Brand Velocity Group launching sports vertical

Brand Velocity Group is "formally expanding into sports with a new vertical," Brand Velocity Group Sports, and SBJ in this week's cover story looks at the firm's future plans and its story to date. The new initiative will be chaired by longtime sports business insider and cable TV pioneer Joe Cohen (SBJ Champion Class of 2016) and has an 11-member advisory board that includes Sidley Austin partner Chuck Baker; Overtime co-founder and CEO Dan Porter; and former NBPA Exec Dir Michele Roberts. BVGS "will pursue opportunities throughout the sports and entertainment landscape -- it recently acquired youth jersey manufacturer Score Sports, though the deal technically predates the formation of its sports vertical -- and even sees potential team ownership on the horizon." The company’s partners "believe they have a competitive edge thanks to flexibility in how the firm is structured as an independent sponsor, as opposed to a fund" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/24 issue).

Also in this week's issue:

• Retail and online sportsbooks will make Ohio a betting hotspot
• NIL’s deeper purpose evident in smaller deals
• Forum: The two Leiweke brothers on life and loss