White and Derulo announced their new venture on social media. Derulo, who headlined the third annual NFL TikTok Tailgate with The Black Keys on Sunday prior to Super Bowl LVII, has more than 57 million follows on TikTok, making him one of the world’s most followed TikTok content creators. White is a seasoned entrepreneur and a founder/CEO of City+Ventures, one of the fastest growing companies in the United States, and the fastest growing company in the state of Nebraska.

“This is another special day for Pro Volleyball Federation,” said Dave Whinham, a founder of Pro Volleyball Federation. “The reaction we have had since announcing the launch of the league just over ten weeks ago has been phenomenal. We always knew we wanted a team in Omaha, and we knew it would take a special ownership group to live up to the huge potential of the Omaha market. We know we have found that special group and are so excited to see what Danny and Jason will do to undoubtedly make Omaha a flagship franchise in our league.”

White and Derulo have numerous common business interests and have formed a formidable team, investing in companies across a wide span of industries. White is also a close associate of the Burrow Family, which in its own right has deep ties to the state of Nebraska. Jimmy Burrow, Pro Volleyball Federation’s Director of Brand Advancement, is a former football player and coach at the University of Nebraska and Jamie, Jimmy’s son and Joe Burrow’s older brother, is a former All-Big 12 linebacker for the Cornhuskers who still resides in Omaha. Both Jimmy and Jamie helped to recruit White and Derulo to Pro Volleyball Federation.

The news of the new Omaha team comes at a time when Pro Volleyball Federation will be making numerous market announcements in the coming days. Omaha is the second market to be publicly announced. The team will hold a local celebration in Omaha in the weeks to come to officially introduce the city to its first major women’s professional sports team.

“This is so exciting and something that Jason and I can’t stop thinking about,” said White, who has become a leading figure in the business world, well-known for his ability to identify and capitalize on new ventures and opportunities. “From the first day we were approached by Pro Volleyball Federation, we knew this was exactly what we were looking for, not only to bring something special and impactful to Omaha, but also because it’s an opportunity to dig in creatively and help transform the way people consume sports and entertainment content. We have a lot of ideas, and we can’t wait to get started.”

As a billionaire with a proud athletic background from his days as a star hockey player, White not only brings his wealth and business acumen to the table but also the values instilled in him by his family. White and his Partner/Co-Founder of City+Ventures, Omaha-native Chris Erickson, take immense pride in their accomplishments with City+Ventures while leading the charge in improving communities through impactful business solutions.

Omaha will be a fertile home for Pro Volleyball Federation. The University of Nebraska women’s volleyball program has led the nation in attendance since 2013, and Omaha, which hosted the 2022 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championships in December inside a jam-packed crowd at CHI Health Center in downtown Omaha, made headlines when this past season’s matchup pitting Nebraska and hometown Creighton was played before 15,797 fans at the same arena. The in-state match-up set the record for the largest crowd for a regular-season volleyball match in NCAA history.

“Are you kidding me?” Derulo excitedly proclaimed about becoming a pro sports team owner. “I have learned and grown so much as an entrepreneur through my friendship with Danny, and this opportunity to spread my wings within a new industry drives me professionally and creatively. I am a passionate creator, and by being able to help these world-class athletes who are also passionate about their craft further their careers, build their own brands, and establish themselves as true superstars within their sport and their community – that’s what truly excites me.”

Derulo has sold more than 250 million singles worldwide, achieving 15 platinum singles. He joins Taylor Swift, Elton John, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Maroon 5, and Christina Aguilera as the only artists in history to achieve a #1 single on US Pop Radio in three different decades.

“Pro Volleyball Federation is taking a modern-day approach to connecting the needs of the modern-day athlete with the modern-day fan, all within an economical model that makes sense and a technological ecosystem designed for the digital age, breaking the traditional mold in professional sports,” said Stephen Evans, who, along with Whinham, is a founder of Pro Volleyball Federation. “With Jason’s proven ability to engage with and grow audiences and Danny’s drive to succeed in everything he puts his mind to, Omaha is going to be a rocket ship of innovation and excellence.”

