Power outages, IndyCar, Beyoncé, Charles Schwab major issues, and Korean early voting guide

Global sports fandom cohesion and rising demand for entertainment

In recent years, global sports fandom has been becoming more cohesive, leading to a significant increase in demand for entertainment. Various sports events showcase this well. The UEFA competitions and international tournaments have seen a noticeable rise in online streaming views. UEFA Euro 2024 has caught the attention of the world, achieving a cumulative streaming figure of over 5 billion, making it the most-watched sports event of 2024. Meanwhile, the viewer count for the mid-season of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League has surged by an impressive 57% compared to the previous year, reaching 5.1 million, reflecting a growing interest in global club football. This vibrant phenomenon captures the widespread popularity of soccer effectively.

Globalization of Basketball

The NBA currently has over 2.1 billion followers on global social media, with approximately 70% of those fans located outside the United States. International regular season games like the NBA Paris Games play a crucial role in the league's globalization strategy by encouraging both live attendance and digital engagement. Similar to soccer on an international scale, basketball is targeting a broader market through communication with fans. This phenomenon is directly linked to the NBA's broadcasts and social engagement, generating a significant impact among basketball fans worldwide.

Global Success of Baseball

Major League Baseball (MLB) is showing encouraging success in overseas markets. In particular, the first game of the 2025 Tokyo Series recorded an average viewership of 25 million in Japan, reaching an all-time high. The total attendance for the 2024 regular season reached 71 million, the highest since 2017, proving once again the excitement in the ballparks. These achievements demonstrate that baseball has transcended being just a sport and has established itself as a global culture. This is also a result of the popularity of individual players, as well as the support from local communities.

Expansion of Digital Engagement in Formula One

The 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix sold out, attracting 306,000 on-site spectators. In particular, social media reach increased by 4% to 3.9 billion, and content interactions grew by 47% to 81 million. These results indicate that Formula One is expanding digital engagement not just beyond the boundaries of motor racing, but also through deep connections with fans. It is particularly noteworthy that they are actively communicating across various social media platforms to attract the interest of Millennials and Generation Z.

Formation of a Global Fanbase for American Football

The global viewership of the 2024 Super Bowl outside of North America has seen an increase of 10% compared to the previous year, indicating a strong fandom developing outside the United States. The NFL plans to expand its global fan base by adding eight new countries—Canada, Brazil, Switzerland, Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates—in 2025. This global strategy enhances the appeal of American football and promotes interaction with fans across diverse cultures.

Growth Potential of Volleyball

The global volleyball market is expected to grow from 12.6 billion dollars in 2023 to 19.5 billion dollars by 2030. In particular, the volleyball experience program held during the 2024 Paris Olympics is expected to engage over 120,000 fans, further strengthening cohesion through on-site experiences. This goes beyond being merely a sports event and establishes a foundation for expanding fandom through close connections with the community. The future growth potential of volleyball will arise from these various activities.

IndyCar's Fan Engagement Strategy

The main grandstand seating for the 2025 Indianapolis 500 is sold out, with an on-site attendance of approximately 350,000 people. The average TV viewership per race this season is 1.3 million, representing a 2% increase compared to the previous year, while the viewership for the marquee 500-mile race reached 5.31 million, an 8% increase. This growth indicates a strong and cohesive traditional motorsports fan base is forming. In particular, IndyCar is actively engaging with fans through social media, further strengthening the relationship with its audience.

Prize Changes in IndyCar and NASCAR

The total prize money for IndyCar in 2025 is estimated to be around 20 million dollars, with the winner expected to receive at least 3.8 million dollars or more. This is an increase compared to the prize money received by 2024 winner Joseph Newgarden, reflecting the economic impact based on the athletes' performance and fan interest. Such changes are also contributing factors that, along with an increase in sponsors and advertising, are attracting even more enthusiastic attention from fans.

The Ongoing Influence of Star Entertainment

Bella Hadid continues to be active in 2025, drawing attention in various fields such as fashion shows and film appearances. Her Instagram follower count has surpassed 24 million, demonstrating the expanding influence of her brand. This indicates a positive impact on her engagement with younger generations. Beyoncé also won 'Album of the Year' at the 2025 Grammy Awards, showcasing how her music breaks the boundaries of various genres.

Film Industry Growth Trend

During the Memorial Day weekend of 2025, Disney's live-action film 'Lilo & Stitch' earned $145.5 million in opening revenue. Additionally, 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' recorded $63 million, marking the start of the summer movie season. This growth indicates that consumers are increasingly favoring movie content and symbolizes the recovery of the film industry.

Rapid Growth of Streaming Services

The global media streaming market is expected to reach 108.7 billion dollars by 2025, growing at an average annual rate of 8.6% to reach 193.8 billion dollars by 2032. This reflects the significant changes in consumer content consumption patterns driven by the proliferation of smart devices and the spread of OTT platforms. As various content becomes easily accessible, consumers are gaining more choices.

