Wasserman acquires bluemedia

Global sports, music, and entertainment company Wasserman has acquired branding and signage company bluemedia. The deal was announced by Alastair Bewick, Group Managing Director of Wasserman Live, the branding and signage, custom fabrication, live event production and experiential operations division at Wasserman.

As part of the acquisition, Gina Patel, President of bluemedia, will join Wasserman Live as Group Vice President. Patel and the team will continue to operate from their facility in Tempe, Arizona.

Wasserman Live’s existing facility in Charlotte, NC, will be significantly complemented with the addition of bluemedia, benefitting from larger capacity and geographical presence across the region. Bluemedia will formally rebrand as Wasserman Live later this year, continuing to operate under the bluemedia brand in the interim.

Wasserman’s Chairman and CEO, Casey Wasserman, said of the acquisition, “We’re excited to welcome Gina and the bluemedia team to Wasserman. We look forward to working together and continuing to push the boundaries of what’s achievable as we bring the world’s leading sports and entertainment events to life – as evidenced by their extraordinary work delivering the branding and signage last month at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.”

Bewick said, “bluemedia has built an incredible reputation for elevating live events on behalf of several of the most high-profile brands in sports. As the world’s largest established sporting event market, this acquisition enhances our growth strategy in the region and sets the foundations for the years to come.”

Patel said, “We are proud to have created an exceptional business here at bluemedia, and joining Wasserman was the logical next step in our growth journey. Wasserman Live’s global expertise is unmatched in the industry and coupled with our in-depth understanding of the U.S. market, we’re excited to see what we can achieve together. It’s my privilege to be leading the business through this next chapter.”

“This acquisition represents a huge milestone for bluemedia. Joining forces with a global leader like Wasserman only serves to reinforce bluemedia’s position as the industry-leading branding and signage business in the U.S. and sets the business up to scale even greater heights,” said Founder of bluemedia, Jared Smith.

Established by Smith in 1997 as an event signage company focused on local golf tournaments in Arizona, bluemedia has evolved into the largest branding and signage business in the United States. Today, it is a national powerhouse, with 250+ clients including the NFL, Las Vegas Grand Prix, Phoenix Raceway, the Kansas City Chiefs, the NCAA, Circle K and the Atlanta Falcons Stadium Company.

The addition of bluemedia reinforces Wasserman’s ambitious growth strategy, demonstrated by the recent acquisitions of talent agency Momentum Hockey, digital Creator agency Long Haul Management and global football talent management firm IFM. This was preceded by the acquisition and ensuing rebrand of CSM Sport & Entertainment in October 2023 and March 2024, respectively. Wasserman is a leading marketing, management, representation and sales business with the ability to provide tailored services and an unrivalled network of relationships, skills and specialisms.