Pro Volleyball Federation will launch its inaugural season in 8-10 markets in February 2024 with world-class players and coaches, including some of America’s greatest volleyball players. Pro Volleyball Federation is played at a major-league level in major arenas with elite athletes who, for the first time, have an opportunity to make a real living wage and play professional volleyball at the highest level without leaving the country.

Omaha is joined by Grand Rapids, MI, as the first two markets announced for the 2024 season. The Grand Rapids team is owned and operated by DP Fox Sports & Entertainment chairman Dan DeVos who, along with his family, also owns the NBA’s Orlando Magic and the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. DeVos is also a limited partner of Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs.

Pro Volleyball Federation will make additional announcements in the coming days regarding inaugural season team markets, including two top ten United States media markets and the announcement of the league’s first female team owner.

Pro Volleyball Federation has attracted some well-known founding partners from inside and outside the sport. Super Bowl champion Trent Dilfer and Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow, along with his parents Jimmy and Robin Burrow, highlight an impressive roster of founding partners in support of the venture. In addition, two legends of the sport – Dr. Cecile Reynaud and Laurie Corbelli – have been intimately involved from the start, as have veteran international-level American players Jenna Rosenthal, Tori Dilfer Stringer, Morgan Hentz, and Ronika Stone. The league is led by CEO Jen Spicher.

Those wishing to become a part of Pro Volleyball Federation, whether as a player, coach, team owner, investor, sponsor, vendor, media company, or host venue, can email info@provolleyball.com.

Pro Volleyball Federation has attracted some well-known founding partners from inside and outside the sport. Super Bowl Champion Trent Dilfer highlights an impressive roster of founding partners in support of the new venture. In addition, two legends of the sport – Dr. Cecile Reynaud and Laurie Corbelli – will be intimately involved from the start, as will Team USA veteran Jenna Rosenthal.

“I’m really more known now as the ‘Dad of Setters’ than a Super Bowl champion, so this is really meaningful to me and my family,” said Dilfer, who has three volleyball-playing daughters. “The lack of a major league women’s professional volleyball league has always perplexed me. The athleticism, determination, and emotion of the athletes is so much fun to watch, and the game is so big overseas. Until now, there just hasn’t been an opportunity to make a living as a professional in the United States. That’s why I am so pumped about Pro Volleyball Federation. This is going to be huge and I am so excited to be a part of something long overdue. Like I did, sports fans all over the country are going to fall in love with the game and the fantastic athletes who play it.”

Pro Volleyball Federation is REAL pro volleyball. As the premier women’s professional volleyball league in

North America, Pro Volleyball Federation will feature world class players and coaches, including many of

America’s greatest volleyball players. Pro Volleyball Federation will play with a REAL league format with teams playing in REAL pro arenas across North America and owned by REAL pro owners and team operators. The league is operated with REAL league management expertise within a REAL financial model viable at both the league and the team levels.

Founders of the league are Dave Whinham, President & CEO of The TEAM Management, and Stephen Evans, President of The Remedy. The duo boasts many years of combined experience in building and managing professional sports leagues and teams and providing comprehensive consultation and thought leadership to the industry. The TEAM Management will serve as the management arm of Pro Volleyball Federation.

“We’re establishing a league built on the pillars of viability, quality, and fairness,” Whinham said. “That’s not a slogan – it’s a commitment. We have set out to impact lives and help create legacies – and that’s what really matters. We have been joined by so many talented and experienced founding partners from the areas of team ownership, league investment, major venue operators, our staff, media partners, brands, and others who believe, like we do, that Pro Volleyball Federation is the exact right thing at the exact right time.”

Pro Volleyball Federation is a women’s professional league that is run primarily by women. Jen Spicher, a respected business executive who has built sales teams responsible for billions of dollars of revenue generation, has been tapped as Chief Executive Officer. Reynaud, a member of the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame who spent 26 seasons as head coach at Florida State, served as Chair of the USA Volleyball Board of Directors and is a former president of the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association, will serve as Vice President of Volleyball Operations. Corbelli, also a Hall of Fame coach who amassed more than 600 career victories inclusive of her tenure at Texas A&M (1993-2017), will assist Reynaud in developing the league’s volleyball operations.

“This is something that we have been building for more than 18 months and we are finally at this exciting point where we can tell the world about this fantastic new opportunity for these awesome athletes,” Spicher said. “I was a college volleyball player and I know first-hand the excitement that all of these young ladies are feeling to finally have a meaningful opportunity to be a professional volleyball player without having to go overseas.”

