Morgan Bartelstein

Grateful to R. J. McMahon and the team at Oak Leyden for having me on the podcast. Oak Leyden’s mission — empowering individuals with developmental disabilities to live meaningful, productive lives — is the kind of work that reminds you what real impact looks like. Purpose-driven organizations like this deserve our attention, support, and amplification. I appreciated the opportunity to share a few thoughts on sports marketing, leadership, and building brands that actually matter. Truth is, any “two cents” I have to offer is only possible because of the incredible people I’ve had the privilege to be on a team with over the years. Success in sports — and in life — is always a team sport. Thanks again, RJ, for the conversation and for shining a light on a mission that truly makes a difference. 👊 Hope everyone tunes in tonight. James Michael 444 Media LLC. Steven Simmons NILENT (NIL Enterprise Solutions) #sportsmarketing #brandsthatmatter #educationelevatestheplayingfield

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Another inventory unlock in football. Major League Soccer will allow clubs to sell back-of-shirt sponsorships starting from the 2026 season. ⚽ Simple move. Big implications. 🚀 Why it matters: - Creates new premium inventory for clubs - More category partners without overcrowding the front of shirt - Additional revenue streams as the league continues to grow commercially Major League Soccer has always been comfortable experimenting with sponsorship structure. 💥 More assets. More partners. More commercial upside. Sportbnk Inter Miami CF

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RCX Sports is quietly building one of the most scalable access models in youth sports. Inspired by Buying Sandlot The official youth sports operator for the major U.S. professional leagues has announced new partnerships with Michigan Parks, the Missouri State Alliance of YMCAs, and the Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society. The goal is simple and powerful. Meet kids where they already are. By working directly with state-level recreation and community organizations, RCX expands access to league-affiliated programs like NFL FLAG, NHL Street, Jr. NBA, Jr. @WNBA, and MLS GO DFW without forcing families into expensive club pathways. What stands out is the infrastructure-first approach. This isn’t just about adding programs. It includes coach and staff training, education resources, and frameworks designed to create safe, inclusive, and engaging environments at scale. This model matters. When national leagues pair their brands with local delivery partners, participation grows, quality improves, and barriers to entry drop. It’s a reminder that the next phase of youth sports growth won’t come only from new platforms or facilities, but from smarter distribution and partnerships. #YouthSports #SportsDevelopment #CommunitySports #NFLFLAG #JrNBA #JrWNBA #MLSGO #AccessAndEquity #SportsBusiness #GrassrootsSports

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Episode 437 of Sports Geek is out with Tyson Beattie from Western Force. Tyson's path through sports is precisely the kind of journey that creates well-rounded leaders. College football punter at Indiana University. Sports reporter at Nine. Seven years at West Coast Eagles across partnerships, strategy and content. Now GM of Business Operations at Western Force. The bit that stuck with me most was his point about understanding media by actually working in media. It's not about manipulating coverage – it's about respecting the space journalists operate in and working with them more effectively. Exciting times ahead for Rugby as discussed in the clip below. If you're building a sports organisation in a competitive market, or curious about what it takes to run commercial operations across multiple departments, this episode has plenty of practical takeaways. Listen now - https://lnkd.in/g43WfTJH Thanks to Ben Somerford for the podcast nomination.

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The biggest brands in youth basketball aren’t shoe companies or teams. They’re tournaments. Every weekend, thousands of teams travel across the country for exposure events run by tournament operators. Why? Because tournaments control: • visibility • competition level • recruiting access • brand partnerships Look at companies like MADE Hoops. They didn’t build a team. They built a platform hosting tournaments, creating media coverage, and bringing together top prospects from across the country. Now players and programs travel to their events to compete and be seen. In many ways, tournament organizers control the stage. And in sports, the stage often holds more power than the performers. Players perform. Teams compete. But tournaments create the environment everyone wants access to. Which raises an interesting business question: What if more people thought about building the platform, not just the team? Some creative ways people are starting to enter the tournament space: • niche tournaments (shooting showcases, position camps, analytics combines) • regional exposure events in overlooked markets • media-driven tournaments with livestream + content creators • brand-sponsored community tournaments Youth basketball is massive. And the infrastructure around it is still evolving. Question: What tournament had the biggest impact on your basketball journey? And why? #sportsbusiness #sports #athlete #basketball

