Latest news with #MarkRooks
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dick's Creates In-house Studio to Create Sports Films
Dick's Sporting Goods is getting into the sports content business. The Pittsburgh-based retailer has launched Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios, an in-house content and production studio 'dedicated to telling powerful, human-centered stories through the lens of sport,' the company said Thursday. More from WWD Johnnie-O to Create Fan Gear for NFL Through New Licensing Deal Senator Warren to FTC: Block Dick's Sporting Goods' $2.4 Billion Foot Locker Acquisition EXCLUSIVE: Glamnetic and Fanatics Create Nail Sets Inspired by NFL, NCAA and MLB Teams The goal for the studio is to offer storytelling that will highlight the determination, triumphs and heartbreaks of sports. Although the studio is new, the retailer has been dabbling in sports storytelling for more than a decade. In 2014, it debuted its first documentary feature, 'We Could Be King,' which won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Documentary. This past spring, the company picked up a second Emmy for 'The Turnaround,' a documentary that tells the story of Philadelphia Phillies' superfan Jon McCann. Over the past 10 years Dick's has produced five feature-length films and 10 short-form or episodic documentaries, with additional projects in the hopper. 'Dick's believes that sports have the power to change lives,' said Mark Rooks, vice president of creative, entertainment and sponsorships at Dick's. 'And we've seen through our work how true that is for so many who have excelled, triumphed against the odds, and been defeated in sport. There are so many incredible and inspiring human stories that deserve to be told, and we could not be more excited to showcase how individuals, teams and communities are shaping sport, bringing people together and unifying and building communities for thousands.' The official announcement of Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios coincides with the premiere of 'Big Dreams: The Little League World Series 2024' documentary. Produced in partnership with Imagine Entertainment and MLB Studios, the film will premiere on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. ''Big Dreams ' is a great example of the kind of projects Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios aims to produce,' said Rebecca Covington, senior director of creative production at Dick's. 'Being able to share big sports moments with fans is something that drives our team, and we look at the upcoming years with great excitement as we know there will be so many unforgettable stories deserving of the spotlight.' The name of the studio derives from the history of Dick's, which was founded in 1948 by 18-year-old Dick Stack, who borrowed $300 from his grandmother's cookie jar to open a small bait-and-tackle shop in Binghamton, N.Y. Today, the company is the largest sports retailer in the U.S. with more than 850 stores under the Dick's Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Public Lands and Going Going Gone nameplates. Best of WWD Chanel's 2.55 Bag Turns 70: How Coco Chanel's Vision Redefined Handbags Forever 'Wednesday' on Netflix: All the Costumes on Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones and More Why Tennis Players Wear All White at Wimbledon: The Championships' Historic Dress Code Explained
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dick's Sporting Goods Launches Entertainment Studio
Dick's Sporting Goods is launching its own in-house entertainment studio to get closer to sports fans with original unscripted series to fuel their own athletic passions. Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios, a new content and production studio to lean into unscripted sports themed series, follows the retailer using Hollywood production partners and filmmakers to tell stories through the lens of sport, starting in 2014. More from The Hollywood Reporter Disney Revenue and Profits Rise as It's "Experimenting Like Crazy" in New Streaming Push ESPN Adds WWE Events and More NFL Content, as Streaming Service Sets Aug. 21 Launch NFL to Acquire Stake in ESPN as Part of Blockbuster Deal With Disney 'Dick's believes that sports have the power to change lives. And we've seen through our work how true that is for so many who have excelled, triumphed against the odds, and been defeated in sport. There are so many incredible and inspiring human stories that deserve to be told, and we could not be more excited to showcase how individuals, teams and communities are shaping sport, bringing people together and unifying and building communities for thousands,' said Mark Rooks, vp of Creative, Entertainment & Sponsorships at Dick's Sporting Goods. Interest in sports-themed programming around athletes at the top of their game has grown with Netflix series like Formula One: Drive to Survive and ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary series. Retailers that traditionally advertised their wares on live games now look to original scripted and unscripted series in the hope consumers may embrace new brands or products through TV content they view in the streaming era. Over the last decade, Dick's Sporting Goods has produced five feature-length movies and ten short or episodic documentaries. The first feature doc was We Could Be King, which earned an Emmy Award for outstanding sports documentary. A second Sports Emmy came with The Turnaround, a documentary about Philadelphia Phillies' superfan Jon McCann, who inspired a 2023 standing ovation for Phillies shortstop Trea Turner that turned the team's season round. Upcoming projects from Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios include Big Dreams: The Little League World Series 2024, an ESPN documentary to bow Aug. 12 and centered on the iconic American youth sporting event. The film is produced in partnership with Imagine Entertainment and MLB Studios. 'Big Dreams is a great example of the kind of projects Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios aims to produce. Being able to share big sports moments with fans is something that drives our team, and we look at the upcoming years with great excitement as we know there will be so many unforgettable stories deserving of the spotlight,' Rebecca Covington, senior director, creative production at Dick's Sporting Goods said in a statement. The name of the studio, Cookie Jar & A Dream, is inspired by the company founder Dick Stack in 1948 and aged 18-year-old borrowed $300 in savings from his grandmother's cookie jar to open a bait-and-tackle shop in Binghamton, New York. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DICK'S Sporting Goods Named Official Sporting Goods Retailer of the Texas Longhorns
