National Cycling Association: New competition coincides with final fan experience dates | Sportnext

Top flop?

What will make the difference for the new competition to be successful? In any case, the National Cycling Association appears to have more financial security up front than it did decades ago. Founder Collective, Collab Capital, Will Ventures, Emmanuel Acho (Fox Sports), and Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards NBA player), among others, have already stepped in. Given the format with teams playing on behalf of the city and the success the NFL (National Football League) has had with a similar format, it is not surprising that Jalen Ramsey (NFL Los Angeles Rams player), Derwin James (NFL player) American Football (Los Angeles Chargers player) and Kevin Byard (NFL Tennessee Titans player) are on the list of investors. Together they make a financial contribution of $7.5 million.

Despite investor interest and an April 2023 start, the National Cycling League is still surrounded by a great deal of uncertainty. Four participating cities and two teams have now been announced. The riders of the announced teams, Miami Nights and Denver Disruptors, are not regulars on the stages of major international competitions. Only Sergio Henao and Leah Kirchman, now active in the Denver Disruptors, have achieved international fame. There is also no collaboration with the current top US standards teams, which means they don’t really know what this will mean for them and what their role will be.

So, all the data available and the associated fan engagement should be a game changer. The new competition therefore responds well to the technological possibilities and digital desires of the masses (youth) on the one hand, and to the growing popularity of cycling on the other. This combination did not yet exist in the late 1980s, when the first version of the National Cycling League failed.