Eight to 10 initial teams will debut in volleyball hotbeds throughout the nation in 2024, with additional markets added in subsequent years. Pro Volleyball Federation, which has already identified ownership groups in five markets, will begin announcing those markets and ownership groups in December.

The regular season will consist of 16 matches during the inaugural season, though that number will likely expand in future seasons. Rosters will include 14 players and the league expects to have a minimum of three National Game of the Week windows on major broadcast networks and a worldwide streaming partner.

With the launch of Pro Volleyball Federation, players will no longer have to choose between giving up the game they love or leaving the country to play it. First-year base salaries in Pro Volleyball Federation will be similar to those of current first-year WNBA players. Pro Volleyball Federation players will be able to earn additional compensation based on achievement and postseason advancement, while also sharing revenues with the league.

“One of the paramount motivations for building this league was a desire to treat our athletes the right way,” said Evans. “We are proud that we are the first professional volleyball league to provide our players a living wage while playing in North America. We are also extremely excited about being the first pro league to share revenues with our players from day one.”

Pro Volleyball Federation has already attracted the attention of many of America’s greatest volleyball

players and coaches, and the league expects its team rosters to be filled with top American volleyball stars.

“Volleyball is one of the most popular sports around the world and many countries offer a variety of leagues for their athletes to participate in,” Reynaud said. “The United States is one of the few countries that has not had a true professional league providing athletes opportunities to continue to play at a high level after college. Pro Volleyball Federation is ready to establish a league with teams around the country that will support these top athletes and coaches.”

In addition to upcoming announcements of team markets and ownership groups, Pro Volleyball Federation will soon be making announcements related to corporate partners, media and broadcast alliances, additional league investors, and other key partners.

Those wishing to become a part of Pro Volleyball Federation, whether as a player, coach, team owner, investor, sponsor, vendor, media company, or host venue, can email info@provolleyball.com or visit provolleyball.com.

ABOUT THE TEAM MANAGEMENT, LLC

Since 2002, The TEAM Management has served as The Experts in Acquisition and Management, successfully managing transactions for an array of entities throughout the sports and entertainment industries. Work includes teams at all levels, venues, buyers, sellers, licensed products, television and media projects and other related businesses. Along with its brokering services, The TEAM, based in Columbus, Ohio, has developed a comprehensive consulting practice and mature media and live event production capabilities. For more information, visit TheTeamLLC.com.

ABOUT THE REMEDY

Headquartered in Frisco, Texas, The Remedy is a boutique brand strategy and development agency that produces compelling brand experiences for clients within an array of industries. The Remedy’s comprehensive and integrated brand creation, brand activation and brand management solutions are designed to deliver impact and value to the customer. The Remedy’s client roster spans from blue chip brands to start-ups, offering clients fully integrated brand building, comprehensive marketing and communications, and world- class creative development. For more information visit TheRemedyBranding.com.

For Media Inquiries or to arrange interviews, contact: Rob Carolla, (214-208-1876 / rcarolla@yahoo.com)

(Omaha, Neb.) In cooperation with the Pro Volleyball Federation, Nebraska Pro Volleyball is bringing women’s professional volleyball to Omaha. Today, the Omaha-based team announced head coach Shelton Collier, revered for his knowledge of the game and respect for players, who brings more than 40 years of coaching experience and coaching education at the national, international and Olympic levels.

Coach Shelton Collier said, “This is a tremendous opportunity to coach in Omaha, the premier volleyball market in the country. It is especially exciting for our players to have a passionate fan base and unique resources that will allow our players to have an exceptional experience here.”

Team Co-Owner and global music sensation Jason Derulo said, “Volleyball fans know Nebraska is THE place to be for women’s volleyball. Launching this new League is a key moment in athletic history and for volleyball fans throughout Nebraska, Iowa and the world. Having a top-notch coach lead our players will give us an additional advantage for our sensational pro volleyball team in Omaha.”

