Newsroom

media March 3, 2025

A rewarding experience?

Loyalty programs and the sports industry have had a rocky relationship. Now the future looks much different Learn More

insights February 5, 2025

National Girls & Women in Sports Day 2025

To celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day, we’re sharing personal reflections from women at Next League on the role sports have played in their lives. From discovering a new sport as an adult to competing internationally, their experiences reveal lasting lessons in teamwork, confidence, and perseverance, alongside friendships and opportunities that continue to shape who they are today.

insights February 3, 2025

Measuring Culture

The concept of organizational culture has never been more important than it is today. Organizations that invest the time and resources in building and maintaining a strong, healthy culture tend to be more successful than those that don’t. One way to gauge the health of your organization is via employee engagement surveys. These anonymous surveys are …

Press Release January 29, 2025

Next League Makes Significant Investment in Emerging Technologies

Hires Shripal Shah, Sports Industry Veteran and AI Expert, as Chief Digital Officer NEW YORK, NY - Next League, the leading digital growth consultancy and technology services organization working exclusively within the global sports industry, today announced the appointment of Shripal Shah, a renowned sports industry veteran and expert in data-driven digital transformation, as its first Chief …

Press Release January 17, 2025

Next League Acquires College Athlete Intelligence Firm Edge3

CEO and former NFL Player Kenyon Rasheed to lead its new College Sports Practice NEW YORK, NY - Next League, the leading digital growth consultancy and technology services organization working exclusively within the global sports industry, today announced it has acquired Kenyon Rasheed’s Edge3.ai, an athlete intelligence and advisory firm that recently partnered with IBM to leverage …

media January 6, 2025

TGL gets digital experience boost from tech firm Next League

Next League built TGL’s fan-facing website and app while also migrating the TMRW Sports corporate site into the same backend Learn More

events October 31, 2024 Video

League Lookaround - Sportico RISE - October 2024

insights October 28, 2024

Next League mining untapped potential with its Athlete Fellowship Program

At Next League, we ask our team to ‘Think Like an Athlete’ – what better way to model this behavior than to hire elite athletes to join our team? Learn more

media October 16, 2024

Next League’s Vanderbeck on Using Tech to Reach International Fans

Upcoming major events -- 2026 FIFA World Cup and LA28, for starters -- bring moments of international reach to so many teams, leagues and brands in the sports industry. Learn More

Press Release October 16, 2024

Next League Launches International Practice

Cristina Vanderbeck Joins Next League as its VP, Americas NEW YORK, NY - Next League, a global team of strategists and technologists specializing in creating, designing, building and operating technology solutions for sports organizations, today announced the hire of Cristina Vanderbeck as its VP, Americas. In this newly created role, Cristina will be focused on how North American …

insights April 24, 2024

Pushing for Progress

March is widely recognized as Women’s History Month and April is celebrated as Diversity Month. Given my roles as mom (to two young daughters), Chief Operating Officer at Next League and Founder of Next League’s Women’s Group, I find myself regularly reflecting on the progress of gender equality and, more specifically, opportunities for women in

insights April 17, 2024

Investment in Venue Technology is Key to Maximizing Revenue, Optimizing Engagement

Venues are more than physical structures where teams play and events take place - they are complex business ecosystems being driven by technology and play an integral role in optimizing engagement and maximizing revenue for teams. According to Pollstar, there was over $100 Billion in consumer spending at live events in 2023. Sports is a business …

insights March 14, 2024

Big Tech is Coming for the Casual Fan

Sports fandom falls into two camps - casual and avid fans. Casual fans understand the game and consume content through various live and non-live channels. Avid fans are highly knowledgeable, follow the sport closely, and actively promote and share their love for the game. In a world where sports are the last remaining draw for live

