Patricof Co, L Catterton ‘Champ’ Roster Includes Haliburton, Trout
Patricof Co and L Catterton have launched the Champion Athlete Managing Partner (Champ) initiative, targeting a $500 million fund backed by athlete investors. More than 10% of the capital is already pledged by NBA, NFL, MLB and WNBA stars such as Tyrese Haliburton and Mike Trout. The partnership leverages Patricof Co’s decade‑long athlete network and L Catterton’s $40 billion AUM platform, which typically writes checks from $5 million to $5 billion for consumer brands. Past collaborations include investments in Cholula Hot Sauce, Kodiak Cakes and Real Truck.
Sporticast: What Would Relegation Cost Tottenham?
The latest Sporticast episode ranks the world’s 50 most valuable soccer clubs, with Real Madrid leading at $7.7 billion and Tottenham Hotspur at $3.5 billion (10th). Hosts discuss a "broken system" where soaring operating costs erode profit margins even as club valuations...
TNT Rides NHL’s Playoff Momentum After Shuffling Rights Portfolio
TNT Sports is leveraging its recent NCAA ratings high to dominate the 2025‑26 NHL playoff season, delivering an average of 381,000 viewers on its cable networks—up 21% year‑over‑year. The league’s overall ratings rose 23%, giving the NHL its best national...
FanDuel’s Latest Injury Promo Gets People Talking—And Betting
FanDuel launched Bet Protect+, a new insurance‑style promotion that lets bettors pay a flat 3% fee to have any injury‑related voids covered for an entire game, replacing its earlier quarter‑only policy. The feature is being rolled out in select states...
Most Valuable Soccer Teams: Real Madrid, Barça Lead at Combined $14B
Sportico’s latest valuation shows the world’s 50 most valuable soccer clubs now total $95.5 billion, an 11% jump year‑over‑year. Real Madrid and Barcelona remain on top, valued at $7.7 billion and $6.65 billion respectively, while six of the top ten spots belong to...
Double Agent? Washington Cap Director Reps Rival Big Ten Players
The University of Washington hired NFL agent Cameron Foster as senior director of contracts and cap management, paying him $185,004 annually while allowing him to retain ownership of his agency, Reign Sports Management. Foster’s firm has begun registering Washington‑based LLCs...
Haslams Pay $205M for NWSL Expansion Team in Columbus
The National Women’s Soccer League approved an 18th franchise in Columbus, Ohio, owned by Haslam Sports Group, the Edwards family, and Nationwide. The ownership group agreed to a record $205 million expansion fee, the highest in league history, and will launch...
NFL Defeats $27 Million Antitrust Lawsuit Over Packers Songs
A Wisconsin resident, Calvin McMillan, sued the NFL for $27 million, claiming antitrust and copyright violations over his “Pack Attack” and “Go Pack Go” songs used in a state lottery promotion. U.S. District Judge Byron B. Conway dismissed the case, ruling...
Churchill Downs Drops $85 Million to Buy Preakness Stakes IP Rights
Churchill Downs Inc. announced a definitive agreement to purchase the intellectual property rights to the Preakness Stakes and the Black‑Eyed Susan Stakes from the Stronach Group for $85 million. The acquisition transfers trademarks and licensing rights while leaving ownership and operations...
TickPick Acquires App Helping Fans Relive Live Event Memories
Ticket marketplace TickPick has acquired Momento, a digital app that lets music and sports fans catalog live‑event experiences. Momento already holds more than 20 million tickets as “momentos” and will continue operating as a separate platform while TickPick adds sales features....
Trump Could Enforce College Sports EO by Pulling Federal Funding
President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Justice Department and Education to assess whether colleges are “unfit for federal grants” based on alleged improper NIL deals and other financial activities. The order gives the administration a mechanism to...
Sporticast: Nike’s Controversial Running Ad
Nike faced backlash over a Boston Marathon ad that many viewers found exclusionary, prompting a public apology. Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres are set to change hands as billionaire José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones agree to buy the franchise...
