Latest news with #TailgateTour
Business Wire
07-08-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Athletes First and Sinclair/AMP Sports Join Forces
NEW YORK & BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Athletes First, a premier sports representation and marketing agency, and Sinclair, a diversified media company and leader in local news and sports, today announced a landmark events and media partnership. This new collaboration will unite Athletes First's best-in-class events and world-renowned talent with the top-tier sports properties and vast national audience of Sinclair and AMP Sports, Sinclair's growing portfolio of digital content and original podcasts. As part of the agreement, Sinclair will serve as the exclusive sports media partner for two of Athletes First's signature live events, including: Athletes First presents The Block – An exclusive hospitality and brand activation destination that drew widespread attention and acclaim in New Orleans ahead of the Big Game this past February, redefining the standard for pre-game experiences. Athletes First Tailgate Tour – The agency's traveling college football experience, now entering its third season, which brings hospitality, client interaction, and brand integration to major rivalry games across the country. Sinclair will produce original content and brand activations at the next iteration of The Block —scheduled for San Francisco in February—and host live, original video podcasts from multiple stops on the Tailgate Tour. In addition, event content will be distributed across Sinclair's sports platforms, maximizing exposure and engagement. The media partnership also includes the development of original video podcasts for both national and regional audiences, spotlighting Athletes First's elite roster of athletes. Playbook REPS played a key role in facilitating the agreement between Athletes First and Sinclair. 'This partnership with Sinclair is a major step forward in how we amplify the impact of our events and our athlete clients,' said Matt Shulman, Head of Properties at Athletes First. 'By combining our curated live events and world-class roster with Sinclair's powerful media reach, we're creating new ways to engage fans, elevating and enhancing storytelling opportunities, and delivering unparalleled value for our brand partners.' 'Athletes First is a premier sports agency and has set the bar for athlete-driven activation experiences within college and professional football,' said Eric Welles, SVP, Chief Digital Monetization Officer, Sinclair. 'With A1's elite roster of talent coupled with AMP Sports' own collection of talent and original shows, as well as our massive media footprint, this partnership is a perfect fit. We are excited to further enhance our strategy to create high-impact, fan-first, 360-degree content with Athletes First across broadcast, digital, social, audio, and live environments, while giving brands new ways to engage with passionate fans and the biggest tentpole moments in sports.' Earlier this year, The Block debuted in New Orleans with a 100,000-square-foot footprint just steps from the Caesars Superdome. Spanning four interconnected mansions and a grand courtyard, the event featured luxury hospitality, brand activations, private content studios, exclusive partner programming, an athlete performance center, and appearances by athletes, celebrities, and influencers. In Fall 2024, the Athletes First Tailgate Tour visited 10 of college football's most iconic games. Guests experienced premium hospitality and met stars and Athletes First clients such as Jamaal Charles (Texas), Sony Michel (Georgia), Pat Freiermuth (Penn State), and Kyle Rudolph (Notre Dame). About Athletes First: Athletes First is the premier sports representation and marketing agency, guiding the careers of elite athletes, coaches, executives, and broadcasters. Since 2001, Athletes First has built a reputation for integrity, innovation, and impact across contract negotiations, marketing strategy, endorsement sales, and brand partnerships. The agency also produces dynamic live events and multiplatform content through its Emmy-nominated production division, GOAT Farm Media. For more information, visit or follow us on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. About Sinclair: Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 178 television stations in 81 markets affiliated with all major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel, the premium destination for tennis enthusiasts; multicast networks CHARGE, Comet, ROAR and The Nest; and the nation's largest streaming aggregator of local news content, NewsON. Sinclair's AMP Media produces a growing portfolio of digital content and original podcasts. Additional information about Sinclair can be found at Category: General