Press Release March 8, 2024

Next League Announces Series of Strategic Investments

In Recognition and Celebration of International Women’s Day, Next League Announces Investments into the Women’s Sports Foundation® and the LPGA Foundation. NEW YORK, NY - Next League, a global team of strategists and technologists, specializing in creating, designing, building and operating technology solutions for sports organizations, announced strategic investments into the Women’s Sports Foundation® and the LPGA Foundation, two organizations …

insights March 8, 2024

What International Women’s Day Means to Us

International Women’s Day is celebrated today, March 8, all over the world. It is an opportunity for us all to reflect on the progress women have made while focusing on how much further there is still to go. In recognition of the day, we asked our employees to share their thoughts on what the day …

insights March 7, 2024

A Convergence of Trends is Disrupting How the Sports Industry Engages Fans

Do You Have a Data Strategy to Engage Your Fanbase in Today’s Digital Landscape? Disruptive technology trends are forcing the sports industry to rethink how we engage fans, who ultimately drive our business. At Next League, we are fortunate to work with many of the world’s leading sports organizations. One of the most common topics …

Press Release March 7, 2024

Next League’s mission-focused approach infuses current, future SBJ Tech Weeks

David Nugent’s founding vision for Next League focused on guiding sports organizations through technology decisions and deployments. With that consultation and activation also came a mission-focused undercurrent in its partnerships. In the last year alone, Next League’s work has included a gift to the TMRW Sports Fund at Palm Beach State College, which provides scholarship

events March 1, 2024 Video

Fireside Chat with USOPC CEOSarah Hirshland - SBJ Tech Week - March 2024

insights February 7, 2024

The Parallels Between my Athletic and Professional Careers

I played soccer competitively for 23 years; doing so for all those years equipped me with many valuable skills applicable both on and off the field. Being a teammate, I developed effective communication, collaboration and adaptability skills, all of which are essential in a professional setting. Additionally, it helped and equipped me to navigate challenges, …

insights February 7, 2024

The Jump from Being a Teammate on the Field to One off it

Six months ago, my career as a competitive athlete officially came to an end. I graduated from Harvard University in May, where I was fortunate to play on their Division I Lacrosse team all four years, and started working as a Strategy Analyst for Next League shortly thereafter. In reflecting on the past six months, …

insights February 6, 2024

Staying Connected to Sport: My Post-Career Journey

It all started when I was 7 years old and my golf-obsessed grandpa wanted to get all of his grandchildren into golf. At the time I was a figure skater, a fairly competitive one at that. Like every typical Canadian, I probably had skates on my feet before I could walk. At first, I didn’t …

Press Release December 5, 2023

2023 Best Employers in Sports: Next League Named to Front Office Sports' List

Front Office Sports announces the 2023 Best Employers in Sports. These 30 companies lead the charge in leadership, commitment to diversity and inclusion, employee wellbeing and more. Learn more about this award here

insights August 3, 2023

Next League Research & Development: Transforming Ideas into Action with AI

The field of artificial intelligence (AI) is experiencing a tidal wave of innovation, with natural language processing (NLP) systems demonstrating unprecedented capabilities. This revolution is led by machine learning (ML) and large language models (LLMs) - AI systems that predict subsequent words in a sentence, enabling them to generate text that emulates human conversation

insights June 7, 2023

The Human Side of HR

The people-first side of HR is here to stay, and it’s about time. Gone are the days of treating your employees as widgets and pushing them to complete as much work as possible from 9am to 5pm, or as Ariana Huffington put it in a recent article Start of the Human Energy Revolution, “Humans were …

Press Release May 24, 2023

Next League Commits to Funding $500,000 Athlete Endowment with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Foundation

The commitment includes the formation of the Next League USOPF Endowment Fund, directly supporting Team USA athletes. COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Next League, the technology company building out the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Digital Engagement Platform, today announced the formation of the Next League USOPF Endowment Fund, a multi-year philanthropic commitment to the U.S. Olympic …

Press Release April 13, 2023

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee selects Next League to build the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Digital Engagement Platform

