One of the most compelling reasons why Kimmel, one of the nation’s leading venture capitalists in the sports betting space, believes ESPN BET can surge to No. 1 centers on ESPN’s global capabilities. In some respects, reports that ESPN could be sold to a leading tech company such as Amazon, Google, or Apple have created considerable uncertainty. On the contrary, Kimmel views the possibility of a mega-merger as a net positive.
After retiring from Disney in 2021, CEO Bob Iger returned to his old gig last November following the dismissal of Bob Chapek, his handpicked successor. Iger, in Kimmel’s estimation, did not return to his old job for a larger pension, but rather to execute a “big plan.”
“He understands that sports is one of the biggest growth asset classes in the world,” Kimmel told Sports Handle. “Sports is an integral part of entertainment today. He has unbelievable relationships in the sports world. He just knows how this all works.”