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
Thursday Briefing: Sheffield Wednesday Prospective Owners in Talks with EFL over Partial Transfer Ban Lift
Sheffield Wednesday’s prospective owners, Arise Capital Partners, are negotiating with the EFL to partially lift the club’s transfer embargo, though a 15‑point deduction will stay in place. The German Football Association will launch a 24‑hour streaming service, DFB.TV, at €5.99 a month (≈$6.50), covering all levels of German football. Paris Council has authorized mayor Emmanuel Grégoire to begin talks with PSG about purchasing the Parc des Princes, a move aimed at averting the club’s relocation threat.
How College Athlete Carson Roney Went From TikTok Dances to Gatorade Commercials
Carson Roney, a college basketball and volleyball player, turned TikTok dance videos into a 5 million‑follower empire. By partnering with Wasserman manager Erin Convey, she expanded her content to fashion and beauty, securing long‑term deals with Gatorade, the NBA and other...
America’s Love-Hate Relationship with (Sports) Betting | In the Game (Video)
The latest eMarketer podcast examines how sports betting is rapidly becoming mainstream in the United States, highlighting recent market data that shows betting handle surpassing $300 billion and consumer awareness climbing above 70 percent. Hosts discuss the mixed public sentiment—enthusiasm for new...
America’s Love-Hate Relationship with (Sports) Betting | In the Game
The episode explores the rapid rise of sports betting in the United States, highlighting that roughly $200 billion will be wagered this year and over 50 million adults—about one‑fifth of the adult population—are active bettors, most of them young men under 30....
Fulham's Revenue Rises, but Losses Surge to £85 Million
Fulham complete the set of Premier League Clubs accounts for 2024/25 🔑figures ⚽️Revenue £195m ⬆️7% ⚽️Wages £167m ⬆️8% ⚽️Wages 85% of revenue ⚽️Average weekly wage £79k ⚽️Highest paid director £1.59m ⬆️18% ⚽️Underlying loss £85m ⬆️23% ⚽️Player sale profits £41m ⬆️25% ⚽️Pre tax loss £44m ⬆️37% ⚽️ Accumulated losses over...
Polar Park Sparks Growth, City Funds Nearby Development
Polar Park was such an economic development catalyst that the city has to subsidize development around it. https://t.co/wAf3LC0MZj
TPG Takes Stake in Learfield as Thoma Bravo Merges HCSS with Nemetschek Unit
TPG has agreed to acquire a minority stake in Learfield, the college‑sports media and technology platform backed by Charlesbank Capital Partners, while Thoma Bravo is orchestrating a merger of construction‑software specialist HCSS with a Nemetschek Group unit. Both transactions, announced...
Scripps Sports Rides the Bull
Scripps Sports has secured a multiyear partnership with Professional Bull Riders to broadcast Premier Women’s Rodeo on its Ion and Grit networks, beginning with the 2026 PWR Championship on May 17. The agreement expands in 2027 to include the original...
ImOn Renews Arena Naming Rights
ImOn Communications has renewed its naming‑rights agreement for the ImOn Ice Arena in Cedar Rapids, extending the partnership through 2030. The five‑year deal injects $600,000 into the community, securing the arena’s branding and operational budget. The venue serves as home...
Jameson Pours Itself Into AFL Gather Round With The Idea Shed
Irish whiskey maker Jameson partnered with creative agency The Idea Shed to launch the Jameson Clubhouse at AFL Gather Round, converting Adelaide’s Highway Hotel into an immersive fan destination. The activation featured a Tribute Booth for fan‑generated video tributes, an...
Nine Snatches Netball TV Rights From Foxtel
Nine secured a five‑year partnership with Netball Australia, taking over broadcast and streaming rights for Suncorp Super Netball, Australian Diamonds matches, and the 2027 Netball World Cup from Foxtel. The agreement delivers free‑to‑air coverage on the Nine Network alongside streaming...
News: LIV Golf, “For the Fans Act,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and More
LIV Golf faces a possible $5 billion funding cut from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, prompting senior executives to explore new jobs while the tour relies on a modest Fox Sports rights deal. Senator Tammy Baldwin introduced the “For the Fans...
ESPN's WWE Push Marks Major Win for Ari Emanuel
WWE and its PR staff has always worked hard to get cross-over coverage in mainstream outlets. I say that as someone who benefitted from this working at SI and The Athletic. PR would always cater to what you needed. It's...
An Exclusive Look at Tyrese Maxey’s Signature New Balance Sneaker
Tyrese Maxey, the Philadelphia 76ers guard who averaged a career‑high 28.3 points and earned his first All‑Star nod, is launching his first signature sneaker, the New Balance Maxey v1. The shoe, featuring FuelCell cushioning, a sculpted heel and a low‑slung dad‑shoe...
LIV Golf in Crisis as PIF Considers Cutting Funding After $5B+ Loss
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is weighing a pull‑back of its financial support for LIV Golf after having poured more than $5 billion into the venture. While the tour’s sixth event in Mexico proceeds as scheduled,...