Digital Engagement Platform (DEP) to strengthen fan and stakeholder engagement among the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic community COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee today announced the selection of Next League to build out its U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Digital Engagement Platform (DEP). The DEP will deliver an unparalleled digital experience to …

insights March 31, 2023

It Really Does Take a Village

Three years ago, I was struggling with balancing motherhood, living through a pandemic, working from home, supporting a team and their at home needs, all while trying to climb the metaphorical corporate ladder. There were many days I wanted to give up and spend time arguing with my toddler about eating her veggies rather than …

Press Release March 27, 2023

Next League and TMRW Sports Announce Multi-Year Partnership in Support of TGL

The Pact Includes the Delivery of Digital Experiences for TGL, the New, Primetime Golf League at the Intersection of Sports and Technology NEW YORK, NY - Next League, the leading digital growth consultancy and technology services company working exclusively within the global sports industry, today formally announced a multi-year partnership with TMRW Sports in support of its first …

insights March 8, 2023

What International Women's Day Means to Us

International Women’s Day is celebrated today, March 8, all over the world. It is an opportunity for us all to reflect on the progress women have made while focusing on how much further there is still to go. In recognition of the day, we asked our employees to share their thoughts on what the day …

insights February 13, 2023

Reflections on an Eventful 2022 in Sports Tech

In July 2022, we published a piece focused on trends in sports tech we were anticipating in the second half of 2022. By way of recap, since sports has many categories that are each significantly driven by technology (media, fan experience, esports/gaming, athlete performance, data analysis and analytics, etc.), we decided to focus on four …

Press Release January 11, 2023

Next League to acquire the Infront X Professional Services and Digital Product Businesses

Infront streamlines its digital offering with a focus on Infront Lab’s sports technology solutions and digital products Zug, Switzerland / New York, USA – Infront and Next League, the New York based digital growth consultancy and technology services company, have entered into an agreement for Next League to acquire the professional services and digital product businesses …

Press Release December 6, 2022

Next League Hires Sports Tech Veteran for Key Role

Allison Bassman joins Next League as its Director, People & Culture NEW YORK, NY - Next League, led by a team of technology experts with decades of success in the sports industry, today announced the hire of Allison Bassman as its new Director, People & Culture. Prior to Next League, Allison spent almost two years at …

Press Release October 18, 2022

Next League and LPGA Announce Strategic Partnership

The pact is the beginning of a broader effort to reposition the LPGA as an innovative, technology-driven organization NEW YORK, NY and DAYTONA, FL - Next League, led by a team of technology experts with decades of success in the sports industry, today announced a multi-phase strategic partnership with the LPGA, the world’s leading professional golf

Press Release October 3, 2022

Next League Announces First Executive Promotion

Becki Civello Joins Next League’s Executive Team as Chief Operating Officer Next League, led by a team of technology experts with decades of success in the sports industry, today announced its first executive promotion. Becki Civello has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. In this role, she will oversee the business operations of the company. …

Press Release September 20, 2022

Next League Announces Investment Round Led By TLI Bedrock

Investment group to help fuel Next League’s growth as the leading technology services provider to the global sports industry. - Next League, led by a team of digital technology experts with decades of success in the sports and sports media industries, announced it has completed a growth funding round led by TLI Bedrock. TLI Bedrock

insights September 20, 2022

What We Learned From Our NFT Project Launch - Ukraine Art Collective

As many in my community know, though I have lived in the United States for 30 years, I was born and raised in Odesa, Ukraine. I still have family, friends, and coworkers in Ukraine whose daily reality earlier this spring became the sounds of missiles and seeking safety in bomb shelters. During the early days …

insights August 29, 2022

The Changing Landscape of Strategic Partnerships in Sports

Megan Allison is a Managing Director at underdog venture team and has built an impressive reputation for herself in the sports partnership space, leveraging the reach and passion of sports to build visibility and acquire customers for brands like PepsiCo and Advanced Auto Parts. I recently had the opportunity to sit down and speak with …

insights July 22, 2022

Technology Affords Us Time…But What Do We Do With It?

