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
Tyrese Maxey’s Debut New Balance Signature Sneaker Brings Elements From Two Lifestyle Hits
Tyrese Maxey debuted his first signature sneaker, the New Balance Maxey v1, after leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a play‑in win that secured a playoff spot. The shoe borrows its silhouette from New Balance’s popular 9060 lifestyle model, featuring a sculpted sole and distinctive blue accents. Priced at $130, the Maxey v1 will launch later in 2026 through New Balance’s website and select retailers. Maxey joins Kawhi Leonard as the only current NBA players with a New Balance signature line, with rookie Cooper Flagg poised to follow.
ESPN Reveals Football-Focused Creator Program Ahead of 2027 Super Bowl
Disney’s ESPN announced the fourth edition of its Creator Network will be football‑centric, timed to the lead‑up to the 2027 Super Bowl. The year‑long program will embed creators at Monday Night Football, college games and culminate in a week‑long VIP...
VICE Rewinds US Soccer, AXE's Ticket Giveaway, and Beckham Fronts Stella Artois' World Cup Campaign
VICE is debuting the six‑part documentary "Soccer’s American Dream," a retrospective on four decades of U.S. soccer growth and challenges. AXE has launched a World Cup ticket giveaway, offering 82 tickets and a $2,000 travel stipend to fans who post...
BeIN SPORTS Expands Motorsport Portfolio with FIA World Endurance Championship Coverage
beIN MEDIA GROUP has signed a multi‑year agreement to broadcast every race of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) across 35 territories in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia‑Pacific. The 2026 season, kicking off with the 6 Hours of...
Caitlin Clark's Return Could Spark WNBA Viewership Surge
One media-centric thing I would watch for this year with the @WNBA. The @IndianaFever should be title contenders and Caitlin Clark will be healthy. Her absence impacted viewership last year in the network windows where the league would have gotten...
Golf Town and Brooke Henderson Cement Decade-Long Partnership
Golf Town, Canada’s largest specialty golf retailer, announced a three‑year extension of its partnership with LPGA star Brooke Henderson and her sister Brittany, now running through 2028. The renewal marks over a decade of collaboration focused on expanding the game’s...
Prime Video's First NBA Playoff Streams Don't Go as Planned
Amazon's Prime Video, the exclusive broadcaster of the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament, experienced two high‑profile technical glitches. The Charlotte Hornets‑Miami Heat overtime stream cut out for about 22 seconds, while the Golden State Warriors‑LA Clippers game suffered noticeable audio‑video sync...
EXEC: European Soccer E-Tailer Unisport Enters U.S. with WeGotSoccer Acquisition
European online football retailer Unisport Group has acquired Arocam, the U.S. parent of WeGotSoccer and TUDN Fan Shop, adding six physical stores to its portfolio. The acquisition positions Unisport for a rapid expansion in the United States ahead of the...
The Gambling Industry Is Spending $3.9B the Wrong Way
In 2025 U.S. sports betting and online gaming spent $3.9 billion on marketing, with 36% allocated to TV ads and only 2.3% to earned media and PR. The 5WPR Gaming Trust Index shows that the bulk of spend still targets awareness,...
EXEC: MTB Components Brand Pembree Expands U.S. Distributor Deal with BTI
Pembree, the UK‑based mountain‑bike components brand acquired by Look Cycle in November 2024, announced an expanded U.S. distribution agreement with Bicycle Technologies International (BTI). The partnership deepens Pembree’s presence across BTI’s extensive network of independent bike dealers, leveraging BTI’s catalog of...
LIV, NBA Europe: Has the Iran War Curbed Middle East Sports Spending?
The Iran war is prompting a pullback of Middle‑East sovereign wealth from global sports. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which has spent over $5 billion on LIV Golf, is reconsidering that support, while its backed clubs Newcastle and Qatar‑backed PSG have...
What LIV Golf’s Demise Means for Saudi Influence
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is poised to end its financing of LIV Golf, the Saudi‑backed circuit that tried to rival the PGA Tour. Over four years the league consumed billions in subsidies without generating commensurate revenue, prompting Riyadh to...
WNBA Draft Viewership up, Hits Seven Figures for Third-Straight Year
The 2026 WNBA Draft drew an average of 1.50 million viewers on ESPN, a 20% increase from the 2025 draft’s 1.25 million. Peak viewership reached 1.79 million during the 7:45 PM ET quarter‑hour, up 23% year‑over‑year. The surge follows a 15% rise in the...
Solid Audience for NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball Debut
NBC’s inaugural "Sunday Night Baseball" telecast featuring the Guardians and Braves attracted an average of 2.2 million viewers when Nielsen data was combined with Adobe Analytics, marking a 13% increase over ESPN’s 2025 Dodgers‑Cubs broadcast. The combined audience made the game...
LIV Golf Faces Uncertain Future / Amazon’s NBA Mishap
In this episode, Scott Soschnick and Evan Novy‑Williams dissect the precarious financial future of LIV Golf, noting that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) may be reconsidering its multi‑billion‑dollar backing amid mounting losses, player departures, and the broader geopolitical fallout...
