About

The Future of Sport Lab (FSL) is a collaborative lab and incubator for sport innovation and research created by Toronto Metropolitan University in partnership with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE). First established in 2015 with Rogers Communications Inc. as the 'Next Big Idea in Sport', it was the first industry-facing sport technology incubator in North America. FSL is now widely recognized as Canada’s global leader in sport innovation, creating an ecosystem that connects sport properties, industry partners, entrepreneurs, investors, thought leaders and scholars. 

FSL's strategic partnership with leading Canadian venture capital firm Relay Ventures is helping to create a pathway for entrepreneurs in the evolving sports technology industry. Relay Ventures has committed to early stage investments and partnerships with a select number of companies from each FSL cohort.

FSL has fostered a number of diverse, innovative sport solutions and technologies as well as related insights and education, and to date, startups through the program have raised over $75 million in new financing and investments along with securing a number of significant sport business partnerships.

  • FSL provides entrepreneurs and startups with unprecedented access to leading sport franchises and top sport business leaders.

  • FSL provides entrepreneurs and startups with opportunities to access Canada’s top academic faculty and student resources for applied research, needs assessments, insight challenges and research forums.

  • FSL facilitates the delivery of complementary sport business programming in partnership with the Ted Rogers School of Management.

Future of Sport Lab Partners

About us

The Future of Sport Lab (FSL) is a new ecosystem anchored in sport innovation, created through the shared vision of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE) and Ryerson University; with links to sport industry research and insights, and sport business education (including the new MBA Specialization in Sport Business), housed in the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson.

Operated under the direction of Dr. Cheri L. Bradish, Loretta Rogers Research Chair in Sport Marketing with the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, the FSL will bring together students, faculty, entrepreneurs, mentors, industry partners and sport properties to shape the global future of sport.

With support from both organizations, the FSL will be at the forefront of sport innovation through: creative research and innovation partnerships, applied research and needs assessments to identify emerging opportunities and solve real world problems, support for startups including the potential opportunity to have MLSE pilot testing products/services, research forums to bring together experts to identify emerging trends and solve practical sector challenges, and the development of complementary sport business programming at both the MBA and undergraduate levels.