Political Sparring Intensifies Over Bears’ $5B Stadium Future
Illinois lawmakers are wrestling with a “megaprojects” bill that would let the Chicago Bears negotiate reduced property taxes for a proposed $5 billion domed stadium in Arlington Heights. Governor J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson are at odds, each defending their vision for the team’s location while construction costs climb by roughly $10 million each month. The NFL, eager to keep pace with a wave of new venues, has pressed Illinois to finalize the decision before the legislative session ends on May 31. The Bears are expected to announce a site choice by early summer, with only Arlington Heights and an approved site in Hammond, Indiana, remaining viable.
Former NBA Exec Dave Checketts: Utah ‘Sold Off Their Future’ With PE Deal
Former NBA executive Dave Checketts criticized the University of Utah’s private‑equity partnership with Otro Capital, calling it a sale of the school’s athletic future. The deal, approved unanimously by the board, will spin off the athletics department into an LLC...
Aaron Rodgers Returns to Steelers With a Big Raise
Aaron Rodgers re‑signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one‑year contract worth up to $25 million, a significant raise from his $15 million salary last season. The deal includes a base salary of $22‑23 million and was secured after the Steelers placed a...
PGA Championship Increases Purse to Record $20.5 Million
The PGA Championship announced a record $20.5 million purse for 2026, up $1.5 million from last year. The winner will collect $3.69 million, while the top three finishers each earn over $1 million. Despite the hike, the event remains third‑largest among the four majors,...
Gambling Layoffs Pile Up As Sports Betting Industry Recalibrates
Penn Entertainment announced layoffs of more than 75 staff in its Penn Interactive unit, which includes theScore Bet and online casino operations. Gambling.com Group (GDC) cut roughly 150 jobs, a 25% reduction, as it pivots to an AI‑first model promising...
Rays Reach Preliminary Agreement With City, County on $2.3B Ballpark
The Tampa Bay Rays have signed a non‑binding memorandum of understanding with the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County outlining financing for a proposed $2.3 billion domed ballpark on the Dale Mabry Campus. The plan calls for the Rays to fund...
Arbitrator Rules in Favor of College Sports NIL Watchdog in First Appeal
A third‑party arbitrator ruled against 18 Nebraska football players, upholding the College Sports Commission's (CSC) rejection of their NIL deals. The arbitrator found the deals lacked a valid business purpose and violated the settlement’s anti‑warehousing rule. Playfly, the multimedia rights...
Amazon to Open ‘TNF’ With Bills-Lions, Highmark Stadium Debut
Amazon announced that its 2026 Thursday Night Football (TNF) season will open with a Bills‑Lions matchup on Sept. 17, the first regular‑season game at the Bills’ new Highmark Stadium. The debut aligns with the NFL’s rollout of next‑generation venues for several...
Ryan Lochte to Coach College Swimming at $34 an Hour
Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte has been hired as an assistant coach for Missouri State’s swimming and diving program, earning $34.10 an hour—about $30,000 a year—plus performance bonuses. The contract runs from August 2026 to June 2027 and includes $750 for...
Kenny Bednarek Still Believes ‘Sky’s the Limit’ for Grand Slam Track
Two‑time Olympic silver medalist Kenny Bednarek continues to champion Grand Slam Track despite the league’s Chapter 11 filing. The U.S.‑based circuit, launched by Michael Johnson, earned less than $2 million in 2025 while racking up over $40 million in debt, leaving Bednarek owed $195,000....
The Sports League Where Doping Is Legal
The Enhanced Games, a new sports league that permits performance‑enhancing drugs, debuted on the New York Stock Exchange with backing from Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr. The league offers a $25 million prize pool for 50 athletes and operates on...
LIV’s New Board Directors Also Take Over U.K. Positions
LIV Golf appointed two new independent directors, Eugene Davis and Jon Zinman, to its four U.K. holding companies on May 4. The appointments coincided with the removal of three former directors—Ross Hallett, Jake Jones, and Louise Savage—who had only recently...
Braves Earnings Show Promise and Pressure of RSN Shift
The Atlanta Braves posted a 53% jump in first‑quarter revenue to $72 million, helped by an early start to the 2026 season and five home games at Truist Park. Adjusted operating loss narrowed to $17.6 million from a $28.5 million loss a year...
Pacers President to Fans After Losing NBA Draft Lottery Pick: ‘I’m Sorry’
The Indiana Pacers dropped to the fifth spot in the NBA draft lottery, forfeiting their 2026 first‑round selection to the Los Angeles Clippers. The loss stems from a 2024 trade that sent center Ivica Zubac to Indiana in exchange for...
Rolapp: PGA Tour’s New Social Media Policy Straight From NFL’s Playbook
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp announced a revamped social‑media policy that will let players capture and publish more on‑site content. The change borrows from the NFL playbook, aiming to attract the under‑35 audience that lives on smartphones and short‑form video....
Wizards Win NBA Draft Lottery With Tank Reform on Horizon
The Washington Wizards clinched the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft after a league‑worst 17‑65 season, despite only a 14% chance in the lottery. The win caps a multi‑year tanking strategy that saw the franchise trade for All‑Star...