House V. NCAA Class Counsel Asks Court to Rein in CSC’s ‘Overreach’
The House v. NCAA class counsel filed a motion asking a court‑appointed special master to curb the College Sports Commission’s (CSC) claim that athlete NIL deals with multimedia‑rights companies fall under its jurisdiction. The CSC maintains that these multimedia rights...
Boston Marathon Group Presses On With Amended Racial Bias Lawsuit
Liz Rock, co‑founder of the Boston‑based Trailblazhers running group, is pressing an amended federal equal‑protection lawsuit against the Newton Police Department, its chief, and the Boston Athletic Association (BAA). The suit stems from alleged racially biased harassment of minority spectators...
The Iceberg: What Sport Industry Leaders Miss—And Why It Matters
The article applies Sidney Yoshida’s “iceberg of ignorance” to sport organizations, showing how executives often miss problems that frontline staff readily see. It cites the NWSL abuse investigations as a case where fragmented reporting delayed corrective action, and highlights recurring...
Sportico Transactions: Moves and Mergers Roundup for April 17
The latest Sportico Transactions roundup highlights a wave of executive appointments across major sports entities, including Dan Schoenberg’s launch of Hummingbird Sports & Entertainment and Formula E’s hiring of Will Brown as chief commercial officer. Brands are deepening league ties, with Nike...
Arctos-, Blackstone-Backed GeoComply Cuts About 15% of Staff
GeoComply, the Blackstone‑backed geofencing provider for sportsbooks, announced layoffs affecting fewer than 80 employees, roughly 18% of its global staff. The cuts are framed as a "deliberate strategic evolution" to adapt to shifting U.S. betting regulations and rapid AI advancements....
What the Data Says About NBA Tanking, and How to Fix It
The NBA’s 2025‑26 season saw a historic surge in blowouts, with 34% of April games decided by 20 or more points, driven largely by strategic tanking. Recent lottery reforms that flattened odds have encouraged mid‑tier teams to deliberately lose after...
World Cup Changes Lift Fox, Telemundo Cash Projections
Stella Artois’ World Cup ad starring David Beckham underscores a shift toward bar‑based viewing, prompting Fox Sports and Telemundo to lean heavily into out‑of‑home (OOH) audiences. Nielsen data shows OOH accounted for more than 30% of Gold Cup impressions and is expected to...
Sports Betting Regulator to House: I’m ‘No Expert’ on Betting Lines
CFTC Chairman Michael Selig told the House Agriculture Committee that he is not an expert on betting lines, yet defended the agency’s authority to regulate sports prediction markets. He argued that such markets provide hedging opportunities, citing the Commodity Exchange...
San Diego Padres Sale Bidding Nears $4 Billion Mark
Second‑round bids for the San Diego Padres have surged, with three offers exceeding $3.5 billion and one approaching $4 billion. The four finalists—Clearlake Capital’s José Feliciano, Dan Friedkin’s Pursuit Sports, Warriors co‑owner Joe Lacob, and Pistons owner Tom Gores—represent a mix of...
Team USA Board Mulls LA28 Ticket Fees, NCAA Squeeze
The US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) board met to review preparations for Los Angeles 2028 and Utah 2034, tackling a controversial 24% service fee on LA28 tickets and confirming 1 million tickets will be sold at $28. The meeting also highlighted a looming...
NBA Players to Divvy Up $36M in 2026 Playoff Bonuses
The NBA’s 2023‑24 playoff pool has risen to $35.7 million, a 3% increase over last season, with the Oklahoma City Thunder positioned to claim the largest share of $12.8 million if they capture the championship. A new collective‑bargaining agreement boosted the champion’s...
LIV, NBA Europe: Has the Iran War Curbed Middle East Sports Spending?
The Iran war is prompting a pullback of Middle‑East sovereign wealth from global sports. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which has spent over $5 billion on LIV Golf, is reconsidering that support, while its backed clubs Newcastle and Qatar‑backed PSG have...