This Firm Scores Public Funds Big Returns From Soccer Stragglers
Texas Tech University System’s endowment, led by Tim Barrett, has teamed up with London‑based Fasanara Capital to tap its niche private‑credit platform for sports financing. Fasanara, which manages about $6 billion, focuses on receivables‑backed loans to lower‑tier European soccer clubs, deploying...
Alta Slashes Lift Tickets by 50% for Passholders at Other Mountains, Including Epic Pass
Alta Ski Area in Utah, facing one of its snow‑poorest seasons, is offering a 50% discount on lift tickets for passholders from other resorts, dropping the price from $189 to about $95. The promotion, dubbed the "Best Worst Season" deal,...
Ohio Casino Control Commission Fines Kalshi $5 Million for Unlicensed Binary‑options Contracts
The Ohio Casino Control Commission imposed a $5 million penalty on prediction‑market platform Kalshi for offering binary‑options style contracts without a license. The fine follows a federal court ruling that treated the contracts as gambling, not swaps, and comes as Kalshi...
MLBPA Dismisses COO Xavier James and HR Chief Michael O'Neill Amid Probe
The Major League Baseball Players Association terminated chief operating officer Xavier James and human‑resources head Michael O'Neill on Wednesday, citing findings from an internal investigation tied to a federal probe. The firings come as the union grapples with a looming...
Sporticast: What’s Going On With LIV Golf?
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has spent over $5 billion on LIV Golf and is now weighing a reduction in its financial support. The podcast hosts note that LIV has burned through hundreds of millions, putting the circuit under pressure...
Chelsea Extend Partnership with Crypto Platform BingX
Chelsea FC has renewed its partnership with cryptocurrency exchange BingX, extending the deal through the 2026/27 season. BingX will continue as the club’s official principal partner and training‑kit sponsor, a relationship that began in 2023 and has expanded into digital...
Lionel Messi and AFA Face Legal Action From VID Music Group
Lionel Messi and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) are being sued by Miami promoter VID Music Group over a $7 million agreement that granted VID exclusive rights to stage two Argentina friendlies. The contract stipulated Messi must play at least 30...
KS Cracovia Confirm Strategic Partnership with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports
Poland's historic KS Cracovia has signed a strategic partnership with Jay‑Z’s Roc Nation Sports International. The deal leverages Roc Nation’s global entertainment network to reshape Cracovia’s brand identity and launch cross‑media content. A key ambition is to turn the club’s stadium...
NHL Adds Procter & Gamble to Sponsorship Roster in Canada
The NHL announced a multi‑year, multi‑brand partnership with Procter & Gamble in Canada, bringing Gillette, Old Spice, Tide and Downy onto the league’s sponsorship roster. The deal will launch ahead of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and includes retail promotions,...
Verizon Scores FWA, Private 5G Deal for FIFA World Cup
Verizon has signed a multi‑year deal with FIFA to supply 5G, fiber, fixed wireless access and broadcast services for the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The operator is adding extra 5G spectrum and deploying under‑seat...
Why the World Cup Exposes Sports Streaming's Biggest Engagement Gap
The World Cup will attract over five billion viewers, but its engagement spikes end with the final whistle. In contrast, gaming platforms sustain daily interaction through persistent systems, social layers, and reward mechanics. The article argues that sports streaming must adopt...
PSG's 2024/25 Financials Shine After Trophy-Laden Season
As Paris Saint-Germain once again dazzle on the European stage, a review of their financial results for the 2024/25 season, when they won the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, a 13th Ligue 1 title and a 16th Coupe de...
Texas Tech Endowment Backs Loans to Lower‑tier European Clubs
So the Texas Tech system endowment has invested in an asset manager that can access ~20% of its $6 billion in AUM to loan money to smaller soccer club near the bottom of Europe's top leagues?? Fascinating read from @JustBirny at...
Paris Saint-Germain Finances 2024/25
Paris Saint‑Germaine posted record revenue of $912 million for 2024/25, a 4% rise driven largely by a $71 million jump in broadcasting income. Operating expenses fell $100 million and the wage bill was trimmed by $135 million after Kylian Mbappé’s exit, yet the club...
Cruz Leads Senate Hearing on Boxing Industry
Ted Cruz's Senate Commerce Committee is holding a hearing on boxing next week. Nick Khan and Oscar de la Hoya are on the witness list. https://t.co/r6bCXE2fPc
America's Downtowns Dying as Gambling and Disaster Betting Surge
✍️ Longform links: the rise of sports gambling, betting on catastrophes, and the death of American downtowns. https://t.co/HLca0vRQk0 image: https://t.co/Ua0vpTHTtk https://t.co/g7AAxnTZyt
Live Sports Is Powering the Next Wave of Streaming Innovation
Live sports is driving the next wave of streaming innovation as massive, concurrent viewership demands ultra‑low latency and broadcast‑grade quality. Rising U.S. sports media rights, projected to exceed $37 billion by 2030, force providers to seek new monetization models. AI, cloud...