Most people understand we now live in a world where time is our most valuable currency. The average human lives 79 years or 28,835 days. So, there are an average of 692,040 hours in a lifetime. (Here’s an interesting, albeit slightly morbid, calculator on how much time you may have left.) Most people understand we now live …

insights July 21, 2022

Web3 Still Holds Key to Sports Tech Market in 2022's Second Half

It’s been quite a year so far in sports technology. We went into 2022 still coming out of a pandemic with a sports industry that was evolving more quickly than it ever has. The race to Web3 and the legalization of sports betting drove much of this, but sports technology, already a very complicated topic, …

insights June 28, 2022

Feeling Overwhelmed By The Pace And Volume Of New Technology? You’re Not Alone

Being a digital executive these days is difficult. To start with, many organizations are no longer satisfied with digital technology as a cost center; executives are often expected to manage a P&L that generates real revenue and ROI. Digital technology executives are also, I would argue unreasonably, expected to have a perspective on every new …

insights June 24, 2022

I Come from a Family of Athletes. Thanks to Title IX, I Am One Too

I grew up in a hardcore sports family. Throughout my childhood I was brought to all of my older brother's games, and now get to cheer for him in his professional baseball career. We have a long history of baseball in my family and I still hear my grandfather’s stories about playing in the Negro …

insights June 22, 2022

The Impact and Role Sports Has Had on My Life

Thanks to my dad, I’ve been a sports fan as long as I can remember. We are a New York Jets, New York Yankees and Seton Hall Pirates basketball family. I grew up playing and watching sports; some of my earliest – and fondest – memories have to do with them. I have vivid memories of …

insights April 22, 2022

How Do You Measure the Success of Your Web3 Project?

For years, you have measured project success with key performance indicators (KPIs) like traffic, engagement and monetization through ads, sponsorship or subscription. Those measurements focus on what value the project brings to your company. In Web3, it’s not about you. You’ll find that Web3 projects will likely get judged differently, focused on the value the …

insights March 30, 2022

Web2 vs. Web3: Why Monetization Models Are About to Change

With all the talk about Web 3.0 and how it is, or will be, replacing Web 2.0, we thought we’d start this piece with a quick description of each. You’ll get lots of opinions on this, so we are generalizing a little. Web 2.0 is primarily about content distribution, social media and ecommerce. It includes …

insights January 27, 2022

Micro-Betting Will Change Sports, but Tech Challenges Remain

In the same way fantasy sports changed the sports business by engaging fans in player performance outside of their favorite teams, U.S. sports betting will engage a new generation of fans, generate billions in betting revenue, and millions in additional ad and sponsorship revenue driven by a massive amount of new fan engagement. But traditional “outcome-based” betting …

Press Release January 13, 2022

Next League Announces Partnership with Women in Sports Tech

Dedicated to driving meaningful growth opportunities for women throughout the sports technology industry Next League, launched last month by a team of digital technology experts with decades of success in the sports, media and entertainment industries, announced a corporate partnership today with Women in Sports Tech (WiST), a non-profit dedicated to driving transformative growth opportunities for women …

insights January 1, 2022

How Business is Like Fishing...

What follows is an excerpt from my book, “Zero Sales”. I left the majority of the content intact, but have expounded on certain areas. I’ve also included a video of me creating a wooden fishing lure in my wood shop. The point of this video is that in business, and lure-making, there is a required …

Press Release December 1, 2021

Introducing Next League

Driven to Become the Recognized Leader in Technology Services for the Sports, Media, Health & Wellness Industries Next League, founded by a team of digital technology experts with decades of success in the sports, media and entertainment industries, announced its launch today. Driven by the combination of growth and innovation, coupled with making investments that …

Tim Clark October 6, 2026

How NASCAR Is Using Netflix, YouTube, and Fan Data to Grow Fandom

Tim Clark joins host Dave Nugent to discuss balancing digital innovation with the traditions that keep NASCAR's core fans engaged. Topics include content distribution, gaming, live events, YouTube's role in reaching younger audiences, the "Hell Yeah" campaign, and why identifiable fans can matter more than raw digital traffic.

