Today's Sports Business Pulse
Messi joins Ronaldo as billionaire after US endorsement deals
Lionel Messi has entered the billionaire club, driven by a series of high‑value U.S. endorsement and licensing agreements announced this month. His net worth now exceeds $1 billion, matching Cristiano Ronaldo as the only footballers to reach that milestone.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Lucra raises $20M to expand its eSports gamification platform
Roland Garros Targeted by WTA and ATP Tennis Players as Pay Row Reignited
Top WTA and ATP players have reignited a dispute with the four Grand Slam organizers, targeting Roland Garros after the French Open raised prize money by nearly 10% but lowered the players' share of tournament revenue to an estimated 14.9%. The athletes argue that despite the event’s projected €400 million ($436 million) revenue, their cut has slipped from 15.1% in 2024, far below the 22% they seek. The grievance echoes a broader letter signed by the world’s leading men’s and women’s players demanding higher revenue percentages and better welfare provisions, including pensions and long‑term health benefits. The row threatens to shape negotiations ahead of the clay‑court season and the upcoming Wimbledon and US Open tournaments.
NBC Earns Most-Watched Kentucky Derby on Record
NBC reported that the 152nd Kentucky Derby attracted an average of 19.6 million viewers, a 12% increase over the previous year and the highest‑rated Derby on record. The race’s peak audience reached 24.4 million during the live quarter‑hour, while Peacock...
Kentucky Derby Sets Record with 19.6M Average Viewers
The Kentucky Derby averaged 19.6 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, up 11% over last year’s Derby audience That's the most-watched Derby in history. (We note here Nielsen's measurement changes as with other sporting events.) Viewership peaked at 24.4 million viewers from...
LIV to See Another Day?
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will stop financing LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season, leaving the league without its primary backer. CEO Scott O’Neil announced a plan to seek outside investment to bridge the funding shortfall and...
Race Winnings Taxed Heavily Despite Massive Expenses
Race winnings are fully taxable as ordinary income, and by the time the owners take their 80%, they’ve already spent years burning cash on purchase price. Keeping a top-tier racehorse in training can easily run six figures annually, per horse,...
NY AG: Coinbase Misreads Wire Act Safe Harbor
The New York AG's Office calls out Coinbase for falsely insinuating that the Wire Act 'safe harbor' provision insulates 'wagers' across states where betting is legal. The Wire Act safe harbor (1084(b)) extends only to "information," not the wagers themselves....
Lakshmi Mittal, Poonawalla-Led Group to Buy IPL Franchise for $1.65 Billion
A consortium led by steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal and vaccine tycoon Adar Poonawalla has agreed to buy the Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals for $1.65 billion, the highest price paid for an IPL team. Mittal will own about 75% of...
Scarcity ≠ New Asset Class, Even Sports Stakes
🏈 Don't confuse something scarce, like a stake in a pro sports franchise, for a novel asset class. https://t.co/S3h4LDqoAi chart: https://t.co/2HPhJ1vBou https://t.co/mMegN06YAd
Florida Traffic Cam Outdraws Apple TV for F1 Miami
What drew more viewers for the F1 Miami Grand Prix? Apple TV or this Florida Highway Traffic Cam making the rounds on social? 😬 https://t.co/U1RPdThcn5
An Economist Writes: “The Fulminations over the #1 Pick Seem Overheated to Me.”
Economist Jonathan Falk argues that the hype surrounding the #1 draft pick is overstated. He notes that assessment errors and the prevalence of busts compress the expected advantage over the #2 slot. Falk also stresses that team fit and positional...
Excited for Inside the NBA on ESPN Finals
As with everything there’s been some criticism but I really like having Inside the NBA on ESPN. It’s gonna be really nice having them for the Finals.
Stadiums Boost Owner Cash, Not Fantasy Budgets
No, this isn't how this works. New stadiums don't enlarge your budget for your fantasy roster, it generates cold hard cash for the owner. Owners don't lack credit: if winning boosts profits, they'll invest in the roster. A new stadium...
2026 NBA Playoffs Deliver Highest Viewership in Over Three Decades
The NBA’s 2026 playoffs have delivered the highest viewership in 33 years, averaging 3.91 million viewers per telecast across ABC, ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video. The regular season attracted 170 million unique U.S. viewers, an 86 percent rise from the previous year,...
Wrestlers' Revenue Streams Make Stopping Illogical
They have legends deals with the wrestlers they make money from at signings, video games, merch, plus bringing them back for TV. Why would they stop doing that?
Super Bowl Sites Reward Officials Who Channel Public Funds
Super Bowl site selection isn't about the best location, it's done to reward local officials who worked to funnel taxpayer dollars to the NFL. https://t.co/SsqBmFSW7p
The Handle: March Meh-Ness For Ohio Sports Betting, Too
Ohio’s sports‑betting handle slipped 2.6% in March, falling to $960.4 million, while revenue jumped 32% to $87.9 million. The market’s hold stayed at 9.2%, generating $17.6 million in state taxes. Lottery‑run UBetOhio kiosks were excluded, representing only a fraction of total activity. The...
