Will stadium naming rights ever catch on in Europe?

SportsPro's Head of Editorial Sam Carp explores the evolving business of stadium naming rights with Al Guido, president of the San Francisco 49ers and chairman and CEO of Elevate.The pair unpack why venue sponsorships have historically been a harder sell in Europe than in North America and consider whether attitudes are softening amid landmark deals for the likes of Everton.  Guido offers insight on the nuances of identifying a stadium naming rights partner, how to balance fan sentiment with commercial ambition, and why the next era of venue sponsorships will be defined by authentic storytelling, cultural relevance, and year-round engagement.

The SportsPro Podcast goes on the road to London Stadium for SportsPro AI 2025, where Sam Carp, Ed Dixon, Steve McCaskill and Josh Sim take the pulse of a rapidly shifting tech landscape. From the battle for AI leadership to the challenges of stitching together multi-technology partnerships with major leagues, the team reflect on the biggest talking points from the day.  Recorded on-site, the episode also features perspectives from some of the event’s headline speakers, including the IOC’s head of AI, Microsoft’s worldwide strategy director, and the Premier League’s director of digital media and audience development. And stick around until the end to see the moment the SportsBizBlitz crowns a new winner - and the old title holder’s reaction to being dethroned in dramatic fashion. 

The SportsPro Podcast is back, and this time Ed Dixon, Steve McCaskill and Sam Carp dive into the boom – and possible bust – of sports documentaries. From the pandemic-era surge that delivered global hits like The Last Dance and Drive to Survive, to the wave of imitators that followed, the team debate whether the magic of sports docs is starting to fade. So, is it the end? Not quite but the golden boom has definitely passed. Sports docs are settling into a new phase, moving past the copycat era into smarter, more niche storytelling that still knows how to hook an audience. Tune in for a lively discussion on the fine line between entertainment and authenticity in sports docuseries. And yes, the quiz no one asked for makes another appearance!  Recorded at Spotify UK Headquarters.For more information on the SportsPro Media Summit, visit https://media.sportspro.com/.

The SportsPro Podcast returns with a motorsport special as resident expert Cian Brittle breaks down the key narratives shaping the 2025 Formula 1 season. From the sport’s rapidly evolving commercial landscape and a surge in global sponsorships to McLaren’s impressive resurgence and the budding Norris-Piastri rivalry, there’s no shortage of storylines to explore. The team also explore the shifting dynamics under Liberty Media’s leadership and assess the potential impact of Apple’s growing interest in F1’s US broadcast rights. It’s a deep dive into the forces driving the future of motorsport – and yes, the quiz no one asked for makes a return. Recorded at Spotify UK Headquarters.

The SportsPro Podcast returns, and this time the team takes a deep dive into SportsPro’s inaugural Investment Summit, held in Central London last month. Ed Dixon, Steve McCaskill, Sam Carp and Josh Sim reflect on a landmark event that brought together more than 200 industry leaders, investors and key stakeholders to explore where new capital is flowing into sport.Alongside their highlights from the day – including the £500 million sales of The Hundred teams, the growing influence of private equity, and the global executives entering the market – the team also revisit four key interviews conducted on-site with leading investors and decision-makers. Plus, the team looks ahead as the Investment Summit prepares to go stateside in 2026 as part of SportsPro New York.Recorded at Spotify UK Headquarters.

The SportsPro Podcast returns, and this time the team takes a deep dive into SportsPro’s inaugural Investment Summit, held in Central London last month. Ed Dixon, Steve McCaskill, Sam Carp and Josh Sim reflect on a landmark event that brought together more than 200 industry leaders, investors and key stakeholders to explore where new capital is flowing into sport.Alongside their highlights from the day – including the £500 million sales of The Hundred teams, the growing influence of private equity, and the global executives entering the market – the team also revisit four key interviews conducted on-site with leading investors and decision-makers. Plus, the team looks ahead as the Investment Summit prepares to go stateside in 2026 as part of SportsPro New York.Recorded at Spotify UK Headquarters.

The SportsPro Podcast is back - and it's back with a fresh new look.  As a landmark summer of women’s sport continues, Ed Dixon, Steve McCaskill, Sam Carp and Josh Sim get behind the mic to reflect on Women’s Euro 2025 and preview the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup. Steve kicks off proceedings by reminiscing about his trip to Basel for the Women's Euro final before the panel discuss the potential commercial impact of England’s second consecutive title.  They also dig into the sponsorship strategy for the Women's Rugby World Cup, pick out the potential stars of the tournament and consider what it will take for rugby to have its Lionesses moment.  Plus: Some Premier League predictions, the all-new Sports Biz Blitz and a rugby-themed quiz no one asked for.Recorded at Spotify UK Headquaters

Launched in June, Impact X is a bold new initiative from SportsPro and SportQuake which spotlights the most impactful, creative and effective partnerships in sport.Featuring unique collaborations and original ideas that are redefining the landscape of sports marketing, Impact X showcases 50 of the best partnerships and activations from the past five years – spanning innovative uses of technology and compelling athlete-led content campaigns, to social impact initiatives and award-winning cultural crossovers.On this episode, SportQuake CMO Olivia Gillibrand joins SportsPro’s Michael Long and fellow Impact X advisory panel member Steve Martin, the founding partner of MSQ Sport + Entertainment, to discuss the project and the standout work featured within it.Key talking points:How impact is defined in this new era of sports marketingThe key ingredients for a truly impactful collaborationHow strategic clarity and creative inspiration unlock marketing effectiveness How brands can leverage creators and online communities to build audience connections and cultural relevanceBrand x sport partnerships to watch this yearTo find out more about Impact X and download the full casebook, click here.

The Covid hiatus led to promises of major reforms in the sports industry, but has anything really changed?Five (and a bit) years on from the coronavirus pandemic, SportsPro's Cian Brittle, Elena Kouyoufa, Michael Long and Sam Carp reflect on how the sports industry has (and hasn’t) transformed since. From the rising tide of private equity and the emergence of newfangled fan engagement tools like NFTs to bubble tournaments and fake crowd noise, the team discuss what ideas have tested positive and what would be better left in lockdown.

With the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season in full swing, Subhayu Roy, director of CricViz in India, joins the podcast to lift the lid on how the Ellipse Data-owned cricket data and analytics provider is powering teams to success, delivering insights across everything from fan engagement to performance analysis.Talking points:Why the IPL is a commercial juggernautThe work CricViz does with the IPL and the difference it makesTrends and shifts in how IPL teams are leveraging dataEffectively gathering and presenting data