In a relatively short time, CAA Sports has built arguably the best athlete client list in the country and won the business of major sports icons such as the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. It also has ventured into nontraditional businesses, such as representing the brand synonymous with mixed martial arts and launching a sports-based social-networking site.
Creative Artists Agency, widely regarded as the most powerful entertainment firm for its representation of pre-eminent actors, directors, producers and musical artists, launched its sports business in 2006 by acquiring the businesses of two of the top sports agents in the country: football agent Tom Condon and baseball agent Casey Close. Both formerly were with IMG.
Through additional acquisitions and new client signings, CAA Sports now represents more than 400 athletes including superstars such as Derek Jeter, LeBron James, Peyton and Eli Manning, David Beckham, Sidney Crosby, Tony Hawk, Jimmie Johnson and Oscar De La Hoya.
Although some clients have come with their agents through acquisitions, CAA Sports has won recruiting battles for stars such as NASCAR’s Johnson and MLB’s Ryan Howard, and signed four of the top eight NFL draft picks in 2008, including No. 1 pick Jake Long. CAA Sports hockey agents Pat Brisson and J.P. Barry negotiated more than $250 million in deals last year.
Creative Artists Agency only just launched its non-talent-representation sports business in January 2007, when it hired sports industry executives David Rone, Howard Nuchow and Michael Levine to head CAA Sports. Last year they landed the highly coveted job of selling sponsorships for the new stadium home of the Yankees. CAA Sports has also been hired to represent the Dodgers, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, Crocs, and mixed martial arts brand TapouT. In February, CAA Sports launched WePlay.com, a social-networking site featuring clients such as James and Jeter.
CAA is also uniquely positioned to bring the world of sports and entertainment together. It has negotiated a deal for actress client Alyssa Milano to develop an MLB-licensed women’s apparel line and represented movie producer Joe Roth in his acquisition of an expansion Major League Soccer team in Seattle.
One of the strongest athlete client rosters in the country.
