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BOCA RATON, FLORIDA (January 7, 2021) – Industry veterans Neil Schwartz and Mark Sullivan have purchased Sporting Goods Research, Inc., the comprehensive data platform of information and analysis that is the leader in the academic market.
Sporting Goods Research was founded in 1998 by Dick Lipsey and its data is sold via subscription to more than 200 of the top university, college and public libraries in the country. The platform reaches more than 200,000 college students who use the data in papers, reports and case studies.
The acquisition was made through a new established company called SBRnet, Inc., that purchased the assets from the estate of Lipsey, who passed away May 15, 2020 at age 89. Lipsey helped develop the National Sporting Goods Association’s (NSGA) Sports Participation in the U.S. report.
“Both Mark and I are excited to continue on the legacy that was built by Dick Lipsey back in the late ’90s,” said Schwartz, the SBRnet president. “Dick built an amazing business and served the library marketplace by creating a one-stop platform for all things sports business and sports market data.”
The new owners plan to expand the business to include data on sports gambling, e-sports and new digital media consumption habits. SBR plans to build on its history of providing insights on fan behavior through its proprietary Consumer Brand Analytics Survey, the newest version which will be available at the end of January.
“This will be the first extensive look at ‘Fandom in a Post Pandemic World,'” Schwartz said, “as it will measure fan behaviors at a time when consumers can’t attend events in person.”
The new owners also plan to expand the content offered on the platform to include podcasts and video.
“SBRnet will create a new platform that is designed to bring the service into the 21st century and well beyond,” said Sullivan, executive vice president at SBRnet.” SBRnet has a treasure trove of data and we’re eager to begin promoting and sharing it with our core academic market as well as the sports industry.”
Richard Lipsey, the son of Dick Lipsey, said: “We are very pleased that Mark and Neil will be carrying on with the legacy that my father started back in 1998. Servicing the academic marketplace was a labor of love for my dad and after working closely with Mark and Neil, we know they feel the same way.”