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
Lee Among LPGA Tour Players to Join Women's Indoor Team League
Australian world No. 7 Minjee Lee joined a new women’s indoor team golf league, the Women’s Tech‑Infused Golf League (WTGL), alongside six other LPGA stars. The league, modeled after the men’s TGL created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, now has 14 committed players, including five of the world’s top ten. WTGL’s inaugural season will launch later this year at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The sign‑ups signal strong player interest and potential commercial momentum.
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...
English Soccer Club’s Crypto ‘Ownership’ Sale Goes Wrong
Chicago startup AlphaFC tried to sell 69 million tokens representing 69% of Alfreton Town FC, a sixth‑tier English club it bought for about $800,000. The five‑day sale raised only $169,000, pricing each token at less than a cent and prompting a...
Broadcasts and Promotions Related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup
FIFA has issued strict intellectual‑property guidelines for the 2026 World Cup, demanding that broadcasters obtain licenses for any use of official marks, mascots or slogans. Unlicensed references risk ambush‑marketing lawsuits, while only generic descriptors like “soccer in Canada” are permitted...
NCAA, Power Five to House Counsel: Don’t ‘End Run’ Pay-for-Play Ban
The NCAA and Power Five conferences filed a formal response to class counsel’s motion seeking to enforce the NIL settlement, arguing that multimedia‑rights (MMR) companies such as Learfield and Playfly should be treated as “associated entities” subject to the College...
Fans Want Equal WNBA Coverage on TSN Platforms
I'm not so sure on being overflooded with the NHL. TSN's basketball coverage is very basketball-centric. They've treated the Raptors well. What will be most interesting to me is the same with broadcast outlets in the States: Will we see...
Nielsen: Co-Viewing Pilot Delivers +4% Average Increase in Total Viewers
Nielsen released data from a February co‑viewing pilot that recorded an average 4.19% increase in total viewers across major live events, including the Super Bowl and the State of the Union. The pilot used advanced wearable devices to more precisely...
49ers Gain League‑Highest $67M Top‑51 Space After Williams Deal
Still working to confirm full guarantee structure, but it appears that OT Trent WIlliams' renegotiation with the #49ers will pay him $24.5M in 2026 (down from $33M), while also freeing up $23.8M of cap space this season. San Francisco now holds...
DC Mobile Sportsbooks: Five Active, One Closed
Current live DC mobile sportsbooks: BetMGM Caesars DraftKings Fanatics FanDuel theScore Bet (former ESPN BET) shut down sports betting operations in the District earlier this year
Life Time Raises Outlook as Q1 Beats Plan
Life Time Group lifted its 2026 outlook after Q1 adjusted earnings surged 23.5% and revenue climbed 11.7% to $788.7 million. Membership rose modestly to 837,903, driven by higher dues and an improving mix, while net cash from operations increased 8.1% to...
Schools Didn't Inflate Enrollment To
Thrilled to share this research today on EP. Remember when everybody freaked out about schools being able to pay atheltes the full cost of attendence? Did that result in schools jacking up their numbers in order to pay athletes more?
Wearable Data Shows 4.2% Co‑
A new @Nielsen study using wearables showed a 4.2% co-viewing viewership lift to big February TV events like the @SuperBowl, @DAYTONA 500, @Olympics Opening & Closing Ceremony, @NBAAllStar https://t.co/0XnkscGBjE
Manchester City Expand Sustainability Push with AMPYR Distributed Energy Deal
Manchester City has partnered with AMPYR Distributed Energy to install and operate over 5,000 solar panels at its City Football Academy and Joie Stadium. The arrangement is a long‑term power purchase agreement in which AMPYR funds, builds and manages the...
Houston and UCF Decline Redbird Capital Funding
This is one of the Big 12 schools that I thought could be interested, but Houston is saying here they will *not* participate in the Redbird capital infusion. UCF, I believe, has also said no: https://t.co/dUVidByWXs
Tempo Basketball Secures Canadian TV Deal with TSN, CTV, Crave
NEWS: @SBJ has learned that @TempoBasketball basketball games will broadcast and stream in Canada on @TSN_Sports. @CTV will air select games and Crave will stream select games as well during the season. Bell Media will be the official...
‘BCCI Control the ICC’: Simon Harmer on SA’s WTC Final Win and Global Cricket Balance
South Africa captured the World Test Championship title at Lord’s in 2025, beating Australia by five wickets and ending a 35‑year red‑ball title drought since readmission. Off‑spinner Simon Harmer used the victory to highlight India’s BCCI dominance, arguing its commercial...
