NFL Stars, SFC Anglers to Compete in the 2nd Annunal SFC's The Catch

NFL Stars, SFC Anglers to Compete in the 2nd Annunal SFC's The Catch

(Dallas, TX, April 16, 2024) – Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) today revealed its roster of participants in SFC’s The Catch, Powered by Verizon. The competition pairs top NFL players with SFC’s leading anglers in a made-for-TV special, which airs live Saturday, April 20 from 3-5pm ET on CBS Sports Network.

Seven boats will launch from Pier Sixty-Six in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in the final event of a three-day celebration to kick-off SFC’s 2024 season. The entire weekend will support the Coast Guard Foundation.

NFL participants include:

• James Bradberry, DB, Philadelphia Eagles (Pro Bowl, All-Pro)

• Brian Burns, LB, New York Giants (2X Pro Bowl)

• Jalen Carter, DL, Philadelphia Eagles (NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year)

• Dalvin Cook, RB, The Catch Defending Champion, (4X Pro Bowl)

• James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills (Pro Bowl)

• Trey Hendrickson, DL, Cincinnati Bengals (3X Pro Bowl, All-Pro)

• Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints (5X Pro Bowl, 2X All-Pro)

• Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins (Pro Bowl)

• David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns (Pro Bowl)

• Jeffery Simmons, DL, Tennessee Titans (2X Pro Bowl, 2X All-Pro)

• Kayvon Thibodeaux, LB, New York Giants (All-Rookie Team)

• Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2023 #7 yards from scrimmage)

• Quinnen Williams, DL, New York Jets (2X Pro Bowl, All-Pro)

• Quincy Williams, LB, New York Jets (All-Pro)

The NFL players will team up with top SFC Billfish Championship anglers and use SFC’s billfish catch-and-release scoring system to compete for The Catch title.

SFC participants include:

• Team Gypsea - Taylor Sanford (Captain), Jordan Sanford (Mate)

  • The Catch 2023 defending champion, fan voted 2023 SFC All-Stars

• Team Harvey Sportfishing - Shane Guidry (Owner), John Brumble (Captain)

  • 2024 SFC Season Competitor

• Team Lifeline - Blake Bridges (Captain), Jordan Benefield (Mate)

  • 2022 and 2023 SFC Season Competitor

• Team Lights Out - Rob Carmichael (Owner/Captain), Tucker Carmichael (Mate)

  • Fan voted 2023 SFC All-Stars

• Team Quantified – Justin Drummond (Captain), Cyler Paper (Mate)

  • Two-time defending SFC Billfish Champions

• Team Rising Son’s - Toby Berthelot (Owner), Jaselyn Berthelot (Angler)

  • 2022 and 2023 SFC Championship Fish Division Winner

• Team T-Zero - Seth Laws (Captain), Tiaan Scholtz (Mate)

  • Fan voted 2023 SFC All-Stars

“We’re bringing together elite SFC athletes and pairing them with NFL superstars and to no surprise, everyone is out to win,” said Mark Neifeld, CEO and Commissioner of Sport Fishing Championship. “NFL players have proven to be quick studies to our sport, so I can’t wait to see which teams rise to the top!”

The Catch is preceded by The Catch Pro-Am, a VIP tournament featuring current/former NFL players including Vonn Bell, Donnell Bennett, Giovani Bernard, Trey Hendrickson, Plaxico Burress, Alejandro Villanueva and Rachaad White.

All events throughout The Catch will support the Coast Guard Foundation – the premier non-profit organization that supports active U.S. Coast Guard members by providing resources to members and families that build resilience and strengthen the entire community.

“We are honored to be the charity partner of The Catch for a second year,” said Coast Guard Foundation President Susan Ludwig. “The NFL and SFC celebrities participating in The Catch are among the best in their fields. And when it comes to rescuing boaters at sea, protecting the marine environment, and defending our nation, Coast Guard members are the best as well. We are proud to support them when they are in need.”

For the latest information regarding The Catch and SFC, follow Sport Fishing Championship on social media!

About Sport Fishing Championship

 SFC is the world’s largest owner and media rights holder of saltwater fishing tournaments, found on network television, SFC Digital Network, YouTube and more. In 2024, SFC’s Billfish Championship (professional offshore fishing league) will feature 13 tournaments from April through August across destinations in the Gulf of Mexico, up the Atlantic seaboard, and in the Bahamas. On April 20, 2024, SFC premieres season two of The Catch, Powered by Verizon, which is an offshore fishing competition that pairs current NFL greats with SFC star anglers. The two-hour event is broadcast live on CBS Sports Network.

World Jai-Alai League Announces Exclusive Sports Drink Partnership with Berri Fit®

World Jai-Alai League Announces Exclusive Sports Drink Partnership with Berri Fit®

MIAMI, Feb. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Jai-Alai League announces its partnership with Berri Organics to offer Berri Fit® as the league's official sports drink sponsor, a partnership that brings a refreshing twist to the league's commitment to excellence and well-being.

"Berri Fit® scores big by providing our athletes with a winning hydration strategy," said Scott Savin, chief operating officer of the World Jai-Alai League. "It's the perfect blend for peak performance, just simple ingredients to keep our players ready to conquer the court and make every match a success!"

Berri Organics is a company dedicated to fostering healthier lifestyles through its innovative products such as organic sports drinks, including the acclaimed Berri Fit®, known for its natural ingredients and refreshing taste. Aside from its delightful taste, Berri Fit® brings a plethora of benefits to the World Jai-Alai League's athletes. Packed with organic ingredients, Berri Fit® drinks are carefully crafted to enhance hydration, replenish electrolytes and support overall well-being.

