Story Continues

In a groundbreaking move, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is shaking up the golf world with a jaw-dropping $12 million purse for its upcoming tournament. This purse increase now puts the championship on par with the prestigious U.S. Women’s Open, setting the stage for an epic showdown amongst the top players in the game.

Scheduled to take place at the Fields Ranch East course at PGA Frisco from June 19-22, this year’s championship promises to be bigger and better than ever before. With the top 100 players in the Race to CME Globe rankings in the 156-player field, fans can expect nothing short of thrilling competition and fierce battles on the green.

But the excitement doesn’t stop there. The tournament will also feature a star-studded broadcast coverage, offering nearly 100 hours of live action across NBC, Golf Channel, and Peacock. For the first time ever, fans can tune in to Featured Groups presented by KPMG and T-Mobile for Business on Peacock, adding an extra layer of excitement to the viewing experience.

Moreover, players and fans alike can look forward to groundbreaking technological advancements at this year’s championship. From AI-powered analysis to innovative scoring targets, KPMG is revolutionizing the way players approach the game. With the introduction of KPMG Performance Insights Daily Recap, players will receive unparalleled insights and data to elevate their performance to new heights.

Paul Knopp, KPMG U.S. Chair and CEO, expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament, stating, “KPMG’s commitment to excellence extends to women’s golf, and through our collaboration with the PGA of America and LPGA Tour, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is the best event on the LPGA Tour.” Knopp emphasized the championship’s high purse, top-notch courses, comprehensive broadcast coverage, and cutting-edge technology as setting a new standard in the world of golf.

As the countdown to the championship begins, all eyes are on the KPMG Women’s PGA as it gears up to deliver an unforgettable and game-changing event that will leave a lasting mark on the sport.

Garmin has announced a new sleep-tracking band that can be strapped to your upper arm, which could make it more comfortable to wear overnight. The Index Sleep Monitor tracks sleep stages, heart rate, and even your breathing to create a “comprehensive view of overall fitness and recovery,” with a personalized sleep score delivered every morning so you know how well you slept, according to Garmin.

The Index Sleep Monitor is now available through Garmin’s online store in S-M and L-XL sizes for $169.99. The tracking is handled by a small, removable electronic module that features motion sensors and an optical heart rate sensor that Garmin says will run for up to seven days between charges.

In addition to tracking your light, deep, and REM sleep stages throughout the night, the Index can also measure your respiration rates, and, when paired with blood oxygen saturation measurements (a feature not available in all countries) it can help you “better understand shifts in breathing patterns while sleeping.”

A thermometer monitors skin temperature, which can provide insights into how your environment is affecting your sleep while also flagging possible illnesses. Those temperature measurements also provide more insight into women’s health monitoring, including menstrual cycles, “improved period predictions,” and past ovulation estimates. However, Garmin says the Index is “not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition.” The company also says it should not be used as a conception or birth control tool.

Other health-related metrics that are monitored and made available through the Garmin Connect mobile app include estimates on stress levels based on sleep patterns, a Body Battery measurement letting you know if you’re low on energy and need more rest. Heart rate variability (HRV), which is a measure of the varying times between heartbeats, can also be used to assess if your body is dealing with increased stress or fatigue helping you know if you need to address issues with your sleep.

These are all metrics that can be measured using Garmin’s other smart wearables and many smartwatches, but only if you’re wearing them every single night. For those who prefer to charge their watches at night so their battery is full every morning, the Index Sleep Monitor provides an alternative way to track sleep metrics that’s also free of distracting notifications. The Index Sleep Monitor does have vibration capabilities, but they’re instead used as part of a smart alarm feature that only tries to wake you during lighter sleep stages.

Hublot will once again serve as the ‘Official Timekeeper’ for UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, reaffirming its enduring relationship with elite soccer. As a proud Swiss brand, Hublot returns to home soil, building on its inaugural partnership during the 2022 championship in England.

Throughout the tournament, Hublot’s presence will be both functional and symbolic. The iconic ‘Big Bang’ fourth official’s board will be prominently used for substitutions and added time, while branded broadcast graphics and LED stadium displays will ensure visibility across global audiences. Additionally, match officials will be equipped with the ‘Big Bang e Gen 3,’ a connected timepiece engineered for real-time match operations.

