Illustrating the growing importance of technology, online team stores and other data-driven efforts within the team sports business, the two leading providers of these technologies had some significant announcements this month leading up to the Sports, Inc. buying show in Las Vegas.

Responding to the times and business direction, the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) recently unveiled a new name and logo for what was previously known as the NSGA Management Conference and Team Dealer Summit.

In a move with far-reaching implications in the team sports business, football helmet maker Riddell recently signed a seven-year extension to its partnership with the National Football League (NFL).

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is launching a new Super Regional Series this month, offering a localized opportunity for SFIA members, partners and industry leaders to meet about business insights and topics driving today’s sporting goods and fitness environment.

I ‘m going to make this really simple, so as we get ready to turn the calendar to 2024 let’s make some predictions about the biggest stories we can expect in the year ahead.

With Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) issues reaching all the way down to high schools, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) attempted to get ahead of the curve with...

A host of new products, advanced technologies – and, of course, pickleball – highlight 2023.

If the late Amos Alonzo Stagg and Glenn “Pop” Warner, two of the trailblazers who led the movement to take rugby union football and evolve it into the game of American gridiron football, were alive to today they would be more than impressed with the state of the game they helped shape.

OK, we admit we didn’t even think the NBA needed an official underwear partner, but apparently when Kim Kardashian is involved there is some sort of logical connection.

Varsity Brands, the parent company of BSN Sports, has completed the sale of the Herff Jones Graduation Business to Atlas Holdings. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Ripken Baseball recently entered a multi-year partnership with Under Armour that makes UA the exclusive apparel company for Ripken Baseball’s six properties, hundreds of tournaments and multisport events.

In a significant expansion of its technology capabilities, Stahls’ recently acquired Fulfill Engine, a software technology company specializing in order fulfillment, supply chain management and e-commerce store integration.

Already a big player in segments such as skateboarding, casual footwear, running, pickleball and, most recently, soccer, to name a few, Skechers is now moving into the technical basketball shoe category with two mid-top styles – the SKX Resagrip and SKX Float.

This may not exactly be the news team dealers who already struggle to get Swoosh product for their school and retail clients, but word came recently that Nike is teaming up with full-line retailer Hibbett on a “connected partnership.”

GroupeStahl, the heat printing technology company, has promoted Josh Ellsworth to chief revenue officer. He has worked for the company since 1999.

New Era Cap reached outside of the headwear business recently to name Steve Gallo, most recently president of the recovery footwear brand Oofos, as general manager for North America.

This is a sentence we never imagined writing in TeamInsightExtra: Reebok has appointed none other than Shaquille O’Neal as president of Reebok Basketball. Wait, there’s more: Allen Iverson will also serve as division vice president.

In more news from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the group is launching a new Super Regional Series in November, offering a localized opportunity for SFIA members, partners and industry leaders to meet about business insights and topics driving today’s sporting goods and...

A new product that is definitely of interest to the team sports business recently won the 2023 SFIA Start-Up Challenge. Reeplayer, led by founder Orhan Basak Ajredinovski, uses AI technology to autonomously record and live-stream high-quality footage for youth and amateur sports.

In one of the biggest pieces of news in team sports in quite a while, this week the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially approved baseball/softball, cricket (T20), flag football, lacrosse (Sixes) and squash for inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Grammy Award winning rapper Drake and “Black Panther” star Michael B. Jordan are among the new investors in Major League Pickleball’s Brooklyn Aces.

ProNine Sports recently hired Nathan Hulvey as its national sales manager. He brings more than 20 years of experience within the sporting goods industry in both sales and management roles, with a focus on the team section. 

In conjunction with National Coaches Day this week, BSN Sports has been recognizing coaches with its #DunkdChallenge, billed as a fun and engaging way to celebrate coaches nationwide for all they do for their athletes, schools and communities.

“In football, athletes must wear a plastic chin cup/strap which is hot, sweaty, dirty, oily, smelly and a breeding ground for bacteria,” says Gus Blythe, president of Drymax Technologies.

Combining outdoor style with lightweight protective equipment, EvoShield has partnered with Realtree for a new line of camo batter's protective products.