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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Formula E Closes Fourth Season This Weekend Amid Significant Growth

Formula E makes its lone stop in the U.S. this weekend with a season-finale doubleheader in N.Y., and it comes after substantial growth for the nascent electric racing series this year. Finishing up its fourth season, Formula E has carved out an increasingly envied niche in the motorsports space by basing itself around electric cars. Over the last 12 months, the series added a title sponsor in ABB, secured commitments for forthcoming entrances by Porsche and Mercedes and continued its trait of racing in urban, sometimes exotic locations. Among the series’ goals moving forward is to grow a more sizable fanbase to complement the strong business backing, and add a U.S. car manufacturer. “Coming to the end of our fourth season, we probably are having our best moment ever,” Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag said. “It’s going great on both (the competition side and business side). Both of the two drivers fighting for the championship would be first-time champions, so we’ll have a fourth champion in four seasons -- which is very good because it shows how open and competitive the series is.” Agag said that ticket sales were looking good for this weekend’s races, which are once again being held in Brooklyn’s Red Hook district. The circuit, which has room for about 10,000 fans, was altered this year to try to encourage better racing. For Fox Sports’ broadcasts this weekend, it will have usual NHRA reporter Amanda Busick reporting from the paddock area. Other talent will include Ralph Shaheen, Bob Varsha, Jack Nicholls, Dario Franchitti, Nicki Shields and Steve Matchett.

OFF TO A GOOD START: ABB, the global mobility and electrification company that signed a seven-year deal reportedly worth about $15M annually, had a strong first season under the role, according to company Head of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs Chris Seider. The company views the U.S. as its most important market, and it is planning on hosting around 500 people at this weekend’s doubleheader, including many employees from GE Industrial Solutions, which ABB recently acquired. ABB is showing off its products at its activation zone at races, from robots to electric-vehicle charging stations and other digital capabilities. It also is hosting panel sessions on topics related to electrification and mobility. Seider said that a recent brand monitor study of the capital goods industry showed that ABB -- which hosts customers, public officials and media at every race -- jumped from 10th to 8th, with an equivalent of about $1.4B in brand equity. Another group of execs that are expected to be in N.Y. are those from Ford. The U.S. automaker is known to be evaluating an entry into Formula E.

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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