MV TELEGRAPH

Team Piancastelli’s Haylie McCleney # 28 celebrates with her teammates after beating Team Ocasio on the final weekend of the Athletes Unlimited softball league at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex on September 28, 2020 in Rosemont, Illinois.

Quinn Harris | Getty Images

Jon Patricof, co-founder of Athletes Unlimited (AU), told CNBC this week that Hyperice and Gatorade will be sponsoring their volleyball season, which begins February 27 in Dallas, Texas.

Athletes Unlimited is a sports company that establishes and operates women’s sports leagues. CNBC recently spoke to Patricof about the league’s new sponsors and the future of Athletes Unlimited.

Patricof said AU’s model, which focuses on women’s sports like volleyball, has gained momentum after its softball season that kicked off last August. Brand partners get more access to a unique fan base outside of traditional sport and access to global markets through AU’s media distribution agreements.

“We will be able to offer partners sports opportunities in different regions all year round,” Patricof said in an interview with CNBC on Wednesday. “And this is how we will scale. And for a partner like Gatorade, who is so leading in the world of sports marketing, it is another great signal for a certain dynamic to come on board as well.”

Patricof founded AU in 2019 with Jonathan Soros, CEO of the investment firm JS Capital Management and son of billionaire George Soros. The company has top athletes on its advisory board, including Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant and US women’s football icon Abby Wambach.

AU operates a professional softball, volleyball and soon a lacrosse league. Athletes earn a base salary and bonuses based on their team’s success and a points system. At the end of each season, the leading player will receive the highest money from a prize pool.

For the softball season, AU’s stated that 57 players who also shared a $ 300,000 pool had paid out a $ 1 million salary. The champion, Cat Osterman, a former University of Texas softball star, took home just over $ 35,000 (including base salary and bonuses).

The players are not committed to one team, but change teams every week in a season. Drafts are kept on Facebook. Patricof said the AU model allows players to profile for possible branding opportunities. AU’s model is designed so that fans can follow players rather than teams during a season.

“We want to model the success of leagues like the NBA with the ability to improve player profiles and personalities,” said Patricof, former president of NYCFC’s Major League Soccer organization. “I think that is becoming more and more important for the fans.”

Does the model work?

Patricof added that players will receive royal compensation if the league is successful. Women participating in a league receive a 20-year pact to share AU profits based on cost and expenditure. According to Patricof, AU offers players health benefits and covers the costs of accommodation, transport and food.

Although Patricof sees an “upside” opportunity in AU’s business model, start-up sports leagues often struggle to make sustained profits and typically have significant cash flow problems.

Smaller sports companies, including the Alliance of American Football, the Arena Football League, and the beach volleyball-powered AVP League, have had financial problems in the past, including multiple bankruptcies.

Patricof confirmed that AU will not make a profit during its 2020 softball season. He would not discuss Soros’ financial support and declined to provide other key metrics such as subscriptions to the “Unlimited Club” ($ 19.99) that give consumers additional access and virtual engagement for players and teams.

He defended AU’s business model by noting that the company is cost effective as it avoids expensive investments that often hurt start-up sports leagues. These expenses include stadium rentals, large rosters (payroll), and constant travel throughout a season.

AU leagues play in one place. Chicago will host softball again in 2021, and the lacrosse league will most likely be in a mid-Atlantic area.

“We have built a very rational and sustainable cost structure, which in my opinion was the biggest failure of AAF and XFL,” said Patricof.

Alyssa Naeher # 1 of Chicago Red Stars hits a loose ball during an NWSL soccer game between the Chicago Red Stars and the Orlando Pride at Orlando City Stadium on September 11, 2019 in Orlando, Florida.

Alex Menendez | Getty Images Sports | Getty Images

Show optimism

AU volleyball league has a media agreement with CBS Sports Network and Fox Sports. Eight games will be shown on social media platforms including YouTube, Twitter and Twitch. The softball season had Disney-owned properties ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPNU as media partners. The media deals are usually structured as one-year contracts.

