Licensing Expo 2018 Solidified as the Premier Event for Sports Licensing

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Licensing Expo, the world's largest and most influential brand licensing industry event, today announced that it will feature the world's leading professional sports associations and sports-focused licensing agencies at Licensing Expo 2018. As licensed sports properties continue to experience year-on-year growth, Licensing Expo is providing athletes with opportunities to generate revenue using their likeness for products and services ? solidifying their personal brand outside of their respective field of play.

Licensing Expo takes place May 22?24, 2018 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information and to register as media, please visit: licensingexpo.com/press/register.

Sports licensing has been on the rise in recent years and in 2016, retail sales of licensed sports properties grew to $25.3B, a two percent increase year over year.* Licensing provides athletes the opportunity to extend their careers and increase their income by capitalizing on their contribution to their chosen sport.

Key players associations exhibiting at Licensing Expo 2018 include the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), the U.S. Women's National Team Players Association, and the Women's National Basketball Player Association.

Rounding out the sports category are industry leading licensors and licensing agents including Brandgenuity, Dorna Sports, EDGE Americas Sports, IMG Licensing, Learfield Licensing Partners, One Entertainment and REP Worldwide, among others. These leading licensing agents represent a variety of sports properties and brands including:

• 24h Le Mans
• C. Milan
• Club Deportivo Guadalajara
• Club América
• Cruz Azul Fútbol Club, A.C.
• DFB
• FC Bayern Munich
• Fútbol Club Barcelona
• Inter Milan
• Juventus Football Club
• KNVB
• Lucha Libre Racing
• MotoGP
• Paris Saint-Germain Football Club
• Real Madrid Club de Fútbol
• Rugby World Cup
• S. Roma
• The Open
• Tough Mudder
• UFC
• Wimbledon
• World Boxing Council
• World Poker Tour
• World's Strongest Man

"The NFLPA is proud to once again exhibit at Licensing Expo, which has proven to be one of the best annual opportunities to build new extensions for the NFL player group licensing program," said Steve Scebelo, NFLPA president, licensing & business development. "We are thrilled to be representing players from the US Women's National Team and Women's National Basketball Association, as partners in REP Worldwide, a new licensing representation business launched late last year. The presence of these player group licensing programs at Licensing Expo 2018 allows us to build and grow new licensed merchandise programs for women athletes, in the same manner we have been doing for NFL players for the past 25 years."

* 2017 Annual LIMA Global Licensing Industry Survey

To attend Licensing Expo for free, please visit: licensingexpo.com/register

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About Licensing Expo
Launched in 1980, Licensing Expo is the world's largest and most influential annual trade show dedicated to licensing and brand extension. The show floor is merchandised into two zones: Characters and Entertainment and Brands, Agents and Design. More than 16,000 retailers, licensees, manufacturers, distributors and licensing agents attend the Expo from more than 67 countries. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group at UBM: Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Japan, Licensing Expo China, NYC Licensing Summit, License Global magazine, License Global Daily E-news and License TV. Licensing Expo is organized by UBM plc. UBM is the largest pure-play B2B events organizer in the world. Our 3,750+ people, based in more than 20 countries, serve more than 50 different sectors. Our deep knowledge and passion for these sectors allow us to create valuable experiences which enable our customers to succeed. Please visit www.ubm.com for the latest news and information about UBM.

About Global Licensing Group
The Global Licensing Group at UBM is the global licensing industry's leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide opportunities around the world to bring brands and products together to explore and cement licensing partnerships. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group at UBM: Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Japan, Licensing Expo China, NYC Licensing Summit, License Global magazine, License Global Daily E-news and License TV.

SOURCE Licensing Expo