New York Sharks

Name

New York Sharks

Legal name

New York Sharks

Website

https://nysharksfootball.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Tackle Football

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

American Football Leagues (MPAKAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Team Sports Matches (Club & National) (MPAGAMAB)

Keywords

• Women's tackle football
• Women's football league
• Football merchandise sales
• Youth football programs
• Women's sports team

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Home game ticket sales at Aviator Sports Complex and other venues for regular season games, playoffs, and special events.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online store and gameday merchandise including apparel and commemorative items for the Grand FINale season.
3. Book Sales: Sale of published books including 'Black & Blue' and 'Changing Cadence' by owner Andra Douglas, based on the team's story.
4. Documentary Distribution: Award-winning documentary 'First Down' following the 2000 team season available for streaming on Vimeo.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The New York Sharks was a women's tackle football team that competed from 1999-2018 in organized leagues including the IWFL and WFA, delivering competitive women's tackle football through home games, tournament play, and community events. The team also monetized its brand through merchandise sales, published books, an award-winning documentary, and affiliated youth football programs operated via the Women's Gridiron Foundation.

Product overview

The New York Sharks is a women's tackle football organization that operated from 1999-2018. The organization encompasses the core product of the professional football team, supplemented by the Women's Gridiron Foundation non-profit (providing youth development and community programs), published books (Black & Blue and Changing Cadence), the First Down documentary, and merchandise sales. The organization was sold in 2019 but continues to maintain its legacy through its archived website and ongoing community impact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New York Sharks Women's Tackle Football Team Professional women's tackle football team that competed from 1999-2018 in the IWFL and WFA leagues, amassing 10 Division Titles, 6 East Coast Championships, 2 National Titles, and 1 International Title — the longest operating women's tackle football team in the world. Sold to new ownership in 2019.
• Black & Blue: Love, Sports and the Art of Empowerment Published memoir book by Andra Douglas chronicling the New York Sharks' journey in women's tackle football; sold via Amazon and direct channels for readers and women's sports audiences.
• Changing Cadence Sequel book to Black & Blue by Andra Douglas, published in 2026, exploring themes of aging, transition, and connections between young athletes and octogenarians; sold via Amazon and direct channels.
• First Down Documentary Award-winning documentary that followed the Sharks during their first tackle football season in 2000, produced by filmmakers Eli Kabillio and Lorna Thomas; available for streaming on Vimeo.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 Division Titles, 6 East Coast Championships, 2 National Titles, 1 International Title across 19 seasons
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Birmingham LionsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2018Birmingham Lions hosted the inaugural Pro Cloud Transatlantic Tournament in Birmingham, England. The Sharks traveled internationally to compete, defeating both Birmingham Lions and Helsinki Wolverines to win the championship. This was the first U.S.-based major market team to travel outside North America for 11-on-11 tackle football.
• Helsinki WolverinesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2018Helsinki Wolverines from Finland participated in the inaugural Pro Cloud Transatlantic Tournament. The Sharks defeated them 27-14 in the tournament championship game.
• New York WolvesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Team ownership was sold to Tom Farrell and Daniela Farrell in 2019. They took over operations after the Sharks' final season, continuing women's football in the NYC area under the new New York Wolves name.
• NFL W.O.N. Program OfficialsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2016An all-female officiating crew from the NFL's W.O.N. program (Women Officiating Now) officiated the NY Sharks vs. Washington Prodigy game on June 11, 2016 - the first all-female crew to officiate a regular season game in women's tackle football history.
• Women's Gridiron FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2015Founded in 2003 as the Fins Up Foundation for Female Athletics, renamed Women's Gridiron Foundation in 2015. The foundation promotes flag and tackle football for girls and women globally, provides resources, mentorship, and programming to start-up and established organizations. Andra Douglas serves as founder and driving force behind both organizations.
• Make-A-Wish FoundationminorOthers · 1 January 2015The NY Sharks became Wish Grantors for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, bringing joy to children battling life-threatening illnesses. Players and staff participated in special events at Mt. Sinai Hospital.
• NFL / Giants Practice FacilityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007The Sharks produced and ran the first ever NFL Junior Player Development program for girls at the Giants practice facility in spring 2007. The event was so successful it became an annual experience for girls in the greater NYC area.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• USA Football: National governing body that selected the Sharks to represent the United States at the inaugural IFAF Women's World Flag Football Championships in 2008. Comparable as an institutional stakeholder in the broader women's football ecosystem where the Sharks built partnerships and recognition.

Direct peers

• Minnesota Vixen: WFA women's tackle football team that played the Sharks in the 2018 WFA Division II Championship final. Comparable as a peer franchise competing in the same league structure and championship tier.
• Pittsburgh Passion: Long-established women's tackle football team in WFA, comparable to the Sharks in longevity, regional footprint, and semi-professional operating model. Both have built multi-year championship-level programs in the same league.
• New York Wolves: Direct successor franchise to the New York Sharks in the NYC women's tackle football market, founded by the same ownership group (Tom and Daniela Farrell) after acquiring the Sharks in 2019. Operates the same niche the Sharks vacated in the same geography.
• DC Divas: Established WFA women's tackle football franchise in the Northeast, directly comparable to the Sharks in terms of geography, league affiliation, and player demographic. Both teams have built multi-season track records in the same competitive circuit.
• Boston Renegades: One of the most successful women's tackle football teams in the Women's Football Alliance, comparable to the Sharks as a perennial championship contender in the same league. Both operate as semi-professional tackle football franchises with similar community-driven models.

Regional players

• Helsinki Wolverines: Finnish women's American football team that competed against the Sharks in the 2018 inaugural Pro Cloud Transatlantic Tournament championship. Comparable as a peer franchise in the same women's tackle football format operating internationally.
• Birmingham Lions: UK-based women's American football team that hosted and competed against the Sharks in the 2018 inaugural Pro Cloud Transatlantic Tournament. Comparable as a women's tackle football operator in a different geography, providing a benchmark for international women's football franchise models.

Broad incumbents

• Women's Football Alliance (WFA): The governing league of which the Sharks were a member team from 2017-2018, and in which they won the Division II National Championship in their final season. Comparable as the institutional backbone of the category the Sharks operated in.
• Independent Women's Football League (IWFL): The earlier women's tackle football league the Sharks competed in for many seasons, winning the IWFL Atlantic Conference Championship and a national title. Comparable as a peer league that shaped the competitive structure the Sharks operated within.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NYSharks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nysharksfootball
• Facebookfacebook.com/264173645173
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-york-sharks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New York Sharks