Further extending its influence, Hublot’s vibrant 20th anniversary ‘Big Bang Collection’ will be worn by players, coaches, and commentators alike, bridging design and sporting excellence.

Image Credit: Hublot

From Anthony Geisler’s White House ambitions to cutting-edge insights on GLP-1s and sleep, day two of the ATN Summit revealed a bold, multi-front strategy for the future of movement and human performance

Anthony Geisler, founder of Sequel Brands, opened day two of the ATN Innovation Summit 2025 by introducing his newly launched fitness franchisor, Sequel.

“We started building this company, Sequel, about a year ago to culminate everything (we’ve) done in fitness,” Geisler said. “But this time, we want to do something bigger. We want to do something more innovative, and we want to actually go lead the industry.”

Sequel currently houses four boutique fitness brands and is preparing to announce a fifth.

“We said, ‘We’re stopping at five.’ I don’t know if we’ll stop at five,” he added.

Geisler also described Sequel’s alignment with national health efforts and his collaboration with the Trump Administration to launch a “fitness commission” as part of the “Make America Healthy Again Movement,” which he referred to as the “Make America Move Again” initiative.

“Five years ago, literally, our entire industry was illegal,” he said, referencing pandemic-era gym closures.

“This isn’t a one-year plan or a two-year plan,” Geisler said. “This is a (long-term) plan to continue to push fitness into the White House, into the mainstream.”

Fitness Consumers, AI & Human Connection

Liz Plosser led a discussion with executives from Echelon, Les Mills and Fitness on Demand about evolving consumer expectations and technology’s role in fitness delivery.

Andy Peat, CEO, Fitness on Demand, noted increased interest in mobility, stretching, strength training and live Pilates reformer classes.

Lou Lentine, CEO and founder, Echelon, said, “The same thing that’s working at the gym is working online.”

“Strength increases mind/body connection,” added Sean Turner, CEO, Les Mills U.S., highlighting the growing popularity of pre- and post-workout recovery.

On brick-and-mortar operations, Turner said: “Most people in the room need both,” citing digital’s role in enhancing flexibility and convenience.

In a discussion about content value in a saturated market, Peat noted the evolution of digital from a convenience screen to a personalized tool for form-checking and comprehensive training.

Lentine emphasized the importance of instructor connection: “We want our users to feel a connection to their instructors. They can see who is in the class, how many classes they’ve done this week. We know all that information from our studio. But it’s really about the connection that they have with the instructor.”

Echelon avoids celebrity instructors for this reason, favoring a more relatable presence.

On AI, Peat stated, “It won’t replace an instructor.” Lentine agreed: “I won’t think AI will replace an instructor or coach.” He shared that Echelon worked with Amazon to build an AI platform embedded in gym apps for better efficiency and cost savings.

Turner added that AI supports performance improvement through coaching analysis and customer insights.

“Ultimately, the biggest opportunity is how do we deepen the human experience, both physical and mental?” said Turner.

Dr. Frank Lipman on Responsible Longevity

Dr. Frank Lipman, founder of Eleven Elven Wellness Center, discussed the advancing yet incomplete science of healthy aging.

“Microbiome science is not particularly accurate,” he said. “These microbiome tests, they’re all bulls*** … But the microbiome is probably really, really important for most of us to stay healthy.”

He addressed gender biases in medicine: “As physicians, we don’t take women as seriously as men. If men can’t get erections, there’s a drug, but if women have pain during sex, they’re just getting older.”

He cautioned against the use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in young men who want children:

“If you’re giving hormones to young men … very common side effects are (shrinking) testicles, and that can cause infertility. So I think it’s irresponsible to give testosterone to young guys who still want to have kids.”

Additional perspectives from Dr. Lipman included:

• “I’m obsessed with ketones. … I think ketones are one of the next big things.”
• “I love peptides… I think anyone over 50 should probably be on hormones.”
• “The next 10–20 years of my life are going to be about how do we get this message (longevity medicine) out in a responsible way.”

The Evolution of ClassPass & An AI Call To Action

Fritz Lanman, CEO of Playlist (parent of Mindbody, ClassPass and Booker), urged the industry to embrace artificial intelligence.

