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
Peacock’s 2026 NFL Lineup Features Holiday Exclusive, Sunday Night Football, Thanksgiving Day Rivalry Game & More
Peacock will serve as the exclusive streaming home for NBC’s 2026 NFL slate, delivering 26 regular‑season games, the Hall of Fame opener, and the full playoff package. The schedule features a historic Thanksgiving matchup in Buffalo between the Chiefs and Bills, the league’s first international Sunday Night Football game in Mexico City, and a Saturday primetime exclusive on Jan 2, 2027. Spanish‑language coverage will be provided by Telemundo Deportes, while the familiar SNF broadcast team returns alongside new analyst Mike Tomlin. The lineup positions Peacock as a central hub for football fans throughout the season.
Thousands in Jockey Sponsorship Value at Stake in Preakness
The upcoming Preakness Stakes puts millions of dollars of jockey sponsorship value on the line as José Ortiz eyes a historic Triple Crown ride on Chip Honcho. Apex Marketing Group estimates that logo placement on a winning jockey’s pant leg...
Gambling Layoffs Pile Up As Sports Betting Industry Recalibrates
Penn Entertainment announced layoffs of more than 75 staff in its Penn Interactive unit, which includes theScore Bet and online casino operations. Gambling.com Group (GDC) cut roughly 150 jobs, a 25% reduction, as it pivots to an AI‑first model promising...
Pac-12 FY2025 Financials Reveal Revenue, Cash, Compensation
The Pac-12 released its FY2025 financials. Details here on rev, WSU/OSU cash, commissioner compensation, Pac12Ent as B2B and more -->
Bally Bet Secures Rhode Island Mobile Sportsbook License
Bally Bet is set to become Rhode Island's second legal mobile sportsbook after it was approved for licensure earlier this week; Bally Bet joins Sportsbook Rhode Island; Bally Bet already operates an iCasino in the state
NFL Wants Certain Trading Contracts Banned From Prediction Markets Like 'First Play of Game,' Injuries
The NFL has written to CFTC Chairman Michael Selig urging the commission to ban specific sports‑related prediction‑market contracts, such as first‑play, injury, and broadcaster‑mention bets, and to raise the minimum trading age to 21. The league argues these contracts are...
Silver Lake‑Led Group Buys 25% of Las Vegas Raiders in $8 B Deal
A consortium headed by Silver Lake executive Egon Durban is buying a 25% stake in the Las Vegas Raiders for a price believed to be under $8 billion. The transaction values the NFL franchise at $9.9 billion, marking one of the largest...
Rays Reach Preliminary Agreement With City, County on $2.3B Ballpark
The Tampa Bay Rays have signed a non‑binding memorandum of understanding with the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County outlining financing for a proposed $2.3 billion domed ballpark on the Dale Mabry Campus. The plan calls for the Rays to fund...
Inter Miami Secures 13th Deal, 3rd Financial Sponsor
New at @SBJ: @InterMiamiCF has completed its 13th sponsorship deal of the year, adding @Mastercard to its roster. It's also the 3rd financial services deal in the past two months after @nubank and @Shift4, showing their ability to slice up...
Buffalo Bills Jump From Audacy to Cumulus for Radio Flagship
The Buffalo Bills have announced a return to FM radio, moving their flagship broadcast from Audacy’s AM station WGR to Cumulus Media’s WGRF-FM "97 Rock." After a 14‑year stint on AM, the team will air games on the higher‑fidelity FM...
Audacy Loses Bills Radio Rights To Cumulus
The Buffalo Bills have shifted their flagship radio broadcast from Audacy’s AM station WGR to Cumulus Media’s FM classic‑rock outlet WGRF 97.1 FM, ending a 14‑year partnership. The move returns the team to FM for the first time since 2011, promising...
PFA and Select Car Leasing Strengthen Ties with New Multi-Year Agreement
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has signed a new multi‑year partnership with Select Car Leasing, naming the leasing firm the official sponsor of its Fans’ Player of the Month awards through the 2027‑28 season. The deal integrates Select Car Leasing...
