Sports Finance Report: Money Ball Methods to Assess Injury Risk

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Sparta Science is Creating Money Ball Methods to Assess Injury Risk

The University of Pennsylvania has signed an exclusive 3-year deal with Sparta Science, an injury management technology company that uses historic data to create models that can predict the risk of injury (both in volume and severity) for athletes. Sparta’s product, marketed as a way for athletic departments to minimize injuries while maximizing performance; has given teams a method of instituting an analytical approach to the athlete’s body (aka money ball for injuries). The software, compatible with triaxial force plates that measure biomechanical movement, offers custom training and rehabilitation programs based on the results of a 60-second test. Since Penn began working with Sparta Science two years ago, the athletic department has seen a 30% decline in the number of injuries and $400,000 annual reduction in related insurance premiums; which offsets the cost of the product.

Howie Long-Short: Sparta Science company could have pursued contracts with the seven other Ivy League institutions, but instead chose to look long-term; focusing on its product over short-term profits. The exclusive nature of the partnership provides Sparta Science with access to Penn’s medical school and to the Wharton School data analytics program; both are participating in research studies with the company. Sparta Science is privately held and has raised just a $2.7 million seed round to date, so there aren’t a ton of ways to play the company; but Qualcomm Ventures, the investment arm of Qualcomm, Inc. (QCOM) participated in the round.

Fan Marino: With pro athletes earning millions each season, injuries are costly. It’s estimated that ACL injuries alone cost NFL teams an estimated $63 million per year. During the 2016 MLB season, teams spent an average of $26 million in salaries on injured players; so it’s not surprising to see professional franchises joining the Sparta Science client roster. The company has contracts in place with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies and San Jose Earthquakes.

A Subscription Box Service for NBA Fans

Sports Crate, a division of Loot Crate, has signed an exclusive partnership with the NBA to provide fans of 13 teams (GS, CLE, NY, CHI, BOS & LA are all available) with a subscription box service. Courtside Crates, offered individually, quarterly or bi-monthly, will contain team apparel, collectibles and fan experiences including tickets to games and meet-and-greets with players. The boxes will be limited to ensure their collectability. Financial terms of the deal were not released.

Howie Long-Short: Since their launch in 2012, Loot Crate has experienced remarkable growth; acquiring 650,000 recurring monthly subscribers. The company was on the cover of Inc. Magazine, where it was named the nation’s “fastest growing startup” in the summer of 2016. The excitement surrounding that rapid growth has long worn off though, as the company burned through the $18.5 million it raised in June ’16 and was forced to lay off 27% of its staff. It does appear to be back on the right track with CEO Chris Davis making more responsible decisions. Loot Crate is privately held, but you can play the company through Time Inc. (TIME); a participant in last summer’s $18.5 million Series A round.

Fan Marino: I don’t subscribe to box subscription services, because I look to keep my monthly fixed expenses to a minimum. Dollar Shave Club, which reduces consumer spend on a necessary product, is one of few that I would consider. Sports Crate, as currently marketed, doesn’t do it for me; I want to shop for my own clothing. But if they introduce a box consisting solely of discounted game tickets and player meet-and-greets then they’ve got themselves a new customer.

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Stadium Partners with Facebook, 47 College Basketball Games Will Air Exclusively on Watch

Facebook continues to add live sports programming to its Watch platform, announcing a partnership with Stadium that will enable the social network to exclusively live stream 47 college basketball games this season. Stadium, a multi-platform sports network, will tailor the stream to the Facebook audience; communicating with fans in real-time and implementing social elements to the broadcast. The companies have aired 13 football games together this fall; generating over 10 million views. FB is paying Stadium for the rights to air the games, though terms of the deal have not been released. There is no cost for fans to stream the games.

Howie Long-Short: Stadium was created from a merger of Campus Insiders (live games), Time Inc.’s (TIME) 120 Sports (studio operations) and the Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBGI)-owned American Sports Network (distribution). SBGI reported a 3.3% YOY drop in Q3 earnings, but it hasn’t been all bad news for the company of late. The FCC just voted to relax rules limiting broadcast and print media ownership in a single market. That decision, combined with Bruce Karsh’s (Tribune Media Chairman) recent resignation, would seem to indicate that the company’s purchase of TRCO is likely to be approved by regulators. SBGI expects the sale to close by early ’18.

Fan Marino: The 47-game slate includes some compelling teams, 11 of which made the 2017 NCAA Tournament; Dayton, Saint Mary’s, Middle Tennessee State, Nevada, Florida Gulf Coast, Wake Forest, Rhode Island, U.C. Davis, VCU, Minnesota and New Mexico State. #14 Minnesota, #21 St. Mary’s and R.I. are the best of the bunch. It also includes three first-round Mountain West tournament games and two quarterfinal Conference USA matchups.

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What is JohnWallStreet?

JohnWallStreet is not a person or location, but a destination for the educated sports fan.

While we won’t be publishing “hot takes” on LeBron’s relative greatness to Jordan, we will be offering up the most relevant sports related finance news, in easily digestible bites, with commentary from both the equities analyst and sports fanatic perspectives.

We’ll cover publicly traded professional teams & stadiums, television networks, apparel & footwear companies, equipment companies, ticketing companies, content and facilities providers. If it trades on Wall Street, and has a sports angle, it’s in our wheel house.

Howie Long-Short and Fan Marino will be providing their expert opinions on each story. They have slightly different areas of expertise. Fan Marino is a firm believer that the SEC is the premier football conference. Howie Long-Short knows it as the Securities & Exchange Commission. Fan Marino lives and dies with the college selection of 5 star, blue chip recruits. Howie Long-Short spends his days analyzing blue chip stocks. Howie Long-Short knows that Black Monday occurred on October 19th, 1987. Fan Marino swears it happens every January after Week 17. You get the point.