Today's Sports Business Pulse
Messi joins Ronaldo in billionaire football ranks after US endorsement deals
Lionel Messi's net worth now exceeds $1 billion, matching Cristiano Ronaldo as the only footballers to reach that milestone. The surge comes from a series of high‑value U.S. endorsement and licensing agreements across apparel, technology, and media.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Lucra raises $20M Series A
Lift Foils Releases Collaboration With Pyzel and the Florence Brothers
Lift Foils announced a new partnership with world‑renowned surfers John John Florence and Nathan Florence, alongside legendary shaper John Pyzel. The collaboration produced a 4’7″, 49‑liter foil board engineered for downwind, open‑ocean performance. In parallel, Pyzel helped design a 6′0″ surf‑foil hybrid board that blends traditional surfing with foiling capabilities. The products reflect the Florence brothers’ shift from competitive surfing to pioneering long‑range foiling adventures.
Derek Fisher & Cody Decker Lead 97.1 The Fan’s LA Lineup
Audacy has launched 97.1 The Fan (KNX‑FM), a new all‑sports FM station in Los Angeles, with weekday programming debuting on May 18. The lineup features former NBA champion Derek Fisher and ex‑MLB power hitter Cody Decker in the morning, followed by ex‑NFL safety Brock Vereen...
Lacob's Padres Bid Hinged on 2027 Season Cancellation
At a @Sportico event today in SF, Joe Lacob said his bid to buy the @Padres assumed that the entire 2027 @MLB season would likely be cancelled due to labor strife. https://t.co/Rqsi7w7CNX
Warriors’ Lacob Says His Padres Bid Assumed No MLB Games in 2027
Warriors owner Joe Lacob was a runner‑up in the San Diego Padres auction, which closed at a record $3.9 billion. His group modeled the risk of a lost MLB season in 2027 amid looming labor negotiations. Lacob argued that a salary...
Liquid I.V.’s McLaren Racing Partnership Cements Its Foothold in Formula 1
Liquid I.V. has signed a multi‑year official partnership with McLaren Racing that runs through 2027, deepening its presence in Formula 1 after earlier activations at Miami and Las Vegas. The deal places the brand’s logo on pit‑crew helmets and Academy driver gear,...
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...
Peacock Says 152nd Kentucky Derby Most-Streamed Horse Race Ever
Peacock announced that the 152nd Kentucky Derby attracted an average minute audience of 1.9 million, a 28% rise from the previous year. The platform, together with NBC Sports, delivered a record total audience delivery (TAD) of 19.3 million, up 9% YoY. NBCUniversal...
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...
F1 Secures Long-Term Sky Sports Broadcast Deal Until 2034
#Formula1 has reached a new multiyear agreement with #Sky Sports to continue broadcasting #F1 through the 2034 season in the United Kingdom and Ireland and through 2032 in Italy. $CMCSA
Cubs Win Key Ruling in Wrigley View Rooftop Lawsuit
Looking forward to joining @CNN and anchors @brikeilarcnn and @Boris_Sanchez at 3:50 pm EST today to talk about the Chicago Cubs lawsuit against Wrigley View Rooftop. On Monday, I wrote about a key ruling by the judge in favor of...
Keir Starmer Told to “Put Fans First” By Including Touting Ban in Next Week’s King’s Speech
FanFair Alliance is pressuring Prime Minister Keir Starmer to embed a ban on for‑profit ticket touting in the upcoming King’s Speech, fulfilling a manifesto promise made ahead of the 2024 election. While the government announced an outright ban last November,...
Italian Phrase “Denaro Puro” Fuels Nike Trademark Win
Two of my grandparents were from Italy. I regret not learning Italian from them. Had I learned Italian, I would have known "Denaro Puro" means "Pure Money." Nike already knows that, as it defeats trademark claims over Air Jordan 4 and...