A sports banker who spoke to CNBC on condition of anonymity said the network agreements are most likely to be shared-revenue agreements with AU. This means that networks offer free airtime in exchange for a breakdown of advertising profits. The bet here is that if the leagues should grow, AU can increase audience numbers to get more favorable terms with partners.

Patricof declined to discuss viewership, but said an independent auditor had set AU’s media value for its softball league at $ 25.9 million. The company did not provide the auditor’s name.

“It’s not the value of the commercial,” said Patricof. “It’s the value of integrated marketing, signage and everything else we’ve done on social media.”

He used the Olympics and the NCAA as models that AU can emulate with its own company, particularly in relation to storytelling. AU wants the content around women to help build audiences.

“Every four years when the Olympics are held, people are intrigued by the personal stories and NBC Sports tells the stories about the players in amazing ways,” said Patricof. “That’s an essential part of what we want to do at Athletes Unlimited.”

Despite the challenges ahead, AU remains optimistic about women’s sports leagues.

Patricof said that free play games around his softball league through DraftKings have piqued interest in AU. He also used the announcement of Chelsea Clinton and Jenna Bush Hager’s investment in the National Women’s Soccer League on Wednesday as a sign of positive growth in the women’s leagues.

Patricof said he was more optimistic about AU’s future than in 2019 when he built the model with Soros.

“You keep working on innovations,” said Patricof. “They continue to question the status quo and keep looking for opportunities where other people don’t see them.” The momentum is strong, “he continued.” I think this is a good time to get into professional sport for women to become. “”

A group of islands in the northernmost region of the Philippines is so far away that it is actually closer to Taiwan than most parts of the Philippines.

The islands are 100 miles north of Luzon, the largest and most populous island in the country and home to the capital, Manila. However, you couldn’t be further from the stereotypical tropical scene of swaying palm trees and white sand beaches associated with the Philippine archipelago.

Imagine windswept emerald hills dotted with cattle, quaint stone towns with flower-lined paths, rugged cliffs plunging into a deep sea of ​​crashing white-tipped waves, and lighthouses steadfast and strong, much like that Locals themselves.

This is Batanes – a fascinating and magical place that feels more like the historical drama “Outlander” than “The Beach”.

Pastoral landscapes, peaceful people

Batanes is made up of three main islands – Batan, Sabtang, and Itbayat – that lie between the North Pacific and the South China Seas. Often times, Batanes is hit by implacable typhoons that form on both waters.

It is also located on the Circum-Pacific Belt, better known as the Ring of Fire, and is prone to the frequent earthquakes that damaged Itbayat Island in July 2019.

The pastoral landscape of Naidi Hills near the Basco Lighthouse.

Scott A. Woodward

Here the land is forged by the elements and, in many ways, by the people too.

There is a mysterious atmosphere that shrouds the indigenous people of Batanes, the Ivatans. Due to their isolation, challenging climate and difficult landscape, the locals have built a society that values ​​trust and real connection.

In contrast to the exuberant and charmingly chaotic landscapes of the Philippines, which feel more like karaoke than an idyllic paradise, Batanes and its residents are calm, thoughtful, orderly and peaceful. The Ivatans are warm and sincere and strive to be honest with visitors who want to learn more about their culture.

A fisherman in the village of Diura.

Scott A. Woodward

The Ivatans live in symbiosis with nature and maintain their natural heritage with an almost spiritual passion. They recognize the country as a source of their wellbeing and wellbeing and are committed to sustainability.

The best example would be the lack of markets in the province; Agricultural practices aim to produce just enough food for the population, with very little excess.

Here Christian faith and spirituality permeate everyday life. The word “Dius” or God is used in many expressions: “Dius mamajes!” – or God will repay you, is their way of saying thank you; “Dius machivan!” – May God go with you, is their parting; or just “Dius?” asking if anyone is home. There the visitors often hear “Dius mavidin!” or may God be with you, they greet guests.

Where to sleep

Unlike most of the Philippines, Batanes is sparsely populated.