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
19th edition of Iowa State Cyclone Tailgate Tour visits Sioux City
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — The Cyclone Tailgate Tour celebrated its 19th annual trip around the Hawkeye State, making a stop in Okoboji on Thursday night and the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City on Friday afternoon. It gave coaches and well-known Cyclones a chance to connect with Siouxland fans. Sioux City was the ninth stop for the tour, which started on May 19 in Ankeny. Making the trip from Okoboji last night, the Cyclones' caravan featured a handful of coaches, such as Matt Campbell of ISU Football and men's basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger alongside Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard. Providing an opportunity to connect to the fan base not only provides excitement for Cyclone fans in Siouxland, but also the coaches making the trip to the '712'. Story continues below Top Story: Sioux City pools to open just in time for summer vacation Lights & Sirens: Sioux City Police Dept. takes wanted suspect into custody Sports: Local Iowa high school state track and field results Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here 'It's really amazing to see. Just the crowds just continue to double. I've been doing this eight years now. I've been on the tailgate tour for eight years, and I can literally say that it probably has doubled just about everywhere we went in that period of time,' explained Iowa State Wrestling Head Coach Kevin Dresser. 'We're really fortunate for the support that we have here and see so many great fans have already come into the building. The energy and excitement is really high,' Otzelberger mentioned. 'It's been great. We had a phenomenal crowd in Okoboji last night. The western and northwestern part of the state has been really good as the Cyclones,' added Iowa State Men's Basketball Head Coach Bill Fennelly. 'The events have grown and changed so much in my time, and to see, you know, where we started almost 20 years ago to where we are now with the events and the interest and the crowds and the kids coming out, and you know, just the excitement,' said Iowa State Volleyball Head Coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. 'It's been really fun to see that evolution, and every year seems to get a little bit bigger, a little bit better.' The tour wraps up Friday night in Council Bluffs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cyclone Tailgate Tour schedules stop in Sioux City
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — A tailgating event is coming to Sioux City this May. The Cyclone Tailgate Tour, spanning from May 19 to May 23, is making a stop in Sioux City. The tour kicks off in Ankeny and ends in Council Bluffs. Sioux City is the second-to-last location, and the event will be on Friday, May 23, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tyson Events Center. Story continues below Top Story: Unofficial results: Voters say 'no' to South Sioux City school bond Lights & Sirens: Sioux City firefighter taken to hospital following Mayday call during Morningside fire Sports: #7 South Sioux City boys soccer upsets #2 Millard North 2-1 in NSAA Class A State Quarterfinals 'This is a tremendous opportunity for our staff to engage with Cyclone fans across the state,' Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. 'We are so grateful for our loyal fans who travel to Ames for all of our events, and the Tailgate Tour affords us the opportunity to return the favor and visit them in their home areas.' The tailgate tour is free and welcomes fans of all ages. Event-goers will have a chance to meet Iowa State coaches, administrators, and other guests. Plus, kids will get a free gift for attending. If you're looking to spend some money, lunch will be available to purchase along with Cyclone merchandise. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 Cyclone Tailgate Tour schedule revealed, featuring stops in Sioux City and Okoboji
AMES, Iowa (KCAU) – The 2025 Cyclone Tailgate Tour schedule has been revealed, featuring stops in Sioux City and Okoboji. The 19th annual trip around the state features ten stops this season, beginning in Ankeny on May 19th and ending in Council Bluffs on May 23rd. Below is the full schedule:May 19 – Ankeny, Toast (Noon – 1 p.m.) May 19 – Davenport, Rhythm City Casino Resort (5:30 – 7:30 p.m.) May 20 – Dubuque, Grand River Center (Noon – 1 p.m.) May 20 – Cedar Rapids, Veterans Memorial Building – Coliseum (5:30 – 7:30 p.m.) May 21 – Waterloo, SingleSpeed Brewing Co. (Noon – 1 p.m.) May 21 – Clear Lake, Surf Ballroom (5:30 – 7:30 p.m.) May 22 – Humboldt, 716 Main (Noon – 1 p.m.) May 22 – Okoboji, The Roof Garden Ballroom at Arnolds Park (5:30 – 7:30 p.m.) May 23 – Sioux City, Tyson Events Center (Noon – 1 p.m.) May 23 – Council Bluffs, Mid-America Center – Convention Center (6-8 p.m.) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Healthy, Healed Van Ness Hoping For Breakout Season With Packers