"We are delighted to present Berri Fit® as the official sports drink sponsor of the World Jai Alai League," said Jerome Tse, chief executive officer at Berri Organics. "We couldn't be more excited to have our organic sports drinks support the performance and holistic health of WJAL's exceptional athletes. Together, we will create a future where passion for sports converges with commitment to well-being."

WJAL matches are viewable during the competitive season on ESPN+, Jai-Alai TV (www.jaialai.live), via the Jai-Alai app and at www.watchjaialai.com. Battle Court matches are available on DraftKings and BetRivers for wagering in 17 states including Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

About World Jai-Alai League
The World Jai-Alai League (WJAL) is dedicated to revitalizing the world's fastest ball sport by modernizing gameplay, capitalizing on the exploding international sports wagering market, and delivering the sport through social media to a new generation of fans across the globe. For more information, go to www.battlecourtjaialai.com. The WJAL plays at the Magic City Fronton in Miami located at 450 N.W. 37th Ave.

SOURCE World Jai-Alai League

SeventySix Capital Portfolio Company, U.S. Integrity, the leading technology-driven sports wagering monitoring company, alerted sportsbooks of unusual wagering activity by Jontay Porter

SeventySix Capital Portfolio Company, U.S. Integrity, the leading technology-driven sports wagering monitoring company, alerted sportsbooks of unusual wagering activity by Jontay Porter

The Toronto Raptors' Jontay Porter has been banned from the league after an investigation revealed he had disclosed confidential information to bettors, limited his participation in at least one game while he was with Raptors, and bet on NBA games while playing in the G League.

The NBA said in a release announcing Porter's ban that its investigation remains open and that it is sharing information with federal authorities. ESPN reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI for comment.

"There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter's blatant violations of our game rules are being met with the most severe punishment," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said while announcing the ban.

The NBA launched an investigation into Porter in late March, after sportsbooks noticed irregular betting on the over/under on the reserve center's statistics in two Raptors games. In both games, Porter exited after playing only a few minutes.

The NBA's investigation found that Porter revealed information about his own health to a known sports bettor ahead of a March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings. Another bettor privy to the information placed an $80,000 same-game parlay bet that featured unders on Porter's statistics and would win $1.1 million, according to the NBA. Porter played three minutes before leaving the game with an illness. The bet, which was placed at DraftKings, was not paid.

The league investigation revealed Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate's online betting account. The bets ranged from $15 to $22,000, totaling $54,094, according to the league. The NBA said the total payout from those bets was $76,059, net winnings of $21,965. None of the bets involved any in which Porter played. Three of the bets were parlays, including one that included a bet on the Raptors to lose. All three bets lost, according to the NBA.

Sportsbooks also reported a spike in betting interest on the under on several of Porter's statistics ahead of a Jan. 26 game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Porter played just four minutes before leaving the game with issues related to an eye injury suffered earlier in the week against the Memphis Grizzlies. He finished with no points, three rebounds and one assist, all under the lines sportsbooks had set for his statistics.

A sportsbook industry source, who noticed the surge in betting on Porter props in the two games in question, told ESPN that some of the same betting accounts attempted to place larger than normal bets in both instances. Most of the betting accounts that backed Porter unders in the games in question were located in New Jersey, New York and Arizona, according to multiple sources.

The NBA said it was alerted to the suspicious activity by licensed sportsbooks and an organization that monitors legal betting markets. Las Vegas firm U.S. Integrity, which works with sportsbooks, leagues and state gaming regulators, and monitored the Porter abnormalities, said it is "proud to continue to support the NBA in initiatives relating to regulated sports betting."

The Raptors said they are "fully supportive of the league's decision to ban Jontay Porter from the NBA and are grateful for the swift resolution to this investigation. We will continue to cooperate with all ongoing inquiries."

Silver was the first major U.S. sports league commissioner to advocate for legalizing and regulating sports betting. In a 2014 op-ed in the New York Times, he called for a federal framework for sports betting. He said in Wednesday's release that the transparency of legal betting helps identify suspicious activity, but more needed to be done to prevent more issues.

"This matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players," Silver added in the release. "Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game."

Ideas, including prohibiting sportsbooks from offering wagering on players on two-way contracts, have been floated, according to gaming industry sources.

Last week, the Colorado Division of Gaming sent a request to sportsbooks for any information on Porter's potential betting history in the state. Citing state regulations, a spokesperson for the Division of Gaming told ESPN it cannot comment on potential investigations. Sports betting media site Action Network reported Tuesday that Porter placed over 1,000 bets on the FanDuel account, which was closed after he signed a two-way contract with the Raptors in December.

Porter is a brother of the Denver Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr.

Boomerang adds Glacier Park International Airport to its Client List.

Boomerang adds Glacier Park International Airport to its Client List

Glacier Park International Airport (GPIA) in Kalispell, Montana, stands as a vital entryway to the enchanting Flathead Valley and the spectacular wonders of Glacier National Park. Travelers flock here year-round, drawn by the allure of ancient glaciers, serene lakes, and the vibrant wildlife that calls this region home.

Amidst the stunning natural landscapes lies GPIA, a fast-growing airport that has earned its place as one of Montana’s busiest aviation hubs. As the airport experiences exponential growth, every department is feeling the pressure to meet the rising demands. Among these departments is the Lost & Found department led by Julie Sayler, Office Manager at Flathead Municipal Airport Authority.

Julie was seeking solutions to streamline the Lost & Found operation and enhance the travel experience when losing an item at the airport. Rob Ratkowski, the Airport Director at Glacier Park International Airport, recommended that Julie contact Boomerang for an introductory meeting and demo for a robust Lost & Found solution. And now, fast forward positive just a few weeks from the introduction meeting, GPIA is live on Boomerang! 