DraftKings, FanDuel Push Further Into Prediction Markets
DraftKings and FanDuel are expanding beyond traditional sportsbooks by becoming market makers in prediction markets. DraftKings announced its own market‑making operation, calling it a fast‑to‑profitability line that already generates positive returns. FanDuel’s parent, Flutter Entertainment, also entered market making on...
Kim Ng: Don’t Expect Robot Umps in Pro Softball Anytime Soon
Kim Ng, commissioner of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), said robot umpires are not imminent for professional softball. While Major League Baseball rolled out its Automated Ball‑Strike (ABS) system in 2026, logging 124 challenges and overturning 67 calls in...
Eyes on Networks and Streamers as NFL Readies Schedule Release
The NFL will unveil its 2026 regular‑season schedule on May 14 during a primetime special on ESPN2 and the NFL Network. Ahead of the release, NBC, Fox and Amazon will hold their 2026‑27 advertising upfronts, each expected to highlight at...
WNBA Season Arrives on Time and in a New CBA World
The WNBA kicked off its 2026 season on schedule under a landmark seven‑year collective bargaining agreement that dramatically raises player compensation, with the minimum salary jumping to $270,000 and the salary cap expanding fivefold. The new CBA introduces the EPIC...
New League Could Serve as WNBA’s Badly Needed G League
Several WNBA teams faced roster crises last season, prompting the league’s new CBA to add two developmental spots per team and expand rosters to 14. To further address injury‑driven shortages, former WNBA president Donna Orender is launching the Upshot League,...
‘Ton of Upside’: Why Mark Cuban Bought Into a Canadian Basketball Team
Mark Cuban, owner of roughly 27% of the Dallas Mavericks, has taken an undisclosed stake in the Brampton Honey Badgers of Canada’s Elite Basketball League (CEBL). He cites Canada’s surge in NBA talent and a strong domestic appetite for basketball...
PGA Tour’s New Social Media Policy Will Allow Players to Post More Content
The PGA Tour announced an updated social‑media policy that expands on‑site content allowances for players during tournament weeks. Players can now post up to three minutes of original footage per competition day and share up to six broadcast shots per...
Pro Lacrosse’s Top Ref Is As Famous As the Players
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) is kicking off its eighth season on May 8, and its head referee Matty Palumb has emerged as a viral personality that fans associate with the brand. Palumb’s on‑court banter and candid interviews have become...
Expanded Basketball Tournaments Will Yield NCAA $50M a Year
The NCAA approved expanding both the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to 76 teams, launching the new format next season. CBS and TNT will fund the expansion with a $50 million annual sponsorship commitment through 2032, unlocking beer, wine,...
Live Sports Streaming Ad Market Rife With Fraud, Experts Say
The rapid shift of live sports to streaming platforms has created a fragmented ad marketplace where third‑party aggregators resell inventory they don’t directly control. Experts from Good Karma Brands and Digital Remedy warn that these middlemen often misrepresent placement guarantees,...
Majority of Big 12 Schools Are Turning Down $30M RedBird Credit Option
The Big 12’s new partnership with RedBird Capital and Weatherford includes a $12.5 million conference‑level infusion and an optional $30 million line of credit for each member school. More than half of the schools—Texas Tech, Iowa State, Colorado, Kansas State, Arizona and...
NHL Salary Cap Increases by $8.5M to Hit $104M
The NHL announced its salary cap will increase by $8.5 million to $104 million for the 2026‑27 season, a 9% rise over the current $95.5 million limit. The league’s minimum team spend also climbs to $76.9 million, while the individual player max is set...
Lexie Hull Thinks Offseason Basketball Leagues Could Eventually Merge
WNBA guard Lexi Hull says the growing number of women’s offseason leagues—Athletes Unlimited, Unrivaled, the new Upshot League and Project B—may eventually merge as the WNBA expands its schedule and roster size. The current offseason structure works because the WNBA’s...
FIFA President Defends High World Cup Prices With College Football Comparison
FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended World Cup ticket prices by comparing them to U.S. college football costs, noting that 25% of group‑stage tickets are under $300. He argued that even top‑level college games often exceed that price, positioning the World...
What’s It Like Being an Independent Sports Creator in 2026?
Independent sports creator Kofie Yeboah illustrates how niche video essays can thrive alongside legacy outlets. He breaks down the fragmented revenue mix of YouTube AdSense, Patreon subscriptions, and brand partnerships that fund his deep‑dive content. The piece also questions whether...
FanDuel CEO Pushed Out After Five Years Amid Stock Slump
Amy Howe, who led FanDuel’s sportsbook since 2021, was removed after five years and will be succeeded by president Christian Genetski, though the permanence of the appointment remains unclear. The change was announced just before Flutter Entertainment’s first‑quarter earnings call,...
Kara Lawson Took Amazon Job to Scout WNBA Players for Team USA
Duke women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson has taken a WNBA analyst role with Amazon Prime Video for the 2026 season. The streaming service will broadcast 31 games, ensuring every WNBA franchise appears at least once. Lawson says the job lets...
