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
NFL Defends Broadcasting Strategy as Regulators Probe Shift to Pay TV
The NFL defended its broadcast model to the FCC, emphasizing that more than 87% of its games still air on free over‑the‑air TV and that every local‑market game is broadcast locally. The league highlighted that 86 of the top 100 TV programs in 2025 were NFL games and that Sunday Night Football has led primetime for 15 years. Broadcasters and a coalition of 700 stations urged regulators to curb the shift toward pay‑TV and streaming rights, warning it could harm local news and widen access gaps.
NAB Commissioner Warns Fans as Sports Move Behind Multiple Streaming Paywalls
NAB Commissioner Olivia Trusty told a Las Vegas conference that growing fan anger over sports moving behind multiple streaming paywalls could jeopardize broadcast policy. She highlighted more than 8,000 FCC comments—98% expressing frustration—and warned that the combined cost of services...
Advertisers Are Optimistic About Netflix’s Dynamic Ad Options
Netflix is expanding its ad-supported tier by offering dynamic ad insertion (DAI) for the 2027 Women’s World Cup broadcast. The streamer’s ad revenue is projected to reach $3 billion in 2026, reflecting steady growth since the ad tier launched in 2022....
NBC Sports President Jon Miller Reveals How NBC Convinced MLB to Sacrifice Revenue in New Deal
NBC Sports clinched a new Major League Baseball contract worth roughly $200 million per year, less than half of ESPN's previous $550 million deal. NBC argued that nationwide broadcast reach and promotional power outweighed the higher fees streaming services could offer. The...
Toronto Tempo Secures Only 19
The Toronto Tempo will appear on national television in the United States 19 times this season. (Not surprising this is a low number in the States.) Highlights: ESPN will air Fever @ Tempo on Aug. 18 CBS will air Mercury @ Tempo on...
Fever GM: Team Must Think ‘Long Term’ With Clark Payday Incoming
Indiana Fever general manager Amber Cox emphasized a long‑term roster strategy as the WNBA’s new EPIC contract provision reshapes salary‑cap dynamics. The rule let center Aliyah Boston secure a record four‑year, $6.3 million deal, and it positions rookie star Caitlin Clark...
NBC Sports Returns to WNBA After 24-Year Hiatus
On Sunday May 17 NBC Sports will air its first |WNBA game in 24 years. They open with defending champion @lvaces against the @atlantadream in Angel Reese's Atlanta home debut – 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. That's followed later...
Lobbyists Absurdly Doubt Small Streamers' NFL Bidding Power
See this a lot in D.C. lobbying, where advocates test the limits of an argument to an absurd degree: Is the @NFL seriously saying to @FCC Chief of Staff @Watson__Greg that @philoTV, @AMC_TV and @Crackle_TV (owned by Chicken Soup for...
NFL Draft Will Be Three-Day Ad Inventory Festival With Shoulder Pads
The NFL Draft returns April 23‑25, 2026 as a three‑day live event that has morphed into a massive advertising festival. CivicScience data shows 39% of respondents plan to watch, indicating a sizable audience despite overall TV fragmentation. Brands will be able...
GBR Wednesday | GOLF’S GROWTH STORY DEEPENS: NGF SEES 21 MILLION READY TO PLAY AS THE R&A TARGETS 22 MILLION...
The National Golf Foundation reports that more than 21 million Americans are eager to play on‑course golf, pushing total on‑course participants to 29.1 million—a 20% rise and the highest level in two decades. Overall participation has surged over 40% since 2019, yet...
Boxing-De La Hoya, Ali's Grandson Warn US Lawmakers Against Boxing Law Overhaul
Former champion Oscar De La Hoya and Muhammad Ali’s grandson, Nico Ali Walsh, testified before the Senate to oppose the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act. The bill would replace the 2000 Ali Reform Act with a single, centralized entity...
IndyCar Ratings Surge For Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach On FOX
IndyCar’s broadcast on FOX saw a dramatic ratings surge during the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 19, 2026. The race attracted 1.269 million viewers, a 130% increase over the 2025 telecast, and peaked at 1.527 million. Overall, FOX’s IndyCar...
F1 Boss: Politicians Created 'Almost Unrecoverable' Issues For Automakers
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali warned that aggressive European EV mandates have placed European automakers under severe strain, creating problems he described as "almost unrecoverable." The pressure to electrify has forced the FIA to shape F1 regulations around manufacturer interests, threatening...
The Handle: A Post-Super Bowl Hangover For Massachusetts Sports Betting In March
Massachusetts' March sports betting handle fell 10% to $701.4 million, aligning with peer states after the Super Bowl. Despite the dip, revenue rose 24% to $67.2 million, pushing the hold to 9.6% and generating $13.1 million in tax receipts. The decline reflects a...
Chelsea Fires Coach Less Than Four Months Into Six-Year Contract
Chelsea dismissed head coach Liam Rosenior after just four months of a six‑year, $5.4 million‑per‑year contract. The club has not won a Premier League match since early March, enduring five straight defeats without scoring. Rosenior’s exit could trigger a buyout ranging...