Hornets Partially Funded by Main Street Sports for Local Rights
One little piece of news that I’ve learned from sources: The Hornets have partially, but not fully, been paid by Main Street Sports for their local rights this season. Shelly and I discuss the Hornets’ broadcast plans for next season here: https://t.co/tJJ8MQjPnK
ESPN Pushes WrestleMania, Featuring Pat McAfee in Main Event
ESPN is going all out to promote WrestleMania and Pat McAfee is in the main event picture https://t.co/3Uq1PRUowD https://t.co/2MNSlTJYpw
Hornets' Rise Driven by Strategy, Not Luck
The Charlotte Hornets are an NBA darling this year. I spoke with their president of business operations, who told me how they’ve done it. She says it’s not luck. https://t.co/dA7RU69Or9
PIF Unveils 2026‑2030 Strategy, Shifts From Sports Deals
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, PIF, just announced its plan for 2026-2030. Here's how it describes its upcoming strategy vs. the one under which it launched @livgolf_league and bought @NUFC 👇 https://t.co/aUUe1Uv48f
DraftKings to Debut iCasino, Sportsbook in Alberta July 13
As expected, DraftKings plans to launch it's iCasino and sportsbook in Alberta July 13, the company announced today
NFL and YouTube Negotiate Five‑game Long‑form Deal
Glass Break: the NFL and YouTube have entered long form contract review for a 5 game package, @fos has learned https://t.co/dCPyJagt5v
New Stadium Plan Promises Change From Costly Subsidies
People of Kansas City, pay no attention to the existing taxpayer-subsidized stadium district that bleeds red ink. 🎶 This one will be different 🎶 https://t.co/5X4zhaiOYa
TMRWSports Once Owned 54% of TGL, Now Expanding Partnerships
.@TMRWSports held 54% of the TGL equity when the golf league launched a few years ago. That may have changed via expansion, but there's also WTGL and a new flag partnership with the @NFL
Iran War Dampens Middle East Sports Investment, Study Finds
THE question in #SportsBiz LIV, NBA Europe: Has the Iran War Curbed Middle East Sports Spending? https://t.co/L9xulTPcIF via @sportico @novy_williams
Tax Dollars Funding Stadium Arms Race in Tampa
Spending tax money to upgrade Tampa's football stadium so it can compete with a new Tampa baseball stadium built with tax money may seem like an odd way to run a railroad, but this is where we are. https://t.co/GGqVpl2tCV
Wisconsin Bill Guarantees Free Packers Access, Bans Blackouts
D.C. Memo: @SenatorBaldwin Bill Would Guarantee Free Access Throughout Wisconsin to Watch @NFL Packers; Wisconsin Democrat’s For the Fans bill would also ban league-owned streaming services from blacking out certain games on their platforms https://t.co/Y0AQyWATYG
Ohio Lawmakers Waste $100M on Haslam Family
Elected representatives are tossing another ~$100 million of Ohio taxpayer money to the Haslams (net worth $10 billion). We don't know exactly how much because government officials are too negligent to find out. I guess access to the owner's suite...
Brook Park Council Prepares Vote on Browns Stadium Deal
Brook Park Council moves toward vote on first part of stadium deal with Browns https://t.co/GEj5lVYVMP
IMG Appoints Barney Francis as CBO After Guinness Departs
Chris Guinness Leaving IMG After 30 Years, Barney Francis Named Chief Business Officer of Sports Marketing Agency https://t.co/9UyQoyGDXx via @variety
Current NHL-to-Atlanta Proposals Are Impossible, Utterly Unrealistic
There is zero chance of this happening. None of the current NHL-to-Atlanta proposals are feasible. This is silly.
Booster-Backed NIL Deals Face Scrutiny; Know Valid Business Purpose
Every booster-backed business paying athletes is going to face additional scrutiny. What is a valid business purpose in an NIL deal, and what kinds of deals don’t qualify? I walk through this in my book NIL 101: The House Settlement Currently 40% off https://t.co/yBVisUkFCL https://t.co/VpmFopICjh
Arsenal Tops English Clubs in Champions League Earnings
Arsenal might not have qualified for the Champions League semi-finals in the most exhilarating manner, but they've still earned around £108m from the competition to date. Other English clubs: Liverpool £95m, Manchester City £84m, Chelsea £80m, Tottenham £73m and Newcastle...
Major Sports and Entertainment Updates:
#ICYMI •Report: #PIF may end #LIVGolf funding •Fed jury: #LiveNation/#Ticketmaster operated as monopoly •#MLBPA fire James+O'Neill for cause •McGonigle-#Tigers re-up •Robinson+Kustok+Miller-#NBC #WNBA •#UCL: #BayernMunich+#Arsenal adv •Moore-#Tyrant •#NCISNewYork spinoff