A roster of sports stars, led by Pro Football HOFer Joe Montana and former NFLer Lawyer Milloy, "have teamed up" on a new social media app, GameOn, which debuts today, according to Jon Swartz of USA TODAY. The concept is to "create an immersive app that keeps a fan's attention through a combination of group texting, video highlights, photos, score updates and original stickers." GameOn co-Founder Alex Beckman said, "We wanted to appeal to the soul of the sports fan." Milloy said, "I believe in its potential. It's the only (sports app) I'm involved in. I don't want to saturate my brand." Swartz notes Milloy has "invested an undisclosed sum in the company and is an adviser." A lineup of some 30 athletes "interact with fans on the app, whose splashy design and heavy emphasis on emojis is a play for the 16- to 30-year-old male demographic." By the end of the year, Beckman "hopes to have 100 athletes from football, baseball, basketball, cricket and other sports signed." He said that sales of specially designed player stickers on the site "could provide a big chunk of revenue, as well as partnerships with teams and conferences." But Swartz notes gaining traction in an "oversaturated sports-app field may be a high hurdle" (USA TODAY, 8/6).
WE HAVE LIFT-OFF: Yankees manager Joe Girardi yesterday appeared on CNBC’s “Fast Money Halftime Report” to promote the launch of his new app. CNBC’s Scott Wapner noted the app, called Portalball, is a "sci-fi hybrid baseball game ... set against the backdrop of an alien invasion." Girardi said he wanted to develop "something that appealed to people besides baseball fans." He added, "There's a fire bat, there’s a lava bat, many different kinds of baseballs and you can compete against people around the world and just have a lot of fun with it." Girardi noted the app was free "with competitions throughout the year." Portions of his earnings from the game will go to his charity, Catch 25 (“Fast Money Halftime Report,” CNBC, 8/5).
