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Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs Bring Professional Soccer Team To San Francisco

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SAN FRANCISCO, (FNN NEWS) — A group of entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley and Brazil announced today a new professional soccer team will be coming to San Francisco. The new team, named the San Francisco Deltas, the city’s only professional club, will begin play in February 2017.

The San Francisco soccer startup is led by Colombian-born entrepreneur, Brian Andrés Helmick.

“Today is a great day for Bay Area soccer and sports fans alike,” said Brian Andrés Helmick, SF Deltas CEO. “This game — soccer, fútbol, football — is one that unites us all, crossing all boundaries whether geographical, religious or socio-economic. Now fans of the world’s largest sport will have an opportunity to experience it played at the highest level right here in the heart of the City.”

The team is funded by a diverse group of investors who have helped build companies like Apple, Facebook, Google, PayPal, Twitter and Yahoo. The investor group also includes individuals from venture capital firms including Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Felicis and Precursor. Finally, the investor group counts on entrepreneurs from Brazil who bring their expertise from the country with the most World Cup wins and the birthplace of some of the greatest players of all time.

“Timing is everything and current awareness of global soccer teams and players by Americans is at its peak,” said Emily Melton, Deltas investor and Partner at venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson. “The trend of average stadium attendance for pro soccer is not only outpacing, but in some cases surpassing that of the NBA and NHL.”

Given its tech savvy fan-base, the startup plans on leveraging technology to enhance fan and player experiences, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ticketing and Virtual Reality.

“This opportunity is at the intersection of the technology capital of the world and the biggest sport in the world,” said Charles Hudson, Deltas investor and Managing Partner at Precursor Ventures. “Whether it’s VR, AI Ticketing, or wearables, Deltas fans will experience a well-integrated level of participatory engagement that will bring them into the action.”

The name ‘Deltas’ captures the spirit of the franchise squarely rooted in the San Francisco Bay Area that is known for change and innovation. The logo is a triangle and symbol for delta which means change. The logo incorporates the “S” and “F” of “San Francisco”.

The team intends to join the North American Soccer League (NASL), an alternate league to Major League Soccer (MLS), and will compete in the U.S. Open Cup and will host friendly matches, including a pre-season match against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Home matches will be played at Kezar Stadium, formerly home of the San Francisco 49ers, when they were in their startup phase. The greatest soccer player of all time Pelé even played in the stadium located in Golden Gate Park.

Deltas fans can now reserve their inaugural season tickets at sfdeltas.com and become Founding Season Ticket Members for an initial deposit of $50 per person. The stadium only has capacity for approximately 10,000 fans, so the inaugural season is expected to be sold out. Accessibility is a priority for the Deltas, so 3,000 Discounted Tickets for $20 or less will be available, subject to first come, first serve. The team is currently running a season ticket referral program offering fans an opportunity to win up to a lifetime of season tickets.

“We are fans who feel blessed to be in a position to be running a soccer team and wanted to do something special,” said Brian Andrés Helmick, SF Deltas CEO. “The person who refers the most people to buy season tickets will win lifetime season tickets and will be assigned Founding Season Ticket Holder #1. In short, we are searching for our #1 fan.” People can also win 5-year and 1-year season tickets.

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Central Florida News

Orlando Magic Earn NBA Team International Strategy Award for Second Consecutive Year

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Orlando Magic Add Veteran NBA Coaches, Player Development Leaders to Sean Sweeney's Coaching Staff

NEW YORK (FNN SPORTS) — The Orlando Magic have been named the recipient of the NBA Team International Strategy Award for the second consecutive year, recognizing the organization’s innovative global marketing efforts as part of the NBA’s 2025-26 Team Partnership and Ticket Sales & Service Awards.

The award honors NBA teams that develop data-driven international marketing strategies that strengthen brand recognition, create meaningful partnerships and expand fan engagement outside the United States.

Germany Strategy Drives Award-Winning Campaign

Building on last year’s success, the Magic expanded their presence in Germany through a year-long strategy surrounding The NBA Berlin Game 2026.

Rather than focusing solely on the international exhibition, Orlando created a comprehensive campaign that included:

  • A summer promotional tour across Germany
  • Magic Kiez, an immersive fan experience hub
  • Youth basketball clinics
  • Business networking summits
  • Community watch parties
  • Interactive fan activations
  • Corporate partnership events

The organization said the strategy helped establish a sustained presence before, during and after the Berlin game while strengthening relationships with German basketball fans and business leaders.