Fairway Rollin’ Hosts Dissect LIV Golf’s Collapse
New pod: @HousefromDC and @NathanCHubbard, hosts of @ringer's Fairway Rollin' podcast, talk about the demise of LIV Golf. https://t.co/BTKe7FFwqs
England and Scotland Fans Face Steep World Cup Costs
How much will it cost England and Scotland fans to attend the World Cup per @DaleJohnson https://t.co/GmDj72f766
Olivia Rodrigo Teams with FC Barcelona for Jersey Drop and Exclusive Barcelona Concert
Olivia Rodrigo has partnered with FC Barcelona and Spotify to launch a limited‑edition Blaugrana jersey and host an invite‑only concert for top Spotify listeners in Barcelona on May 8. The collaboration arrives ahead of the club’s El Clásico match and precedes Rodrigo’s...
Crypto.com Leads Miami Grand Prix as F1’s Official Sponsor
Crypto.com is front‑and‑center as the title sponsor of the Miami Grand Prix, with the race taking place at the newly built Miami International Autodrome at Hard Rock Stadium. The branding splash coincides with a celebrity‑filled weekend that included Mexican driver...
San Diego Padres Sale Agreed To With Investor Group; MLB Must Approve Deal
The San Diego Padres have agreed to sell control to an investor group headed by entrepreneur Kwanza Jones and private‑equity billionaire José E. Feliciano. The transaction, announced by the late owner Peter Seidler’s family, values the franchise at a record‑setting...
'Brutal' For Barcelona! Olivia Rodrigo Inspires El Clásico Kit Vs. Real Madrid
Barcelona unveiled a limited‑edition El Clásico jersey featuring pop star Olivia Rodrigo, replacing the usual Spotify logo for the May 10 clash with Real Madrid. The shirt will first appear in a Barcelona Femení match before being worn by the men’s side at...
NBA Reveals TV Schedule for Second Round of Playoffs
The NBA unveiled the second‑round playoff schedule, listing tip times and broadcast partners for both conferences. The Western Conference matchups are set—Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves—while the Eastern Conference still awaits...
Streaming Churn Costs $6.3 B; Live Sports Alone Won’t Stop Subscriber Loss
Parrot Analytics estimates that global streaming services shed $6.3 billion in revenue to churn in 2025. Netflix is betting on NFL‑related “shoulder” content and a 10‑year, $5 billion WWE deal to turn short‑term spikes into year‑round subscriber loyalty. The shift signals a...
How to Bet on the Kentucky Derby With BetMGM
BetMGM lets users wager on the Kentucky Derby through two separate channels: the BetMGM Sportsbook and a dedicated Horse Racing app. The Sportsbook offers a new‑user promotion of up to $1,500 in bonus bets when users apply the FOXSPORTS code,...
76ers Ownership Revealed: Harris Leads, Will Smith Holds 0.1%
The 76ers are looking to complete comeback from down 3-1 vs Celtics. The club's recent approval for a WNBA team gave a window into 76ers ownership breakdown: Josh Harris: 32.8% David Blitzer: 30.1% Arctos: 15.1% Marc Leder & Rodger/Hillary Krouse: 11.4% David Adelman: 5.6% Martin...
76
In terms of sport, stakes, and TV markets, #76ers-#Celtics R1 G7 on paper is probably the best #KentuckyDerby lead-out #NBC has had. $CMCSA
Caedrel Says that, While Los Ratones Was Profitable, the League of Legends Team "Wasn't Really Sustainable Long Term"
Marc "Caedrel" Lamont revealed that his European League of Legends squad Los Ratones turned a profit, largely thanks to a sponsorship‑heavy revenue model and modest merch sales. The team allocated 60% of earnings to players, with 50% split among its...
Mayweather Beats Pacquiao in Historic HBO‑Showtime Collaboration
🥊 May 2, 2015: Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeated Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision in a highly-anticipated (but eventually lackluster) 12-round boxing match. Due to each boxer’s respective contracts, it was the first-ever bout co-produced by HBO and Show… https://t.co/ZEewxaZqCh https://t.co/SjQmPviABC
Stadium Subsidies Are Never Free, Always Taxpayer Money
There's no such thing as found public money. Government stadium contributions are a cost to taxpayer, no matter what funding bucket they come out of. https://t.co/NrhB9uMpAT
Aston Villa FC Bring in Sports Illustrated Tickets as Official Fan Experience Partner
Aston Villa FC has appointed Sports Illustrated Tickets as its official fan experience partner, launching a suite of premium hospitality concepts at Villa Park. The collaboration introduces the Sports Illustrated Warehouse, Club SI pavilion, and Sports Illustrated Tickets Plaza, each blending...