William Blair Acquires Top Sports M&A Firm Inner Circle Sports
NEWS: Inner Circle Sports, which has likely done more sports ownership M&A transactions in the past two decades than any other firm in the country, is being purchased by Chicago investment bank William Blair. More at @Sportico 👇 https://t.co/0lYjQ12hcL
Small Conferences Bear Brunt of Back‑pay Mandate
Smaller conferences felt slighted once the House Settlement terms were finalized... Which conferences are hit hardest by the back pay requirement? This is explained in my book NIL 101: The House Settlement Get 40% off https://t.co/yBVisUkFCL https://t.co/wXNhxZnhYl
WNBA Valuations / MLS Development League Overhaul
The episode dives into the rapid rise in WNBA franchise valuations, highlighting average team worth of $427 million and the impact of new media deals, labor peace, and star players like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. Hosts discuss the league’s unique...
Long-Time Yankees Pitcher Returns To Rival Red Sox After Testing Market
Tommy Kahnle, the veteran right‑hander who spent six seasons with the New York Yankees, exercised an upward‑mobility clause in his minor‑league deal with Boston, making him eligible for any major‑league roster as of May 1. No club claimed him, and he...
Texans Lock Azeez Al‑Shaair with $54M Deal, $6.5M
LB Azeez Al-Shaair's #Texans Extension ▪️3-years, $54M new ▪️$38.75M guaranteed at sign ▪️$8M more March 2028 ▪️3-years, $47.75M practical Cap Hits 2026: $8.7M ($6.5M savings) 2027: $22.3M 2028: $22.3M 2029: $22.1M 2030: $2.8M (void)
Skip Bayless Returns for One‑Time First Take Reunion as Ratings Slip
Skip Bayless is set to rejoin Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take for a one‑time episode on May 8, 2026, in an effort to boost the show’s modest 5% rating growth, which lags behind ESPN’s other daytime programs. The...
INEOS Edge Closer to OGC Nice Sale After Price Drop
INEOS, the chemical conglomerate owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is accelerating its exit from Ligue 1 club OGC Nice after the asking price of roughly €200 million (about $215 million) proved unsustainable. The club, currently 15th in the French top flight, has attracted...
PGA Extends 59club Partnership to Drive Performance and Customer Experience
The PGA has announced a multi‑year renewal of its partnership with 59club, a data‑analytics firm it has worked with since 2010. The extension gives PGA professionals and branded venues continued access to performance tools such as mystery‑shopper audits, satisfaction surveys,...
Esports' Global Impact Analyzed in New Book
Now published & being dispatched... The Geopolitical Economy of Esports https://t.co/ZEI85yArWJ BIG BIG BIG thanks to everyone who contributed - chapter authors, publisher, proofreaders https://t.co/K7HEhPJ64w
WNBA Stands Apart From All Other Major Leagues
🏀New Episode🏀 Sporticast: The WNBA Is Unlike Any Other Major U.S. League https://t.co/gF0bR5MoSc via @sportico
Eurosport 4K to Air Roland-Garros in UHD on HD+ in Germany
Warner Bros. Discovery will broadcast the 2026 Roland‑Garros French Open in UHD HDR via Eurosport 4K on Germany’s HD+ platform from 24 May to 7 June. All main‑court matches—including semi‑finals and the final—will be shown without commercial breaks, with German commentary, to viewers...
Sporticast: The WNBA Is Unlike Any Other Major U.S. League
The latest Sporticast episode reveals that the Golden State Valkyries lead the WNBA at a $850 million valuation, while the league’s average franchise value jumps 59% to $427 million. Ownership is split evenly between NBA and WNBA owners, with 16% held by...
ISportConnect Announces Strategic Partnership with Proem Sports
iSportConnect, the world’s largest private network of sports business executives, has formed a strategic partnership with Proem Sports, a fan data and engagement platform. The alliance combines iSportConnect’s global community of industry leaders with Proem’s 30‑plus seasons of fan‑behavior analytics...
FIFA Still Has No World Cup TV Rights Deal in India, China
FIFA still has not secured broadcast rights for the 2026 World Cup in India and China, the planet’s two largest markets. In India, a Reliance‑Disney joint venture has offered $20 million, far below FIFA’s original $100 million ask, while Sony walked away...
Man City Move Closer to North Stand Upgrade
Manchester City is set to debut the expanded North Stand at the Etihad Stadium with a phased rollout. A public test event on May 20 will accommodate roughly 3,500 supporters at 50% of the new capacity, evaluating crowd flow, safety systems,...
Macedonia Unveil New Adidas Kits to Mark Partnership
The Football Federation of North Macedonia has signed a new partnership with Adidas, ending its previous agreement with Jako. The unveiling showcased a red home kit with the traditional sun‑ray motif, blending classic national colors with modern performance technology. Federation...
