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
Private Equity, Everywhere, All at Once
Private equity is rapidly entering the sports ecosystem, from professional leagues to college conferences. The Big 12 became the first NCAA conference to sell a stake to a private‑equity fund, marking a watershed moment. Jason Stein, co‑founder of SC Holdings, says the market is still in its infancy and expects every sport—from the NCAA to youth leagues and emerging games like pickleball—to become increasingly commercialized. He outlined an investment thesis focused on media rights, data monetization, and branding as primary growth drivers.
Canadian Soccer Media Firm Finally Escapes Rogers’ TV Bottleneck
A Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed Rogers Communications’ appeal of the CRTC’s 2023 decision, clearing the way for OneSoccer to be carried on Rogers’ linear television platforms. The ruling grants the Canadian Premier League (CPL) access to millions of...
Disney Cozies Up To NFL At Upfront, Revealing Schedule Details And Super Bowl On-Air Lineup
Disney used its upfront presentation to cement a deeper partnership with the NFL, highlighting the earlier deal that gave ESPN control of NFL Network and a 10% league stake in ESPN. The company unveiled key schedule details, including the season‑opening...
Under Armour Counts on Tariff Refunds to Help It Rebound This Year
Under Armour posted a 1% drop in Q4 revenue to $1.2 billion and a net loss of $43 million, while full‑year revenue fell 4% to $5 billion and the loss more than doubled to $496 million. The company attributes margin pressure largely to higher...
Why Will Anderson Jr. Became KANE’s First NFL Athlete, and What It Says About Where Sports Marketing Is Moving
KANE Footwear announced defensive end Will Anderson Jr. as its first NFL athlete, highlighting the brand’s focus on authentic recovery partnerships. Anderson, already using KANE’s Revive OB shoe in his own routine, exemplifies the shift toward athlete‑driven product adoption rather...
Spurs Face Sponsor Uncertainty as ExpressVPN Push Esports Pivot
Tottenham Hotspur's two‑year partnership with ExpressVPN expires as the club hovers near the relegation zone, leaving the Premier League side uncertain about its primary sponsor for next season. ExpressVPN's general manager Zac Eller hinted the firm may pause football sponsorship...
Microsoft Teams Up with WWE for Gears of War: E-Day Sponsorship, Hinting at September Release
Microsoft announced that its upcoming title Gears of War: E-Day will serve as the presenting sponsor for WWE's AAA Triplemania 34, a two‑day event in Mexico City on Sept. 11‑13. The partnership, revealed during the Backlash show, suggests the game could...
Enhanced Games Inks $10M ZOOP Partnership for Global Streaming
Enhanced Games Secures $10 Million Partnership with ZOOP @ZOOP, the new social platform redefining creator-driven media, has signed a landmark $10 million partnership deal with $ENHA becoming the Official Creator Platform and Founding Partner of the inaugural @enhanced_games taking place May...
MMA.INC (NYSE American: MMA) Enters Exclusive 50/50 Revenue Share Peptide Partnership with Precision Peptide (CSE: BPC)
Mixed Martial Arts Group Limited (MMA.INC) announced an exclusive partnership with The Precision Peptide Company, granting MMA.INC a 50/50 share of net revenue from peptide sales sourced through its combat‑sports ecosystem for the first year, then 25% thereafter. The agreement...
How Digital Fan Ecosystems Are Becoming Strategic Assets for Sports Organizations
Sports clubs are shifting from broad social‑media outreach to proprietary digital fan ecosystems powered by blockchain and fan tokens. These platforms let organizations treat fans as stakeholders, capturing high‑quality first‑party data and enabling personalized marketing. Revenue models are evolving from...
London Broncos Get Fresh Investment and Eye Consortium Expansion
London Broncos have secured fresh capital as Australian property magnate Andrew Gray joins the club’s ownership group, which already controls 90% of the team under former NRL star Darren Lockyer. The injection bolsters the only major southern English rugby league...
IPL's TV Slump, Viewer Fatigue, and the Rise of Digital Streaming
IPL’s television ratings slipped 18.8% in the first half of the 2026 season, with average viewership falling 26% to 7.84 million. In contrast, digital streaming on JioStar reached 515 million users and generated 32.6 billion minutes of watch time, pushing total screen reach...
Frank and Postecoglou Going Head to Head as BBC and ITV Pundits for World Cup
Former Tottenham managers Thomas Frank and Ange Postecoglou will serve as rival World Cup analysts, with Frank signing for BBC Sport and Postecoglou joining ITV. The two broadcasters share UK rights, each covering all 104 matches but with different allocations: BBC...
TelevisaUnivision Makes a Super Bowl Play for Advertisers at Upfront
TelevisaUnivision will air Super Bowl LVII in Spanish through an ESPN partnership, positioning the event as a lower‑cost entry for advertisers. The upfront adds new soccer rights, a Formula 1 Las Vegas broadcast with Apple, and expands ViX with 100 micro‑dramas slated...
