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
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 her earnings toward $700,000 under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement. Onyenwere also serves as an assistant coach at UCLA, a role she fit into the WNBA offseason. The new CBA raises the league salary cap to $7 million and the minimum for veterans to $285,000, reshaping player compensation.
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....
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,...
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...
HYROX and Amazfit Strengthen Alliance With Global Three-Year Partnership
Amazfit, the wearable brand of Zepp Health, announced a three‑year global partnership with HYROX, expanding a prior regional collaboration. The deal adds smart rings, glasses, cameras, and straps to HYROX’s athlete toolkit, alongside dedicated training modes and data integrations. HYROX...
Fubo ‘Out of Nowhere’ Pursuing Local Rights for 13 NBA Teams
Disney-owned Fubo has entered the market with a last‑minute pitch to the 13 NBA teams that recently left Main Street Sports Group. The streaming platform proposes a hybrid direct‑to‑consumer and distributor model, offering rights fees around $10 million per team. Fubo...
Inside The U.K.’s First Women’s Sports Bar And The Market It’s Betting On
Crossbar Brighton has opened as the United Kingdom’s first dedicated women’s sports bar, offering a café, workspace and evening bar under one roof. Founders Lucy and Pippa Tallant designed the venue to prioritize women’s sport with inclusive amenities such as...
I2c to Serve as Official Payment Processing Partner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
i2c Inc. announced it will serve as the Official Payment Processing Partner and full‑season associate sponsor of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s No. 15 INDYCAR entry in 2026, debuting at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The fintech’s logo will appear on...
Prasar Bharati Enters Race for FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcast Rights
India’s public broadcaster Prasar Bharati is positioning itself as the likely sole bidder for the 2026 FIFA World Cup TV rights after private players JioStar and Sony walked away. The tournament’s U.S.-centric schedule and cricket‑dominated ad market have deterred commercial broadcasters,...
Sen. Tammy Baldwin to Introduce Bill Ensuring Sports Broadcasts Remain Accessible
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is set to introduce the “For the Fans” Act, legislation that would require professional sports leagues to make games available for free in each team’s local market via over‑the‑air TV or ad‑supported streaming. The bill builds...
Opponents Claim “Different” Yet Echo Same Stadium Critique
One of the oddest things I experience when I speak out against stadium deals is the people who reach out to me to say something like, "I agree with you on other projects, but [proposal in my city] is different."...
Gensler's Rulebook Opens Prediction Markets, Excludes Sports Betting
Gary Gensler Paved the Way for Prediction Markets. Sports Betting Wasn’t Part of the Plan. https://t.co/hULdpH5hJ4 via @BarronsOnline
Infosys Names Carlos Alcaraz as Global Brand Ambassador
Infosys has appointed tennis star Carlos Alcaraz as its Global Brand Ambassador in a multi‑year deal, linking the AI‑first consultancy with the youngest career Grand Slam winner. The partnership will see Alcaraz’s team use Infosys' Topaz platform for real‑time match...
Bohm V. Bohm: Potential Shift in Athlete Money Control
In law, it's been said you never like to see a case caption where the plaintiff and defendant share the same family name. Enter Bohm v. Bohm & Bohm, which could be a game-changing case on athletes and family control over...
Non‑collectively Bargained NCAA Rules Vulnerable to Antitrust Suits
Any NCAA eligibility rule not created through collective bargaining can face antitrust lawsuits by excluded players. NCAA could argue a 5-year window after HS graduation or turning 19 is reasonable, but judges would need to agree. So, yes, more lawsuits:...
Duracell Debuts Batteries With Messi's Tattoos
Duracell is rolling out a limited‑edition battery pack printed with Lionel Messi’s iconic left‑leg tattoos, timed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The campaign, built on the successful Super Bowl ad featuring Tom Brady, expands across TV, streaming, social and...
FIFA Faces Fallout From Trump‑Aligned Purchases
FIFA Is About to Find Out What All That Trump Bootlicking Bought https://t.co/roWz4bmSPg via @sportico @novy_williams
Mayor Proposes $600M TIF, Siphoning Local Tax Revenue
Mayor Quinton Lucas has floated a $600m TIF district for the entire Crown Center — which would siphon off not just taxes from spending on baseball, but on Kansas Citians going out to eat or even visiting the aquarium in...
NBC Secures Rights to The Soccer Tournament
NBC Sports will broadcast The Soccer Tournament (TST) across its platforms, including four games on the NBC broadcast network for the first time. The event features three winner‑take‑all 7‑on‑7 tournaments—men’s, women’s and mixed—each offering a $1 million prize. Matches will air...
Commissioners Prefer Luxury Boxes Over Voter Interests
I hope county commissioners like luxury box suites more than their elected seats. Voters absolutely do not like being duped, especially when it comes to stadiums. If you want to use Truist Park as a model, look what happened...
