FANZO acquires The Rail Media for US launch and expansion
Global sports bar finder and fan engagement platform FANZO has entered the U.S. market through the acquisition of The Rail Media, a North American hospitality publisher of the industry title, The Sports TV Guide.
The acquisition gives the London-based company direct access to The Rail Media’s established network of bar and restaurant operators. For over 20 years, The Rail Media has built relationships with major hospitality brands including Buffalo Wild Wings, Applebee’s, and TGI Fridays. The move is intended to accelerate FANZO’s mission to grow its out-of-home sports viewing platform globally, and it will upgrade The Rail Media’s existing clients onto its platform.
Backed by investors including Inspiring Sport Capital, FANZO has raised $8.2m in funding since its inception. The platform, which attracted over 6m users in 2025, is used by over 40,000 venues globally and already operates in the U.K., France, Ireland, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand. The move aims to connect fans, venues, brands, and rights holders in the US, a market which sees 500m visits to pubs and bars to watch live sport each year. FANZO holds partnerships with organisations such as UEFA, World Rugby, TNT Sports, and Diageo.
Leo MacLehose, Co-Founder of FANZO, said, “Acquiring The Rail Media gives us boots on the ground in the U.S. while preserving the trust and relationships they’ve built for decades. We now have both the infrastructure and vision to bring a new era of fan engagement to the American Sports Bars Market. Our goal is to unlock previously untapped value through measurable, authentic connections between fans, venues, brands, and rights holders, on a scale not seen before in the U.S.”
Andrew Jaffee, Founder of The Rail Media, said, “Joining forces with FANZO marks a powerful next chapter for The Rail Media. We’ve spent over two decades building trusted relationships with venues across the U.S., and FANZO brings the technology and global vision to elevate that work. Together, we’re creating the future of sports engagement in bars and restaurants.”
Lucien Boyer, Founding Partner at Inspiring Sport Capital, said, “This is the perfect time for FANZO to enter the US market, with the FIFA World Cup this summer, rapidly followed by the LA Olympics in 2028. Inspiring Sport Capital are excited to be backing this journey, and welcoming The Rail Media team to the family”