The 2015 census counted only 17,246 people, which is roughly 205 people per mile.

Strict measures are being taken to prevent overtourism, such as limiting the number of flights to the islands. The area is also subject to the Batanes Responsible Tourism Act, according to which the Philippine government declared the province a “Responsible, Community-Based Cultural Heritage and Ecotourism Zone” in 2016.

As a result, travelers can expect to find host families and small inns rather than branded hotels.

The Bed & Breakfast Fundacion Pacita.

Scott A. Woodward

One facility really stands out.

Fundacion Pacita, the former residence of the late artist Pacita Abad, is a charming bed and breakfast on a lush grass slope overlooking the sea.

Built in traditional stone fashion paired with whitewashed adobe walls, it’s quirky decorated with brightly colored tiles, repurposed furniture, and Abad’s vibrant artwork.

Food from the Cafe du Tukon; Patsy, the niece of the late artist Pacita Abad.

Scott A. Woodward

Her niece Patsy, who often walks through the premises with a happy smile and a glass of wine, now runs the inn. She recently opened the fabulous Café du Tukon, which serves delicious contemporary interpretations of local delicacies like carbonara pasta with salted dolphin fish called arayu instead of bacon or guanciale.

What should I do

Batan is the main island of Batanes. Due to the choppy water and unpredictable weather, it can be difficult to cross the Batanes Islands. Fortunately, Batan has a lot to offer and is easy to get to via commercial flights.

It is imperative to work with an accredited travel agency such as IBS Tours and Travels before organizing any trip. The agency can coordinate a car and guide to navigate the stunning coastal road that circles the island.

The Tayid Lighthouse on Batan Island.

Scott A. Woodward

Agencies can also arrange stops at notable locations like the famous Basco Lighthouse and Tayid Lighthouse, the sloping hills of Rakuh a Payaman, and the colorful waters of the Homoron Blue Lagoon.

It’s also worth stopping at small, peaceful towns like Mahatao and Ivana, known for their churches and Spanish bridges, as well as Diura, home of the Mataw caste of mystical fishermen.

A woman in Chavayan wears a hand-sewn palm frond vakul.

Scott A. Woodward

If the weather is nice, Sabtang Island can be reached by a 40-minute ferry ride. The breathtaking views from the cliffs of Chamantad Tiñan are well worth it, as is the stone village of Chavayan, where vakul are made. These are traditional headgear made from stripped palm fronds that protect field workers from the elements.

Arrival to Batanes

The only real way to get there is by flying. Flights can take anywhere from 80 to 100 minutes and can be booked with Skyjet, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines before the pandemic.

Homoron Blue Lagoon.

Scott A. Woodward

A trip to Batanes must be planned in advance and booked through accredited tour operators. The local government is very focused on sustainable tourism and the preservation of the province’s natural and cultural heritage. There are a number of rules and guidelines – such as no bikinis on the beach – that tourists must understand and adhere to while traveling.

When should i go

While the Philippines is currently closed to international tourism, officials last month expressed an interest in establishing “international travel bubbles” or travel corridors with strict health protocols with neighboring countries.

Basco lighthouse.

Scott A. Woodward

Batanes, which registered its third Covid-19 case in December 2020, is currently even closed to local tourists. Local authorities are looking for ways to safely reopen with 14-day quarantines and meet other health requirements.

Batanes’ “good season” runs from November to May. June to October is typhoon time and should be avoided. Travelers are advised to bring a light rain jacket for spontaneous downpours and a light sweater for cool nights on the cool mountain tops.

The residents line up in their vehicles to enter a thermal center and shelter after record-breaking winter temperatures. As reported by local media, most Galveston, Texas residents will be without power on February 17, 2021.

Adrees Latif | Reuters

The Texas blackout, which left millions struggling with no power in freezing conditions, sparked a feud between Democrats and the GOP over decades of Republicans’ control of the energy industry and calls for a system that is more resilient to extreme weather conditions.

Texas avoided federal regulation by building its own power grid, almost cut off from the rest of the country – an isolated system long lauded by conservatives in power.