When asked about her choice of Boomerang and the effectiveness of the partnership, Julie stated:

“Losing something valuable, regardless of worth, can be devastating. Boomerang helps us reunite travelers with their lost items quickly and efficiently, ensuring travelers have a positive travel experience from start to finish. First impressions are huge, and Boomerang really sets the bar high for what customer service should look like! Thank you for helping GPIA continue to provide a first-class experience for travelers every single day!”

Glacier Park International Airport joins a growing number of international airports powered by Boomerang, including Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Charleston International Airport (CHS), Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), and Atlanta Regional Airport – Falcon Field (FFC), amongst others. 

If you’re an airport that hasn’t yet joined the Boomerang Network, please get in touch with us. Getting started is easy, and effectiveness is immediate. 

U.S. Integrity Sign Comprehensive Partnership with Disc Golf Pro Tour

U.S. Integrity Sign Comprehensive Partnership with Disc Golf Pro Tour

April 15, 2024 (LAS VEGAS, NV): Today, U.S. Integrity (“USI”) and the Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) announced a comprehensive partnership that will begin the process of launching professional disc golf into the world of regulated sports wagering. 

U.S. Integrity is an integrity monitoring service provider that has worked with various professional sporting organizations and major sportsbooks to ensure compliance and fair play. 

U.S. Integrity will serve as the DGPT’s consulting and integrity monitoring service provider as the Tour works towards offering wagering opportunities to fans.

As sportsbooks begin to include Tour events, U.S. Integrity will provide the DGPT with integrity monitoring services via its proprietary dashboard, which will encompass data intelligence and fraud prevention. To deliver these services, U.S. Integrity conducts analysis across dozens of data sets to proactively identify irregular contest-level and wagering patterns.

“We’re excited to partner with U.S. Integrity as our next step towards offering our fans new opportunities to engage with competition as well as spreading the story and excitement of disc golf to new audiences,” said Baker Helton, DGPT VP of Business Administration. “As we take this step forward, we’re glad to be working with a leading compliance organization to ensure that all wagering on the Disc Golf Pro Tour is centered on the values of transparency, accountability, and security from day one.”  

“U.S. Integrity is proud to partner with DGPT as engagement and viewership continues to elevate domestically and internationally,” added Matthew Holt, U.S. Integrity’s CEO & co-founder. “U.S. Integrity’s mission is to provide conflict-free, best-in-class insights, and compliance solutions to our clients. Baker and the team at DGPT are now part of that mission.”

SeventySix Capital Portfolio Company Quintar closes Series A round

SeventySix Capital Portfolio Company Quintar closes Series A round

Off the heels of its Apple Vision Pro success, mixed reality company Quintar has closed an $8.2M Series A round. Centre Court Capital, a venture capital fund focused on sports and gaming, made a significant investment in the fundraising. The round was led by SeventySix Capital and Cowles Company with participation from Ryan Sports, Gametime Capital and Capital 11. The investment also comes with the addition of Centre Court Capital general partner Mustafa Ghouse to the Quintar board.

Quintar has experienced steady success since its founding in 2021. The company began creating augmented reality experiences for fans at PGA Tour events which led to Quintar being named the official mobile AR and XR developer of the PGA Tour. In February, the PGA Tour launched PGA Tour Vision for Apple Vision Pro. The app, developed by Quintar, increased its spatial computing coverage of tournaments since its debut, covering every hole of last month’s Players Championship. Quintar has also worked with Turner Sports, NBA Digital and Intel Sports.

U.S. Integrity Amplifies Support of Athlete Alert with Endorsement from Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery

U.S. Integrity Amplifies Support of Athlete Alert with Endorsement from Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 4, 2024) – Today U.S. Integrity (“USI”) announced a first of its kind co-sponsored initiative to promote Athlete Alert, an anonymous tip line that enables athletes, coaches, trainers, and others to report potential betting improprieties without fear of retribution, with a resounding endorsement, from the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery (DLL).

Some examples of circumstances that this tip line should be leveraged for includes any participant involved in an athletic contest that is subject to physical threats, harm or emotional abuse catalyzed by gambling-related losses, as well as any integrity-related concern, including but not limited to the misuse of insider information, potential match-fixing, game manipulation or illegal wagering.

“The Department considers public safety our highest priority, which includes the safety of athletes participating in sporting events eligible for online wagering,” said Wendy Knight, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery. “Additionally, the Athlete Alert initiative helps protect the integrity of the athletic contests included in our sports wagering catalog. Our intention is to make online sports wagering in Vermont as safe and enjoyable as possible. We are pleased to support this meaningful initiative.”

“We are thrilled to have the support of the Vermont DLL team, especially on an issue that is so vital to the future of our industry.” says Matthew Holt, USI’s CEO & co-founder. He continued, “There is no issue more important to me personally than the health and betterment of the athletes who make our industry what it is. They do not need to be dealing with any threats or harassment from those who have clearly shown they cannot handle participating in our ecosystem. My team and I are taking this as seriously as any issue we face today, and we will continue to work with all our partners to rid our field of these individuals.”

Quintar looks to build on momentum for PGA Tour spatial experience for Apple Vision ProQuintar looks to build on momentum for PGA Tour spatial experience for Apple Vision Pro

Quintar looks to build on momentum for PGA Tour spatial experience for Apple Vision Pro

Quintar looks to build on momentum for PGA Tour spatial experience for Apple Vision Pro
The Players Championship was the first event to feature 18 holes of coverage for the AVP app, PGA Tour Vision.

BY ETHAN JOYCE

3.29.2024

Competition around this year’s The Players Championship allowed the PGA Tour to hit a massive tech milestone: It was the first event that featured 18 holes of coverage through its Apple Vision Pro app, PGA Tour Vision.That app -- which rolled out with the AVP launch on Feb. 2 and has provided more hole coverage with every tournament since the Pebble Beach Pro-Am -- was developed by Quintar. The user experience allowed fans to see a 3D model of each hole, see past and real-time performances of golfers on those holes, and even provide views of a golfer’s lie.