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💲 Recent Major Investment in Youth Sports Tech via Youth Sports Business Report GTCR, a leading PE firm managing ~$50B, just announced a partnership with former Match Group executive Gary Swidler to launch Ascent Sports Group—a new platform tackling the fragmented youth sports technology landscape. The Problem: Parents and athletes currently juggle multiple disconnected platforms to watch games, track stats, communicate with teams, and stay connected to their sports communities. The Solution: Ascent Sports Group will invest in and build integrated products connecting athletes, families, coaches, leagues, and venue owners into a unified experience. Why This Matters • The youth sports market represents a massive, underserved opportunity • Swidler brings proven expertise scaling consumer tech platforms (Match Group reached ~100M monthly active users under his leadership) • This signals growing institutional interest in consolidating youth sports tech infrastructure With GTCR's capital backing and Swidler's track record in building product-led consumer businesses, Ascent Sports Group could reshape how the youth sports ecosystem operates. Will be watching this space closely. What are your thoughts on consolidation in youth sports technology? #YouthSports #SportsInnovation #SportsTech #PrivateEquity #EdTech https://lnkd.in/gECrxqVP

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FC Cincinnati has become the first Major League Soccer club to adopt #LuminStrength, setting a new benchmark for performance innovation in the league. ⚽ High performance staff and strength and conditioning coaches will use Lumin Sports S&C platform to program, prescribe and monitor the S&C load of its senior and developmental squads. Welcome to the family, FC Cincinnati ⚡ Read our full announcement 👉 - #PoweredByLumin #MLS #FCCincinnati #Soccer #USA https://lnkd.in/dkEYZuFm

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Momentous Sports's Marley Hughes latest newsletter examines the behavioral economic impact of cashless transactions at sports venues using AMB Sports and Entertainment as a case study. His primary insight is that fans "spent significantly more while reporting higher satisfaction levels" is particularly compelling for #sportsbiz leaders given there is usually an inverse correlation between increases in price and fan satisfaction. I highlighted a similar dynamic when examining the increase in Major League Baseball (MLB) attendance during the 2023 season by spotlighting cashless transactions as catalyst for league attendance growth in a JohnWallStreet column. https://lnkd.in/gVCP9akk

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Great insight from Max Ade. Having worked across the industry, I've seen firsthand how open ecosystems empower clubs by giving them the freedom to choose the best tools for their specific needs. It’s all about creating a better, more flexible experience for the facilities and players we serve.

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More teams are starting to buy or control their own regional sports networks. On paper it’s a smart move because it gives the team control over distribution, advertising, sponsorships, and streaming revenue. But the model only works if you can sell against the inventory. Owning the network means owning all the ad slots, integrations, and sponsorship opportunities. If you have the sales engine to monetize it, the upside is huge. If not, you’ve just taken on the cost of running a network. In today’s sports media world, distribution matters — but sales is what makes the model work. https://lnkd.in/e8rAgxei

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LATEST NEWS - 'Cincinnati United Partnership' Working with Parents are delighted to announce a new partnership with CINCINNATI UNITED SOCCER CLUB. Work has been going on behind the scenes for several months to help launch a partnership that it is hoped can be the most impactful across the entire organisation. Workshops and webinars will be delivered on an annual basis to management, coaches, parents and young players across all levels of the club. Every parent and coach within the club will be given access to a customised WWPIS/Cincinnati United Platform whilst the new intake of Under 8’s will be given their copy of ‘Our Sporting Journey’, an exciting resource for them to work through as they immerse themselves in the world of soccer. Sports Performance Parenting is a global bestseller supporting those parents of competitive young athletes looking to help their young people fulfil their potential both in and out of their sport.   Cincinnati United have also created their own version of this book and see it as an integral part of supporting their families alongside the live workshops and webinars that they will be given access to. CEO WWPIS Gordon MacLelland said, ‘This is such an exciting partnership for us. High quality relationships in sporting environments between management, coaches, parents and young players can be difficult to achieve particularly with the wide range of motivations from different parties. They do not happen by chance by just providing some resources for them either. This whole package of support helping to align messaging and drive some dynamic change within the context of the club is such an inspiring thing to be a part of.’ Hugh Seyfarth, Director of Coaching, Cincinnati United said, 'Working with Gordon and WWPIS is an absolute game-changer for our club. Gordon truly understands the complexities of the youth sports environment and offers real-world tools that bring coaches and parents onto the same team. When we all work better together—coaches, parents, and the club—the biggest winner is always the player. That’s what this partnership is all about.' Blake Decker

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Latest @BleacherReport Predicting the 10 Most Dangerous NBA Contracts in 2028 - a refresh on something I wrote last year, looking ahead to the start of the 2027-28 season, what are the largest (and by default riskiest to teams) contracts on the books? https://lnkd.in/g3t_NuPq