But the system collapsed this week due to a surge in energy demands associated with frozen utilities during a brutal winter storm that then raised energy prices and triggered the state’s worst blackouts in decades.

Former MP Beto O’Rourke, D-TX, accused Texas Republican leaders of prioritizing “stupid culture wars”, such as efforts to make Texas a “protective state,” rather than protecting residents from extreme weather events have been made worse by climate change.

“So much of it was preventable,” O’Rourke said in an interview with MSNBC this week. “Back to the deregulation of our power grid in Texas, which has created an incentive not to actually weather or protect against these events.”

“The energy capital of North America cannot provide enough energy to heat and power people’s homes,” O’Rourke continued. “We are approaching a failed state in Texas. And it has nothing to do with God or natural disasters. It has everything to do with those in positions of public trust who have failed us.”

Fifty-nine-year-old David Mudge wipes a tear off after record-breaking winter temperatures in Galveston, Texas on February 18, 2021 while seeking refuge at a shelter.

Adrees Latif | Reuters

The outages led to widespread public criticism of lawmakers and government agencies for apparently ignoring warnings about the network’s inability to deal with extreme weather conditions. Energy experts said the collapse was partly due to the state’s decision not to require equipment upgrades for a more resilient system.

House spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she expected the House of Representatives’ energy and trade committee to investigate energy issues in Texas.

Jennifer Granholm, President Joe Biden’s candidate for energy minister, said the US had to upgrade its grid infrastructure as soon as possible. “One thing is certain: America’s power grid is simply unable to handle extreme weather events,” she wrote in a tweet on Wednesday.

Although the GOP has overseen the state’s energy sector for decades, Republican Governor Greg Abbott, along with other Conservative heads of state, has mistakenly attributed the outages to renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which make up only a small fraction of the state’s energy.

Abbott alleged in a Fox news interview earlier this week that reliance on wind and solar power “put Texas in a nationwide power shortage situation,” an argument his own energy department contradicted.

Continue reading:
Blackouts in Texas show how vulnerable the power grid is to climate change
How the grid failed and what could stop it from happening again
Outages in Texas have impacted water supplies as thousands struggle without electricity for a fourth day

Julian Castro, a former mayor of San Antonio, Texas, tweeted, “Governor Abbott did not prepare for this storm, was too slow to react, and is now blaming everyone but himself for the mess.”

“He’s neglected the state’s outdated and deregulated power grid,” said Castro, who also served as secretary for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Rick Perry, former Texas Governor and Secretary of Energy for the Trump administration, said Wednesday that Texans would prefer to endure even longer outages “to keep the federal government out of its business” and prevent Democrats from regulating the Implement the fight against climate change.

However, the vast majority of outages this week were due to issues with limited natural gas production and frozen supplies from natural gas, coal and nuclear power plants – not solar and wind outages.

Empty shelves in the meat aisle at a grocery store in McKinney, Texas, the United States, on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.

Cooper Neill | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Although the sun and wind went offline because frozen leaves made wind turbines inoperable, these technologies only make up a small fraction of Texas’s electricity. The state has ramped up wind power in recent years, but only relies on wind for 25% of its electricity generation, according to the Texas Electric Reliability Council.

Texas Republican lawmakers, who poked fun at Democratic-led blackouts during California’s extreme heatwaves, were also criticized this week after the power grid collapse resulted in blackouts in their home state.

Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in August accused Biden and Kamala Harris, who were running for president and vice president at the time, of trying to make California’s “failed energy policy the national standard.”

Photos on Thursday’s social media reportedly showed Cruz flew to Mexico despite millions of Texans still without heat in historically low temperatures.

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Wrote in a tweet this week that the problems with the Texas power grid should be a message to lawmakers to watch their words in emergencies.

“I hope this will teach Texan politicians not to immerse themselves in other states when they are going through disasters,” wrote Gallego. “All Americans deserve help and empathy from other Americans, regardless of whether it is a blue or a red state.”