Golden Chick Secures Exclusive Branding Rights on Crew Gear in Texas Rangers Extension
Golden Chick is expanding its partnership with the Texas Rangers by securing exclusive rights to display the 2026 City Connect primary logo on its employee uniforms. The agreement, part of a five‑year extension, makes Golden Chick the only sponsor featuring...
Supporters Claim Invalid Vote, yet Kansas City Rejected Stadium
The backwards-hat bro-brigade is out in full support of the KC Royals stadium plan. It seems their new talking point is that the last rejection by voters wasn't a valid vote. 1) It was. 2) KCMO voters rejected the plan...
Bisleri Rolls Out New Campaign with RCB and Jaideep Ahlawat
Bisleri International has launched a digital‑first campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and actor Jaideep Ahlawat, unveiling limited‑edition bottles that feature the franchise’s branding. The spot shows cricketers Rajat Patidar, Venkatesh Iyer and Tim David sharing a humorous water‑break behind...
Baseball Writers Trade Scoops for Favors From Agents
There’s a group of baseball writers who make a good living from being fed scoops from top agents. This doesn’t come without quid pro quo.
Zelio E-Mobility Joins Punjab Kings as EV Partner for IPL 2026
Zelio E‑Mobility has signed a multi‑year deal to become the official electric‑vehicle partner of Punjab Kings for the IPL 2026 season. The agreement covers branding, digital integration and in‑stadium activations, with the XMen 2.0 and XMen+ scooters slated for prominent display....
EXEC: Nike and Apple CEOs Snatch Up Nike Stock Following Sell-Off
Nike’s shares jumped 3% to $44.20 after CEO Elliott Hill and Apple CEO Tim Cook each bought roughly 24,000 Class B shares at about $42.40 per share. The purchases follow a sharp sell‑off triggered by Nike’s fiscal Q3 results, which warned...
Deal Roundup: TPG Buys Into Charlesbank-Backed Learfield, Thoma Bravo to Combine HCSS with Nemetschek Group Unit
TPG has agreed to acquire a stake in Learfield, the college‑sports media and technology platform backed by Charlesbank, marking the private‑equity firm’s entry into the collegiate athletics marketing space. The financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal signals TPG’s...
FIFA Partner Adi Predictstreet Cuts Deal with DAZN but Doubts Remain over Its Legality
FIFA’s newest gambling partner, ADI Predictstreet, has signed a partnership with streaming giant DAZN to embed a real‑time prediction layer into live sports broadcasts. Predictstreet holds a Gibraltar licence that only covers the territory’s 40,000 residents and is unlicensed elsewhere,...
Eddie Hearn Accepts Dana White's $30 Million Challenge
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced on the Ariel Helwani show that he will take Dana White’s $30 million per‑fighter challenge, turning the UFC boss’s earlier taunts into a formal bout proposal. The offer pits Hearn, a 6’5” former sparring partner, against...
SBJ Morning Buzzcast: April 15, 2026
The SBJ Morning Buzzcast highlighted the latest sports media metrics, including a record 14 million viewers for the Masters final round, and discussed the rapid fallout of journalist Diana Rossini’s resignation. Panelists previewed the CAA World Congress of Sports agenda, featuring...
NWSL Moves to Restrict Which Brands Players Can Wear on the Field
The National Women’s Soccer League is drafting a league‑wide “exposure agreement” that would require players to hide non‑partner logos on cleats and goalkeeper gloves. Nike and Adidas have already signed on, and the league projects at least $320,000 in annual...
The Great World Cup Train Robbery: NJ Transit Whacks up Prices 700%
NJ Transit announced it will charge more than $100 for train trips from New York City to MetLife Stadium during the World Cup, a seven‑fold increase from the regular $12.90 fare. The plan covers eight matches, including the final, and...
South Africa Captain Impi Visser Believes Changes to Sevens Format ‘Confusing’ for Fans
South Africa captain Impi Visser warned that World Rugby’s decision to shrink the HSBC SVNS core from 12 to eight teams – then fluctuate back to 12 for the final three legs – is confusing fans and stunting the sport’s growth....
Kalshi Launches $10 FOXSPORTS Promo for NBA Play-In, Boosting Prediction Market Adoption
Kalshi, the regulated U.S. prediction‑market exchange, rolled out a $10 welcome bonus for new users who enter promo code FOXSPORTS before the NBA Play‑In Tournament. The promotion, echoed across multiple sports sites, underscores Kalshi’s push to capture the burgeoning sports‑prediction...