This Firm Scores Public Funds Big Returns From Soccer Stragglers
Texas Tech University System’s endowment, led by Tim Barrett, has teamed up with London‑based Fasanara Capital to tap its niche private‑credit platform for sports financing. Fasanara, which manages about $6 billion, focuses on receivables‑backed loans to lower‑tier European soccer clubs, deploying...
Sporticast: What’s Going On With LIV Golf?
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has spent over $5 billion on LIV Golf and is now weighing a reduction in its financial support. The podcast hosts note that LIV has burned through hundreds of millions, putting the circuit under pressure...
LIV Golf in Crisis as PIF Considers Cutting Funding After $5B+ Loss
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is weighing a pull‑back of its financial support for LIV Golf after having poured more than $5 billion into the venture. While the tour’s sixth event in Mexico proceeds as scheduled,...
NBA’s Broadcast-Friendly TV Deal Leads to Highest Ratings in 7 Years
NBA’s first season under the new 11‑year, $76 billion media rights deal delivered its highest ratings in seven years, with average viewership climbing 16% to 1.78 million per game. NBC’s return to broadcast basketball drove a 109% increase, averaging 2.8 million viewers across...
Kalshi Rides Legal Winning Streak Into Montana
Kalshi filed a petition in a Montana federal court seeking an injunction to stop state officials from enforcing gambling laws against its event‑contract exchange. The firm argues that the Commodity Exchange Act gives the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction, pre‑empting state regulation...
TPG Agrees to Buy Learfield in Deal Worth Roughly $2 Billion
Alternative asset manager TPG has agreed to purchase college multimedia rights firm Learfield in a transaction valued at roughly $2 billion. The deal follows Learfield’s recent debt restructuring, which eliminated $600 million of debt and added $150 million of new capital. Learfield, which...
WNBA Draft Picks to Earn Record Salaries: Inside the Numbers
The 2026 WNBA Draft will feature the league’s highest‑paid rookie class, with the No. 1 overall pick earning a base salary of $500,000—more than six times the 2025 figure. The newly ratified collective bargaining agreement introduces distinct salary tiers for each...
Kalshi, IC360 Launch New Prediction Market Self-Exclusion Initiative
Kalshi, a CFTC‑regulated prediction‑market exchange valued at over $20 billion, has teamed with compliance firm IC360 to launch SelfExclude, a cross‑platform self‑exclusion hub. The tool lets users place themselves on a shared blacklist that blocks betting on Kalshi and any future...
Sportico Transactions: Moves and Mergers Roundup for April 10
The April 10 Sportico Transactions roundup highlighted a wave of personnel appointments, brand partnerships, and strategic acquisitions across sports, media, and consumer sectors. Notable moves include the New York Mets hiring Ben Colabrese as CFO, Simpson Thacher adding two co‑heads to its sports...
Knicks, Rangers Could Pay $75M More in Taxes Under New Law
The Knicks clinched a playoff berth by winning 50 games for the third straight season, boosting revenue from extra home games. A 2021 tax provision, expanded by the American Rescue Plan, will force Madison Square Garden Sports (MSGS) to pay...
The Masters’ New Amazon Deal Doesn’t Threaten CBS
Amazon Prime Video will air four hours of exclusive Masters coverage this spring, marking the first streaming foray into the traditionally broadcast‑only tournament. CBS Sports, which has aired the Masters for 71 consecutive years, retains the bulk of the live...
Bryson DeChambeau Takes Driver’s Seat as LIV Golf Talks Heat Up
Bryson DeChambeau, the LIV Golf marquee player, is approaching the end of his $125 million guaranteed contract that runs through 2026. His on‑course success – five LIV wins, a 2024 U.S. Open title and two recent PGA Championship runner‑up finishes –...
Sports Investing’s Next Wave Tops ‘Invest West’ Agenda
Sportico’s Invest West conference will convene on May 6 in San Francisco to explore the next wave of sports investing. The agenda features a keynote by Warriors co‑chair Joe Lacob, a deep‑dive on women’s‑sports franchise growth, and panels on private‑equity, venture capital,...