The creation of PGA Tour Vision comes with several major benefits to the immersive experience company, says co-founder and president Jeff Jonas. The first, Quintar becoming part of a forward-looking project, Jonas said, adding that “the reaction’s been outstanding” from the PGA regarding The Players’ AVP coverage.The PGA Tour didn’t provide any metrics from the Tour Vision experience for the event but indicated excitement toward the overall product so far. They also added there are plans later this year to add more definition to the immersive view to create a more realistic user experience.

The second benefit came from Quintar’s time on the ground at the weeklong event: catching the eye of people walking around the PGA suite near the 18th hole and demoing the app for them.“I probably was able to demo that at Players to, let’s say, 20 people,” Jonas told SBJ. “And I think I was 20-for-20 in terms of people being ‘wow,’ and wanting to get more and wanting to stay in the headset.”Both of those benefits can lead to future development opportunities for Quintar. Jonas and co-founder Jay Jayaram often mention that this was the type of user experience Quintar was built for – to provide quality content for the wearables competition that was developing at the time of their company’s creation.

This is the third year of Quintar’s partnership with the PGA, serving as the tour’s official mobile AR and XR developer. It has offered AR mobile viewing opportunities to in-person fans through its visual positioning system to provide highly accurate ball positioning and data.That now comes through to AVP users in their homes, which comes to life by allowing virtual and actual realities to sync through the spatial-computing capabilities of the AVP.

“People aren’t going to spend $3,500 on something that that they can only, basically, watch TV in,” Jonas added. “It has to be something that is built specifically for those headsets. And that’s what’s so exciting about what we’re doing.”

Lucra was named to Fast Company's annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024.

Lucra was named to Fast Company's annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024.

Performance optimization in sports isn’t new. But a recent shift toward prioritizing athletes’ health, safety, and wellness—both physical and mental—has been seismic. Driving this change are the same kinds of algorithms that have personalized nearly every aspect of our digital experience, in this case enhancing our understanding of both the individual athlete and the human body. 

Springbok Analytics has pioneered a way to use artificial intelligence to turn 2D MRI data into personalized 3D musculoskeletal analyses, a type of digital twin, to optimize a person’s health and performance. Its technology, which could treat and potentially prevent everything from ACL tears to rotator cuff injuries, has found customers throughout the NFL, NBA, and MLB, as well as college teams. While Springbok focuses on elite athletes, MAGIC helps out amateurs and average Joes. The U.K.-based company offers AI-powered programs in which users can receive one-on-one training from celebrity trainers and professional athletes. 

Not all sports innovators are focused on physical performance. RealResponse offers a platform for athletes and student athletes to safely and swiftly share any concerns they have about things like team culture or mental health issues through anonymous two-way communication and surveys. Meanwhile, ProXR is focused on the tools athletes use for their sports. What began as a backyard baseball accident turned into a complete reimagining of the baseball bat’s shape, angling the knob to eliminate friction during the swing and protect hitters from hand injuries.

In women’s sports, the NWSL is at the forefront, pioneering media rights deals and raising the bar for how women’s sports franchises are valued. With the rise of sports betting, sports tech leader Sportradar is making video processing faster than ever, enabling micro-betting for live sports, while Lucra, another tech company, is gamifying casual sports betting.

On the marketing side, State Farm continues to reinvent how fans interact with brands by gamifying marketing and bringing spokespeople to life. And ASB Glass Floor is taking tech to the basketball court with its interactive LED playing surfaces, laying the literal groundwork for brands to entertain and connect with fans like never before. Lastly, SailGP brings sustainability to racing sports, reimagining both coverage and competition to reduce its carbon footprint—just one of this year’s companies whose contributions could transcend sport itself.

1. NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE

For raising the bar for how women’s sports are valued

2. SPORTRADAR

For wagering heavily on micro-betting

3. STATE FARM

For scoring big with its social integration into big games

4. SPRINGBOK ANALYTICS

For adding some extra muscle to AI

5. SAILGP

For charting a course to more sustainable competition

ADVERTISEMENT

6. PROXR

For reinventing the handles for bats, racquets, and hockey sticks

7. REALRESPONSE

For protecting athletes from abuse

8. LUCRA

For gamifying casual sports betting

9. ASB GLASSFLOOR

For lighting up the floor (and the data) on basketball courts

10. MAGIC AI

For harnessing AI to bring glitz to personal training

St. Croix Casinos Renew Comprehensive Partnership with U.S. Integrity

U.S. Integrity Renew Comprehensive Partnership with St. Croix Casino

U.S. Integrity will continue provide integrity monitoring services via its proprietary dashboard to St. Croix. U.S. Integrity conducts analysis across dozens of data sets to proactively identify irregular contest-level, officiating & wagering patterns.

St. Croix Casinos operates 3 casinos in Wisconsin – St. Croix Casino in Turtle Lake, St. Croix Casino in Dansbury, and St. Croix Casino in Hertel. All three casinos include a sportsbook and share a commitment to integrity while delivering outstanding guest service and experiences.

“U.S. Integrity has been an integral partner to St. Croix Casinos and the St. Croix Gaming Commission since the Tribe began its journey into sports betting. We look forward to our continued partnership,” said Mary Kay Merrill, Chairwoman of the St. Croix Gaming Commission.

“USI is a proud partner of St. Croix and we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with each property to deliver regulated sports wagering in Wisconsin,” says Matthew Holt, U.S. Integrity’s CEO & co-founder. He continued, “U.S. Integrity’s mission is to provide conflict-free, best in class insights & compliance solutions to our clients.

