Who founded The Athletic and when did it launch?
The Athletic was founded by Alex Mather and Adam Hansmann, former coworkers at the fitness company Strava. It launched in Chicago in January 2016 as an independent, subscription-based sports website.
Questions about The Athletic
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How much did The New York Times pay for The Athletic?
The New York Times Company acquired The Athletic for $550 million, a deal announced in January 2022 and expected to close in the first quarter of that year.
How many cities and sports does The Athletic cover?
As of 2022, The Athletic provided local coverage in 47 cities and regions across North America plus the United Kingdom. Its coverage includes all 32 National Football League teams, all 30 Major League Baseball teams, all 30 National Basketball Association teams, and 23 of the 32 National Hockey League teams.
When did The Athletic expand to the United Kingdom?
The Athletic expanded to the United Kingdom in August 2019, focused mainly on domestic and international football coverage. Ed Malyon served as managing director and Alex Kay-Jelski as editor-in-chief of the new operation.
Why did The New York Times shut down its own sports department?
In July 2023, The New York Times shut down its existing sports department and began distributing sports coverage through The Athletic instead. The New York Times Guild criticized the move as union busting, accusing management of outsourcing union jobs to a non-union subsidiary.
What investigations has The Athletic published about sports misconduct?
The Athletic has published investigations into workplace misconduct within the Dallas Mavericks organization in 2018, sexual misconduct at Louisiana State University in March 2021, and sexual abuse by soccer coach Paul Riley in the National Women's Soccer League in September 2021.