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Accelerate Media names John Willi president, launches Accelerate Sports Network to meet growing demand for High School Sports coverage. GlobeNewswire | Accelerate Media LLC Today at 11:03am PDT WYCKOFF, N.J., June 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Accelerate Media today announced that former IMG and Playfly executive John Willi has been named president and that the company has formally launched the Accelerate Sports Network (ASN), a new prep sports media and streaming platform, providing high-quality broadcasts for the New York and New England region starting in Fall 2026. Accelerate Media's growing sports media and streaming portfolio includes the Super Football Conference Network (SFCN), which launched during the 2025 high school football season, and quickly emerged as one of the most comprehensive and fastest-growing conference-branded high school football media platforms in the country. Built in partnership with leading New Jersey high school programs, SFCN established a new benchmark for broadcast quality, storytelling, and sponsorship integration at the high school level. Building on that success, ASN was created as a separate, complementary network under Accelerate Media designed to serve premier high school programs beyond northern New Jersey that are seeking the same high-quality broadcast experience. ASN expands Accelerate's media footprint into new markets, packaging top prep teams, premium matchups and regional audiences under a scalable national platform. ASN will launch with Iona Preparatory School in New York and has received strong inbound interest from additional prominent schools seeking to provide their student-athletes with the same high-quality production experience established through SFCN. ASN will also feature the top games in New Jersey's Big Central and NJIC conferences. Willi brings experience across every level of the sports ecosystem, including senior leadership roles at IMG and Playfly, as well as a hands-on background building and managing minor league franchises. His expertise combines professional-level media operations with a deep understanding of how strong local identities and communities drive long-term success. "When we talk about the Accelerate Sports Network, the goal is to bring high-level production and presentation standards to high school sports while maintaining what makes these community experiences so special," Willi said. "Youth sports is a $40 billion industry, so it's no surprise that high school sports remain a hidden gem for brands, fans and communities. We are committed to providing a trusted best-in-class platform that raises the bar on how these events are presented and enjoyed." The network will feature premium matchups, highlight top programs, and deliver consistent production quality across broadcasts, while maintaining the flexibility to expand into additional sports as demand grows. "From day one, our goal with the Super Football Conference Network was to deliver a superior product and provide the athletes with a top-notch media platform," said Doug Fillis, Founder and CEO of Accelerate Sports Ventures. "The success of the Super Football Conference Network has allowed us to expand into new markets, starting with New York and Massachusetts, and having John's experience and leadership reinforces our commitment to making this the best possible product in the high school space. With Accelerate Media and the Accelerate Sports Network, we're building something schools, sponsors and partners can trust and scale with, while delivering meaningful exposure and revenue opportunities that directly benefit participating programs and their student-athletes." Accelerate Media is part of the broader Accelerate Sports Holdings ecosystem, which also includes Accelerate Sports Ventures and Athlete Capital Sports, each operating as distinct businesses focused on different segments of the youth and collegiate sports marketplace. ABOUT ACCELERATE MEDIA Accelerate Media brings a new and innovative approach to High School Sports for brands, schools, fans, and athletes. Accelerate owns and operates best-in-class regional sports streaming networks - including the SFC Network and Accelerate Sports Network - focused on delivering professional sports style broadcasting of the elite teams and big games. Working with hundreds of high schools and some of the nation's best sports conferences, Accelerate provides athletic programs with modern solutions for marketing and revenue generation, and helps brands navigate the high school landscape with partnerships that strategically leverage its consumer passion and community impact. Media Contact: Sterling Randle Digital Sport by Hot Paper Lantern [email protected] This is a paid placement. For further inquiries, please contact GlobeNewswire directly.

