NEWS AND EVENTS

YOU FIRST SPORTS, TANDEM SPORTS + ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCE MERGER

New York, NY + Arlington, VA, June 24, 2020 – Leading sports agencies You First Sports (“You First”) and Tandem Sports + Entertainment (“Tandem”) announced a merger of their two firms, creating a larger, dominant full-service international basketball agency.  The joining of these two agencies brings increased support and resources worldwide for clients, and establishes the combined agency as an international industry leader. In fall 2020, You First CEO, Juan Aísa, plans to announce a new name for the global agency.

The addition of Tandem to the existing You First footprint will enhance the scope of You First’s full-service basketball representation. Combining the U.S. workforces from each company will create a larger support system for clients that will define a new industry standard in client servicing. Together, the group will continue to offer premium client management services, including expertise in contractual agreements, marketing, talent brand development and management, public relations, corporate partnerships and community relations initiatives.  Current Tandem President, Jim Tanner, will serve as the President of Basketball, North America, out of the new U.S. Headquarters in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

You First is a premium multi-sport talent agency with 21 offices worldwide and across five continents. The agency currently represents over 700 athletes and high-profile talent, including NBA players Kristaps Porzingis and Serge Ibaka. You First also represents clients in soccer, broadcasting, culinary arts, esports and digital influencing. Tandem’s player representation is focused in basketball. Clients include NBA Rookie of the Year frontrunner Ja Morant, as well as NBA veterans Jarrett Allen, Justin Jackson, John Henson, Thad Young, Luke Kornet and Marvin Williams. Additionally, Tandem represents Basketball Hall of Famers Ray Allen, Grant Hill, and Dominique Wilkins, and Class of 2020 Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Tamika Catchings. Tandem also works with WNBA legends Chamique Holdsclaw and Alana Beard. For marketing and communications services, Tandem also works with MLB players, coaches, front office personnel, broadcasters, authors, foundations and more.

“This not only brings together our two amazing teams, it also merges our philosophies, ethics and leadership styles,” Aísa said. “We were looking for someone who has built an elite agent practice and client roster to lead our basketball efforts in North America. Jim is a highly regarded, longtime basketball agent who is not only a leader in the field, but is also known for his high ethics.  I am excited for where he can take our clients and agency in the NBA and I look forward to growing together.”

“Merging our efforts in basketball will create exciting new possibilities as well as broader expertise, capabilities and services for our unified client base,” Tanner said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to bring two complementary teams together to truly provide best-in-class services for our clients worldwide.”

ABOUT YOU FIRST SPORTS

You First Sports is a leading global talent representation agency that specializes in athlete and celebrity representation, and sports marketing. With 21 offices in 12 countries You First empowers, feeds, and supports talent and guides companies to communicate through sports & entertainment. You First represents more than 700 athletes and influencers, including 400 basketball players, 250 soccer players, and talented individuals from other sports and entertainment fields. Additionally, You First represents more than 130 companies whose marketing and communication strategy revolves around sports. As a company, You First is based on three pillars: professionalism, service-oriented and being truly global. You First is passionate, experienced and client driven. Forbes places You First as #17 in their list of leading sports agencies – the first Spanish sports agency and the 10th largest firm in Europe.

ABOUT TANDEM SPORTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Tandem is a leading full-service athlete and entertainment representation agency. The agency was honored on Forbes’ list of the World’s Most Valuable Sports Agencies and has been honored by the Washington Business Journal as one of the area’s “Best Places to Work.” Tandem’s roster of clients includes Ja Morant, Tim Duncan, Grant Hill, Ray Allen, Justin Jackson, Jarrett Allen, John Henson, Thaddeus Young, Marvin Williams, Gerald Henderson, Luke Kornet, Raymond Felton, Dominique Wilkins, Alana Beard and Tamika Catchings. Marketing and public relations clients include World Series champion pitcher Chris Young and New York Yankee Mike Ford. Tandem also provides communications services for authors including Andrea Chamblee (“The Capital of Basketball”) and sports documentaries including “A Most Beautiful Thing.”

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