Liv Golf's Spark Adds $79M to PGA Purses
LIV Golf's future may hang in the balance, but the effect it had as a catalyst for boosting PGA money is enduring. 8 Signature PGA Event Purses (2021 ⇒ 2026) Genesis: 12M ⇒ 20M Arnold Palmer: 12M ⇒ 20M Cadillac: 12M ⇒ 20M Memorial: 12M ⇒...
Wilson Signs Record WNBA Deal with Cap‑linked Future Salaries
A'ja Wilson's 3-year, $5M supermax contract with the Las Vegas Aces is not only the largest contract in WNBA history, but it also becomes the first deal to include a clause allowing her 2027 & 2028 salaries to be derived...
Bronny James Debuts Nike PE Inspired By His Cardiac Arrest Recovery
Nike unveiled a player‑exclusive LeBron IX Witness PE sneaker crafted for Bronny James, directly inspired by his recovery from a July 2023 cardiac arrest. The shoe debuted during the Lakers’ 131‑107 victory over the Utah Jazz on April 13, marking...
FanDuel Pursues Prediction Market Contracts Independently of CME
"new FCM would be wholly owned by FanDuel with no CME involvement [...] The new registration, if and when approved, may simply give FanDuel some optionality..." FanDuel Registers New Interest In Prediction Market Contracts, Without CME Involved This Time https://t.co/EGMyrzBKpX
Public Stadiums Are Fundamentally Flawed, Despite Vocal Opposition
There's no better way to know that you're right about something than experiencing a day of people telling you you're wrong, and no one provides a single piece of credible evidence (lots of namecalling, though). Folks, the case for public...
Stop & Shop Named Official Grocery Store Of Boston Legacy FC
Stop & Shop has signed a multi‑year deal to become the Official Grocery Store of Boston Legacy FC, the National Women’s Soccer League’s newest franchise. The partnership focuses on combating food insecurity in Massachusetts through the retailer’s School Food Pantry...
Saudi Funding Jeopardized as Fanatics Insists on LA Move
Glass Break: Saudi funding for the Fanatics-Tom Brady flag football event is in peril, sources told @FOS. The sides were at odds over moving event from Riyadh to LA. Fanatics plans to continue event regardless of if Saudis fund in...
Saudi Fund Mulls LIV Golf Funding Cut, No Decision Yet
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is considering cutting its funding of LIV Golf, but nothing has been decided yet The competing golf tour has dished out quite a bit of prize money in just four years 💰 https://t.co/oUquuFeZvS
NBA’s Broadcast-Friendly TV Deal Leads to Highest Ratings in 7 Years
NBA’s first season under the new 11‑year, $76 billion media rights deal delivered its highest ratings in seven years, with average viewership climbing 16% to 1.78 million per game. NBC’s return to broadcast basketball drove a 109% increase, averaging 2.8 million viewers across...
College Stars Turning Brands Boost WNBA Draft Interest
These are all very good signs for the league. I imagine Austin agrees with me but the best women's college players are becoming brands of their own, plus developing massive social followings. So that should correspond to more interest in...
PIF's $5B LIV Spend Raises Sustainability Questions
PIF has spent more than $5B on LIV. At some point, even a sovereign fund with roughly $1T in assets has to figure out when enough is enough. https://t.co/XKRk28yK9E
Nike’s Reality Check
The episode examines Nike’s ongoing turnaround under CEO Elliot Hill, focusing on flat Q3 sales, investor impatience, and the brand’s struggle to craft a compelling narrative despite strong product innovation and scale. BOF analyst Mike Sykes highlights modest wins in...
NHL Ratings Surge 47% Post‑Olympic Break
TNT says NHL viewership accelerated after February's Olympic break. For the rest of the season, games averaged 453,000 viewers, up 47% over the equivalent period from 2025
Brian Rolapp Emerges as Top NFL Commissioner Candidate
My takeaway is Brian Rolapp just solidified himself as the lead candidate to be the #NFL’s next commissioner
London Lions CEO: We’d Love to Be in NBA Europe but We Have a Reason to Exist Anyway
London Lions CEO Lenz Balan says the upcoming NBA Europe franchise in London is an opportunity, not a threat, and that multiple clubs can grow the sport’s market. The Lions are chasing a domestic quadruple while still owing more than...
LIV Missed the Core Appeal of Pro Golf
I don't know if LIV is failing now, I just know it always failed to understand what professional golf was really selling (and yes, that includes Phil & Greg, not just the PIF). A know what you're selling 🧵
Declining NBA Viewership Sparks Fear of League Collapse
These viewership numbers for the NBA this season as well as the $76 billion media rights contract they signed has me thinking this league is going to fold next year. It's over for the NBA. https://t.co/HYZi0sIQ0c
Sports on TV: The Public Already Paid; Why Are Fans Paying Again?
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an antitrust inquiry into the NFL’s television‑rights strategy, questioning whether the league’s bundling and platform‑splitting practices limit competition. At the same time, fans are facing a fragmented streaming ecosystem that can cost $1,000...
