How to Invest in Sports Leagues ... If You're Not a Billionaire
*By Bridgette Webb*
The four major sports leagues in the U.S. have the ability to bring in serious cash. And that's created opportunity for Nick Fullerton, CEO of SportsETFs, a fund dedicated to the business.
"We are trying to capture the growth of the sports leagues, which has been growing faster than the overall economy," Fullerton said Tuesday in an interview on Cheddar.
The ETF, which trades under the ticker FANZ, invests in companies that have deals with the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL.
Fullerton said the proof is in these partners, which enter into "multi-year, multi-million dollar agreements" with the leagues.
"\[We\] found that these companies who choose to spend their marketing budgets with sports leagues tend to grow faster than their competitors," he said.
The fund includes some of the most dominant names in sports sponsorship, among them Coca-Cola, Gatorade-owner Pepsi, as well others that may surprise you, like Amazon. The e-commerce giant struck a deal with the [NFL](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/26/amazon-streaming-thursday-night-football-in-2018-2019.html) to stream Thursday Night Football games for the next two seasons.
Fullerton said the recent [Supreme Court](https://cheddar.com/videos/draftkings-ceo-were-going-all-in-on-legalized-sports-betting) decision opening the door for legal sports betting may also be a serious factor as casinos look to partner with top leagues ー in July, the NBA announced that it had tapped [MGM](http://www.nba.com/article/2018/07/31/mgm-resorts-international-becomes-official-gaming-partner-nba-official-release) to be its official gaming partner.
It's a union that Fullerton said will be a boon for many partners of major league sports.
"The casual fan is probably going to be more apt to stay engaged with their screen and device to see when they make a casual bet," he said. "We feel that more partnerships will come into play."
For full interview [click here](https://cms.cheddar.com/videos/VmlkZW8tMjI4MjI=).
As we celebrate Black History Month, Cheddar is highlighting prominent Black Americans who are carving their own historic paths and trailblazing in their fields. Today we feature NFL all-time great and current college coach Deion Sanders.
As Super Bowl LVI shapes up to be the biggest gambling event in sports history, restaurants and bars are looking to get in on the rapidly growing world of legalized sports betting.
The NFL was struck with a bombshell lawsuit by former Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores that accuses them and three teams of discrimination. The league's hiring practices when it comes to minority coaches have been in question for years but may finally see some change after Flores' suit. Cheddar News was joined by Matt Lombardo, National NFL Insider at Fansided to discuss the suit and its possible implications.
The Rams will technically be the road team for Super Bowl LIV despite the event being play at their home venue, Sofi Stadium. Why? Because the league alternates which conference's team is designated as home, and this year, it's the Bengals turn. Cody Roark, NFL Analyst for Pro Football Network, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell for some more Super Bowl nuggets and discusses what viewers should watch for when the game kicks off.
Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback in NFL history, has retired after winning seven Super Bowls and setting numerous passing records in an unprecedented 22-year-career.
From the environment to income inequality, many issues can be seen through the lens of our favorite athletes and teams. In this episode, we’re exploring the world of sports.
