SBP Snack Week of 3/11-3/17

Five Interesting, Funny, and Touching Things that Happened in Sports This Week

Alex Abrams
March 13, 2025

Thanks for the great feedback on last week’s edition! Please keep it coming by responding to this email or on social media (LinkedIn, Twitter).

Forwarded this newsletter by someone in your network and want to receive it yourself? Subscribe here

Good Thursday Morning. Bringing you an abbreviated, “snack size” version of SBP this week.

#1: The sixth Sidemen charity match featuring the world’s biggest YouTube stars was a massive success again

The Sidemen Charity Match drew its biggest in-person audience ever at 90,000 fans, racked up millions of live viewers on YouTube, and raised over $6M for several British charities.
Inside the massive influencer soccer match ⬇️
— Front Office Sports (@FOS)
4:00 AM • Mar 10, 2025

🗯️ My thought bubble: This match showcases the power of personalities, free distribution channels, and novelty events.

The match was a success in essentially every metric, and it highlights the growing trend we’re seeing with the lines of entertainment and sports being blurred as younger fans (remember last week’s piece?) gravitate more towards these internet stars. All of the professional leagues are doing similar things around their All-Star events, promotions, and more.

The reality check here, though, is that these events are not 1:1 with traditional sports. They work due to the novelty and fixed supply, which creates a “must-see” moment for fans of the YouTubers. But, like most things, too much of them could lead to oversaturation and interest dilution — particularly since none of these guys are professionals. It’s a great tool, but it can’t be the only tool in the belt.

Regardless, I hope we see more Sidemen-like activations from these groups. The money and awareness raised for three British charities from this weekend’s match is a net positive for the world.

#2: Cool moment between Texas Women’s Basketball Head Coach Vic Schaefer and three student journalists at the conference tournament press conference

Texas HC Vic Schaefer found out three student journalists drove 16 hours from Austin to Greenville for the SEC WBB Tournament.
The coach told them to add him as a reference on their resumes:
"When it comes time to get a job, you put me on your resume."
— Front Office Sports (@FOS)
2:44 PM • Mar 11, 2025

#3: An interesting breakdown of the Las Vegas F1 race’s economic impact for the city

Las Vegas has released a new report breaking down the economic impact of last year's Formula 1 race.
Here are the highlights:
• Total economic impact of $934 million, making it the largest recurring event hosted in Southern Nevada.
• The average person stayed 3.7 nights in… x.com/i/web/status/1…
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano)
7:50 PM • Mar 10, 2025

#4: Everything about this — the promotion, the contestant, the handlebar mustache — is perfect

Tommy understands it. 😭🤯
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights)
4:18 AM • Mar 11, 2025

#5: Rest in peace to Junior Bridgeman. One of the first shining examples of professional athletes successfully using their platforms to catapult themselves into the business world and then pay it forward

Forbes recently did a longer piece on him as well if interested.

Bucks legend Junior Bridgeman has died at the age of 71.
In his 12 seasons in the NBA, he made less than $3 million.
Bridgeman later went on to own 450 restaurants, become a minority owner of his former team, and have a reported net worth of $1.4 billion.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS)
2:01 PM • Mar 12, 2025

Until next time, sports fans!

-Alex