Hey, sports friends! It’s no secret that The Walt Disney Company has been working closely with Formula 1 lately, weaving the Disney brand into one of the world’s most popular motorsport arenas. It’s been quite the rollout, too, with trackside events, ongoing merchandise drops, and new details popping up with almost every race weekend. I’ll admit, at the beginning, I wasn’t totally convinced. I couldn’t quite connect the dots between Disney fans and the world of F1 in a way that felt natural.
But here we are, and it’s actually working. There’s something undeniably fun about seeing Mickey Mouse take to the racetrack, and while I’m still not sure how many die-hard racing fans are suddenly diving into Disney, I can say the reverse is happening. As a lifelong Disney fan, I’ve found myself paying more attention to motorsport than ever before. And that got me thinking, if Disney can make this work, what other sports collaborations could be next?
Naturally, my first pick would have to be the NBA. As a family that lives and breathes basketball, I would love to see Disney revisit this space in a bigger, more lasting way. We’ve seen glimpses of this before, especially during the unique circumstances of the NBA bubble, but imagine a full-scale collaboration. Team-inspired collections, character crossovers, maybe even themed game nights. It feels like a perfect match just waiting to happen. Well, for me, at least.
Then there’s baseball, which already has a long and surprisingly deep connection with Disney. From the classic, vintage-inspired merch styles to Disney’s past ownership of the Anaheim Angels and current connection with the Savannah Bananas, the ties to MLB have always been there. And who could forget the legacy of Disney’s The Mighty Ducks from 1992, which led to the creation of the Anaheim Ducks? That blend of storytelling and sport is something Disney does so well, and it feels like a natural space to revisit with fresh ideas and modern designs.
Of course, Disney’s reach into sports is already massive through broadcasting and streaming, but what makes the F1 collaboration so interesting is how immersive it is. It’s not just content, it’s merchandise, experiences, and events all rolled into one. That’s the kind of all-in approach that makes you wonder what’s coming next.
Could we see Disney step further into global football? A deeper partnership with basketball? Or even something completely unexpected? One thing’s for sure: once you start imagining Disney crossing over with your favorite sport, it’s hard to stop. So now I have to ask. If you could pick the next big Disney x Sports collaboration, what would it be?
