Mountain View
Front Office Sports
How Rupert Murdoch Changed Sports Media Forever
Rupert Murdoch has been arguably the most influential figure in sports media over the last three decades. As he steps down as chair of Fox and News Corp., we discuss his monumental and ongoing impact. Plus, MLB’s top three spenders are missing the playoffs for the first time in 15...
Andlauer Completes Record $950M Senators Acquisition
After more than three months of due diligence and league review, Michael Andlauer has at last completed his record-setting, $950 million acquisition of the Ottawa Senators. After prior approval by the league’s executive committee, the Board of Governors also unanimously cleared the transaction, which represents the highest price ever paid for an NHL team, and deal is now officially closed. The approval process also follows a separate and protracted sales process lasting seven months.
FIFA, Kroenke Clash Over SoFi Stadium’s World Cup Revenue Sharing
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America is less than three years away — and the continent’s most expensive stadium could lose the chance to host any games for soccer’s biggest event. Stan Kroenke, the multisport owner who built SoFi Stadium at a $5 billion-plus price...
TKO Makes First Big Move After WWE-UFC Merger
The newly formed TKO Group Holdings confirmed initial projections by making its first big move following the landmark, $21.4 billion UFC-WWE merger. But Wall Street immediately made it clear that it’s still not happy. Just nine days after WWE president Nick Khan said the company was “pretty deep” in...
Saudi Prince Dismisses Sportswashing Claims Post Newcastle, LIV Golf
Sportswashing has been one of the more ubiquitous terms in the industry over the past few years as foreign nations invest billions of dollars in professional teams and leagues in the U.S. and Europe. One of the most criticized countries is Saudi Arabia, whose $700 billion Public Investment Fund has...
XFL-USFL Merger Could Drop Teams, Change League Name
If the merger finalizes, the XFL and USFL merger might only include some of the 16 franchises in the combined league. The XFL and USFL each played with eight teams last season, but journalist James Larsen writes, “Regarding a USFL-XFL merger, it is likely that we do not see all 16 teams in action, per source. Hearing that organizations without venues currently secured are in hot water.”
Deion Sanders Reshaping College Football Fanbase With Buffaloes Surge
Deion Sanders’ transformation of the Colorado Buffaloes is the talk of the sports world. But there’s one story angle gaining more attention—namely, Coach Prime’s impact on Black TV audiences. Many Black sports fans who casually watched college football are all-in on his 3-0 Buffs. Sanders has...
Tottenham, Valued At $2.8B, Says It’s Open To Stake Sale
Two months after Tottenham Hotspur majority owner Joe Lewis was charged in the U.S. with insider trading — and subsequently released on a $300 million bond — the Premier League club is talking about adding new investors. Club chairman Daniel Levy said that the team, recently valued at...
What’s Next For Fox Sports As Murdoch Steps Down
Rupert Murdoch’s monumental decision to step down as chairman of his Fox Corp. and News Corp. caps off a historic and often-controversial, seven-decade career — one that included the establishment of America’s fourth major broadcast network on the back of major sports rights. But for the current...
England Women’s Team Resolves Pay Dispute After WWC Success
As the controversy surrounding the Spanish women’s national team that won the 2023 Women’s World Cup continues, the runner-up England squad has resolved its own dispute with the country’s Football Association over compensation. Prior to the World Cup, FIFA disclosed plans to make direct payments to players...
NBC Inks WWE SmackDown Rights for Reported $1.4 Billion
Broadcasts of WWE’s SmackDown will leave Fox to return to USA Network as part of a new five-year deal between WWE and NBC Universal. WWE’s “Friday Night SmackDown” will broadcast on USA Network starting in October 2024. NBC will pay $287 million per year for the...
Sports Illustrated Expands Its Footprint with College Town Resorts
Sports Illustrated is launching a new concept of sports-themed travel resorts in college towns, starting with a location in Tuscaloosa set to open near the University of Alabama in 2025. The resorts are expected to include a full-service hotel, vacation club, residential condominiums, live-action sports experiences, dining, and an SI...
Selling ABC Poses Billion-Dollar Dilemma for Disney and ESPN’s Future
The Walt Disney Co. could pocket a $4 billion-plus windfall by selling ABC. But the loss of the broadcast network poses troubling implications for ESPN, as the sister networks have become increasingly intertwined regarding televising sports. To combat the actors/writers strike, ESPN just announced ABC would simulcast 15 “Monday Night...
Could Promotion-Relegation work in College Football?
Boise State associate athletic director Michael Walsh has proposed a promotion and relegation system for college football among western U.S. schools. The proposal aims to create an exciting media product while reducing travel for non-football sports. Front Office Sports reporter Amanda Christovich joins to explain what she’s hearing on the idea from school and conference administrators.
Fanatics Nabbing WWE Rights In Latest Win Over Panini
Michael Rubin’s $31 billion sports memorabilia behemoth has earned another key victory in its battle with longtime trading card company Panini. Fanatics is set to start its WWE trading card licensing deal several years early — immediately taking over the rights held by Panini until now. WWE — which already had an apparel deal with Fanatics — has reportedly ended its Panini deal, which was set to expire in 2026, due to breach of contract. Specific details are unclear.
Royals Miss Self-Imposed Deadline To Select Stadium Site
The Kansas City Royals acknowledged that they will miss their intended late-September target to name the site of their proposed $2 billion new stadium, throwing an early wrench into the facility development’s plans. Less than a month after unveiling the two candidate sites for the proposed project, the Royals...
RFK Stadium Bill Advances Amid Debate Over Taxpayer Funding of Sports Venues
WASHINGTON — A congressional hearing on the future of the federally owned RFK Stadium site turned into a debate over using public money for sports stadiums. On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee voted 31-9 to advance a bill that allows for a 99-year lease for the land — and a potential new stadium for the Washington Commanders — on the RFK site where the franchise played for 36 seasons.
Can Amazon Keep Up NFL Viewership Boost After Record Week 1?
Amazon’s hopes for NFL dominance are high after record-breaking viewership for last week’s 2023 season debut of “Thursday Night Football” on Prime Video. Thursday’s streaming broadcast of the New York Giants at the San Francisco 49ers will look to retain the 15 million viewers who watched Philadelphia Eagles’ 34-28 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 — officially the most-streamed NFL game ever.
Adidas CEO Stands Behind Ye Nearly Year After Brand Cut Ties
In a rare, surprising corporate move, Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden said he doesn’t think Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, “meant” the antisemitic comments that led the brand to cut ties with the rapper. On the “In Good Company” podcast, Gulden stood behind Ye, describing the...
As Sports Teams Exit Bay Area, Pro Soccer Gains Notable Win
The outlook for pro sports in Oakland has seemed bleaker than any other American city for a while now. The dire state of the Oakland Coliseum has pushed the A’s to join the Raiders in fleeing the Bay Area in favor of Las Vegas, while the Golden State Warriors are now thriving in San Francisco after ditching their Oakland arena in 2019.
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