*By Britt Terrell*
Golfers gotta eat and drink, right?
That's why Topgolf is expanding its so-called eater-tainment model with sports enthusiasts looking to enjoy the games they love while eating, drinking, and listening to live music.
The company has 41 locations around the world that feature driving ranges with restaurants serving food and drink.
"We've introduced millions of people to the game," said Erik Anderson, the executive chairman of Topgolf.
Celebrities including Justin Timberlake and the golfer Jordan Speith have been spotted at Topgolf locations recently, and the company is launching initiatives to reach new customers.
The company set up a "Topgolf Crush" [pop-up at Heinz field in Pittsburgh](https://topgolf.com/us/crush/pittsburgh/), where visitors hit golf balls in hitting bays using Topgolf's range technology that tracks the speed of your ball. General admission tickets cost $55 for all-day access to the event during non-peak hours, and $65 during peak.
The company will use customer feedback from Topgolf Crush events to decide where to open new Topgolf driving/eating/drinking ranges.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/topgolf-exec-chairman-talks-the-rise-of-eater-tainment).
Dr. Brian Moore, CEO & Co-founder of sports performance and technology company Orrecco, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss how the @thlete platform is helping pro athletes and Olympians improve their performance, and what the future of tech in the world of sports may look like.
A six-year battle over equal pay has finally come to an end-- as U.S. Soccer and The United States Women's Soccer Team have agreed to settle their lawsuit. Under the terms of the deal, the athletes will receive $24 million from U.S. Soccer, and a pledge from the federation to equalize pay for the men's and women's national teams. Lily Roberts, Managing Director of the Poverty to Prosperity Team at the Center for American Progress joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
In a thrilling overtime finish, 23-year old NASCAR driver Austin Cindric clinched the 64th annual Daytona 500 win. Narrowly beating out legendary race car driver Bubba Wallace, Cindric earned his very first NASCAR cup series victory, and became the second youngest driver to win The Great American Race. Daytona 500 Champ Austin Cindric joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss his historic victory.
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 athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick.
The NBA's Golden State Warriors recently announced a relaunch of their SuiteXchange platform, which allows owners to resell luxury suites or rent them out for individual games. Brandon Schneider, team president and COO, joined Cheddar to relay the details of the renewed program and what buyers and sellers can expect. "The Warriors don't determine the price. The seller and the buyer really do. And that's actually one of the unique features on SuiteXChange," he said. "So, if the seller wants to set the price at $10,000, making up a number, the buyer can buy it for $10,000 or they can make an offer for something less than that."
The horse known as Medina Spirit has been stripped of its first-place title at the 2021 Kentucky Derby after testing positive for a banned substance with trainer Bob Baffert receiving a 90-day suspension. Second place finisher Mandaloun has been named the winner instead.
Jamaican Olympic alpine skier Benjamin Alexander joins Cheddar News to discuss his first Olympic appearance and creating more opportunities for diversity in the sport.
While the United States were once again among the top nations in 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to medal, with the games just ended, the focus turns to the athletes coming home and the mental toll the competition take on them. Lauren Gibbs, the 2018 Team USA silver medalist in bobsledding, joined Cheddar News to give her perspective on this year's games and what the competitors have gone through. “Its definitely a mixed bag, you know? It's like I just had the most incredible athletic experience of my life, but then its like its over in a flash," Gibbs said about the feelings an athlete can go through after finishing. She noted that it's important for them to be vocal and reach out to support networks after the rush of competition ends.