Merrimack athletic department announces partnership with Playfly Sports. * 12 hours ago New York, NY/NORTH ANDOVER, MASS (June 17, 2026) The Merrimack College athletic department on June 17 announced a three-year partnership with Playfly Sports, the sports industry's leading revenue maximization company for ticket sales. Playfly Sports will manage the outbound ticket sales for the college's athletic department. Playfly will oversee the ticket sales for Merrimack men's and women's hockey and men's and women's basketball games at Lawler Arena as well as football games at Duane Stadium. "In the changing college sports landscape, it is imperative that we are able to remain competitive and generate revenue for our athletic department," Merrimack College athletic director Joe Foley said. "Playfly has proven their ability to support ticketing sales time and time again, and we have full confidence they will help us achieve our financial goals." The company operates ticket sales and other revenue generation efforts for over 65 college athletic departments and 100 professional teams with a portfolio of over 2,200 advertisers. With a main corporate office in Pennsylvania, Playfly will have two employees located at the Merrimack ticket office. "With our schools, we are immensely focused on building partnerships that will be mutually successful," said Joe Kronander, the vice president of client development at Playfly Sports. "Playfly's resources across business units have led to a proven track record of revenue generation that will take Merrimack Athletics to the next level." Playfly has been named a "Best Place to Work in Sports" by Sports Business Journal, Front Office Sports, and Newsweek. Ashley Marshall EDP, Business Operations, Transformation & Marketing, Playfly Sports Sean McGuire Assistant Athletic Director of Strategic Communications ABOUT MERRIMACK Merrimack College sponsors 28 Division I varsity sports and competes primarily in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference while the men's and women's hockey teams compete in Hockey East and field hockey team competes in the Northeast Conference. The Warriors are committed to excellence in competition, academics and community engagement while providing a transformative student-athlete experience. ABOUT PLAYFLY SPORTS Playfly Sports, the sports industry's leading revenue maximization company drives growth for its partners across the sports ecosystem - including 2,000+ brands, 100+ professional teams, 65+ college athletic departments, all U.S. local sports networks and associated streaming platforms, and other marquee properties. Its fan engagement platform allows its partners to reach and engage over 85% of all U.S sports fans. Playfly builds and implements custom strategies across media, sponsorship, premium experiences, ticketing and fan engagement offerings through proprietary data, innovative technology and compelling storytelling. Playfly operates an expansive portfolio of services with a data-driven and fan-focused approach to maximize revenue yield in key growth areas, such as media, sponsorship, ticketing, premium experiences and fan engagement offerings. Founded in September of 2020, Playfly Sports is now home to approximately 1,000 team members located across 43 U.S. states and internationally dedicated to maximizing the impact of highly passionate local sports fans. The company has been named Best Place to Work in Sports by Sports Business Journal, Front Office Sports, and Newsweek. To learn more, follow Playfly Sports on social media platforms or visit www.Playfly.com.

Playfly Sports names John Dooley General Counsel. Veteran Sports, Media and Entertainment Leader Joins Playfly's Executive Team Following Over Ten Years In Roles at Diamond Baseball Holdings and Endeavor/IMG NEW YORK, NY, May 28, 2026 - Playfly Sports, the sports industry's leading revenue maximization company, today announced the appointment of John Dooley as General Counsel, effective immediately. Dooley joins Playfly's executive team, supporting daily governance of the organization alongside CEO Craig Sloan, President Chris Marinak and Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer Nicolina O'Rorke. He will be based in Playfly's Atlanta office. "Throughout his career, John's leadership has been instrumental in enabling responsible growth, while protecting brand and stakeholder value, and delivering clear, actionable guidance to support fast-moving organizations," said Craig Sloan, CEO of Playfly Sports. "The goal throughout this process was to take the necessary time to find the right partner for this role, and we've found that in John. His experience will have a substantial impact on Playfly's continued growth trajectory." Dooley brings nearly two decades of experience advising growth-oriented businesses across sports, media, entertainment, hospitality and operations. Most recently, as General Counsel of Diamond Baseball Holdings, Dooley led the legal function for an organization operating 49 minor league baseball teams and a portfolio of ancillary events. Previously, Dooley spent nearly a decade at Endeavor/IMG, most recently serving as Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel, supporting the company's premier events, sponsorship and marketing platforms, along with large-scale real estate and facilities operations. His work spanned IMG College, IMG Academy, Professional Bull Riders, the Miami Open, the US Open of Surfing and PGA and LPGA events. Among Dooley's key accomplishments were the launch of the PBR Team Series league, multi-school concert tours across IMG College properties, the relocation of the Miami Open to Dolphins Stadium,hosting the WNBA "bubble" at IMG Academy in 2020, and numerous acquisitions and divestitures, including the sale of IMG Academy in 2023. Dooley began his legal career at Troutman Sanders (now Troutman Pepper Locke), where he focused on private company mergers and acquisitions and served several sports and entertainment clients. "Since its founding nearly six years ago, Playfly has evolved substantially to touch nearly every area of the rapidly evolving sports landscape," added Dooley. "This is a rare opportunity to join Playfly as it continues to experience rapid growth. I look forward to joining a dynamic leadership team and immediately contributing to the company's long-term success." Dooley's appointment is Playfly's second senior leadership hire with deep sports properties experience, following the January 2026 appointment of Chris Marinak as President. Previously, Marinak served as Chief Operations & Strategy Officer at Major League Baseball.