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This year's programming will inspire conversations surrounding every facet of sport
NEW YORK and AUSTIN, Texas, March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, today announced a new roster of athletes and brand partners confirmed to activate at SPORT BEACH 2025.
Throughout the year, Stagwell is expanding SPORT BEACH's presence by bringing SPORT BEACH Clubhouses to major industry and sporting events worldwide.
"Our Clubhouses at SXSW, Super Bowl and the World Economic Forum reinforced how sport is a door opener into conversations driving the business, cultural and innovation landscape, and how important it is to be having these conversations now," said Beth Sidhu, Stagwell's Chief Brand and Communications Officer.
Newly Announced 2025 Athlete & Media Partners
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Jordan Chiles (gymnastics) – Jordan Chiles is a renowned gymnast and two-time Olympian. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she helped secure a silver medal for Team USA with a standout performance. A passionate advocate for body positivity and mental health, Chiles inspires young athletes around the globe. In 2022, she became one of only three Black gymnasts to sweep the podium at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, and the following year, she earned two NCAA individual titles with UCLA while embarking on a new chapter as a Nike athlete. Returning to elite competition in 2024, Chiles played a key role in leading Team USA to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, cementing her status as a trailblazer in the sport.
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Akbar Gbajabiamila (football and media) – Akbar Gbajabiamila, a returning partner to SPORT BEACH, is the current Host of NBC's four-time Emmy-nominated series American Ninja Warrior, Emmy-nominated host of CBS' hit show, The Talk, Roku's newest original series, Fight To Survive, and he also joined NFL Network's Good Morning Football for the 2024-2025 Season. Akbar also recently hosted the breakout hit, "Tokyo Live!" which debuted on Peacock and covered the Tokyo Olympics as well as hosting multiple seasons of American Ninja Warrior Jr and Team Ninja. Akbar's critically acclaimed book "Everyone Can Be a Ninja: Find Your Inner Warrior and Achieve Your Dreams," aims to encourage readers to never give up no matter the obstacle. Akbar is honored to leverage his formidable professional platform to inspire and motivate others as well as advocate for those in need. Currently, he serves on the board for the Asomugha Foundation, which provides pathways to college for disenfranchised youth, as well as for The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
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Emma Hayes (coach) – Emma Hayes is one of the most influential and accomplished football managers of her generation, known for her leadership and transformative impact on the women's game. With a coaching career spanning over two decades, she has played a pivotal role in shaping modern football and driving the professionalization of the sport. As the head coach of Chelsea Women from 2012 to 2024, Hayes led the club to unprecedented success, securing seven Women's Super League (WSL) titles, five FA Cups, two League Cups, and a UEFA Women's Champions League final appearance. Under her leadership, Chelsea became a dominant force in both English and European football, known for their attacking style, depth of talent, and winning mentality. In 2024, Hayes took on a historic new role as head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT), bringing her strategic expertise and elite-level experience to one of the most successful teams in international football. Beyond her coaching achievements, Hayes is a respected media analyst, keynote speaker, advocate for gender equity in sports and author of "My Leadership Playbook."
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Scotty James (snowboarding) – With two Olympics medals, 10 X Games Medals and three World Halfpipe Championship Gold Medals, there is no bigger name in snowboarding than Scotty James. Scotty just made history in Aspen, winning his fourth consecutive and 7th Gold Medal at X Games –tied for most ever in the Men's Super Pipe. Off the snow, Scotty is making an impact in the entrepreneurial space, producing top-quality content via his owned and operated production company 11Oakland. He is also building out a comprehensive portfolio of strategic investments across the technology and consumer product industry, headlined by his recently announced role as a strategic advisor and investor for the X Games. Through this position, Scotty plays a pivotal role in guiding the growth and direction of the X Games business through forging strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, contributing to strategic planning, facilitating athlete feedback, and much more. On top of that, Scotty most recently released two children's books "MOOKi vs The Big Scary" and "MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys" with Penguin.