Who Will Your Team Take in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday, April 23, and runs through Saturday, April 25, with round‑1 on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET. Hulu + Live TV bundles all three channels plus Disney+ and ESPN+ for roughly...
Banorte Pushes Cashless Payments at Azteca as World Cup Deadline Nears
Mexican lender Banorte, which holds naming rights to Estadio Azteca, is racing to make the stadium fully cashless ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The bank has rolled out portable card readers and installed Banorte‑branded ATMs, but early test...
PGA Tour Signature Event Ratings Momentum Slows After 2025 Surge
The PGA Tour’s $20 million signature events posted a modest 2% viewership gain in 2026, averaging 3.55 million viewers, after a 10% surge the prior year. Only the Arnold Palmer Invitational bucked the trend, rising 17.8%, while the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro‑Am,...
The Growing IP and Commercial Complexity of the Sports Industry
World Intellectual Property Day highlights the sports sector’s shift from simple trademark and copyright issues to a dense web of rights covering athlete branding, NIL deals, media distribution, wearable tech, and AI‑driven data. Intellectual property now sits at the heart...
Molly Seidel Signs with Satisfy
Molly Seidel, the 2021 Olympic marathon bronze medalist, has signed a new apparel deal with Paris‑based running brand Satisfy, ending her Puma contract that expired in December 2024. The partnership coincides with Seidel’s 2026 shift toward trail and ultra‑distance racing,...
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...
FAST Complements, but Won’t Replace Paywalled Live Sports
There’s nuance to “FAST’s booming popularity” and live sports economics IMHO — so let’s summarize the nuances before unpacking them further below: • FAST is best understood today as a complementary distribution and monetization layer, but not a replacement for premium...
Sports Franchise Valuations Outpace Revenue Multiples, Lacking Catalyst
Padres are reportedly selling at 9x revenue. Slap that multiple on $BATRK, owner of the Atlanta Braves, and there's 100%+ upside. Ex. real estate assets. Honestly, these multiples are irrelevant, sports franchises are collectables for billionaires to have fun. But the Braves...
Reitmans Partners with Toronto Tempo for WNBA Debut
Canadian retailer Reitmans announced a partnership with the Toronto Tempo, the WNBA’s first Canadian franchise, to serve as presenting sponsor of the team’s dance crew, The Rhythm Section. The deal highlights Reitmans’ Hyba activewear line, which will create custom uniforms...
The Scoop: Nike Admits Misstep, Replaces Running Ad After Boston Marathon Backlash
Nike faced backlash after a Boston Marathon store sign read “Runners welcome. Walkers tolerated.” The phrasing was deemed exclusionary, especially toward adaptive athletes and casual walkers. Nike removed the sign within days, issued an apology, and replaced it with an...
Royals' Stadium Site: Lease, Tax, or Purchase Debate
Would the Royals lease a Crown Center stadium site and it would pay property tax? Or would the Royals or a government body buy the land, and if so who pays for it? And what of John Sherman's desire for...
Top Soccer Clubs Slip Down Global Valuation Rankings
Here's a crazy stat ⚽️🤯: In 2016, soccer teams were the No. 2 (Real Madrid), No. 3 (Barca), No. 5 (Man U) and No. 12 (Bayern) most valuable sports teams in the world. Ten years later, they're at No. 15 (Real...
VELO3D and ANDRETTI PERFORMANCE PARTNER FOR 2026 IMSA MICHELIN PILOT CHALLENGE
Velo3D, the metal‑additive‑manufacturing specialist, has signed a sponsorship with Andretti Performance for two 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge races at Laguna Seca and Indianapolis. The deal positions Velo3D as the official additive‑manufacturing technology provider, supplying a custom‑engineered aluminum CP1 radio‑control mounting...
Conservative Senators Clash Over Online Sports Betting in Oklahoma
Multiple senators opposed on moral/ethical grounds, saying during the sports betting bill debate online betting would hurt people in Oklahoma. Others questioned payment structures from the tribes and so forth. Gambling remains a difficult push in conservative political states.
No Vote Deals Major Setback to Oklahoma Sports Betting
The bill's sponsor said he will push for a re-vote, but today's no vote was a big blow for legal sports betting efforts in Oklahoma
ESPN Opens NBA Playoffs with Most-Watched Playoff Game of Opening Weekend
ESPN kicked off the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 22 with the most‑watched opening‑weekend game, as the Houston Rockets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers on ABC, averaging 5.2 million viewers and peaking at 6.4 million. Studio shows performed strongly, with Inside the...
Spurs‑Blazers Opener Draws 5.7 Million Viewers
Strong 5.7 million viewers for Game 1 of Spurs-Trail Blazers first round series on NBC on Sunday night (1 million of those on Peacock's stream). Hopefully Wembanyama comes back soon from that concussion.