Queen of the South Posts £197k Loss,
Queen of the South lost £197k in 2024/25 but still has an overall profit balance from previous years https://t.co/oRRdEgaUoG
Yahoo's Media Bridge, Wall's Opportunity, Media Rights Challenges
Saturday Goodies; #Yahoo Builds A Media Bridge, Wall Creates An Opportunity, and Digging Into Media Rights Challenges... #sportsbiz #storytelling https://t.co/uHgrXabcWq https://t.co/y36or5tglf
Wrexham AFC Used Taxpayer Funds for Pitch Upgrades Not Mentioned in Initial Grant
Wrexham AFC, co‑owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, received an £18 million (≈$23 million) state grant, but the initial £3.8 million (≈$4.8 million) tranche in February 2022 did not mention a £1.7 million (≈$2.2 million) pitch renovation. The club spent that amount on under‑soil heating, drainage...
Leagues Push Federal Ban on Sports Prediction Markets
“ln general, leagues should have control over the types of markets offered on their competitions and businesses..." Leagues' flex: 'Play nice or lose low-latency data' is my guess. NBA, MLB, player unions ask feds for restrictions on prediction markets https://t.co/vaDLDj77kf
Relegation From League Two Means Bigger Financial Hit
Two from five to be relegated from League Two today. Not only is it a loss of status, clubs on average lose more money in the National League than League Two
Formula 1 Taps FanDuel to Drive Betting-Led Fan Engagement in North America
Formula 1 announced a multi‑year partnership naming FanDuel its official betting operator across the United States and Canada. The deal, unveiled during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, integrates real‑time wagering odds into F1’s website and mobile app, creating a dedicated age‑restricted...
Private Equity Fuels Latest Wave of Sports Deals
Sports' Saturday: Top sports news in private equity Read the full story here: https://t.co/mDvFCnGwKw https://t.co/UQC7kDj1Yy
Indian Pickleball Association Signs Athletiq to Drive Performance-Led Growth
The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) has partnered with home‑grown brand Athletiq as its official performance partner, aiming to shift the sport from a participation boom to a high‑performance ecosystem. The collaboration focuses on upgrading tournament infrastructure, creating a structured talent‑identification...
Carib Premium Taps Pooran, Bravo as It Targets India’s High-Volume Beer Market
Carib Premium Strong Beer, a Caribbean brand owned by Carib Brewery, has hired West Indies cricketers Nicholas Pooran and Dwayne Bravo as brand ambassadors to accelerate its push into India’s high‑volume beer market. The campaign debuted in Lucknow during the...
Why Sunderland’s Away Kit Legal Row Is a Warning to All Sports
Sunderland AFC faces a legal challenge from artist Andrew Small, who alleges the club’s new away kit reproduces his public sculpture without permission. The dispute centers on whether the kit’s design infringes copyright, exposing the club to potential secondary infringement liability....
Plaza Mahou / External Reference Architects
External Reference, led by Carmelo Zappulla, has opened Plaza Mahou inside Santiago Bernabéu, the first brewery‑branded space in a Spanish stadium. The 1,100 m² venue includes a 700 m² interior and 450 m² terrace, offering on‑site brewing of Mahou Cinco Estrellas (≈30,000 L/year) and...
Versant Divests SportsEngine to PlayMetrics in Strategic Youth‑Sports Deal
Versant has sold its SportsEngine youth‑sports technology platform to PlayMetrics for an undisclosed sum, part of a broader strategic review. The deal transfers software serving over 16 million athletes and expands PlayMetrics' operating system across the youth‑sports market.
Big Ten Announces $1.37 Billion In 2024-2025 Revenue Distribution To Its 18 Members
The Big Ten announced a $1.37 billion revenue distribution for fiscal year 2024‑2025, giving its 18 member schools an average of $76.1 million each—well above the SEC’s $64.4 million average. Payouts were uneven, with Ohio State receiving the top share of $91.57 million and...
NBC Debuting New WNBA Marketing Campaign During Kentucky Derby
NBC has locked in a WNBA media rights agreement through 2036, guaranteeing more than 50 regular‑season and first‑round playoff games each season across Peacock, NBC and USA. The partnership kicks off with a May 10 Aces‑Sparks matchup on USA Network, followed...
Valkyries Valued at $850M, Timeline Shorter Than Five Years
BTW, Matt (and rest of world) @sportico today valued the @valkyries at $850M. It ain’t gonna take five years.
American Commissioner Tim Pernetti Pushing for Group of Six Playoff with a Twist
American Athletic Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti is championing a new Group of Six playoff that would run on Tuesday and Wednesday of the College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal week, leaving the existing automatic CFP bid untouched. The standalone tournament would feature the five...
Washington DC Sports Betting: DC Sportsbook Promos & Legal Apps
Washington DC’s sports betting market, legal since 2019, now hosts six licensed mobile operators—FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars, Fanatics, and theScore Bet. The 2024 license expansion added Class C permits, allowing franchise partnerships and boosting district‑wide coverage. Operators are offering aggressive promos...
Saudi's Spending Cut Signals Shift in Regional Power
What the End of Saudi Arabia’s Big-Spending Era Means for the Kingdom and Beyond https://t.co/9iRmQ5paso
DAZN Now on the Record About Interest in Local NBA Rights
DAZN has officially stated its interest in acquiring local NBA broadcast rights as the league seeks new distribution partners amid the regional sports network (RSN) collapse. The streaming service sees an opportunity to fill the void left by traditional RSNs...