Talor Gooch and Partners Preston Lyon and Brandon Bates Have Purchased Mississippi Blues
Gooch and partners join a growing list of athletes and celebrities purchasing teams in SFC
Dallas, TX, December 5th, 2024 – Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) today announced that professional golfer and 2023 LIV Player of The Year Talor Gooch and partners Preston Lyon and Brandon Bates have purchased the Mississippi Blues Angling Club through their sports and entertainment holding company FJS Ventures. The purchase comes on the heels of the league's recent announcement of 16 new teams, each representing a region across North America. These teams will compete weekly in a traditional league format, spotlighting offshore fishing's top competitors and building dedicated regional fan bases across the continent.
FJS Ventures is a forward-thinking sports and entertainment holding company founded by Talor Gooch, Preston Lyon, and Brandon Bates. Combining a shared passion for innovation, sports, and entertainment, the trio established FJS Ventures to redefine opportunities across various industries. The company owns and operates the Oklahoma Wildcatters (A Professional Bull Riders (PBR) team based in Oklahoma), Intrepid XXII (A full-service sports agency specializing in talent representation, sponsorship consulting, advisory services, and the development of new ventures in sports and entertainment), and now the Mississippi Blues Angling Club. FJS Ventures focuses on creating exceptional experiences and meaningful partnerships by leveraging its diverse expertise across sports and business.
Since the league’s first season in 2022, SFC has operated an amateur “open” format, allowing competitors of all skill levels the opportunity to compete in its SFC Billfish Championship. In this new competitive format, SFC will now showcase the same teams week-to-week as they travel on an international tour competing in elite tournaments and fishing in top-tier fisheries from April through the end of summer annually.
Talor Gooch and partners Preston Lyon and Brandon Bates join SFC’s high-profile team owners including World No. 1 Golfer and Olympic Gold Medalist Scottie Scheffler, NFL Legend Randy Moss, New Orleans Saints 5X Pro Bowl RB Alvin Kamara, Charlotte Hornets star PF Grant Williams, Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl RB Raheem Mostert and ACM Award winning country superstar Brian Kelley.
“I’m beyond excited to be involved with SFC alongside my partners,” said Talor Gooch. “Collectively we see this as a tremendous opportunity to get involved on the ground floor with an up-and-coming league, as well as diversify our portfolio of holdings through FJS Ventures.”
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming Talor and his partners Preston and Brandon to the SFC family,” added Mark Neifeld, CEO & Commissioner of SFC. “As we continue to finalize our roster of team owners, this Gooch and FJS Ventures bring significant expertise and value to our league that will greatly benefit our sport.”
About Sports Fishing Championship
Founded in 2021, Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) is a competitive sports fishing league representing 16 regions across North America. With a focus on growing the sport and engaging fans through innovation, SFC+ offers a direct-to-consumer OTT platform that delivers unparalleled access to live events, fishing content, and its celebrity-driven team format.
Media Contacts:
Sport Fishing Championship
Courtney Hueston, Head of Marketing
courtney@sportfishingchampionship.com