Trends of Major Companies in the Financial Market

In 2025, Charles Schwab paid a quarterly dividend of $0.27 per share, recording an 8% increase rate. The current stock price is showing a stable trend. Meanwhile, Robinhood reported a first-quarter net income of $0.37 per share, an increase of 106% compared to the previous year, with revenue also rising by 50% to $927 million. However, there is a possibility of performance slowing in the second quarter due to a decrease in trading volume.

Performance Issues of Costco and Home Depot

In the second quarter of 2025, Costco has experienced an increase in sales, yet concerns about profitability are being raised. Currently, the stock price has slightly declined, with a drop in consumer confidence being identified as a major cause. Home Depot also reported weaker-than-expected sales in the first quarter of 2025 due to delays in large remodeling projects and a decline in consumer confidence. This indicates a rapid shift in consumer sentiment.

Future Competitiveness of the Electric Vehicle Industry

The electric vehicle industry is seeing plans from Uber to transition all vehicles to electric by 2040, with an investment of $800 million in 2025 to expand EV charging infrastructure. Tesla is also expanding global electric vehicle production and achieving positive results, although questions have been raised about the practicality of its robotics project, Optimus. These advancements will further strengthen the electric vehicle industry.

Innovation in the Space Development Industry

AST SpaceMobile is building a satellite-based mobile communication network, and Rocket Lab is providing satellite launch services in collaboration with NASA. NASA is promoting the lunar re-landing through the Artemis program by 2027 in collaboration with the European Space Agency, and British astronaut Rosemary Coogan is preparing for a mission on the International Space Station. This underscores the increasing importance of global cooperation in space development.

Sustainable Development of the Energy Industry

In the third quarter of 2022, U.S. clean energy manufacturing investments increased from $2.5 billion to $14 billion by the first quarter of 2025. ACME Solar Holdings secured 1,900 MW of new capacity, and GE Vernova offers energy solutions focused on wind, solar, and battery storage technologies. These efforts indicate a path toward sustainable development and play a crucial role in future competitiveness.

Revitalization of Colorado's Economy and Increase in Tourism

Colorado's economy is actively developing due to the combination of advanced technology and tourism. In the Denver and Boulder areas, there is an increase in startups and environmentally friendly energy companies, and by 2025, the number of tourists is expected to recover to pre-COVID levels, positively impacting local small businesses and the service industry. This situation is injecting vitality into the community.

Sun della's regional cohesion

Sundella, despite being a small town, plays an important role in strengthening local cohesion through its regional soccer league and cultural festivals. The expansion of local government support policies is revitalizing the regional economy. This contributes to residents enhancing their pride in the community and activating collaborative programs.

Growth of IT and Sports in North Carolina

North Carolina is a region where advanced technology and educational infrastructure are concentrated, such as the Research Triangle, and it continues to grow in the IT and life sciences sectors. In particular, the popularity of professional sports teams centered around Charlotte has greatly contributed to the local economy and community revitalization.

Economic Diversification in Edmonton

Edmonton is diversifying from a resource and energy-based economy to advanced manufacturing and technology sectors, and the popularity of the ice hockey league is helping to strengthen community bonds. In 2025, urban redevelopment projects are also set to be fully underway, with expectations for infrastructure improvements and tourism revitalization.

Cultural and Tourism Growth in Dublin

Dublin has established itself as a major IT hub in Europe, with many global IT companies having their European headquarters located there. Alongside the recovery of the tourism industry, local festivals, cultural events, and sports events are contributing to the enhancement of the city's brand value. This is making Dublin an attractive tourist destination.

The aftereffects of the assassination attempt on Putin

In early 2025, reports of an assassination attempt against President Putin in Russia caused a significant upheaval in both the international community and domestic politics. This acts as a destabilizing factor in the internal power struggle and foreign policy of Russia, further amplifying global geopolitical tensions.

Social Impact of Power Outages

A large-scale power outage is occurring in several countries, causing significant disruptions to industrial production and daily life. Climate change and aging infrastructure are working together to challenge the stability of the power grid. There are calls from both the government and the private sector for urgent responses and long-term infrastructure improvements.

Fireworks Events and Safety Issues

Concerns about safety incidents related to the use of fireworks at festivals and national events are growing. In some areas, illegal fireworks incidents have occurred, raising public awareness. In response, there is a situation where safety regulations are being strengthened and educational campaigns are expanding. Balancing the public's desire to participate in festivals with safety issues is becoming increasingly important.

Notice for Early Voting in the 21st Presidential Election of the Republic of Korea

The early voting for the 21st presidential election on May 29 and May 30, from 6 AM to 6 PM. Voters can cast their votes at early voting stations nationwide, regardless of their registered residence, and must present a photo ID issued by a public institution, such as a resident registration card, driver's license, or passport. The main voting will take place on June 3, and it is expected that the public's interest and participation in politics will grow further.