The sport of ten-pin bowling, boasting more than 150 million regular participants worldwide, presents an immense potential for growth. League Sports Co (LSC) is poised to harness this potential by infusing the sport with celebrity appeal, captivating competition venues, and a strong digital presence, thereby aiming to transform it into a global phenomenon.

Under its former name, XTZ Esports Tech, LSC announced a groundbreaking agreement with the International Bowling Federation, spanning up to 20 years. This partnership seeks to drive innovation, expansion, and investment in bowling, with the highlight being the launch of the World Bowling League (WBL) in 2024.

The World Bowling League, consisting of the WBL Pro Tour and WBL Global calendars, is set to revolutionize bowling, catering to fans, competitors, broadcasters, sponsors, agencies, and bookmakers. LSC's founder and CEO, Adi K Mishra, views this as a unique opportunity to bring structure and engagement to a sport already embraced by passionate professionals, semi-professionals, and grassroots enthusiasts.

WBL's objective is to broaden its existing base and attract a massive audience through innovation at every level, from competition locations and lane designs to equipment and scoring systems. Mishra emphasizes LSC's commitment to making substantial improvements in every aspect of the sport, building upon months of dedicated investment and effort.

WBL Global introduces a property that Mishra describes as an "aspirational product" that elevates bowling to mainstream status. It will feature franchise teams, cutting-edge technology, strategic elements such as reverse scoring and restricted throws, and engagement-building features. Discussions with renowned individuals about league-level investments are in advanced stages, with some global celebrities already on board.

WBL Global will host 12-15 events annually in iconic locations across multiple countries, with expansion plans for the calendar in the coming years. The inaugural season will see 8-12 franchise teams, each with a gender-balanced squad of four to six competitors. Notably, at least two members of each four-person WBL team will be female, emphasizing the sport's commitment to equality, regardless of age or gender.

The overarching vision aims to benefit both the sport and the wider industry, including venues, brands, and manufacturers, by enhancing engagement with younger audiences and ensuring the sport's sustainability.

Athletes participating in WBL will enjoy unprecedented financial incentives, with collective prize money expected to reach $3-5 million in the first year and the potential to grow to $10 million in the second year, depending on growth.

Mishra and LSC have ambitious goals for the future, envisioning WBL as a leading aspirational product for athletes and viewers alike, with significant prize money, a robust commercial side supported by sponsorships, merchandising, and media rights, and a global audience spanning various age groups and demographics.

In summary, LSC's plans not only hold the promise of global interest in bowling but also demonstrate a substantial investment in the sport's future, including its media and commercial growth. Mishra believes that bowling, although accessible and familiar, has been traditionally underserved in terms of marketing and commercialization. With the introduction of the World Bowling League suite of products, LSC aims to revive the commercial allure of bowling and create an exciting future for the sport.

 

Source: prnewswire.com

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With more than 150 million regular participants worldwide, any sport possesses immense potential. League Sports Co (LSC) aims to capitalize on this opportunity by infusing the beloved pastime of ten-pin bowling with celebrity appeal, stunning competition venues, and a focus on digital engagement, potentially transforming it into a global sensation.

Formerly known as XTZ Esports Tech, League Sports Co announced a groundbreaking 20-year partnership with the International Bowling Federation, geared toward spurring innovation, growth, and investment in the sport. The centerpiece of this collaboration is the launch of the World Bowling League (WBL) in 2024, poised to redefine the allure of bowling through the WBL Pro Tour and WBL Global calendars, catering to fans, competitors, broadcasters, sponsors, agencies, and bookmakers.

For Adi K Mishra, Founder and CEO of LSC, this presents an extraordinary opportunity to introduce a unified and captivating structure to a sport already cherished by passionate professionals, semi-professionals, and grassroots participants.

The World Bowling League seeks to expand the sport's existing base and captivate a broader audience with a Pro Tour and an "aspirational premier product" rooted in innovation, from ambitious competition venues to lane designs, balls, and scoring systems. Mishra affirms, "At League Sports Co, we have been actively investing time and capital over the last 18 months to bring about much-needed change and updates across all aspects of the sport."

WBL Global signifies the creation of an "aspirational product that bowling deserves," aiming to elevate the sport to mainstream prominence. The inclusion of franchise teams will be complemented by cutting-edge technological solutions and strategic elements like reverse scoring and restricted throws to foster an engaged fan base.

Late-stage discussions are underway with prominent figures to secure league-level investments, with the involvement of a few renowned global celebrities, soon to be disclosed.

WBL Global will host 12-15 events annually in iconic locations across the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, India, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and more, with plans to expand the calendar further in three to five years. Season one is expected to feature 8-12 franchise teams, each with a gender-balanced squad of four to six competitors.

Notably, each four-person WBL team will include at least two female members, emphasizing the sport's gender equality, regardless of age.

The overarching vision aims to benefit both the sport and the wider industry, including venues, brands, and manufacturers, by fostering greater engagement among younger audiences and promoting sustainability in bowling.

In addition, athletes will enjoy unprecedented financial incentives, with collective prize money across WBL properties reaching $3-5 million in the first year and a target of $10 million in the second year, contingent on growth.

Mishra and LSC harbor ambitious aspirations. "In five years, I expect the WBL to transform bowling into a leading aspirational product for both athletes and viewers," Mishra states. "Athletes will be competing for significant prize money, elevating the sport's commercial appeal and status. Financially, I anticipate the league to be highly profitable, backed by a global audience that spans multiple age groups and demographics. The commercial side will be robust, driven by sponsorships, merchandising, and media rights, and we are in preliminary discussions with cities worldwide."

This compelling narrative not only reflects global interest in the sport but also underscores how the WBL is investing in the broader future of bowling.

Mishra highlights the sport's expanding footprint in key markets like Asia, the Middle East, and Scandinavian countries, in addition to its substantial base in North and South America. This unique opportunity sets the stage for media and commercial growth that can usher in an exciting future for bowling. "Bowling is accessible and familiar but has been traditionally unstructured and undermarketed, even though the first athlete ever to get a million-dollar sponsorship was Don Carter, a legend of the sport," says Mishra. "With the introduction of the World Bowling League suite of products, we intend to bring back the commercial allure of bowling."

 

Source: prnewswire.com

 

 

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