From London with love

The GIST: Volleyball is bigger than ever, and FIVB wants to meet the moment. After bringing its 2027 tournament stateside, the international volleyball federation is officially teaming up with Horizon Sports & Experiences (HS&E) as the event’s exclusive sponsorship and media rights sales agency. Let’s dive in.

The details: HS&E will help FIVB land U.S. media rights and partnerships, while also focusing on commercializing the tourney for a global audience. It’s also planning for experienced-based sponsorships to encourage fan engagement at next year’s Olympic qualifier event in Anaheim, which is also hosting LA28’s volleyball games.

• HS&E has experience with digital storytelling opportunities, which could be crucial for FIVB. It also negotiated Unrivaled’s media rights, has been involved in thought leadership and research, and launched a women’s college basketball showcase. A real utility player.

The trajectory: FIVB’s 2027 tournament is already poised for hypergrowth among global audiences. Last year’s edition in Thailand broke broadcasting and digital reach records with 803M total viewers across live and repeat programming — outperforming the men’s tourney. It also had massive social media reach across key demographics: 78% of the audience was aged 18 to 25 and 54% were women.

Looking ahead: This is just the latest example of FIVB leveling up its business infrastructure through world-class strategic partnerships. In 2021, it teamed up with private equity giant CVC Capital to form its commercial arm Volleyball World, while CVC acquired a 33% stake worth about $100M.

• Volleyball isn’t just a surging American sport — it’s enjoying a global wave of popularity in places from Brazil to Japan. FIVB is working to put the right pieces in place to unlock a bigger U.S. and global fandom, especially with the next Olympic Games on the horizon. All set.

⛳️ Hazeltine's first major moment belonged to women. In 1966, the iconic Minneapolis course hosted one of the biggest events in women’s golf and earned its reputation as a championship venue. Now, 60 years later, Chase and the PGA of America are running it back to the place where it all began.

• 🏌️ Watch the 2026 KPMG Women's PGA Championship on June 27th.

• 🎉 Follow The GIST on Instagram for an inside look, including the pressure-packed challenge of Hole 16

This year, Chase and PGA of America are celebrating the women who helped build the game while investing in the next gen of superstars. Now that's banking on women's sports.

The GIST: Wimbledon will be here in two weeks — and by here, we also mean here in North America. The All England Club which hosts the UK’s Grand Slam is transforming Central Park’s Wollman Rink into an authentic grass tennis court, bringing a bit of the event’s unique magic to help win over the NYC audience.

• This isn’t the first time Wimbledon has turned its attention to New York, but it is the first time it’s bringing its grass courts to the public, a concept the US Open has also seen success with with its highly-accessible free activations during Fan Week. Smashing.

The details: Since 2022, Wimbledon has held viewings of the tournament at The Hill in NYC, citing their success as a reason for this year’s new pop-up grass court. Visitors will be treated to free tennis clinics and iconic Wimbledon staples like strawberries and cream, while some lucky fans will win free slots to play on the court.

• And in case you’re wondering, brands are already finding ways to integrate with the event. Official Wimbledon banking partner Barclays is a presenting sponsor and is also inviting select youth participants in its Barclays Net Work program to enjoy some time on the court.

The why: Unlike the US Open and Australian Open, Wimbledon doesn’t have a fan week — just some public viewings in London and a few ticket lotteries. But the tournament clearly recognizes the success of in-person activations around Grand Slams, and saw a distinct opportunity to connect with American audiences.

Zooming out: Last year, ESPN topped a few Wimbledon viewership records in the U.S., including the most-viewed women’s semifinals in a decade as millions tuned in for both the women’s and men’s finals. And while Wimbledon might have its UK audience on lock with all its traditions, American audiences might want something different — like a little fun, IRL engagement.

• And it’s not just Wimbledon thinking about catering to a distinct American audience: So are its partners, like Barclays. New Yorkers might recognize the British bank as sponsor of Barclays Center and partner of the NY Liberty and Brooklyn Nets, but this event underscores how it's thinking about how to deepen ties with its NYC audience. Best of both worlds.