New International Partnerships

The campaign also expanded the Magic’s International Team Marketing Program (ITMP) through collaborations with several new international and global partners, including:

  • AIDA Cruises
  • Domino’s
  • Kellogg’s
  • Telekom
  • ThreatLocker
  • Visit Orlando

The partnerships supported both fan engagement initiatives and business development opportunities throughout Germany.

NBA Recognizes Innovation Across the League

The NBA’s annual Team Partnership and Ticket Sales & Service Awards celebrate organizations that demonstrate excellence in fan engagement, sponsorship activation, innovation, community impact and ticket sales.

This year’s major award winners included:

AwardWinner
International Strategy AwardOrlando Magic
Partnership of the YearCleveland Cavaliers
Partnership Innovation AwardLA Clippers
Social Impact & Inclusion AwardPhiladelphia 76ers
New Sales CampaignDetroit Pistons
Membership Program of the YearCharlotte Hornets
Premium Experience of the YearCleveland Cavaliers

The Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans also received recognition through the NBA’s AI Studio program for innovative applications of artificial intelligence to improve fan experiences.

NBA Executive Applauds Team Innovation

Jonathan Tillman, the NBA’s Executive Vice President and Head of Team Marketing and Business Operations, praised the league’s clubs for continuing to innovate.

“The innovation, creativity and strategic thinking NBA teams demonstrate every day continue to raise the bar for the sports industry while creating deeper connections with fans in their communities and around the world,” Tillman said.

He added that NBA teams are finding new ways to grow their businesses through strategic partnerships, artificial intelligence, ticket sales innovations and community engagement.

Selection Process

All 30 NBA franchises were invited to submit entries for the Team Partnership and Ticket Sales & Service Awards.

Winners were selected by a committee of NBA league and team executives based on creativity, measurable business results and overall impact.

For the second consecutive season, the Orlando Magic’s international strategy stood out among the league’s entries, highlighting the franchise’s continued commitment to expanding its global brand while strengthening relationships with fans and partners overseas.

Award Highlights

  • Orlando Magic won the NBA Team International Strategy Award for the second straight year.
  • The award recognized the franchise’s comprehensive marketing strategy surrounding The NBA Berlin Game 2026.
  • The campaign featured fan engagement, youth clinics, business summits and year-round activations across Germany.
  • New international partners included AIDA Cruises, Domino’s, Kellogg’s, Telekom, ThreatLocker and Visit Orlando.
  • All 30 NBA teams were eligible, with winners selected by NBA and team executives.

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Central Florida News

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Announce Training Camp Roster Moves Ahead of 53-Man Cutdown

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TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced a series of roster moves Tuesday as the team continues preparations for the 2026 NFL season.

The Buccaneers waived safety Ja’Qurious Conley with a non-football injury designation.

In addition, Tampa Bay placed cornerback Chase Lucas and defensive lineman Haggai Ndubuisi on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List.

Players placed on the Active/PUP List count toward the club’s 90-player offseason roster and remain eligible to return to practice at any point before the NFL’s deadline to reduce rosters to the regular-season 53-player limit.

The moves come as the Buccaneers continue evaluating their roster during training camp in preparation for the upcoming preseason schedule and the start of the regular season.

What the Moves Mean

A player waived with a non-football injury (NFI) designation has sustained an injury or medical condition that did not occur during NFL football activities. If Conley clears waivers, the Buccaneers’ next steps will depend on league rules and his injury status.

The Active/PUP List is reserved for players who are unable to practice because of football-related injuries at the start of training camp. While on the Active/PUP List, Lucas and Ndubuisi may participate in team meetings and receive medical treatment, and they can be activated at any time before the team’s final roster reduction.

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Jaguars Place Two Offensive Linemen on Active/PUP List Ahead of Training Camp

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Jacksonville Jaguars announced Sunday that offensive linemen Garrett DiGiorgio and Cole Van Lanen have been placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as the team continues preparations for training camp.

Players on the Active/PUP list count against the 90-man offseason roster but are unable to participate in practice until they are medically cleared. Once cleared, they may return to practice at any time during training camp.

The Jaguars did not disclose the nature of the injuries or provide a timetable for either player’s return.

DiGiorgio and Van Lanen are among the offensive line depth pieces competing for roster spots as Jacksonville prepares for the 2026 NFL season. Their availability during training camp could impact competition along the offensive front as coaches evaluate the roster ahead of preseason play.

The Jaguars continue training camp preparations with veterans and rookies working toward the start of the 2026 season.

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