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Youth Competitive Sports Predictions I have been thinking a lot about where youth competitive sports are heading. Here is how I see it playing out. Step 1 - Consolidation of competitive leagues Step 2 - Consolidation of sports organizations that have access to those leagues Step 3 - Costs to families increase Step 4 - Private equity purchases youth organizations Step 5 - Private equity purchases youth leagues Step 6 - Costs to families skyrocket I believe we are at step 4 right now. I would not be surprised if we reach step 5 by Q4 2026 or Q1 2027. What happens after that is less clear. Either costs to families continue to climb or advertisers step in to help offset expenses for consolidated clubs and leagues. In the United States, average household income is higher than in many other countries. That is why I tend to think the burden will continue to fall on families and prices will keep rising. Personally, I would have preferred to see more competition based on merit rather than access. My concern is that we will see more fictional levels of competition marketed to families. I hope I am wrong. Curious to hear how others in the industry see this unfolding.

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The WNBA and WNBPA have officially signed the term sheet on a new 7-year CBA. Some highlights: — First comprehensive revenue-sharing model in women's professional sports history — Veteran minimum: $78k → $300k — Salary cap: $7M in 2026, projected to exceed $10M by the end of the deal — Housing provided for all players for the first three years It took more than 100 hours of negotiation over eight days, but the PA and the league just rewrote what a professional women's sports labor deal looks like. Transformative is an understatement.

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The WNBA awarded expansion franchises to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia in late June. The announcement came six months after the NWSL chose to place its 16th club in Denver.  While there’s nothing inherently wrong with any of those cities, none are widely viewed as desirable free agent destinations by pro athletes in other leagues, either (certainly, not like New York, Los Angeles, or Miami). And all have at least three NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB teams competing for the local sports fans’ attention. It’s logical to wonder if leagues outside the big four would be better off standing up franchises in less saturated markets with fast-growing populations and making their clubs the biggest fish in smaller expanding ponds. Cities like Austin, San Antonio, Raleigh-Durham, Nashville, Charleston, Salt Lake City, Omaha, Boise, Charleston, and Albuquerque all could make sense depending on the sport. “It’s not about the market’s ranking or the number of inhabitants there—it’s about the size of the fan base,” Stephanie Alger (chief growth officer, League One Volleyball (LOVB)). “Cities like Madison, that are populated with an incredible youth, college, and pro ecosystem of volleyball, prove that. The fans show up for the home team’s games and in these markets, our resources go further. That enables us to enhance their experience, make a bigger impact, and grow the sport sustainably.” cc: JohnWallStreet Randall Friedman Jacie Brandes #sports #sportsbiz #expansion #strategy

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New Article: Why the Chicago Bulls’ Current Level of Play Is Unacceptable The Bulls aren’t just struggling — they’re operating far below the professional standard expected of an NBA organization striving for relevance. In my latest piece, I outline the on-court issues, leadership gaps, and strategic missteps contributing to this downward trend. If you're interested in team culture, performance standards, or the Bulls' future direction, this article offers a clear lens into what’s going wrong and what must improve. #NBA #ChicagoBulls 🔗 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gRmtFakK

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Development with direction doesn't happen by accident; it happens through intentional partnerships. AOS Sports USA is excited to announce that Post to Post Plus is expanding to four new locations this summer, each powered by a strategic partnership with organizations that share our commitment to complete athlete development: 🌺 Honolulu, Hawaii — June 8–12 | in partnership with Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club 🏔️ Cleveland, Ohio — June 22–25 | in partnership with Spire FC 🎸 Knoxville, Tennessee — June 22–26 | in partnership with United Alliance 🏙️ Charlotte Metro Area — July 27–31 | in partnership with Real Sociedad These aren't typical summer camps. Post to Post+ delivers a structured development pathway built around the 360° Complete Athlete Mindset — integrating character development, growth-based evaluations, a College Player Pathway, and Next Level Scouting into every session. We train the person, not just the player. For our club partners, this model creates a meaningful off-season development experience for their players, strengthens their club's reputation for holistic athlete development, and provides families with a high-value, character-driven program they won't find anywhere else. Club Directors: If you're looking to bring a proven, purpose-driven development camp to your community, we'd love to connect. Post to Post+ is actively expanding, and the right partnership can elevate what your club offers to its athletes and families. Let's talk. Reach out at https://lnkd.in/gt3BzkQA or connect with us directly. ⚽ Matthew Clark Steve Richards

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