How the Portland Fire Marketed a Basketball Team with No Players
The Portland Fire tackled the classic expansion challenge of marketing a team before any players were signed. SVP Kimberly Veale leveraged the jersey launch and a partnership with the NBA Trail Blazers to create visual brand momentum in January. A...
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...
FIFA World Cup 2026: Peacock Launches Visión De Campo (Aka Pitchside Live), Will Stream All 104 Matches in Spanish
Peacock will stream every one of the 104 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in Spanish, pairing Telemundo's exclusive commentary with Dolby Atmos sound. The service debuts Visión de Campo, a vertically optimized, multi‑angle mobile view that lets fans watch the...
Greensboro Sports Foundation Names Brad Hecker As Vice President Of Events And Operations
The Greensboro Sports Foundation appointed Brad Hecker as Vice President of Events and Operations, tasking him with expanding the city’s major sporting portfolio. Hecker, a former ACC Assistant Commissioner of Women’s Basketball, will steer preparations for the 2027 and 2029...
Sky Extends Formula 1 Rights Deal Into Next Decade
Sky Group has extended its exclusive Formula 1 rights in the UK and Ireland through the 2034 season and in Italy through 2032, adding a five‑year extension worth roughly $254 million per season, up from about $164 million. The deal covers every practice,...
2pm SportsCenter Posts Biggest YoY
Interesting. The 2pm ET @SportsCenter saw the biggest YOY growth of any ESPN studio show in April. Gets just under 400K viewers these days. ESPN seeing potential opportunity there for @PSchrags ?
Why This Athlete-Led Agency Is Going All-In On Women's NIL
Learfield is expanding its Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) business by hiring former athletes like Jenna Johnson, who moved from an NIL coordinator role at Alabama to Business Manager at Vanderbilt. Johnson has already brokered 146 NIL deals for 70...
Is $2.1 B Worth a Central Florida Crown?
There is presumably a value to being "the preeminent city in Central Florida" — assuming the presence of the Rays is how that crown is awarded — but is it worth $2.1 billion, let alone potentially billions more? https://t.co/QAu0DpoMr8
Paramount+ and DSports Take the FIFA World Cup to Latin America
Paramount+ and DSports have forged a strategic alliance to broadcast every one of the 104 matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup across six key Latin American markets—Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay. The partnership delivers 24/7 live streams...
Turner‑owned ESPN Would Spotlight Braves, Hawks over LeBron
Imagine Ted Turner purchased ESPN? First Take would have been debating the Braves and Hawks instead of shitting on LeBron for a decade-plus.
Star MLB Player Backs Salary Cap for Baseball
When a star MLB player -- even a retired one -- says a salary cap would be good for the game, it's news. https://t.co/VukIz66YHt
FIFA Introduces Dynamic Ticket Pricing At World Cup, Sparking Fan Backlash Over Soaring Costs
FIFA will debut a real‑time dynamic ticket‑pricing system for the 2026 World Cup, allowing seat prices to fluctuate by the hour based on demand. The model could generate roughly $3 billion in revenue, with about 30% of each sale earmarked for...
Skechers Strikes Deal With WNBA to Become Official League Partner
Skechers has signed a multiyear agreement to become the official league partner of the WNBA, coinciding with the league’s 30th season. The deal puts players Kiki Iriafen, Rickea Jackson and Jackie Young in Skechers footwear on the court, showcasing the...
Ted Turner: Media Maverick Who Revolutionized TV and Sports
Ted Turner was one of one. His impact on the American media landscape and US sports cannot be overstated. A brilliant entrepreneurial mind, he was at the forefront of so many innovations. In the definitive history of television, he deserves...
Seeking Useful Game Contract Data for Newsrooms and Researchers
Would be curious what other type of information would be useful to newsrooms/athletic departments/researchers/mega nerds about game contracts at scale. I've got a ton of data entry ahead of me but adding/tweaking some things shouldn't be THAT hard?