Zoe Bäckstedt Extends with Canyon-SRAM Zondacrypto Until 2028
British‑Swedish cyclist Zoe Bäckstedt has agreed to remain with the Canyon‑SRAM women's team, now branded as Canyon‑SRAM zondacrypto, through the end of the 2028 season. The five‑year extension follows a breakout 2025 campaign in which she captured multiple WorldTour victories and...
Third‑Party Licensing Guides International Athletes Through NIL
International athletes often require added structure and expertise to navigate NIL rules. What role can third-party licensing solutions or collectives play for international athletes? I break this down in my book NIL 101: The House Settlement 40% off https://t.co/yBVisUkFCL https://t.co/knSj30x0tb
How the Streaming Dream Turned Sports on TV Into a Costly Maze
The sports‑broadcast landscape has splintered as dozens of streaming services vie for MLB, NBA and NFL rights, turning what once promised simple, pay‑per‑view access into a costly maze. A die‑hard Yankees fan, for example, could spend roughly $800 to see...
Women’s Leagues Forum Adds Icelandic Top Tier to Growing Membership
The Women’s Leagues Forum (WLF) has added Iceland’s top‑tier women’s league, Besta deildin kvenna, to its network. The ten‑club competition joins a growing coalition that includes the NWSL and the WSL, aiming to professionalise domestic women’s football. Discussions led by...
Planet Fitness Pone Rumbo a 18 Gimnasios en España Tras Captar 20 Millones
Planet Fitness is set to operate 18 low‑cost gyms in Spain by the end of 2024, adding seven new locations this year. The chain will invest roughly €12.5 million (about $13.6 million) to build five clubs from the ground up and acquire...
Eddie Reynolds Lands Monster Energy Sponsorship
Eddie Reynolds, a rising freeride snowboarder, announced a sponsorship deal with Monster Energy for the 2026 season, unveiling a Monster‑branded helmet on social media. The partnership follows a series of creative video projects that have elevated Reynolds’ profile in the...
League One's Finances Are a Comedy of Errors
I've scribbled a few more words on League One finances, it's mainly the Twitter thread that some of you have already read but with added sarcasm. https://t.co/45TCJ0XPqS
Argentina FA Goes Crypto Again with Nexo Regional Deal for 2026 World Cup Defence
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has appointed crypto platform Nexo as its South American regional sponsor ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The partnership will feature ticket giveaways, Messi‑signed shirts and exclusive digital content. It marks AFA’s second foray into...
Salary Negotiation Strategies in the NBA and Beyond
The NBA’s 2016 nine‑year, $24 billion TV contract tripled league revenue, prompting a 32% jump in the salary cap to $94.1 million per team. Teams responded with a spending spree, signing roughly 150 free agents to $3.6 billion in contracts, many of which...
New South Wales Nixes Big Bash Privatisation Plan, Queensland Defers
Cricket Australia’s plan to sell up to 49 % of most Big Bash League franchises and full ownership of one team each in Victoria and New South Wales was blocked after New South Wales rejected the proposal and Queensland postponed its...
Spruce Meadows Selects Liberty Oak View Entertainment to Lead Hospitality Experience
Spruce Meadows, Calgary’s premier equestrian and entertainment venue, has appointed Liberty Oak View Entertainment (LOVE) as its exclusive hospitality provider. LOVE will oversee food and beverage operations across sporting events, concerts, and private functions, introducing menus that showcase regional Alberta...
DFB and Sportainment to Launch Pay-TV Football Channel DFB.TV
The German Football Association (DFB) is launching DFB.TV, a 24/7 pay‑TV channel, in partnership with Sportainment Media Group. The linear service debuts on 22 May 2026 with live coverage of the DFB Cup final and will feature senior, junior, futsal, beach‑soccer, e‑Cup...
Wizards' Puzzling Trade: Avdija for Aging Brogdon
Can someone remind me again why the Wizards traded Deni Avdija to the Blazers for soon-to-retire Malcolm Brogdon and some mediocre picks?
Truist Park Funding Not From Battery Taxes, Deficit Persists
STOP IT! The County contribution for Truist Park was NOT paid for by taxes generated from The Battery development (some of the funding comes from a ~7 sq-mile area that includes the stadium), and the allocation was absolutely not recouped....
Style Edit: Rolex’s Central Role at Golf’s Star-Studded Masters at Augusta
Rolex’s partnership with the Masters Tournament, now in its 26th year, underscores the Swiss watchmaker’s deep ties to golf’s most prestigious event. The 2024 Masters, the 90th edition held April 9‑12 at Augusta National, featured a field of elite players including...
Moana Pasifika to Leave Super Rugby at End of Season
Moana Pasifika announced it will disband after the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, citing an unsustainable $7 million annual operating cost and the inability to secure new ownership. The Auckland‑based franchise, which entered the competition in 2022, sits last with a...