Sports ⁣Business Roundup: Prime Video’s Champions League Success, Aspinall’s Champion Deal

⁣ Updated May 29, 2025
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Amazon Prime Video’s​ inaugural season broadcasting ⁤UEFA Champions ⁤League football‍ in the UK and Ireland has proven a resounding success, drawing over ​13 million‍ viewers. The streaming platform secured a‌ three-year deal worth £450 million for exclusive rights to 17 first-pick matches each season. Prime Video reports this ⁣Champions League ⁣coverage as its ⁣moast-watched sports season in Europe, surpassing previous viewership⁤ records, including a Premier League match between Arsenal and ⁢Manchester City in February 2023.

Alex ‌Green, Managing Director of ⁣Prime Video Sport, International, noted the platform’s reach and the quality of the production, which includes extensive pre-match coverage‍ and pitch-side reporting.

In other sports business news, UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall⁣ has entered a long-term partnership with sportswear ​brand Champion. The collaboration launched with the “Heavyweight Champion” collection,blending performance wear​ with ⁢lifestyle ‌apparel. The collection features a “00:02:02” timestamp, referencing Aspinall’s average⁣ fight duration.

Aspinall is also providing input for Champion’s new line of performance⁢ training apparel and ‌equipment, ensuring the products meet the needs of⁢ elite fighters.

Aspinall said Champion’s values​ align with his own aspirations in MMA,aiming to create apparel that inspires ‌the next generation ⁣of fighters.

Simultaneously occurring, Richard Arnold, former Manchester United Chief Executive, has launched⁣ Red ⁤Tiger Marketing. ⁤The company,formed in October 2024,claims to‍ have generated over ⁤£20⁣ million in revenue for clients in the ⁣sports industry,including those in technical kit,beer,energy drinks,and betting sectors.‍ Arnold serves as Chairman, with Laurence ⁤Miller as managing director. The company employs 20 professionals.

Arnold stated that Red Tiger aims to apply data-driven strategies and operational discipline to help sports⁢ organizations maximize their commercial potential.

U.S. soccer has also partnered ‍with MatchWornShirt, an online auction marketplace for sports memorabilia, ⁢naming it ⁢their official match-worn ⁢auction platform. This partnership marks MatchWornShirt’s official U.S. launch, offering fans access to signed, game-worn jerseys from the U.S. Men’s and ​Women’s ⁢National‍ Teams. The platform provides real-time bidding during matches, with chip-embedded authentication.

Tijmen Zonderwijk, CEO and⁣ Co-founder of MatchWornShirt, explained that the company was born from a desire to find authentic, match-worn ⁢shirts with⁣ verifiable origins.

What’s next

Expect continued innovation in sports broadcasting ⁤from Prime Video, further apparel collaborations between Champion and Tom Aspinall, and expansion of Red Tiger Marketing’s client base. MatchWornShirt aims to grow​ its presence in the ​U.S.‌ sports memorabilia market.