Capital.com Partners with Golf Australia to Become Title Partner of the Capital.com Australian Open
Capital.com Australia has secured a multi‑year deal with Golf Australia, becoming the Title Partner of the 2026 Capital.com Australian Open and the first Naming Rights Partner of the GA Handicap. The partnership links the fintech platform to Australia’s premier golf...
Orange Belgium Signs DAZN Deal
Orange Belgium and its VOO subsidiary have sealed a distribution deal with streaming giant DAZN, bringing Belgian football—including the Jupiler Pro League, Challenger Pro League and Women Super League—plus the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, LaLiga, Ligue 1, NBA and NFL to...
Public Investment Fund Signs on as Official Supporter for FIFA World Cup 2026
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been named an official tournament supporter for the 2026 FIFA World Cup across North America and Asia. The partnership brings PIF’s subsidiaries, including Savvy Games Group and the upcoming Qiddiya City entertainment hub,...
Montirex Signs Sponsorship Deal with Unbeaten UFC Champion Ilia Topuria
Liverpool‑based sportswear label Montirex has inked an exclusive long‑term sponsorship with undefeated UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, launching a global campaign today. Topuria, who commands 14.5 million Instagram followers, will wear Montirex apparel during training and at his upcoming fight at...
Ally Wants Influence over Women’s Sports Media Deals — Not Just Sponsorships
Ally Bank announced it achieved its five‑year 50/50 parity pledge—equal ad spend in men’s and women’s sports—one year early. Chief marketing officer Andrea Brimmer says the bank’s influence now extends beyond sponsorships to shaping media rights deals with leagues like...
World Cup Ticket Prices Have Dropped 24% Over the Last 30 Days
Ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are sliding sharply on the secondary market, with a 24% drop over the past month—equating to roughly $177 less per ticket. Data from Ticketdata.com shows a 5% decline in the last seven...
New Balance Taps Shohei Ohtani to Cement Its Rise as a Baseball Powerhouse
New Balance announced a multi‑year partnership with two‑way star Shohei Ohtani, positioning the privately held sneaker maker as a serious contender in baseball apparel. The deal builds on a strategy that began in 2011 and now includes a roster of...
Disney Sells 10 Super Bowl Ad Slots at $9 Million Each, Easing Pricing Push
Disney has sold over 10 thirty‑second Super Bowl LXI commercial slots for about $9 million each, after earlier demanding $10 million per spot. The move shows advertisers’ appetite for premium live‑event inventory while highlighting pricing friction with large media‑buying agencies.
Paramount+ Backs Blockbuster A-LEAGUE MEN Semi Finals
Paramount+ and Network 10 will air the Isuzu UTE A‑League Men semi‑final second legs this weekend, delivering live coverage of Adelaide United vs Auckland FC and Newcastle Jets vs Sydney FC. Both matches are sold out, with Adelaide counting on Golden Boot winner...
WAFL v SANFL Rivalry Returns Live and Free on Seven
Seven Network will broadcast the historic WAFL versus SANFL state football clash live and free on its main channel and the 7plus Sport streaming service this Saturday. The match, held at Sullivan Logistics Stadium, marks the 101st edition of the...
Cup Runneth Over: Inside the Alcohol Brands Pouring Marketing Into Soccer This Year
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted across North America, giving alcohol brands a massive platform. Companies such as Michelob Ultra, Modelo, Stella Artois and Don Julio are committing record‑high media spends and multi‑channel activations, with some planning 18...
Duke Inks Three‑game Amazon Prime Video Streaming Deal, ACC Commissioner Calls It Innovative
Duke University reached a three‑game exclusive streaming agreement with Amazon Prime Video for the 2026‑27 men’s basketball season. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips praised the pact as “innovative,” noting it was negotiated alongside existing ESPN contracts without disrupting the league’s broader...