Diamond Kinetics Accelerates Innovation In Youth Sports Technology With Acquisition Of SidelineHD

Diamond Kinetics Accelerates Innovation In Youth Sports Technology With Acquisition Of SidelineHD

March 7, 2024

Pittsburgh, PA (March 7, 2024) – Diamond Kinetics (DK), the sports technology company transforming youth baseball and softball development, today announced the acquisition of sidelineHD, an innovative youth sports media platform specializing in livestreaming and video highlights. This strategic move underscores the company’s commitment to integrating thoughtful technology to provide personalized and enhanced player experiences and foster a love for the games.

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sidelineHD has revolutionized the youth sports landscape by empowering parents to create professional-quality livestreams of youth games with integrated scoreboards, player information cards, and real-time sports data. Leveraging AI in real-time, sidelineHD automatically generates highlights and video clips, offering players and families the ability to share this valuable social content instantly, generating memories that grow their love of the game and their desire to play at the next level while also hooking into recruiting platforms and other services that provide tangible benefits to today’s youth player.  

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"This acquisition aligns perfectly with Diamond Kinetics' vision of providing a unified and complete experience for youth baseball and softball athletes and families," said CJ Handron, CEO and Co-Founder of Diamond Kinetics. "By integrating sidelineHD's livestreaming and video highlights capabilities into our offering, we are now able to deliver even more value to users as they move from practice-time to in-game action, and vice versa."

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The integration of sidelineHD’s livestreaming and video highlights capabilities will unlock new possibilities for both DK and sidelineHD users. Based on game outcomes, players in the sidelineHD app will now be exposed to more personalized training and instruction pathways, gaining access to guided hitting sessions and MLB content to help them improve their skills while having more fun with DK’s interactive content, challenges, and lightweight mobile games.

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"Joining forces with Diamond Kinetics will allow our team to take the streaming experience, in-game content, and performance data to the next level, providing both instructional and social value for our users," said Ben Jun, CEO of sidelineHD. "With DK's support, we look forward to delivering personalized video content that enhances training, development, and the overall enjoyment of youth sports."

SidelineHD will remain a stand-alone application and its capabilities will be integrated into existing and future DK products. DK will also continue to enhance sidelineHD’s product, and add even more value to existing streaming capabilities. As youth players do more in the DK ecosystem they will unlock unique and personalized avenues of expression that will enhance the livestreaming experience, making it even more enjoyable to watch while also generating one-of-a-kind highlight reels ready for distribution on social channels.

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The acquisition and other growth initiatives are supported by investment from Diamond Kinetics strategic capital partners, led by Elysian Park Ventures and TNC Ventures, as part of a continued commitment to building innovative companies across the youth sports space.  Existing Diamond Kinetics investors include Elysian Park Ventures, TNC Ventures, SeventySix Capital, and Eberg Capital amongst others.

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About Diamond Kinetics

Diamond Kinetics (DK), is a leading sports technology company pioneering the future of youth baseball and softball development. With an emphasis on connected devices, computer vision functionality, and virtual reality integration, DK provides affordable and portable mobile technology that enhances real-world play and accelerates learning, development, and overall passion for the game. DK is the Trusted Youth Development Platform of Major League Baseball, and partners with organizations including PONY, Babe Ruth League, Ripken Baseball, USA Baseball, USA Softball, and MLB Players Inc., the business arm of the Major League Baseball Players Association, to reach and engage today's youth baseball and softball players. For more information, visit www.DiamondKinetics.com

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About sidelineHD

SidelineHD is a leading sports broadcasting platform empowering team parents to create professional-quality LIVE broadcast TV-style streams effortlessly integrated with popular social platforms like Facebook and YouTube. Our platform features dynamic scoreboards, player information cards, and real-time sports data, enhancing the viewing experience for a wide range of sports including baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, and water polo. With a focus on modern technology, including self-serve livestreaming and real-time AI production, sidelineHD revolutionizes the way game footage is captured and shared. Our mission is to provide affordable and accessible solutions that enable users to celebrate and share the excitement of sports with their communities. For more information, please visit www.sidelineHD.com

LALIGA Signs with U.S. Integrity to Bolster League Initiatives Across the Globe

LALIGA Signs with U.S. Integrity to Bolster League Initiatives Across the Globe

LAS VEGAS, NV (March 5, 2024) – Today U.S. Integrity (“USI”) announced a groundbreaking partnership with LALIGA, delivering a real time alerting system for LALIGA’s top two divisions in Spain. LALIGA will be provided with analytical insights and engage in ProhiBet, a comprehensive prohibited betting solution, delivered by U.S. Integrity and Odds On Compliance.

The partnership between LALIGA and U.S. Integrity represents a commitment to the preservation of integrity in sport. By entering into such an agreement, LALIGA demonstrates its dedication to ensuring that its competitions are conducted in a fair and transparent manner, where manipulation and suspicious activity is detected and addressed.

Among a myriad of services, USI will also provide integrity monitoring alerts to LALIGA, which will help further investigate any potential nefarious activity involving LALIGA events. U.S. Integrity, the world’s leading integrity monitoring and compliance firm, conducts analysis across a plethora of data sets to proactively identify irregular contest-level, officiating & wagering patterns.

This partnership with U.S. Integrity represents a significant milestone in our efforts to safeguard integrity and transparency in professional football. At LALIGA, we are committed to maintaining a fair and honest competitive environment for our clubs, players, and fans across the globe,” stated Javier Tebas, President of LALIGA.

“We’re incredibly excited to expand our international efforts, and to work with LALIGA to better align our alerting processes for their future matches on a global scale.” says Matthew Holt, USI’s CEO & co-founder. He continued, “All our partners are committed to the highest integrity standards, and LALIGA will not fall short of that. These types of partnerships, and on an international level, will help amplify the sports betting integrity industry and strengthen the unique & proprietary anomaly detection tools we have developed at U.S. Integrity.”