“I think it’s important for this industry to hear … that we’re not going to be replaced by AI,” Lanman said.

“It’s really amazing, but it’s not going to fully replace humans,” he added. “What it is going to do is empower and democratize the ability to do really deep and incredible analytics, really great personalized marketing and things like that to help businesses … grow and be more effective. So I see us heading toward an age of human augmentation, not substitution.”

“It’s incumbent on operators to use these tools,” he said. “If you’re not using ChatGPT already, you’re behind the game.”

Addressing ClassPass concerns, Lanman clarified its intended purpose:

“I think the two biggest misconceptions would be, one: (ClassPass) can’t save a business that’s not going to work on its own, and two: you shouldn’t use it primarily for lead generation, you should use it for excess capacity and innovation.”

Peloton’s Focus on Community & Software

Nick Caldwell, chief product officer at Peloton, spoke about product innovation and AI.

“I think there’s never been a better time to apply technology to meet our customer needs.”

Caldwell highlighted a shift from hardware to software innovation and reinforced the importance of human touch:

“Peloton Instructors are a ‘superpower’ to the brand. They will not be replaced by AI.”

“We have to go beyond offering just what we see on the leaderboard, high fives and hashtags — that’s a great starting point,” Caldwell said. “But our members crave more and we see that through communities being created on external platforms, like Facebook, Twitter, where hundreds of thousands of our members are trying to find ways to come together, share fitness tips and support each other.”

He noted success with Peloton’s smaller-format micro stores and plans to expand.

“We’re seeing a very significant amount of home use,” he said, particularly in strength training.

“Peloton is here to stay,” he concluded, praising CEO Peter Stern: “Peter Stern has done a phenomenal job.”

Fitness Leaders on GLP-1s & Monetization

Panelists from “Fit Tech Playbook” agreed on the growing importance of centralized data and AI in fitness.

Jeff Zwiefel, former Life Time executive and now head of Miora, said:“35% of Americans say they want to be on it [GLP-1s]… members are three times more likely to exercise once on the medications.”

Cyrus Massoumi, CEO and founder of Dr. B, cautioned: “Consumers should change their diet and undergo a fitness regimen for at least six months before they even begin taking GLP-1s.”

“We only actually prescribe (GLP-1s) to people who commit to working out,” he added.

“You can’t change what you don’t measure,” said Mitchell Keyes, vice president of global operations for Anytime Fitness. Edward Zouroudis, co-founder and CEO of Evolt, noted: “There are many opportunities,” including supplements, nutrition products and meal planning.

“As you educate the consumer, you empower the consumer — and as they become more empowered, they just care a little bit more. And that’s where you really transpire from being a trainer to a coach,” said Keyes.

Zwiefel summarized: “It’s a megatrend — it’s here to stay.”

The Business of Sleep

Executives from Sleep.ai, Mattress Firm and Therabody emphasized the expanding role of sleep in health and business.

“Sleep is the great connector,” said Tim Roberts, vice president of science and education at Therabody.

Chief digital officer George Hanson of Mattress Firm added, “As soon as you start to recognize the opportunity that sleep has in your unique business or service, it’s the first step to doing more, seeking the right partners and finding the right opportunities.”

“Sleep sits adjacent to every product and every experience, because we are humans,” Hanson said.

“We’re at this incredible opportunity where we have more data than ever, more personalized insights and then AI on top of this… It’s really the perfect storm,” Roberts said.

Colin Lawlor, founder and CEO of Sleep.ai, concluded, “The reality is, how they sleep is how they engage with you and your service.”

M&A Lessons From the Field

Pete Moore, managing partner, Integrity Square, moderated a discussion on M&A strategy, featuring leaders from Crunch.

“Our goal is to grow from 50 locations to 100/150,” shared Mark Federico, CEO of Fitness Holdings.

He emphasized real conversations and market readiness: “The ability to take a competitor out goes into the equation, but also we say there are certain things we need to rebrand… If rebranding costs more, we weigh the costs and downsides versus the benefits.”

Terry Blachek, CEO of Austin Fitness Group, described early expansion via joint ventures: “Until we got a private equity deal, I was on the line for $20 million of new locations.”

“Nail it before you scale it,” he advised.

Federico warned against premature expansion: “Take on what you can handle.”