With Sports Fragmentation, Following the Fans Is Crucial
Live sports remain the last true appointment‑viewing experience, but rights deals are scattering content across dozens of apps and walled gardens. This fragmentation leaves advertisers chasing siloed audiences and missing incremental reach, even though sports made up 96% of the...
How Much Is Dana White Worth in 2026? Inside the UFC CEO’s $600M Fortune
Dana White’s net worth tops $600 million in 2026, driven by his stake in the UFC’s $4 billion 2016 sale and a $20 million annual CEO salary. The former promoter’s wealth surged after the UFC secured a seven‑year, $7.7 billion media‑rights agreement with Paramount...
Arsenal Sign Deel Deal with CEO Who Is Fan of Champions League Finalists PSG
HR platform Deel announced a multi‑year sleeve sponsorship with Arsenal, taking over the club’s kit space previously occupied by Rwanda’s tourism board. The agreement, unveiled ahead of the new home‑kit launch, will see Deel’s branding on the Gunners’ shirts and...
Understand the Core of the House Settlement
With so many new rules, it’s easy to miss what actually matters most. What’s the single most important thing everyone should understand about the House Settlement? I walk through this in my book NIL 101: The House Settlement Currently 40% off https://t.co/yBVisUkFCL https://t.co/Kh2fLkTfJi
Paula’s Choice Named Official World Cup Skincare Sponsor as Beauty’s Football Fever Sets In
Paula’s Choice, a Unilever‑owned skincare brand, has been named the Official Skincare Sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The partnership launches a global "Proud Supporter of Your Skin" campaign that frames skin...
Knicks Playoff Economics / World Cup Ticket Drama
In this episode of The Sportacast, Scott Soschnick and Evan Novy‑Williams dissect the financial windfall the New York Knicks stand to earn from their deep playoff run, noting that a regular‑season game generates about $4 million in ticket revenue, which can...
Cricket Australia in Talks with Amazon and Dazn over Ashes Broadcast Rights
Cricket Australia is in advanced talks with Amazon and Dazn to secure a four‑year UK broadcast deal covering the next men’s and women’s Ashes tours, the 150th‑anniversary Test in Melbourne, and eight ODI/T20 matches this autumn. The negotiations follow the...
Scripps Seals Local Broadcast Deal with Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have signed a new local television rights agreement with Scripps Sports that takes effect in the 2026‑27 NBA season, bringing games back to free over‑the‑air TV for the first time since 2005. WMYD TV20 Detroit will serve...
Sen. Baldwin Pushes Free TV Access to Packers Game
Waiting on reaction to @packers game on Thanksgiving eve from Sen. @tammybaldwin, who dropped a bill in April that would allow all Wisconsin residents to see the game on free TV or on a streaming service that made the game...
EXEC: Nike’s Brazilian Partner Jumps on Wholesale Gains and World Cup Jersey Sales
Grupo SBF, Nike’s Brazilian partner, reported a strong start to 2026, with first‑quarter net revenue climbing 14.9% to R$1.8 billion (about $360 million) and adjusted net income up 6.1% to R$79 million ($15.8 million). The company highlighted a 48.7% year‑over‑year surge in wholesale sales,...
Florida AG Continues Push Against Rooney Rule
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued an investigative subpoena to the NFL, targeting the league’s Rooney Rule and broader diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives after the NFL altered the policy’s website language. The new wording softens references to increasing minority...
NFL Schedule Release: Rams to Host Packers on Thanksgiving Eve as Part of Five-Game Netflix Package
The NFL announced its first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game, pitting the Los Angeles Rams against the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at SoFi Stadium. The matchup is part of a new five‑game streaming package with Netflix, which will...
NFL Extends Netflix Partnership Through 2029, Adds Holiday Games
The NFL has inked an expanded deal with Netflix that will run through 2029 and include new games in week one, week 18, Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas, as well as the NFL Honors awards show during Super Bowl week.
