Product Manager

Walmart Saturday Showdown games coming to Apple TV on February 21. Walmart Saturday Showdown is coming to Apple TV on February 21. Major League Soccer fans will be able to enjoy even more game highlights as part of the Walmart Saturday Showdown, debuting on Apple TV in February 2026. Apple's push for sports-related programming continues, as the iPhone maker has now promised additional Major League Soccer content. Throughout 2026, Apple TV subscribers in the United States will be able to watch MLS games for free, with select games highlighted as part of Sunday Night Soccer. Starting February 21, MLS fans will get to enjoy even more soccer content over the weekend, with Walmart Saturday Showdown games coming to Apple's streaming service. Content for the new programming block will be filmed with iPhones, as part of Apple's long-standing Shot on iPhone campaign. Apple hardware will be utilized to capture matches and fan interactions. Highlights from matches will be available on Walmart's platform, in addition to Apple TV. To promote the 2026 season and the World Cup in February, MLS has debuted a promotional video dubbed "The Call." It's a social-first campaign, offering players an invitation to view MLS content. The ad features renowned athletes and players, the likes of Magic Johnson, Diego Luna, Matt Freese, and others. Additional marketing efforts include a promotional video for the existing Sunday Night Soccer. The ad features a family on a couch, intently watching Major League Soccer games on Apple TV. National campaigns for MLS content will be amplified by participating clubs and partners as well. In terms of production changes affecting regular MLS season content, all pre-game, half-time, and post-game content will be produced on-site, in both English and Spanish. Previously, content for these segments was produced remotely. Apple has also announced a deal with EverPass, which will now have Apple Sports properties streaming in its commercial establishments across the United States. Along with MLS and MLB games, Formula 1 races are available for free to Apple TV subscribers in the United States. Apple has also had success with the "F1" movie, and there's even talk of a possible sequel.

