Categories
Endorsements

Are Women Easier To Market?

Sports Agent Yuki Saegusa seems to think so. The over-saturation of male athletes in most sports may create a climate that women figure skaters can take advantage of when it comes to finding endorsements.

Take for instance, Kimmie Meissner, who has multi-year endorsement deals with Subway, Visa, and Under Armour after winning the national figure skating title. The men’s winner of the title (Evan Lysacek) has a nice trophy, but little in the form of endorsements [Changing perceptions of skaters].

Figure skating obviously breaks the trend of endorsements in America, making the title of this post sound silly. But, it is interesting to note how in one particular sport, women dominate the scene. Also, this post should bring up a new area of interest for potential Sports Agents. Endorsement deals are made for figure skaters, which means substantial profits may be made by those who represent such athletes. There is no reason to discount representing talent in any sport, and if one has a lot of knowledge about a sport like figure skating, entry into the industry may be smoother due to less competition among agents.

Anyway, as the DenverPost.com reports, America is still looking for its 1st modern male figure skating spokes-model. Anyone out there has an opportunity to sign a representation agreement contract with the next male figure skating star and promote his talents to major marketers. Keep an eye out for Evan Lysacek in particular.

[YouTube – Evan Lysacek 2007 US Nationals SP].

-Darren Heitner

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.