Men In Blazers Raises $15M From Media Heavyweights as It Preps World Cup Push

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It appears that the team behind Men In Blazers is considering an upgrade for their suits, as they’ve secured a significant investment of $15 million during a Series A funding round. This fundraising effort was supported by influential figures in media, sports, and entertainment industries.

I’m at the helm of this gaming round, with Marc Lasry’s Avenue Sports Fund steering alongside me. Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort, Peter Chernin’s Chernin Group, Brent Montgomery’s Wheelhouse, and my own Ryan Sports Ventures are all on deck too, along with Bolt Ventures. It’s a team effort!

Established in 2010 as a podcast by journalist Roger Bennett and TV producer Michael Davies, Men In Blazers has since grown to be a popular hub among U.S. soccer enthusiasts for news, analysis, opinions, and entertaining content related to soccer, encompassing their broadcasts and associated properties.

Bennett reveals that our platform is the leading one in the U.S. for football coverage, boasting over two billion annual impressions. He further states our aim to be the pioneering media network by uniting all American football enthusiasts into meaningful communities.

In an interview, Lasry expresses confidence, stating, “If you’ve had the chance to meet Roger, you can tell that he’s going to make things work, can’t you? I have no doubt that I could place Roger against any other competitors at a media company. His unyielding drive for success and his powerful character will ensure its prosperity.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but feel pumped about the upcoming Men’s World Cup in North America in 2026! This event offers an incredible chance for us to accelerate our company’s expansion. Let’s seize this moment together and make it count!

Every sunrise, my mind instantly drifts towards the Men’s World Cup approaching in 2026. It feels like a massive wave about to crash onto our shores, and I can hardly contain my excitement! The World Cup is coming, and every second counts for us at Men in Blazers Media Network. We aim to ensure that no matter who lifts the trophy in New York at the end of the tournament, we’ll be celebrating a victory of our own.

The firm intends to utilize the recent financial boost to develop fresh content, which includes a program similar to ESPN’s College GameDay, as well as venturing into live events. By the end of this year, they aim to have between 20 and 28 hosts for their programming, nearly doubling their talent pool, and at present, they employ 36 full-time staff members.

Bennett expresses their desire to enhance the storytelling approach by creating more visually appealing content. They’ve traditionally organized live events and theater tours of their show FC to Shining Sea during significant football tournaments, but now they aim to do this consistently throughout the year. The goal is to travel across the country, unite football fans, and broadcast these gatherings live whenever a major football event occurs.

The aim, as Bennett puts it, is to unite and connect all soccer enthusiasts across the nation, encompassing fans of European, Mexican, or Latin American leagues, as well as those who support the global game.

Moreover, with soccer broadcasting rights scattered among various streaming services and television platforms, he views Men In Blazers as a potential unifying entity – if you like, Men In Blazers United.

Bennett moved here in 1994 before the last World Cup, which was expected to take football to unprecedented heights in this country. However, it didn’t,” Bennett jokes. “America took a liking to it, but it felt like a temporary spectacle that passed through, and I’m thankful it wasn’t permanent. If it had been, football might have become a passing fad rather than a deeply rooted passion. Instead, the enthusiasm and fan base for football has grown with each World Cup. Football has captured the hearts of many streamers because it offers an unparalleled experience, making it the perfect spearhead for any streaming service.

According to Lasry, he believes that Roger and his team can turn Men In Blazers into a top-tier media company within the next year or two. However, they require funding to make this happen. Regardless of whether the World Cup is involved, they would have invested in Men In Blazers. But with the World Cup, things move faster and it provides them with a strong platform for launching their business.

Bennett interviewed Reynolds for his latest episode of the podcast, which you can watch below.

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2025-01-20 16:24