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- Major League Soccer starts its 30th season ...
## Major League Soccer Gears Up for 30th Season, Leveraging the "Messi Effect" with ScorePlay's Content Management Expertise **The Power of the "Messi Effect"** Major League Soccer (MLS) is poised to kick off its 30th season on February 22nd, fueled by the immense popularity of Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi's recent addition to Inter Miami. This "Messi effect" has spurred increased fan engagement, ticket sales, and corporate sponsorships. **Content Management Amid Rapid Growth** To capitalize on this momentum, MLS and its clubs must continuously provide fans with high-quality content. "Inventory management is crucial," emphasizes Jason Teitler of Burson, recognizing the importance of managing digital and traditional content for various platforms. **ScorePlay: A Centralized Hub for Content Management** Inter Miami has utilized ScorePlay, a specialized content management system designed specifically for sports, since Messi's arrival. Roman King, MLS's creative director of brand marketing, highlights the league's partnership with ScorePlay, ensuring "content management practices of the highest caliber" to keep pace with the league's rapid growth. **ScorePlay's Recent Funding and Expansion** Last week, ScorePlay secured $13 million in Series A funding, led by venture capital firm 20VC. This investment will enable ScorePlay to enhance its features and support for sports content needs. Founded in 2021, ScorePlay provides an AI-powered platform for content uploading, tagging, and management. **Overcoming Content Disorganization** ScorePlay CEO Victorien Tixier observed that teams often struggle to handle content demands across fragmented tools and systems. "It's surprisingly chaotic," he remarked. "They have too many tools, which creates fragmentation and silos." ScorePlay aims to address this issue with its centralized platform. **Real-Time Content Delivery** Speeding up content delivery is crucial for sports teams facing increased competition for attention. "As MLS produces more content, consistency and discoverability are essential for real-time distribution and personalized fan experiences," said King. **The Importance of Branding** Timeliness is equally important for building brands for teams and athletes. Harry Stebbings, founder of 20VC, emphasizes the need for immediate content to support athlete branding efforts. "Tomorrow doesn't count," he said. **ScorePlay's Success and Future** Stebbings commends ScorePlay's product and their ability to close deals with sports franchises, recognizing the trust that is essential in this industry. Tixier plans to use the new funding to enhance the platform and strengthen customer support.