Sportico transactions: moves and mergers roundup for Jan. 9. Welcome to Sportico's transactions wire, a weekly rundown of personnel, partnerships and products across the sports business industry. Next League, which advises sports brands and helps them operate technologies, announced the appointment of Scott Gutterman as its chief digital officer. In this role, Gutterman will work on end-to-end technology strategy and execution for the way Next League should manage and evolve its core offerings and position in the marketplace. Prior to Next League, Scott spent 20 years at the PGA Tour, most recently as SVP, digital & broadcast technologies. Lift Sports Management announced the appointment of Corey Vann as its chief marketing officer. Vann will oversee all aspects of Lift's marketing as the agency aims to expand into new talent verticals and business ventures. Vann most recently served as an executive at Creative Artists Agency, where he focused on partnerships and endorsement deals across the agency's basketball division. As CMO, Vann will oversee the marketing strategy across Lift's portfolio, including brand development and player representation. EverPass Media, which delivers live sports content to commercial businesses such as bars, restaurants and hotels, announced the hires of Ryan Blood as chief content officer and Noah Fischbach as chief product officer. Blood will oversee the company's live sports lineup, including content expansion and premium rights acquisitions, and Fischbach will lead product strategy across the company's streaming platform, content management tools and in-venue marketing and engagement technology. Both will report to CEO Alex Kaplan. On is stepping onto the Padel court for the first time, announcing the signing of World No. 1 Arturo Coello (ESP) to its roster of athletes. Coello, the Spanish powerhouse and youngest player to reach the top of the World ranking, joins the brand as an integral partner for padel-specific product innovation. In the coming months, Coello will work directly with On's product development team in Switzerland, providing ongoing insights to engineer footwear specifically designed to the unique demands of the padel court. Anheuser-Busch and Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. and Sphere Entertainment Co. announced an expanded, multiyear sponsorship that names the alcohol company as an Official Sponsor across the MSG companies' portfolio of sports and entertainment assets. Nutrl Vodka Seltzer and Cutwater, two subsidiary brands, will be promoted alongside Michelob Ultra. As part of the expanded sponsorship, Anheuser-Busch will receive premium exposure across the MSG portfolio year-round, including at Madison Square Garden and Sphere in Las Vegas; as well as with the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, the Concert Series at Madison Square Garden, College Hoops at The Garden and MSG Networks. Ohio State is extending its 15-plus year athletic department relationship with Learfield, which will continue to serve as Ohio State's revenue-generation partner across integrated sponsorships, NIL services via Buckeye Sports Group and partnerships. Ohio State Sports Properties, Learfield's local team in Columbus, will collaborate with Ohio State's athletic department on centerpiece sponsorship assets, such as a jersey-patch partnership in anticipation of an NCAA rule change. League One Volleyball (LOVB) announced Chase as a founding partner across its professional league and 87 youth clubs nationwide, joining other professional women's sports properties like the U.S. Open and KPMG's Women's PGA Championships, teams such as the WNBA's Golden State Valkyries, and athletes including Alex Morgan and A'ja Wilson. Through this partnership, Chase will serve as LOVB's official banking partner. Saratoga Spring Water announced a new ad campaign, the first chapter of which will run across TV, digital channels and in print nationwide and feature star professional basketball star Skylar Diggins. Following this week's debut of the campaign, Diggins will attend the Golden Globes, where Saratoga will return as the Official Water of the show. The new campaign was conceived by the in-house creative agency at Primo Brands, "The Lab." Coca-Cola is teaming up with Serie A club Inter in a three-year partnership, becoming the club's Official Soft Drink Partner, with Powerade named the new Official Sports Drink Partner of the Nerazzurri. The collaboration will involve the men's first team, Inter Women and Inter U23. During home matches, the Coca-Cola logo will be prominently placed at the stadium. Portuguese soccer club Benfica has inaugurated the 1904 Benfica Hotel, a new hospitality project located in the heart of Lisbon. The opening ceremony was led by Benfica president Rui Costa, alongside Carlos Moedas, mayor of Lisbon, marking the transformation of the club's former headquarters into a modern hotel. The hotel served for decades as Benfica's administrative and decision-making center. It has 56 rooms, with tributes and memorabilia from club legends such as Eusébio, Costa and Pablo Aimar. The revenues generated by the project will support the Benfica Foundation charity, according to the club. Chicago Stars FC unveiled plans to develop a performance center on a 10-acre site in Bannockburn, Ill. It will feature two full-sized soccer pitches and a goalkeeper-specific pitch. The 45,000-square-foot building will include recovery modalities and a weight room with indoor/outdoor access. Populous was selected for the design project because of the firm's work with fellow NWSL teams Portland Thorns and Denver Summit FC. Marquee Development will be the development partner for the project. The club has retained W Partners to help lead corporate partnership sales for the club and the new facility. Construction is slated to begin this spring, with the goal of opening and fully hosting team training operations in 2027. Women's sports newsroom The IX announced its latest expansion on Friday with the introduction of The IX Soccer. IX Sports executive editor Kathleen Gier will lead the coverage as editor-in-chief, joined by IX Soccer executive editor Julie Schreiber and IX Soccer managing editor Abigail Segel. Initially, the vertical will offer three to four in-depth articles per week, Gier said, in addition to news coverage. The IX Sports, founded by Howard Megdal, added investment from Monumental Sports last year and acquired women's hockey-focused publication The Ice Garden. TBL Team Boxing League (TBL) will host the first televised open boxing tryouts, taking place Jan. 16-18 at Bally's Atlantic City in the Traymore Ballroom. Over 100 fighters have already registered for the combine, which combines athletic testing, live entertainment and fan engagement. Elevate, a global agency known for its work across sports and entertainment, announced the acquisition of Sweet Management Group (SMG), a chef representation and culinary consultancy. Elevate said it is expanding into the culinary space to "solidify its position to offer integrated, end-to-end solutions for a wide variety of clients operating at the convergence of sports, entertainment and the hospitality landscape." This acquisition follows recent acquisitions of GA and Downstream. SMG, led by CEO Lonny Sweet, brings a roster of Michelin-starred chefs, James Beard award winners, Top Chef champions, Iron Chefs and TV personalities.

EverPass Media announces commercial distribution agreement with DAZN in the U.S. for FIFA Club World Cup 2025.