Bad Blood: Taylor Swift Fan’s Suit Reveals Ticket-Holder Limits
A Washington federal judge ruled that a Taylor Swift fan’s lawsuit against StubHub must proceed through arbitration, preventing the case from becoming a class action. The fan, who paid about $14,000 for three premium concert tickets, was offered inferior seats worth...
Yao Ming, Marc Lasry Invest in Tsai’s Asian College Hoops League
Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai’s Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) secured a Series A round with investors including former NBA star Yao Ming, private‑equity veteran Marc Lasry and venture‑capitalist David Blitzer. The round, led by Tsai’s family office Blue Pool Capital, is valued at least eight...
WVU Ruling Sets Stage for Supreme Court Fight Over NCAA Eligibility Limits
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated the injunction that let four West Virginia football players compete in 2025, signaling a shift toward a stricter antitrust view of NCAA eligibility limits. Judge Henry Floyd ruled the plaintiffs...
Jeff Shell Leaves Paramount Skydance to ‘Focus on Lawsuit’
Jeff Shell, president of Paramount Skydance (PSKY), resigned to concentrate on a $150 million lawsuit filed by gambler‑informant Robert Cipriani. The suit alleges breach of oral contract, fraud, and disclosure of confidential information related to Paramount’s pending Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition and a $7.7 billion UFC...
The Masters Already Perfected the Big-Event Curtain Raiser
The Masters’ Par‑3 Contest, launched in 1960, is the sport’s original curtain‑raiser, predating modern ancillary events like Formula 1 sprint races and U.S. Open mixed‑doubles revamps. By featuring top players and their families in a relaxed nine‑hole exhibition, it humanizes golf’s...
Kalshi NJ Court Win Puts Prediction Markets on Supreme Court Radar
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed that New Jersey cannot regulate prediction‑market platform Kalshi under state gambling laws, citing the Commodity Exchange Act’s preemption of state authority over derivatives. The panel held that Kalshi’s sports‑related event contracts...
Varsity Nears Trial in Latest Cheer Antitrust Suit. Will It Proceed?
Varsity Brands, the dominant force in all‑star cheerleading, is headed to a three‑week jury trial beginning June 9 in Amarillo, Texas, marking the first antitrust case to reach the courtroom after two prior settlements totalling $126 million. The lawsuit, filed by Open...
World’s Highest-Paid Golfers: Rahm, McIlroy, Scheffler Each Top $80M
Scottie Scheffler earned $81 million over the past 12 months but ranks third behind Jon Rahm ($102 million) and Rory McIlroy ($84 million). Rahm’s haul is powered by a $300 million LIV Golf contract, while McIlroy’s income leans heavily on endorsements after his 2025 Masters victory....
Sen. Warren Urges FCC to Shield Fans From Media Consolidation
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Pat Ryan urged the FCC to intervene against growing sports‑streaming consolidation, warning that bundled packages force fans into exorbitant fees. They highlighted recent deals—including Disney’s $220 million cash purchase of a 72.9% stake in Fubo and...
Polymarket Rebels Still Betting in Banned Countries Using VPNs
Polymarket has rolled out new integrity tools, partnering with Palantir to provide real‑time surveillance of its betting activity. While the technology is touted for its upcoming U.S. exchange, the company has not clarified if it will also police its international...
Sportradar’s Antitrust Suit From Ex-Partner Faces Challenges
Altenar Technologies has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Sportradar, alleging Sherman Act violations for refusing to deal and leveraging exclusive multi‑year contracts with the NBA, NHL and MLB. The complaint claims Sportradar’s duopoly with rival Genius Sports over live...
Sporticast: An NFL Partner’s Curious Anti-NFL Legal Argument
Fox’s legal team asked the FCC to strip the NFL of its broadcasting antitrust exemption, a move that surprised industry observers given Fox’s deep financial ties to the league. The argument arrives as the NFL prepares to renegotiate its major...
WNBA Expansion Vote: Ownership, Valuation Breakdown for 3 Teams
The WNBA is set to add three new franchises in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia, with votes due by April 9 and approval expected. Each team carries a $250 million expansion fee, but Cleveland and Detroit have secured outside capital at post‑money valuations...