“Don’t be so committed to what you want that you are not willing to take something better… You have walk-away power,” said Blachek. “The person who controls the relationship is the one who has less interest in it.”

Look for more in-depth coverage of the sessions in the upcoming days and weeks. 

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June 16, 2025

By 2025, digital arts, sports, and virtual gaming have merged to form a robust entertainment ecosystem, delivering immersive and interactive experiences. Digital arts encompass creative works such as 3D modeling, animation, and virtual reality (VR) environments, which provide the visual foundation for modern platforms. Sports have branched out into eSports and virtual simulations, expanding the ways in which fans can engage. Virtual gaming has developed expansive multiplayer worlds designed for exploration and competition.

Online Casinos and Sports Betting – A Case Study

Online casinos and sports betting websites represent a convergence of digital arts, sports, and virtual gaming. These platforms offer graphically rich interfaces and interactive experiences, ranging from poker to betting on real and virtual sports events, supported by technologies such as AI and VR. Most sites today offer incentives — such as Caesars online casino promo codes and other welcome bonuses — to attract users and enhance the recreational appeal of online gambling. These promotions help bring in new users, highlighting the growth of online gambling as a form of entertainment, with responsible use and regulation ensuring fairness and security.

Contribution of Digital Arts

Digital arts shape modern-day entertainment by creating visually rich and interactive experiences. Game designers leverage the latest rendering technologies to produce realistic textures, animations, and lighting, immersing players in complex virtual worlds. VR artists, for example, design reactive environments that adapt to user actions, blending creativity with technology. These design elements are evident in video games, where detailed visuals enhance storytelling, and in VR environments that simulate real-life settings. The creative aspects add beauty and foster emotional connections, making digital arts a driving force in this era of hybrid entertainment.

Sports in the Digital Era

Sports have evolved beyond the physical realm, embracing digital forms such as virtual sports and eSports. Competitive video gaming, or eSports, now draws global audiences, with platforms like Twitch streaming tournaments to millions. Titles like League of Legends have given rise to professional gamers and massive fan followings. Virtual sports simulations allow users to wager on or manage virtual teams, while VR provides immersive experiences — such as attending a virtual football match. Traditional sports organizations are also leveraging digital technology, including real-time statistics software and AR-enhanced broadcasts, to expand access and engagement, merging sports with gaming and digital arts.

Virtual Gaming’s Growth

Virtual gaming has become a mainstay of modern entertainment, offering expansive universes where players interact in real time. Games like Fortnite and Minecraft foster global communities and cross-border collaboration. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) enhance the sense of presence, allowing players to immerse themselves in fantasy worlds or blend digital elements with the physical world. These technologies enrich storytelling and facilitate community building, placing virtual gaming on par with the creativity and competitiveness of digital arts and sports — driving new patterns of social engagement.

Main Features of This Merging

This convergence is marked by several distinguishing characteristics:

• Visually rich design: Digital arts create immersive, interactive environments for games and gambling platforms.
• Competitive interactivity: eSports and virtual sports offer new ways to engage with competitive experiences.
• Global community: Virtual gaming connects players across geographic boundaries, fostering worldwide participation.
• Technological innovation: AI and VR drive more realistic, responsive, and engaging digital experiences.
• Regulatory frameworks: Ensure safe, fair, and responsible participation in online gambling and gaming.
  

The Future 

The convergence of these fields will continue as technology advances. AI-driven game development can offer personalized experiences, while VR has the potential to make sporting events fully immersive. Blockchain technology, already adopted by some platforms, can enhance transparency in betting. The online gaming industry — valued at $6.19 billion in Q1 2025, with a year-over-year increase of 15.3%, according to the American Gaming Association — reflects this economic growth. As these trends evolve, the boundaries between digital arts, sports, and virtual gaming will continue to blur, opening new avenues for creativity and connection.

The convergence of digital arts, sports, and virtual gaming has ushered in a new era of entertainment defined by creativity, competition, and community. Online casinos and sportsbooks exemplify this blend, combining artistic content, competitive elements, and interactive gameplay. As technology continues to evolve, this fusion will shape the future of entertainment, offering diverse opportunities for engagement. Examining this intersection highlights its potential for innovation while emphasizing the importance of responsible digital media consumption.

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