Wolves' 2024/25 Finances Reveal Roots of Relegation
Review of Wolverhampton Wanderers' financial results for the 2024/25 season. Now a year out-of-date, but they do help understand why the club has struggled on the pitch recently, culminating in this season's relegation #WWFC https://t.co/LKBlwkekCu
Complex Group Structures Mask Losses, Reveal Profit Disparity
NSWE UK Ltd, Aston Villa’s parent company, which nets off all the intra group transactions such as selling the women’s team and real estate to itself, publishes a £96.7m loss, compared to a £17m profit of its subsidiary. Shows the...
Tuesday Briefing: American Investors Show Interest in Buying OGC Nice
American investors have emerged as a potential buyer for Ligue 1 side OGC Nice, joining a European consortium in talks with current owner INEOS. INEOS, which acquired Nice for €100 million (about $109 million) in 2019, initially aimed for a €200 million (~$218 million)...
Separate City
I wouldn't put teams in the same city in the same division. Having an "AL/NL" split within a city is a good thing for viewing and will bring more teams through town.
Havas Thailand Scores Marketing and Media Mandate for Budweiser 0.0 FIFA World Cup 2026™
Havas Thailand has been named the lead marketing and media partner for AB InBev’s Budweiser 0.0 FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in Thailand. The agency will combine data intelligence, media strategy and cultural insight to deliver a locally resonant yet globally consistent brand...
Yahoo Sports Appoints Jarrod Schwarz as GM to Drive Product and Ad Growth
Yahoo Sports announced veteran sports media executive Jarrod Schwarz as its new general manager. Schwarz will oversee product, design, technology, revenue, partnerships and content, reporting to Yahoo Media Group president Ryan Spoon. The hire signals a push to expand Yahoo...
Inside the Mavericks' Hiring of Masai Ujiri
The Dallas Mavericks announced the hiring of former Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri as a senior advisor and lead decision‑maker for the franchise. Ujiri signed a three‑year contract reportedly worth $15 million, ending months of speculation about the team’s front‑office direction....
Pablo Torre’s Relentless Reporting Sparks Pulitzer‑winning Investigation
I'm not sure what will happen with the Kawhi/Clippers/Aspiration probe, but I know there would be no probe without @PabloTorre's intrepid reporting. A testament to the dogged pursuit of truth + a deserved Pulitzer. Great @Harvard_Law story on his work:...
NCAA Faces Rule Overhaul as Youth Monetize Sports
As more children and teens earn money in sports, entertainment and influencing, how will NCAA eligibility rules evolve? The days of amateurism seem long gone. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's a new world and for the NCAA,...
Another Cable TV Network Is Shutting Down Its App on Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, & Apple TV This Month
Fox Corporation will retire its standalone Fox Sports app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV and Apple TV around May 7, after notifying users on April 7. The move is part of a strategic shift to funnel viewers into the unified...
HEROIC Pulls Out of Dota 2 Scene After Two Years, Cites Financial Challenges
Norwegian esports organization HEROIC announced it is exiting the Dota 2 scene after a two‑year stint, citing long‑term financial sustainability concerns despite a growing fanbase and competitive achievements. The South America‑based roster captured a tier‑1 LAN title at PGL Wallachia Season 2...
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...
More Home Games Would Elevate Regular Season Value
Would the NBA regular season matter more if better seeds got 5 home games per series? 6?
Paramount Skips NFL Renewal, Focuses on UFC
Sat through Paramount earnings call and no questions on status of renewal talks with NFL. A lot of UFC mentions but nothing on how much more CBS may have to budget for NFL
Louis Vuitton Names Olympic Figure Skater Alysa Liu as New Brand Ambassador
Louis Vuitton announced on the morning of the 2026 Met Gala that Olympic gold‑medalist figure skater Alysa Liu will serve as the fashion house’s newest brand ambassador. The 20‑year‑old, celebrated for her historic triple‑axel‑quad combo and distinctive “halo” hair, joins a...
Broadcast Limits Force Overlapping NBA Second-Round Games
NBA playoff games are going to overlap during the first 2 nights of the second round. Here's why: There are significant (but not insurmountable) limitations on airing live sports on broadcast channels before 8 pm on weeknights due to pre-existing schedules...
Louis Vuitton Recruits Figure Skater Alysa Liu as Ambassador
Louis Vuitton announced that 20‑year‑old Olympic figure‑skating champion Alysa Liu will serve as its newest house ambassador. Liu debuted at the brand’s Fall/Winter 2026 runway, showcasing a Brown Speedy Patch Denim jacket and the Squire East West handbag. The partnership positions Liu...
Cubs Acquire Rooftop Sites, Wrigley View Still Holds Out
Thanks for reading my Cubs article. There's a long history with the rooftop businesses and the Cubs. The short of it: the Cubs bought many of the properties and other deals expired, but Wrigley View Rooftop hasn't agreed to the...