Managing Partner Chad Stender was a featured Judge at the Big East Startup Challenge

Managing Partner Chad Stender was a featured Judge at the Big East Startup Challenge

NEW YORK – On Thursday, Feb. 29, the BIG EAST Conference will host the 2024 BIG EAST Startup Challenge, a competition featuring innovations and products from teams of student entrepreneurs representing all 11 Conference institutions. The competition returns virtually on zoom and will take place from 6 – 8 p.m. ET.

Each Startup Challenge team is comprised of currently enrolled undergraduate students at one of the 11 BIG EAST institutions. Teams will present their pitches to judges, who will rank them on a variety of factors including: idea/concept; market need; value proposition; feasibility; and passion and presentation.

The top three teams will receive an honorarium to be used to help grow their startup business.

The judges are seasoned entrepreneurs, innovators, venture capitalists and business leaders, A few have ties to BIG EAST institutions.

Judges include:

Chad Stender, Managing Partner SeventySix Capital

Brandon Andrews, Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Gauge

Mike Kerrigan, Managing Director at Accenture

Andy Acs, Co-Founder, Chief Product Officer @hotel

David Simick, CEO & Co-Founder of SoapBox Soaps

The event will be MC'd by Meghan Caffrey of the BIG EAST Digital Network. The event is open to all who are interested.

The BIG EAST will welcome 2023 BIG EAST Startup Challenger winner Brendan Foody as a guest speaker to the event. Since then he's raised $3.6 million to grow Mercor, the leading platform for AI talent assessment. They complete hundreds of thousands of AI interviews where their custom version of ChatGPT will join a Zoom call and conduct thorough interviews of candidates. They go viral on LinkedIn a few times a week and work with some of the largest AI companies in the world.

Team entries are below:

School Project Name Entrepreneurs

Butler - Achieve Esports - David Wade, Maddox Kaye

Connecticut - Swipestorm - Nathan Catapano, Allison Davenport

Creighton - NIYOU - Matt Mandolfo, Sam Perkinson, Valery Shafack

DePaul - Get Flea Market - Samantha Lapage

Georgetown - Georgetown REUSE - Rita Allen, Brooke Hodge, Stephane Granato

Marquette - Tailored Remedy - Abigail Crocker

Providence - Friartown’s Closet - Mary Gifford

St. John's - Melior-Melworld - Raiyan Bhuiyan

Seton Hall - Pirate’s Closet - Jason Santos

Villanova - PocketSnap - Ayden Lagalante

Xavier - TestU - Lance Kuo-Esser

Georgetown's Gracey Owen won the third annual BIG EAST Startup Challenge a year ago with her innovation "Compost'd LLC." Under Owen's concept, she created a simple solution to composting with a freezable container to minimize issues left behind from mishandled food waste.

The BIG EAST hosted the inaugural Startup Challenge in 2019. Xavier's Casey Smith won for his venture transFarm. The event was held in conjunction with the BIG EAST Men's Basketball Tournament. The 2020 Startup Challenge was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the winners of the challenge were Owen Delaney, Jacquelyn Ryan and Faith Linscott from Providence College with their innovation: "Umeal." In 2022, Gracey Owen won the event with innovation “Compost’d LLC.”

U.S. Integrity Partners with Betfred for Sports Wagering Monitoring and Regulatory Compliance Software

U.S. Integrity Partners with Betfred for Sports Wagering Monitoring and Regulatory Compliance Software

Las Vegas, NV (February 29th, 2023) — Betfred USA and U.S. Integrity today announced a partnership that will provide Betfred with monitoring software and tools that will play a pivotal role in preventing student-athletes, coaches, and staff from engaging in prohibited sports wagering.

Kresimir Spajic, CEO of Betfred USA, underscored the importance of this service, stating “Through our renewed partnership with U.S. Integrity, strengthened by the integration of ProhiBet technology, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to integrity and compliance by providing a secure and transparent system that aligns seamlessly with the regulatory framework surrounding sports betting.”

Through their partnership with U.S. Integrity, Betfred will be provided access to ProhiBet, a technology that provides a secure and transparent method for sportsbook operators and sports properties to ensure that student-athletes, coaches, and administrative staff remain compliant with the intricate web of state regulations that govern sports betting activities.

“We are thrilled to partner with Betfred -- the combination of ProhiBet's state-of-the-art encrypted data transfer system and Betfred’s dedication to upholding the integrity of sports will undoubtedly enhance the transparency and trustworthiness of current and future prohibited bettors,” stated Matt Heap, Managing Director of ProhiBet. Heap brings a wealth of experience in the field as the former head of the Colorado Division of Gaming’s sportsbook operations.

Betfred’s partnership with U.S. Integrity and ProhiBet is part of a two-fold approach to solidify the sportsbook operator oversight surrounding sports betting and prohibited bettors.

ProhiBet Partners with George Washington University

ProhiBet Partners with George Washington University

Las Vegas, NV (February 27th, 2024) – George Washington University and ProhiBet today announced a partnership for the utilization of ProhiBet’s cross-monitoring and notification platform. Designed to safeguard sports integrity and ensure adherence to regulations, ProhiBet will play a pivotal role in preventing GW Revs student-athletes, coaches and administration from engaging in prohibited sports wagering.

In addition to the integration of the ProhiBet solutions, the agreement allows for on-site educational training for all student-athletes, coaches and administrative staff. The in-person education presentations are customized with in-depth breakdown of data analytics.  

ProhiBet’s cutting-edge technology provides a secure and transparent method for sports properties and sportsbook operators, to ensure that athletes, coaches, and league/school administrative staff remain compliant with the intricate web of state regulations that govern sports betting activities.