Coach Collier is a 2022 American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee and has been one of the most successful coaches in collegiate volleyball. He is ranked seventh in career NCAA victories with 1,118 total wins and a career winning percentage of .790. He most recently completed a highly successful 21-year career at Wingate University in Charlotte, N.C., with a 553-90 overall record, while going 310-37 in conference play. Prior to Wingate, Collier coached for nine seasons at the University of Pittsburgh and 11 years at Georgia Tech, with 567 wins at the DI level.

He also has a rich history with USA Volleyball. From 1988-2001, Collier was Assistant Coach with the USA Women’s National Team and accompanied the team to the 1988 Olympic games in Seoul Korea. From 2002 through 2014, Collier served USA Volleyball as the Head Coach of the USA Youth National Team and USA Junior National team, taking both squads to world championship events. Collier was the first international coach for Nebraska icon and MVP of the 2022 Olympics, Jordan Larson, on the Youth National Team in 2003. Collier has had a life-long passion for volleyball and was an All-American setter for Ohio State University.

Former University of Nebraska-Lincoln Women’s Volleyball Coach, Terry Pettit, said, “Shelton Collier is an exceptional fit for the head coaching position for the Omaha pro volleyball franchise. He has had consistent success at the collegiate and international level and his relationship with USA Volleyball will be an advantage for players who join the team. Volleyball fans in Nebraska will appreciate the attention to detail from Coach Collier they have come to love from the collegiate teams in the state.”

The Omaha-based team is owned by Jason Derulo, Danny White and Chris Erickson.

Erickson stated, “As a Nebraska Native, I understand the importance of volleyball in our state. We have a responsibility to put an exceptional team on the court and Coach Collier has the passion and experience to deliver on that promise.”

White shared, “Coaches play a critical role in bringing out the best in players and the team. Coach Collier already has an incredible core group of top players who have committed to our Omaha team. We are looking forward to Coach finalizing a phenomenal roster with additional free agents as well as drafting talented collegiate players in November.”

On the League, Coach Collier shared, “The Pro Volleyball Federation is unique and special in bringing a new level of financial support for players. The ownership groups in every city have committed resources for travel, salaries and facilities at a level that has never been done before in the U.S. For the first time ever, volleyball players in our country will truly be treated and paid as professional athletes and will not have to go overseas to make a living playing the sport they love.”

Nebraska has a rich history of supporting women’s volleyball. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln women’s volleyball program has led the nation in attendance since 2013. Omaha, which hosted the 2022 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championships in December inside a jam-packed crowd at the CHI Health Center in downtown Omaha, made headlines when this past season’s matchup of Nebraska and hometown Creighton University was played before nearly 16,000 fans at the same arena. The in-state match-up set the record for the largest crowd for a regular-season volleyball match in NCAA history.
The Pro Volleyball Federation is expected to launch its first season in late January 2024.

Six of the markets have been announced: Omaha, Atlanta, San Diego, Orlando, Grand Rapids and Columbus.

ABOUT NEBRASKA PRO VOLLEYBALL

Nebraska Pro Volleyball aims to be the premier home of women’s volleyball throughout the world. The Omaha-based team is owned by global music sensation Jason Derulo and entrepreneurs Danny White and Chris Erickson, Co-Founders of City+Ventures, an investment and business acceleration organization headquartered in Omaha. Having been named one of the fastest growing companies in Nebraska and the U.S., City+Ventures pursues opportunities focused on investing in people and communities. For more information, visit city-ventures.com.

As an international household name with more than 100 million followers across popular social media platforms, Derulo has sold more than 250 million singles worldwide, achieving 15 platinum singles. He joins Taylor Swift, Elton John, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Maroon 5, and Christina Aguilera as the only artists in history to achieve a #1 single on U.S. Pop Radio in three decades. Those wishing to be a part of Nebraska Pro Volleyball can email jrwang@city-ventures.com.

ABOUT PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION

Pro Volleyball Federation is REAL pro volleyball and the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America. Pro Volleyball Federation will begin play in January 2024 with world class players and coaches, including some of America’s greatest volleyball players and elite players from around the world. Our entire focus is on ensuring that our level and quality of play, our treatment of players, the quality of our event presentations, and our day-to-day fan experience is world class and the very best offered in North America. Those wishing to become a part of Pro Volleyball Federation, whether as a player, coach, team owner, investor, sponsor, vendor, media company, or host venue, can email info@provolleyball.com.