Instamart Scores Exclusive India Launch of Panini’s FIFA 365 Adrenalyn XL 2026
Instamart has secured an exclusive partnership with Panini to launch the FIFA 365 Adrenalyn XL 2026 trading‑card set in India, marking Panini’s first entry into the Indian market. The collection, featuring over 300 football stars, will be sold through Instamart’s rapid‑commerce platform...
Early Season End Right, but AFCA Ignores Bowl Power Shift
Ending earlier is the right move, but AFCA plan doesn't address the Woolly mammoth in the room: Champ game that early means SFs on NYD and moves the QFs to a pre-Xmas window, and the sport hasn't shown any willingness...
Tech QB Hires Top Sports Litigator to Challenge NCAA
Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby has hired the Michael Jordan of sports litigators—Jeffrey Kessler. What could be Sorsby's legal strategy against the NCAA? What would NCAA argue in defense? For @Sportico, I do a deep dive into the many legal issues at...
KKR Closes $16 Billion Arctos Partners Acquisition, Expands KKR Solutions
KKR & Co. has closed its acquisition of Arctos Partners, a Dallas‑based manager of roughly $16 billion in sports‑franchise assets. The deal integrates Arctos into KKR Solutions, sharpening KKR’s mid‑market buyout and secondaries capabilities.
Downs Signs Fully Guaranteed $28.95M Rookie Deal
S Caleb Downs' rookie contract with the Dallas #Cowboys: ▫️4-years, $28.95M ▫️Fully Guaranteed ▫️$17.5M signing bonus ▫️Training Camp bonuses ▫️5th-Year Option Cap Hits 2026: $5.2M 2027: $6.5M 2028: $7.8M 2029: $9.2M Negotiated by Ryan Tollner of Excel.
Eagles Lock Makai Lemon Into Fully Guaranteed Rookie Deal
WR Makai Lemon's rookie contract with the Philadelphia #Eagles: ▫️4-years, $20.8M ▫️Fully Guaranteed ▫️$11.6M signing bonus ▫️Training Camp bonuses ▫️5th-Year Option ▫️Offset Language Cap Hits 2026: $3.7M 2027: $4.7M 2028: $5.6M 2029: $6.6M Negotiated by Ian Grutman of GSE.
HCLTech Deepens NFL Presence with New AI Partnership at MetLife Stadium
HCLTech has extended its AI partnership with MetLife Stadium, the home of the New York Jets and Giants, through a multi‑year deal that builds on its 2022 digital transformation work. The agreement adds a dedicated AI focus aimed at boosting...
Ravens Secure Ioane with Fully Guaranteed $24.2
G Olaivavega Ioane's rookie contract with the Baltimore #Ravens: ▫️4-years, $24.2M ▫️Fully Guaranteed ▫️$14M signing bonus ▫️Training Camp bonuses ▫️5th-Year option Cap Hits 2026: $4.4M 2027: $5.5M 2028: $6.6M 2029: $7.7M Negotiated by Ryan Williams of Athletes First.
Disney Yet to Initiate NFL Talks on MN
Disney CFO Hugh Johnston says they "haven't yet engaged" with the NFL on early renewal conversations surrounding ESPN's "Monday Night Football" deal ESPN has the longest running deal among partners, going through 2030 season (others through 2029 season)
Olympian Jessica Ennis-Hill Taps Into Mid-Strength Wine Boom with 7% Rosé
Olympic champion Jessica Ennis‑Hill has launched Seven Summers, a premium 7% alcohol rosé from Provence, aimed at the fast‑growing mid‑strength wine segment. She teamed with former Majestic MD Josh Lincoln and Master of Wine Ray O'Connor to create a de‑alcoholised rosé...