Losing Goodell’s Antitrust Immunity Could Spark NFL Chaos
In an April 17 meeting with @FCC staff, @NFL General Counsel Ted Ullyot came armed with a 17-page slide deck. This page is a visualization of the alleged ensuing chaos if @nflcommish Roger Goodell lost his antitrust immunity in the...
UGREEN Debuts in Sports Arena with New England Patriots Pact
UGREEN, the global consumer‑tech brand, has signed a multi‑year deal to become the New England Patriots’ official technology accessory partner for the 2026 NFL season. The agreement introduces UGREEN’s ultra‑compact chargers and the new SynCare AIoT series to fans through...
Jerry Jones Gets $18.2M Yearly Stadium Subsidy Bargain
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' per-year lease subsidy falls well short of a record, but paying the owner of the NFL's most valuable team $18.2m/year to keep playing in what remains the gold standard for stadium design can't be seen as...
Expanding to 24 Teams Won’t Solve Financial Drain
Tim makes a salient point about multi-network access being beneficial. But "expand to 24 because the schools need more money" is a flawed argument, because expenses will rise in lockstep with revenue. And then they will clamor for *even more*...
DAZN to Keep Belgian Pro League Coverage
DAZN announced it will continue broadcasting the Belgian Pro League until the end of the 2026‑27 season, despite earlier attempts to walk away from the five‑year deal. The streaming service faced a Brussels court hearing where its lawyers confirmed the...
Rogers Eyes $18B Sports Stake Sale in Canada
I've said for a long time not to sleep on what's being built in Canada 👇 Rogers Planning Sports Team Stake Sale at $18 Billion Valuation: https://t.co/4BqwV7G9n7 via @sportico @kbadenhausen
Oklahoma Bill Earmarks $7M for Thunder, yet Excludes Them
An Oklahoma sports betting bill under consideration would direct up to $7 million a year from sportsbooks to the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder; The Thunder had been considered for a sports betting license in other bills, but are not eligible...
‘If the World only Remembers Our World Cup Sponsorship, We've Failed’: Lenovo’s Fifa Play
Lenovo has signed a multi‑year partnership with FIFA for the 2026 World Cup, positioning the deal as a technology platform rather than a traditional media buy. Jeff Shafer, the company’s global executive, says the goal is to embed Lenovo’s AI,...
Discussing IP Rights in American Sports at Webinar
Looking forward to speaking at @ASIPI_ & @UNHLaw webinar tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET on IP rights in sports in the Americas. I'll be on a panel with fellow attorneys Zvi Rosen, Jose Antonio Arochi & Jean-Carlo Costa Gálvez....
Oklahoma Senate to Vote on Tribal Sports Betting Bill
OKLAHOMA SPORTS BETTING: - Senate scheduled to vote today on bill permitting betting on tribal lands, give tribes regulatory authority - Bill has the backing of FanDuel - Legislation has already passed the House - Gov. Stitt has opposed bill, prefers more license...
SBJ Morning Buzzcast: April 22, 2026
The episode covers three major sports business developments: record NWSL expansion fees with Haslam Sports Group paying $205 million for a Columbus franchise and a $165 million fee for an Atlanta team, Churchill Downs’ $85 million acquisition of the Preakness and Black-Eyed‑Susan Stakes...
NHL Hits Highest U.S. Regular-Season Ratings in 14 Years
The @NHL scored its best regular-season viewership in the U.S. in 14 seasons....that dates back to 2012-13, according to my colleague @AustinKarp. That also makes it the best under the current rights deals with ESPN and TNT. https://t.co/OpvNt1craU
MLS Clubs Rank Among Top 50 Valuations
Here are the first @MLS team mentions in this year's list of most valuable soccer clubs. Where were they in the top 50? Click below to find out: https://t.co/iJ4UwR0kR9
Seeking Your Questions on College Sports Scheduling Guarantees
I've got like, 1,000+ game contracts now across FB, MBB, WBB, softball, baseball and WVB to work on a EP newsletter about game gaurentees. Is there anything else anybody is curious about re: college sports scheduling? I'll try to...
Turning the NFL Draft Into a Profitable Business
Plus, I'll also be speaking with @dpbrugler about his annual The Beast and how he's helped make a business around the NFL Draft.
Spurs Lose Value, Arsenal Gains 20%
Tottenham lost 5% of its club value from 2025 to now. It'll go down further if Spurs are relegated. (meanwhile Arsenal's value grew 20%) https://t.co/9wL4UdaHEk
DOJ Probes Sports Streaming Pricing Competition and Bidding
Antitrust attorney Charlie Beller hints at what DOJ is looking at in its probe of sports moving to streaming. "The key antitrust question is whether the process by which those prices are set remains competitive. Are multiple parties able to...
NFL Takes Fight to FCC Over Sports Streaming
As federal regulators scrutinize the migration of sports to streaming, the NFL is going on the offensive. Top execs make trip to DC for meeting with senior FCC staffers. https://t.co/8qAgNq0k3L