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Joakim Noah (basketball) – Joakim Noah played 13 years in the NBA (9 with the Chicago Bulls). He was a two-time NBA all star (2013/2014), 2014 Defensive Player of the Year and 2015 winner of the J. Walter Kennedy award for citizenship. He made the All NBA First Team in 2014. In 2010, along with his mother, the sculptor and expressive art therapist Cecilia Rodhe, Joakim started the Noah's Arc Foundation, which aims to give youth a stronger sense of self using art and sports as tools for development. Noah's Arc has worked extensively with youth in Chicago, as well as Joakim's father Yannick's hometown of Yaounde, Cameroon. The foundation continues to operate in Chicago and in continental Africa to this day. In 2022, Joakim was named an ambassador for the Basketball Africa League, highlighting his vision and commitment to the African diaspora on a global level. In 2023, Joakim in conjunction with his Noah's Arc Foundation restarted the ONE CITY Basketball League in Chicago with 28 different violence interruption groups. In 2023, Joakim was named an ambassador to the NBA. Joakim is also an NBA Africa investor to the BAL Ambassador Line.
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Derrick Rose (basketball) – Derrick Rose is a former NBA MVP and 3x NBA All-Star. Rose attended Simeon Career Academy in Chicago, where he became one of the most highly recruited high school basketball players in the country. In the 2008 NBA Draft, Rose was selected as the first overall pick by the Chicago Bulls. He quickly established himself as one of the league's most exciting young players, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2009 and becoming an All-Star in each of his first three seasons. He is the youngest player to be named MVP in NBA history. Rose's impact goes beyond the basketball court. He is also known for his tireless dedication to his community. In 2014, Rose donated $1 million to After School Matters, a Chicago charity that provides innovative out-of-school programs for teenagers. In 2018, Rose announced the launch of The Rose Scholars, providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship money to high school students for their college expenses. He is also the author of I'll Show You, which was published in 2019. After 15 years, Derrick retired from the NBA in 2024 and will have his jersey retired by the Chicago Bulls in the 2025-26 season
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Shannon Sharpe (football and media) – Shannon Sharpe is a former American football player and sports television personality known as one of the greatest tight ends to ever play the game, and he is returning to SPORT BEACH once again this year. During Shannon's time in the NFL, his accomplishments led him to the Hall of Fame Class of 2011. These included becoming a three-time Super Bowl Champion, eight-time Pro Bowler, and four time First-Team All-Pro. After hanging up his cleats, Shannon launched an award-winning broadcasting career, culminating in the creation of Shay Shay Media—his production powerhouse. Under Shay Shay Media, Shannon produces two of the fastest-growing podcasts in history: "Club Shay Shay" and "Nightcap." In 2024 alone, these shows amassed over 1 billion views on YouTube and generated more than 9 billion impressions. "Club Shay Shay" also broke records with the most-watched interview of the year, surpassing 87 million views and won an award for Outstanding Podcast - Society and Culture for the 2025 NAACP Image Awards. "Nightcap" with Chad Johnson has become the fastest growing live stream in YouTube history reaching over 4 billion impressions. In 2024, Shannon earned widespread recognition, with accolades from iHeart Radio, the Webby Awards, and the BET Hip Hop Awards. He was also celebrated as NAACP Image Awards' Entertainer of the Year Nominee, Ebony Magazine's Power 100 Media Maven, and one of The New York Times' Breakout Stars of 2024. Beyond media, Shannon is an accomplished entrepreneur. He's the founder of the fast-growing clothing brand EIGHTYFOUR and in 2021 Shannon co-founded the award-winning Cognac brand "Le Portier" inspired by his grandmother, Mary Porter. His "Shay" by LePortier has been recognized at the World Sip competition as #1 VSOP for taste. Shannon is also currently a contributor on ESPN's "First Take" with Stephen A. Smith.