“We are thrilled to partner with George Washington University -- the combination of ProhiBet's state-of-the-art encrypted data transfer system and GW’s dedication to upholding the integrity of sports will undoubtedly enhance the transparency and trustworthiness of sports betting activities,” stated Matt Heap, Managing Director of ProhiBet. Heap brings a wealth of experience in the field as the former head of the Colorado Division of Gaming’s sportsbook operations.

ProhiBet is a joint venture between U.S. Integrity and Odds On Compliance. U.S. Integrity offers wagering monitoring services to stakeholders across the sports wagering ecosystem while Odds On Compliance is a leading compliance technology and consultation firm in the sports betting and gaming industry.

ProhiBet Partners with the PFL for the utilization of their advanced fully encrypted decentralized cross-monitoring and notification platform.

ProhiBet partners with the PFL for the utilization of their advanced fully encrypted decentralized cross-monitoring and notification platform.

LAS VEGAS, NV (February 20th, 2024) — Professional Fighters League and U.S. Integrity today announced a groundbreaking partnership for the utilization of ProhiBet’s advanced fully encrypted decentralized cross-monitoring and notification platform. Designed to safeguard sports integrity and ensure adherence to state-specific regulations, ProhiBet will play a pivotal role in preventing specific individuals such as PFL athletes, coaches, employees, and officials who are prohibited from placing bets on PFL events.

ProhiBet’s cutting-edge technology provides a secure and transparent method for sports properties, both professional and collegiate, and sportsbook operators, to ensure that athletes, coaches, and league/school administrative staff remain compliant with the intricate web of state regulations that govern sports betting activities.

“We are thrilled to partner with the PFL -- the combination of ProhiBet's state-of-the-art encrypted data transfer system and the PFL’s dedication to upholding the integrity of sports will undoubtedly enhance the transparency and trustworthiness of sports betting activities,” stated Matt Heap, Managing Director of ProhiBet. Heap brings a wealth of experience in the field as the former head of the Colorado Division of Gaming’s sportsbook operations.

ProhiBet is a joint venture between U.S. Integrity and Odds On Compliance. U.S. Integrity offers wagering monitoring services to stakeholders across the sports wagering ecosystem while Odds On Compliance is a leading compliance technology and consultation firm in the sports betting and gaming industry.

Quintar Partnered with PGA TOUR and Apple to Launch PGA TOUR Vision on Apple Vision Pro.

Spatial Computing’s First Professional Golf Application Debuts Friday with Immersive 3D View at Pebble Beach Golf Links for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR on Thursday introduced PGA TOUR Vision, a new app built from the ground up for golf fans to experience golf and follow PGA TOUR tournaments like never before. PGA TOUR Vision was developed for Apple Vision Pro, Apple’s revolutionary spatial computer that seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world and will be available to download from the brand-new App Store with the release of Apple Vision Pro in the U.S. this Friday, Feb. 2.

With PGA TOUR Vision, golf fans can transform their space into immersive, spatial golf experiences that bring them closer to the action. At launch, PGA TOUR Vision will debut with the iconic par-3 seventh hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links, site of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and expand to include additional holes each week leading up to THE PLAYERS Championship when all 18 holes will be covered.

“PGA TOUR Vision for Apple Vision Pro brings golf fans inside the ropes and directly onto the tee boxes and greens of the world’s most iconic courses, no matter where they are,” said Scott Gutterman, PGA TOUR senior vice president, Digital Operations. “The PGA TOUR is proud to be the first professional golf app on this revolutionary new device, offering fans an innovative and immersive way to watch professional golf, and our fans can look forward to more unique, spatial experiences as the FedExCup Season progresses.”

Users will be able to bring the best moments of the PGA TOUR in spatial reality through the Apple Vision Pro. (Credit PGA TOUR Vision)

PGA TOUR Vision displays key tournament information and video in 2D windows on top of a user's space, while 3D-rendered models generated by Virtual Eye map real-time trails from live shot data captured during the tournament. Within 2D windows, fans can view leaderboards, scorecards, course information, schedule and tournament details, as well as video highlights. Live shot data is provided by ShotLink powered by CDW and made available to the app using the PGA TOUR’s AWS infrastructure. PGA TOUR Vision is developed by Quintar, the Official Mobile AR and XR Developer of the PGA TOUR, with UX and design led by digital product company Work & Co.

“Harnessing Quintar’s powerful spatial experience platform from prototype to launch and beyond, we are excited to be partnering with the PGA TOUR to bring PGA TOUR Vision to life,” said Dr. Jeff Jonas, Quintar president and chief business officer.

Fans can immerse themselves in a 3D hole model of No. 7 at Pebble Beach as if they are standing on it in the physical world, then watch real-time shot trails for players currently playing the hole or replays of previous shots from earlier in the day or previous rounds. Whether watching from the tee box or right on the green, key information including shot distance, apex and speed are always available for overlay within the experience to provide context to each shot trail. Users can also live stream the CBS simulcast of the third and fourth rounds of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am inside PGA TOUR Vision, as well as future FedExCup events televised on CBS/Paramount+.

SeventySix Capital Invests in Boomerang’s $4.9M Funding Round

SeventySix Capital Invests in Boomerang’s $4.9M Funding Round

Drake, LightShed, athletes and music celebrities invest in Lost & Found platform as company scales its item recovery platform 

MIAMI – Jan 25, 2024 – Miami-based Boomerang, the leading Lost & Found platform, today announced it has secured $4.9 million in a new funding round, led by New York-based firm LightShed Ventures, with additional participation from GGV, GoldHouse, Harlo Capital, Dream Ventures, Lake Nona Fund, SeventySix Capital, amongst others. This new round brings Boomerang’s total funding raised to $7.7 million.

Boomerang has also attracted backing from high-profile individual investors, including superstar musicians Drake and Green Day’s Mike Dirnt; football greats Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk, and Green Bay Packers defensive end Kenny Clark; and Equinox founder Lavinia Errico. 