Detroit Pistons Games Moving to Scripps-Owned WMYD
The Detroit Pistons will move their locally televised games to free over‑the‑air station WMYD, owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, beginning with the 2026‑27 NBA season. The rights package is underpinned by a production loan exceeding $4 million, though its total...
Gotham FC in Advanced Talks to Move to NYCFC’s New Queens Stadium
Gotham FC is in advanced negotiations to relocate its home games to NYCFC’s new Etihad Park stadium in Queens, a $780 million, 25,000‑seat venue slated to open for the 2027‑28 MLS season. The move would shift the NWSL club from Sports...
Scripps Sports Secures First NBA Local Rights for Pistons
Scripps Sports adds first NBA local rights with deal for Pistons games starting next season https://t.co/4BDaWcKAKF
The Athlete Influencer Economy Is Now Operating at Scale
College athletes are now a core pillar of influencer marketing, with NIL partnerships valued at $1.67 billion for the 2024‑25 season and projected to hit $2.8 billion by 2026‑27. Brands such as adidas, CVS and Hollister are deploying multi‑athlete, always‑on campaigns that...
What’s Next For Local Sports As Regional Network Model Crumbles?
The regional sports network (RSN) model has unraveled over the past five years, leaving NBA, NHL and MLB clubs scrambling for new revenue streams. Teams are turning back to free over‑the‑air broadcasters and launching their own streaming platforms to fill...
Peacock to Debut WNBA Games on May 17
Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, will begin live‑streaming WNBA games on May 17, launching a doubleheader featuring the Las Vegas Aces vs Atlanta Dream and the Indiana Fever vs Seattle Storm. The games will air simultaneously on NBC and Peacock, with star players A’ja...
Netflix Secures Exclusive NFL Honors Rights and Three Games for 2026 Season
Netflix has clinched exclusive streaming rights to the NFL Honors ceremony and three additional games for the 2026 season, including a Week 1 showcase in Australia and a Thanksgiving Eve matchup. The deal marks the streamer’s biggest live‑sports acquisition yet and...
LIV Golf-PGA Tour Merger Falls Apart, Casting Doubt on Future of Rival Circuits
The planned merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour collapsed after antitrust scrutiny and uncertainty over Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund financing. Players like Jon Rahm voiced frustration, while sponsors and broadcasters brace for a reshaped golf landscape.
Games Over? Vice Chair Quits Invictus
Prince Harry’s Invictus Games 2027 faces a leadership shake‑up as the vice chairman stepped down after just 16 months. The organization also lost its largest corporate sponsor and still has four senior communications and marketing positions unfilled with less than...
WHOOP Named Official Health and Fitness Wearable of the Boston Red Sox
WHOOP announced a multi‑year deal making it the Official Health and Fitness Wearable of the Boston Red Sox for the 2026‑2028 seasons. The agreement grants WHOOP exclusive rights as the club’s wearable‑technology partner and places its branding on first‑ and...
EntertainHR: The NFL’s Real Offseason Was at the Bargaining Table
The NFL and the NFL Referees Association finalized a new seven‑year collective bargaining agreement covering the 2026‑2032 seasons. The deal delivers a 6.45% annual wage increase for officials, guarantees training‑camp pay, and preserves the three‑year probationary period. It also enhances...
The Social-First Sports Revolution: How Data-Driven Ecosystems Are Redefining Commercial Value
TikTok has been named the first‑ever Preferred Platform for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, tapping an audience where 85% of fans use the app as a second‑screen experience. The partnership builds on a 2023 Women’s World Cup test that generated...
Wednesday Briefing: Sergio Ramos-Led Group Reach €444 Million Sevilla Acquisition Agreement
A consortium fronted by former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has reached a €444 million (≈$475 million) agreement in principle to acquire LaLiga club Sevilla. The group, backed by investment fund Five Eleven, entered a three‑month exclusivity period in January and completed...