George Scott July 28, 2026

From Game Day Utility to Lifelong Fandom: The Future of College Sports Apps

George Scott joins host Dave Nugent to discuss how Sidearm Sports, which powers digital experiences for most major college athletics programs, is moving beyond scores and schedules. Topics include his career path, the challenges of serving schools at different divisions, the economics of college sports, NIL uncertainty, and AI-generated game stories.

David Wright March 31, 2026

Inside US Soccer's 300% Growth Ahead of the 2026 World Cup

Host David Nugent of Next League talks with David Wright about US Soccer's rapid business growth, which the show notes put at more than 300% in a short period. They cover the benefits of its nonprofit structure, preparations for the 2026 World Cup, the commercial strategy behind its partner roster of 23 brands, the evolving media landscape, and the leadership qualities Wright sees as important for the future of sports.

Jeb Terry March 10, 2026

The New Operating Model for Live Sports

Host Dave Nugent talks with Jeb Terry about how live sports are moving beyond traditional broadcasts. They cover Cosm's dome-scale LED venues, hospitality, and production model, which produces hundreds of live events a year. The conversation also addresses broader industry shifts, leadership, and building through uncertainty.

Andrew Siegel December 9, 2025

The Human Side of Modern Sports Leadership

Andrew Siegel discusses how leaders make principled decisions amid disruption in sports, including NIL, the transfer portal, and private capital. He draws on his experience in venture investing, media, hospitality, and board leadership, plus his academic background in philosophy and religion. Topics include people decisions, evaluating alignment versus talent, and the traits that matter most for modern sports organizations.

Andrew Macauley November 4, 2025

How TMRW Sports Engineered TGL: The Tech and Testing Behind Golf's Most Advanced Arena

Andrew Macauley explains the engineering behind TGL's indoor venue, which pairs a large impact screen with a rotating green. He covers how the team handled high-speed shots, how the virtual course was made to feel physical for athletes, and what changes are planned for Season Two. He also discusses his earlier work at Topgolf and the prototyping and testing process.

Jon Podany May 13, 2025

How the USGA is Elevating Women, Youth, and Adaptive Athletes

Host Dave Nugent talks with Jon Podany about the USGA's investments in golf's future. Topics include its U.S. National Development Program for young players, its work to make adaptive golf a Paralympic sport, its push to grow women's golf through a larger U.S. Women's Open purse and a primetime NBC slot, and its use of technology to improve the fan experience.

Chris Benyarko April 8, 2025

Optical Tracking, RSN Disruption, and NBA Tech

Chris Benyarko discusses how the NBA approaches innovation and engages global fans in a streaming-first world. Topics include personalized fan experiences in the NBA App, optical tracking for officiating and mixed-reality broadcasts, the challenges of running a DTC business across many currencies and languages, and how RSN disruption is shaping the league's local DTC offerings.

Doug Perlman April 1, 2025

Inside the Sports Rights Shakeup

Doug Perlman and host Dave Nugent discuss how sports games are distributed, monetized, and consumed in 2025. Topics include the growing commercial value of women's sports, media rights and NIL challenges in college sports, the role of tech and betting companies in rights deals, AI's complications for rights, and younger fans' social-first viewing habits.

Amy Scheer March 18, 2025

The Business Strategy Behind PWHL and the Future of Women's Hockey

Amy Scheer, the PWHL's business operations leader, discusses her career path from the New Jersey Nets and Madison Square Garden to the PWHL. She covers the league's rapid expansion, its corporate partnerships, fan engagement (over 500,000 fans), leadership practices, and the potential impact of PWHL athletes at the Olympics.

Sarah Hirshland March 4, 2025

Leading Team USA, LA 2028, & The Future of the Olympics

Hirshland discusses leading Team USA, including the politics of international sport, how resources are allocated based on medal potential, and how the Los Angeles wildfires have affected 2028 planning. She also covers lessons from the Paris Games, the outlook for Milan-Cortina, and Team USA's evolving approach to athlete mental health.