Inside Football's Money: Taxes, Media Rights, and Investments
Tomorrow’s @POF_POD with @kevinhunterday ⚽️World Cup taxes ⚽️Premier League accounts ⚽️Infantino FIFA president until 2031? ⚽️UEFA media rights ⚽️Villa parent company ⚽️Championship finances ⚽️Freelances referees ⚽️US investment in 🇫🇷 ⚽️Eridivisie ⚽️Chelsea official champagne partner
NASCAR's 12% Drop Shows Big Data Limits
That's a drop of 12% for the Texas NASCAR race. NASCAR right now is Exhibit A that Nielsen Big Data is not a panacea for every sports property, and Big Data remains a work in progress for some
Sorsby Hires Kessler: Breaking Down QB’s NCAA Eligibility Push
Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby has retained renowned sports litigator Jeffrey Kessler as he confronts an NCAA gambling investigation and a breach‑of‑contract lawsuit over a reported $5 million NIL deal with Cincinnati. The allegations include more than 10,000 wagers placed through...
Athletes Must Get NIL Contracts Reviewed by Lawyers
Same issues we talk about in my NIL classes at UF all the time. Athletes, you absolutely have get these reviewed by an attorney when nis experienced in this area.
PL League Co-Founder Discusses Fighting for Space in Sports
New pod: Premier Lacrosse League co-founder @PaulRabil on the challenges of carving out space in today’s crowded sports market. https://t.co/aQfN1Bwrtn
Hummel to Supply AFC Bournemouth Kits in Club-Record Agreement
AFC Bournemouth has secured a five‑year kit partnership with Danish sportswear brand Hummel, commencing in the 2026‑27 season and running through 2030‑31. The deal ends the club’s eight‑year relationship with Umbro and is described as the biggest kit agreement in...
Schools Tighten Rules on Athlete Use of Brand Assets
Schools are being more deliberate about how their brand assets are used by athletes. Can student-athletes include school logos, uniforms, or facilities in NIL content? I break this down in my book NIL 101: The House Settlement 40% off https://t.co/yBVisUkFCL https://t.co/SvJT7XJzb1
Court Ruling Shuts Out Pirate Streaming Channel livetv.sx in Germany
A German court ordered ISPs to block livetv.sx, a long‑standing illegal sports streaming platform that has operated for more than 13 years across the DACH region. The ruling was secured after the DFL and DAZN supplied extensive data and technical...
This Chart Shows You Why the NFL Is the only Thing that Matters on TV
The NFL’s 2026 Super Bowl will be the year’s most‑watched TV event, and the league’s regular‑season games continue to dwarf all other programming. Nielsen data cited by the NFL shows an average of nearly 20 million viewers per broadcast, compared with...
Aramco Fuels Asian Cup 2027 Sponsorship Roster, Takes New Al Khobar Stadium Naming Rights
Saudi Arabia will host the AFC Asian Cup 2027, marking the nation’s first time staging the tournament. Saudi Arabian Oil Co (Aramco) has been named an Official Global Supporter and secured naming rights for the new 45,000‑seat stadium in Al Khobar,...
🚨 EXCL: Liverpool & Man United Could Test Club's Resolve over Potential €40m Transfer
Sources close to the deal say Liverpool and Manchester United are circling a Serie A forward whose recent form has sparked Premier League interest. The English clubs are reportedly prepared to meet a €40 million (approximately $44 million) asking price, putting pressure...
Arsenal's CL Final Nets €142m, Outpacing Rivals
Reaching the Champions League final has earned Arsenal €142m (£124m). Income has improved each season since no European qualification in 21/22 #AFC Victory in Budapest would be worth €6.5m plus €4m for UEFA Super Cup. Much more than the other English CL...
The Run for the Roses Racks up a Big Audience; Comcast and Disney Have an NFL Network Stare Down; the...
The episode covers three main topics: the record‑breaking TV audience for the Kentucky Derby and the impact of Nielsen’s new big‑data measurement, Amazon Prime Video’s expansion into college basketball streaming rights, and the ongoing carriage dispute between Disney/ESPN and Comcast...