“The new round of funding will fuel Boomerang’s growth and investment in its team and platform. We’re growing fast, and this investment will help us scale to the demand,” said Skyler Logsdon, co-founder of Boomerang. 

““Boomerang will transform the sports and entertainment industry by reuniting fans with their lost items,” said Wayne Kimmel, Managing Partner of SeventySix Capital. “Our team is excited to be an investor and work alongside Skyler Logsdon and his team.””

— Wayne Kimmel

“The pervasive frustration of losing something and never seeing it again is an experience that is way too common not to have a great solution for today,” said Xavier Parkmond of LightShed Ventures. “Boomerang’s comprehensive platform solves this bothersome problem with sophisticated and cutting-edge technology, turning item recovery into a magical experience. Boomerang represents the future of technology to help people recover what matters most. The Boomerang founders have the experience, prowess, and strategic timing to revolutionize this often overlooked market.”

Logsdon, Philip Inghelbrecht, and Augustine Diep-Tran founded Boomerang in November 2021 to solve the challenge of Lost & Found. It’s a costly problem; U.S. consumers spend $5B annually replacing lost items. The overwhelming majority of these lost items are lost at businesses. “To solve Lost & Found, we must first help businesses – they need our help to efficiently and effectively get items back to their customers,” emphasized Logsdon.

Boomerang’s impressive roster of customers on the Boomerang Network includes Universal Studios, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Nissan Stadium, State Farm Arena, Margaritaville Resort, Encore Resort at the Reunion, The Dalmar, Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport, Syracuse Hancock International Airport, and many more. 

“I’m grateful for all the great companies who have joined the Boomerang Network to solve the Lost & Found challenge with us,” said Logsdon. “One of the biggest frustrations when losing something is the severe fragmentation of where your item may be. By consolidating all found inventory onto the Boomerang platform, every business can join us in solving the consumer fragmentation problem, allowing for a seamless recovery experience on Boomerang, the leading Lost & Found platform.”

U.S. Integrity Signs Comprehensive Partnership with American Cornhole League

U.S. Integrity Signs Comprehensive Partnership with American Cornhole League

LAS VEGAS, NV (January 23rd, 2024) – Today U.S. Integrity (“USI”) and the American Cornhole League (ACL) announced a comprehensive partnership, which will supply ACL team members with integrity tools and visibility on their future events starting in the spring of 2024.

U.S. Integrity will offer a complete suite of educational services to ACL athletes, officials, and other stakeholders within the cornhole community. These services, including access to USI’s digital education e-learning platform, will inform and alert everyone involved in ACL events to both the obvious and more subtle ways in which efforts to compromise the integrity of a match can occur.

In addition, as betting operators accept wagers on ACL events, U.S. Integrity will provide integrity monitoring services via its proprietary dashboard to ACL that will encompass data intelligence and fraud prevention. U.S. Integrity conducts analysis across dozens of data sets to proactively identify irregular contest-level & wagering patterns.

“As we continue to grow and offer our fans opportunities to bet on our sport, it is essential that we have the key educational and monitoring services in place to guard against any improprieties,” said ACL Commissioner Stacey Moore. “The league is very pleased to have a world-class organization like U.S. Integrity provide us with those critical protections.”

 “We’re thrilled to work and collaborate with the team at the American Cornhole League, as the timing of this partnership aligns perfectly with their 2024 season,” added Matthew Holt, U.S. Integrity’s CEO & co-founder. He continued, “U.S. Integrity’s mission is to provide conflict-free, best-in-class insights & compliance solutions to our clients and the team at ACL are now part of that mission.”

U.S. Integrity Partners with LIV Golf for Sports Gaming Monitoring, Compliance and Education

U.S. Integrity Partners with LIV Golf for Sports Gaming Monitoring, Compliance and Education

New York, NY and Las Vegas, NV (January 18, 2024) — U.S. Integrity and LIV Golf today announced a formal partnership for gaming integrity monitoring, compliance and education. The partnership also provides LIV Golf with access to ProhiBet, an innovative technology that detects prohibited gaming behavior, developed in collaboration with Odds On Compliance.

“This partnership with U.S. Integrity is critical as we enhance our presence in the sports gaming space,” said LIV Golf Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Burian. “Establishing the highest standards in all aspects of our competition processes and operations is of primary importance to LIV Golf. Similar to many top sports leagues, working with industry-leading partners like U.S. Integrity demonstrates our commitment to ensuring gaming integrity within our sport.”

U.S. Integrity partners with some of the largest professional sports leagues and collegiate conferences in the U.S., as well as licensed sports-gaming operators and regulators. The organization conducts meticulous analysis across a myriad of data sets, enabling the early detection of irregularities within contest-level activities, officiating decisions, and wagering trends. The insights garnered from this data monitoring drive the creation of detailed reports, effortlessly accessible through a fully customized online dashboard, providing real-time access to essential information for leagues, regulators and operators.

"We are excited to collaborate with LIV Golf. Combining ProhiBet's cutting-edge encrypted data transfer system with LIV Golf's commitment to preserving sports integrity will enhance the transparency and reliability of their sports betting operations," expressed U.S. Integrity Founder and CEO Matt Holt.

Designed to safeguard sports integrity and ensure adherence to state-specific regulations, U.S. Integrity and ProhiBet will play a pivotal role in preventing prohibited sports wagering. ProhiBet’s cutting-edge technology provides a secure and transparent method for sports properties, both professional and collegiate, and sportsbook operators, to ensure that athletes, coaches, and league administrative staff remain compliant with the intricate web of state regulations that govern sports gaming activities.

LIV Golf is owned and operated by LIV Golf Investments whose vision and mission are centered around making holistic and sustainable investments to enhance the global golf ecosystem and unlock the sport’s untapped worldwide potential.