Saudi Funding Withdrawal Threatens LIV Golf, Paramount Deal
Well, this is good news. And really, the best chance to kill the Paramount purchase of WBD would be for the Saudis to pull their investment. So hope on another front. LIV Golf Facing Imminent Closure as Saudi Backers Weigh...
College Playoffs May Merge Football and Basketball by 2030s
Latest Hotline mailbag (icymi) examines how the college football and basketball postseasons could become two arms of the same entity in the 2030s. https://t.co/YfPviYGS7k
Sources: Giants' Talks with Lawrence Hit Impasse
The New York Giants and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence have hit an impasse in contract extension talks, with the player demanding a trade. Lawrence’s $20 million salary places him among the top interior linemen, but his contract lacks guaranteed money. The...
NBA's New TV Deal Sparks 7-Year Rating Surge
NBA’s Broadcast-Friendly TV Deal Leads to Highest Ratings in 7 Years https://t.co/sNM2Mq2FM6 via @sportico @crupicrupicrupi
Netflix's Sports Strategy Expands with Women's World Cup
What’s the future of sports on @netflix ? Bela Bajaria, head of content, getting into it with @elleduncantv Women’s World Cup, Drive to Survive, Full Swing and more https://t.co/ujNZfxsOQV
Barnwell: Why Four Teams Should Trade up in Round 1 -- and Six Should Trade Down
Bill Barnwell outlines a strategic playbook for ten NFL franchises on whether to trade up or down in the first round of the 2026 draft. He advises the Titans, Saints, Lions, Cowboys and Seahawks to move down for extra picks,...
Cavaliers and Warriors Top 2025‑26 NBA Luxury Tax Bills
2025-26 #NBA Luxury Tax Teams (per Spotrac's calculations) 1. #Cavaliers, $68.6M bill 2. #Knicks, $45M bill 3. #Warriors, $68M bill 4. #Lakers, $22M bill 5. #Rockets, $7M bill 6. #Timberwolves, $6M bill 7. #Clippers, $6M bill Just Missed: Celtics: 9k 76ers: $13k
Teams Lock up Young Shortstops with Massive Pre‑arbitration Extensions
Recent #MLB Pre-Arbitration Extensions Kevin McGonigle, SS/DET 8-years, $150M Konnor Griffin, SS/PIT 9-years, $140M Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF/CHC 6-years, $115M Colt Emerson, SS/SEA 8-years, $95M Tyler Soderstrom, LF/ATH 7-years, $86M Jacob Wilson, SS/ATH 7-years, $70M Cooper Pratt, SS/MIL 8-years, $50.75M
Michaela Onyenwere Made $205K Winning a Title With UCLA Before WNBA Payday
Michaela Onyenwere, a five‑year WNBA veteran, signed a two‑year contract with the Washington Mystics worth about $205,000, including a $175,000 base salary and $30,000 in bonuses earned from UCLA’s national title. The deal runs through June 30, 2026, and pushes...
Kevin McGonigle Secures $150M, 8-Year Tigers Deal
Kevin McGonigle's 8-year, $150M extension with the #Tigers - $14M signing bonus - $81M thru control years - $69M across 3 FA years - $10M of escalators https://t.co/ztMf4fHhG7
Vegas Casinos Thrive on Big Fight Events, WrestleMania Bid Shows
Vegas casinos/hotels/etc love when there are big fights in town. The way the city bid to get WrestleMania to return also suggested it had a big impact. Inbox: https://t.co/c61qtUZJrD
LIV Golf Holds ’Emergency Meeting’ Amid Rumors of Shutdown
LIV Golf executives were summoned to an emergency meeting in Manhattan as rumors of a shutdown intensified. The league’s UK division posted nearly $400 million in losses for 2023 and its U.S. viewership continues to lag far behind the PGA Tour....
LaChina Robinson, Sarah Kustok to Join NBC Sports WNBA
Glass Break: LaChina Robinson and Sarah Kustok are expected to be analysts for the WNBA on NBC Sports https://t.co/DDbzMr1ZmZ
Only a Fraction of 73M Eligible Men Bet Regularly
1) With few exceptions, people 18-20 can't have sportsbook accounts with the brands mentioned 2) There are roughly 73m US men age 18-49, yet only about 10m monthly active legal sportsbook users. While half this demo may have signed up, a...
KNBR Renews Flagship Radio Deal with 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have renewed their flagship radio agreement with Cumulus Media’s KNKN (KNBR) sports talk station. Veteran play‑by‑play duo Greg Papa and Tim Ryan will continue calling every game, plus pre‑ and post‑game shows. The partnership spans AM,...
Stadiums Don't Boost Economy; Officials Mislead Public
If you're a random person on the street who thinks stadiums have economic benefits, I forgive you: you're wrong, but your ignorance is understandable. If you're an elected official who promotes a public stadium as an economic catalyst, you're either...
Sophia Wilson on Returning to Soccer With a Million-Dollar Deal
U.S. Women’s National Team forward Sophia Wilson re‑signed with the Portland Thorns on a $1 million player option, becoming the NWSL’s first seven‑figure contract in a single season. The deal comes as she returns from giving birth in September and has...