Patrick Whitesell has launched WIN Sports activities Group, a brand new, independently owned soccer illustration agency constructed to serve athletes, coaches, and leaders.
Whitesell, who beforehand co-founded WME and Endeavor Holdings, the place he was co-CEO and govt chairman, can be the founder and chief govt of a brand new working and funding platform backed by Silver Lake, which invests throughout media, leisure, and sports activities. That was a part of an overarching transaction that noticed main stakeholder Silver Lake take Endeavor non-public lately.
“As soccer continues to broaden in world attain, industrial worth, and cultural significance, WIN Sports activities Group will help shoppers on and off the sector. Right this moment’s prime expertise is targeted on contracts and alternatives instantly tied to the sport, in addition to constructing careers, companies, and platforms for affect that attain past the sector. With a crew skilled in each elite illustration and long-term strategic planning, WIN is constructed to assist shoppers flip contract, model, and enterprise alternatives into lasting profession worth,” as we speak’s announcement mentioned.
The brand new firm is the previous soccer division of WME Sports activities and with the identical senior crew.
“There’s by no means been a extra vital time to assist soccer gamers suppose and act like homeowners,” mentioned Whitesell. “The ambition we’ve seen reshape music, movie, and digital tradition is now taking part in out in sports activities. WIN is constructed to assist athletes navigate that shift and create lasting worth.”
The NFL the corporate famous, is probably the most financially dominant standalone sports activities league with among the most dear groups on this planet, with its presence now spanning greater than 20 worldwide markets and rising. Within the U.S. final yr, three-quarters of the 100 most-watched TV broadcasts have been NFL video games, together with the complete prime ten. The league noticed almost 9% income distribution development final yr, and the wage cap is projected to proceed rising.
Likewise, faculty soccer is accelerating in affect by main media offers, realignment, and expanded participant alternative.
In opposition to this backdrop, WIN plans to combines elite illustration with strategic help throughout model, enterprise, media and long-term profession improvement to “consider enterprise ventures, and construct platforms that stretch past the sport. At WIN, efficiency and potential are handled with equal weight, guaranteeing athletes are supported within the second and positioned for what’s subsequent.”