Napheesa Collier Admits Cathy Engelbert Rant Was For CBA Leverage
Five‑time WNBA All‑Star Napheesa Collier has walked back her September claim that the league had "the worst leadership in the world," acknowledging the remarks were intended to add pressure during collective‑bargaining talks. In a recent NPR interview, Collier said the...
NFL Nears Referee Deal to Avoid Another ‘Fail Mary’ Disaster
The NFL is on the brink of a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association, with a ratification vote slated for Thursday, well before the current pact expires on May 31. The proposed deal emphasizes performance‑based pay, stricter...
Tottenham Hotspur Is Facing a Billion-Dollar Disaster
Tottenham Hotspur sits 17th in the Premier League with three games left, teetering on relegation despite its $1.2 billion stadium and ninth‑largest global football revenue of $766 million. A drop to the Championship would slash broadcast income from the Premier League’s $16.3 billion...
Mark Cuban Says He Paid for Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza Deal
Mark Cuban, the $6 billion billionaire alumnus, personally financed the NIL package that brought Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza to Indiana University. The deal, reportedly worth $2.6 million, helped the Hoosiers capture the 2025 national championship and propelled Mendoza to the No. 1...
LIV CEO Says League’s Value Lies in the Teams As Saudi Era Nears End
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil says the league’s value now rests on its 13 franchise teams as the Saudi Public Investment Fund will cease funding after the 2026 season. He envisions each team eventually reaching a $1 billion valuation, with minority...
Pablo Torre’s Pulitzer Puts Kawhi Leonard Investigation Back in Spotlight
Pablo Torre won a Pulitzer for his audio investigation into a alleged Clippers scheme that funneled $28 million to Kawhi Leonard through the now‑defunct fintech firm Aspiration, in which owner Steve Ballmer had invested $50 million. The NBA is still probing the deal,...
Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff Suggest Grand Slam Boycott Over Prize Money Share
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka warned she may join a boycott of Grand Slam tournaments if prize‑money distribution does not improve, a stance echoed by Coco Gauff and other top players. The French Open’s 2026 prize pool rose to $72.3 million, yet...
Danish Legend Peter Schmeichel Joins Fox World Cup Coverage
Peter Schmeichel, the four‑time World Cup goalkeeper for Denmark and former Manchester United star, will join Fox Sports as a studio analyst for the 2026 World Cup. Fox highlighted his previous work on the Euro 2024 coverage and praised his...
What Is It Like to Run the Knicks?
In a Portfolio Players episode, veteran sports executive Dave Checketts shares insights from his decades‑long career across the NBA, MLS and other leagues. He argues that scarcity—limited franchise slots—remains the primary engine of team valuation, using the NFL and NBA...
Europe’s Soccer Giants Keep Winning—And Are Cashing In
Europe’s traditional powerhouses are once again dominating their domestic leagues as the 2025‑26 season draws to a close. Inter Milan captured Serie A, Bayern Munich secured an early Bundesliga crown, PSG leads Ligue 1, and Barcelona sits atop LaLiga, while Arsenal...
Braves Say New TV Network Is on Pace to Beat Old RSN Revenue
The Atlanta Braves launched their own regional sports network, BravesVision, in February after cutting ties with Main Street Sports. Team president Derek Schiller says the venture is already on track to equal or exceed the $188.6 million broadcasting revenue the club...
Sportradar Refutes Claims That It Works With Illegal Gambling Companies
Sportradar, the Swiss sports‑data and integrity monitoring firm, refuted short‑seller claims that it collaborates with illegal gambling operators during its Q1 2026 earnings call. The company highlighted its compliance framework and KYC processes while noting a 30% share plunge that...
Sprinter Sues Puma Over ‘Defective’ Shoes She Says Ruined Her Career
World champion sprinter Abby Steiner has filed a lawsuit against Puma and the Mercedes‑F1 team, alleging that the carbon‑plate and nitro‑foam shoes they supplied caused severe foot injuries that ended her professional career. Steiner, a four‑time NCAA champion and two‑time...
NFL Draft Viewership Slips 3% Despite Faster First Round
The NFL Draft’s first round in 2026 averaged 13.2 million viewers across TV and digital platforms, a 3% decline from the 2025 draft. A new eight‑minute per‑pick rule trimmed the broadcast by more than half an hour, creating a faster pace....
Warren Buffett Calls Sports Betting a ‘Tax on Stupidity’
Warren Buffett labeled U.S. sports betting a "tax on stupidity," arguing it shifts fiscal burdens onto ordinary bettors while indirectly benefiting wealthy individuals like himself. In 2025, 40 states and Washington, D.C. generated roughly $2.9 billion in tax revenue from online...
PWHL Eyes Mainstream Breakthrough As Playoffs Begin
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) entered its playoffs after a landmark season that drew over one million fans, buoyed by the U.S. Olympic women’s gold medal win. The Walter Cup finals will be aired nationally on Ion, a network...
Netflix Continues Boxing Push With Fury–Joshua Superfight
Netflix will broadcast a heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the fourth quarter of 2024, with the event funded by Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh through his Ring promotion. The fight is slated for the UK, preferably Wembley...