitted, including the guaranteed minimums. A decision is expected from the NFL as soon as next month. Legends has held the rights to sell on site and across hotels in the Super Bowl host city for the past six years. The current rights deal ends with this year’s Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, where Legends established a record at Super Bowl 50.

1 week ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Terry Lefton

Paul Bamundo has joined RedBird Development Group, a subset of RedBird Capital Partners, as an SVP with a focus on developing their college sports business. Bamundo, an 2012 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree, has been CEO of the National Pickleball League since 2023, and has had stops at the NBA, Subway and JMl.The NPL’s web site indicates that Chairman Rod Davis has added CEO duties.