Green Bay Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness (90) celebrates after sacking Tennessee's Will Levis ... More last season. Lukas Van Ness isn't into excuses. Only realities. And the cold hard truth is Van Ness — the Green Bay Packers' first round draft pick in 2023 — was severely hampered by the broken right thumb he played with last season. Many expected Van Ness to take a major jump in 2024. Instead, the defensive end had three sacks, six quarterback hits and six tackles for loss in Year 2 after posting four sacks, 10 quarterback hits and eight tackles for loss as a rookie. That mediocre production has led many to speculate that Van Ness is on the 'Hot Seat' in 2025. Time will tell there. What the 23-year-old Van Ness knows is that he's healthy today. He didn't need offseason surgery. Just rest and physical therapy. And now that Van Ness is fully recovered, he's giddy about what awaits. 'Physically I feel fantastic,' Van Ness said Wednesday during the Packers' annual Tailgate Tour across Wisconsin. 'I was dealing with the thumb a lot last year, so I was able to get that back in the offseason and I'm feeling great. I can't wait for this season.' To protect his broken thumb last year, Van Ness lined up almost exclusively on the right side. That meant Van Ness worked against strictly left tackles, who are typically the best pass blockers on the offensive line. This season, Van Ness should be able to flip-flop spots with fellow defensive end Rashan Gary throughout a game and could draw more favorable matchups. 'I was really limited last year,' said Van Ness, the 13th overall pick in 2023. 'I could only play on the right side for the most part, due to this broken thumb. Now I can flip back and play on both sides of the defensive line, which I'm really excited about.' There remains a lot to be excited about when it comes to Van Ness, a physical marvel nicknamed 'Hercules.' Van Ness ran the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds coming out of Iowa at the 2023 NFL Combine. He had the largest hands (11 inches) in the defensive line group that year. His arms are an impressive 34 inches long. And he won't turn 24 until later this summer. Things have been challenging in Green Bay, though. Van Ness was a standup outside linebacker as a rookie in 2023, after playing with his hand on the ground at Iowa. The Packers switched from a 3-4 front to a 4-3 base last year, though, meaning Van Ness went back to playing as a traditional defensive end. Then, the thumb injury added a new set of challenges. There's no doubt, though, that the Packers needed more from Van Ness in 2024, meaning 2025 becomes a critical year in his development. 'It's important for all our guys, including Lukas,' Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said at this year's NFL Combine. 'Again, we talked a little bit about we need to affect the quarterback more in our front four, with just four players, and Lukas is a big part of that. He does everything he can. He's everything you want in a professional as far as his work ethic and what he puts into it, and I expect him to take a big jump this year.' Green Bay holds the 23rd pick in the first round of this year's draft. And the Packers could certainly take another defensive lineman, a position where they lack depth. No matter what happens, Van Ness believes he's ready for bigger and better things. As seven current and former Packer players spoke to a group college students at Waukesha County Technical College as part of their annual tour Wednesday, team president Mark Murphy talked about the toughness Van Ness has displayed and called him a 'great player.' Van Ness is excited to try proving Murphy right this upcoming season. And if that happens, Green Bay's defense — which ranked sixth overall and sixth in points allowed last season — could take another step forward. 'My expectations are always going to be higher for myself than anybody else and I've naturally always been that way,' Van Ness said. 'I'm hard on myself, but that ultimately is what pushes me and drives me to be a great player. So, my mindset isn't going to change. I've still got to come to work, compete for my job, compete for a starting spot and I'm excited to do that this upcoming year.'