DICK'S and Texas Athletics Ink Exclusive Multi-Year Sponsorship Featuring Student-Athlete NIL Opportunities PITTSBURGH, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The University of Texas at Austin Athletics and DICK'S Sporting Goods announced an exclusive multi-year brand sponsorship that names DICK'S as the "Official Sporting Goods Retailer of the Texas Longhorns." In addition to co-branding with the iconic Texas Longhorns logo in DICK'S marketing campaigns, the sponsorship includes prominent student-athlete influencer marketing activations through name, image, and likeness (NIL) collaborations, including game sponsorships across various Longhorns sports, and activations at Bevo Blvd. The agreement was secured on behalf of Texas Athletics by its multimedia rightsholder Longhorn Sports Properties, the locally-based team of Learfield – the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. "We are really excited to sponsor The University of Texas Athletics," said Mark Rooks, VP of Creative, Entertainment & Sponsorships at DICK'S Sporting Goods. "Austin is home to one of the best fan bases and some of the most elite athletes in the country. We look forward to making meaningful connections within the community, celebrating with Longhorn Nation and working with Texas' student-athletes through a multitude of different NIL opportunities." With the agreement, Longhorn student-athletes from various men's and women's sports will have an opportunity to promote the DICK'S brand through in-store appearances and unique content on various social media channels and the Longhorn Network (LHN) streaming platform. "DICK'S is the leading sporting goods store in Texas and the United States with a history of supporting collegiate merchandise programs through innovative retail concepts, best-in-class product assortments and creative national and local marketing programs," executive senior associate athletics director Drew Martin said. "Now through this sponsorship with The University of Texas, we are excited to enhance that relationship and deliver more Longhorns-branded product to our fan base locally here in Austin as well as throughout Texas and the United States." DICK'S will be featured as the game sponsor on numerous occasions for Longhorn men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball throughout the remainder of the 2024-25 athletics year and beyond. During Texas Football home games at Darrell K Royal –Texas Memorial Stadium, DICK'S will serve as the presenting sponsor of Hook 'Em Herd, a pre-game experience which gives kids the chance to run the length of Campbell-Williams Field in front of more than 100,000 Longhorn fans before kickoff, inspiring younger generations to dream about how sports can change their lives. On Texas Football gamedays, on-site activations will allow DICK'S to connect with students and fans alike on the famed Bevo Blvd. In the offseason, DICK'S will serve as the presenting sponsor of the Texas Football Coaches' Clinics for high school coaches across the state. "We're thrilled to announce DICK'S Sporting Goods as our Official Sporting Goods Retailer," said Lucas Motta, Vice President & General Manager of Longhorn Sports Properties. "DICK'S vision around showcasing the power of sports through a year-round approach across our multimedia platforms is a model on how to maximize a sponsorship at Texas." Longhorn Sports Properties does not represent the student-athletes themselves but collaborates with corporate sponsors to maximize agreements with the inclusion of student-athlete influencer marketing and the integration of university marks and logos within those campaigns. About DICK'S Sporting Goods DICK'S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) creates confidence and excitement by inspiring, supporting and personally equipping all athletes to achieve their dreams. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, the leading omnichannel retailer serves athletes and outdoor enthusiasts in more than 850 DICK'S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Public Lands, Going Going Gone! and Warehouse Sale stores, online, and through the DICK'S mobile app. DICK'S also owns and operates DICK'S House of Sport and Golf Galaxy Performance Center, as well as GameChanger, a youth sports mobile platform for live streaming, scheduling, communications and scorekeeping. Driven by its belief that sports have the power to change lives, DICK'S has been a longtime champion for youth sports and, together with its Foundation, has donated millions of dollars to support under-resourced teams and athletes through the Sports Matter program and other community-based initiatives. Additional information about DICK'S business, corporate giving, sustainability efforts and employment opportunities can be found on and on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. About The University of Texas AthleticsDuring the past five years, Texas Athletics has won 12 national championships and 54 conference titles. The program has also undergone a comprehensive facilities renovation touching all 21 sports, the largest in the history of college athletics, and a reimagined football gameday experience. During this time, Texas has won three of the last four Learfield Directors' Cup titles, an annual award given to the nation's top-performing athletics department. Texas Athletics is one of the few athletics programs in the country that is self-sustaining, generating $7 million annually for the University's academic enterprises. The program does not use state funding. Texas is a proud member of the Southeastern Conference. About Learfield Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand sponsors, Learfield's presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions. Media ContactDICK'S Sporting Goods – press@ Category: Company View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE DICK'S Sporting Goods Sign in to access your portfolio
