Major League Baseball and Sportradar Announce Expanded, Exclusive Partnership Through 2032

Core Insights - Major League Baseball (MLB) and Sportradar Group AG have announced a long-term extension and expansion of their partnership, starting in the 2025 season, aimed at maximizing MLB's data and audiovisual content while promoting baseball globally [1][2] Company Overview - MLB is the oldest professional sports league in the U.S., consisting of 30 clubs, and has seen a +11% increase in attendance over the last two seasons, with 80% of clubs reporting higher fan attendance [6] - Sportradar, founded in 2001, is a leading global sports technology company that provides solutions for sports federations, media, and betting operators, covering nearly a million events annually across major sports [7] Partnership Details - Under the new agreement, Sportradar will exclusively distribute MLB's ultra-low latency official data and media content to its global network of 800 sportsbook clients and 900 media companies [2][3] - MLB has acquired an equity stake in Sportradar, further solidifying their partnership and supporting future growth opportunities [1][4] Integrity and Innovation - Sportradar will continue to provide integrity services, including its Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS), to monitor global betting activity and support MLB with investigative and educational resources [3] - The partnership will also focus on creating AI-driven products using player tracking data to enhance fan experiences [3][5] Financial Aspects - Sportradar will pay annual license fees to MLB and issue up to 1,855,724 Class A ordinary shares during the term of the agreement [4] - The deal is expected to be immediately accretive to Sportradar's business, driving value for shareholders and expanding margins [5]