The Athletic

The Athletic was founded in January 2016 by Alex Mather and Adam Hansmann, two former colleagues from the subscription-based fitness app Strava. Recognizing that local newspapers were cutting sports sections, they set out to build a digital platform offering ad-free, in-depth coverage of professional and college sports. The company launched by hiring well-known beat writers from newspapers across North America, offering competitive salaries and editorial freedom to produce long-form analysis. Within a few years, The Athletic expanded to dozens of markets, covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and major college programs, as well as European soccer leagues.

The business model relied entirely on subscriptions, with no advertising revenue. This allowed writers to focus on quality over clicks, producing investigative pieces, feature stories, and tactical breakdowns that appealed to dedicated fans. The Athletic also built a podcast network, newsletters, and video content, and launched a dedicated soccer vertical called The Athletic FC. Despite rapid subscriber growth, over 1.2 million by early 2022, the company was not profitable as an independent entity, having raised roughly $140 million in venture capital from investors including Founders Fund and Evolution Media.

In January 2022, The New York Times Company acquired The Athletic for $550 million in cash. The acquisition integrated The Athletic into the NYT's digital subscription bundle, offering combined access to news, games, cooking, and sports. Under NYT ownership, The Athletic has reduced operating losses and moved toward profitability, benefiting from shared technology and cross-promotion. It continues to expand its coverage, including women's sports and international soccer, and remains a leading voice in subscription-based sports journalism. [edit]