Fox Secures Two Extra NFL Games for 2026, Adds Munich International Slot to Schedule
Fox Corporation announced it will broadcast two extra regular‑season NFL games in 2026, featuring the league’s first Sunday triple‑header and a Saturday contest. The NFL’s upcoming schedule also reveals an international game in Munich, underscoring the league’s global push.
Scotland Tickets Cost $1,200, Dwarf Haiti's $1,155 GDP
Scotland fans still thinking of attending the World Cup will be delighted to know the match is not sold out and tickets for the first game against Haiti are available for just $1,200, or $3,900 where they have draught Buckfast...
Under Armour Forecasts Slight Sales Dip After Curry Exit
Under Armour said Tuesday that it expects sales to decline slightly this year due to the exit of the Steph Curry Brand-- otherwise, sales would be flat. More on the continuing turnaround at UA, which says it wants to do "much...
Tuesday Briefing: Middlesbrough Seek Southampton Expulsion over Alleged Spying Incident
Middlesbrough have lodged a formal complaint accusing Southampton of unauthorised filming during a training session, prompting the EFL to refer the case to an independent disciplinary commission. The club is seeking sanctions that could see Southampton expelled from the Championship...
Netflix Declines NFL’s Full‑season Streaming Package
“We're not bidding on whole seasons of sports, including the NFL.” Netflix head Ted Sarandos tells Fox Business his company doesn’t have interest in those sorts of packages. As @SBJ noted, NFL reportedly pitched Netflix on a Sunday morning package, but...
Analyzing Upfronts, NFL Broadcast Push, and World Cup
I joined @PeterHamby's excellent The Powers That Be to dissect the upfronts, the NFL's broadcast push and the upcoming World Cup. #AmericasPodcastGuest https://t.co/IHDe5VRLRa
Wests Tigers Re-Sign Fourth Star Until 2030 After Jarome Luai’s Exit
Sunia Turuva has signed a three‑year extension to stay with the Wests Tigers through the 2030 season, becoming the fourth marquee player to re‑sign after Jarome Luai announced his move to the PNG Chiefs. The deal follows recent extensions for...
ESPN to Air Two Spanish Super Bowl Broadcasts
Just in: ESPN says it will provide two different Spanish-language telecasts for Super Bowl LXI -- one on ESPN Deportes and one sublicensed to Univision...
Arbitrator Ruling Escalates House NIL Dispute
What Does It All Mean? Here's @McCannSportsLaw Nebraska-Playfly Arbitrator Ruling Raises Stakes in House NIL Fight: https://t.co/1ajGvLvGXR via @sportico
As College Sports Roils, an Apparel Company Pitches Its Stressed Stock
Digital Brands Group (DBGI) is pushing its Avo apparel brand into the college NIL market, claiming to have raised over $17 million for athletes across seven Power‑Five programs. The micro‑cap has relied heavily on debt and equity issuances, doubling its share...
Fox and NBC Expand NFL Broadcast Lineup
🚨New Episode🚨 w/ @kbadenhausen pinch-hitting for @novy_williams Sporticast: Fox, NBC Add More NFL Games https://t.co/PCxYAapEF3 via @sportico
School‑linked Payors Face Unique NIL Restrictions
People and entities connected to schools face different restrictions than outside brands. What does it mean to be an associated payor, associated entity, or associated individual? This is explained in my book NIL 101: The House Settlement Get 40% off https://t.co/yBVisUkFCL https://t.co/5aRR466IcV
Arbitrator Rules in Favor of College Sports NIL Watchdog in First Appeal
A third‑party arbitrator ruled against 18 Nebraska football players, upholding the College Sports Commission's (CSC) rejection of their NIL deals. The arbitrator found the deals lacked a valid business purpose and violated the settlement’s anti‑warehousing rule. Playfly, the multimedia rights...
Judge: IGRA Overrides UIGEA, Kalshi Betting Illegal on Tribal Lands
Judge Conley: IGRA > UIGEA "Just because Kalshi’s conduct is not prohibited by the UIGEA, does not make its offering of sports betting contracts legal anywhere, much less on Indian lands where it is expressly prohibited." https://t.co/dfTcLnKhHu
Judge Warns Absurd Outcomes From Expanding Swap Definition
Wisconsin federal judge highlights the "absurd results" that could flow from defining a 'swap' to include sports-event contracts," noting that the CEA makes it "unlawful for any person to enter into a swap" outside of a DCM. https://t.co/FLWyiU7RPy
Hisense Launches FIFA World Cup 2026 TV Campaign Showcasing RGB MiniLED Smart‑TVs
Hisense announced a global TV commercial tied to the FIFA World Cup 2026, using the campaign to spotlight its RGB MiniLED smart‑TV technology and its role as the official VAR Review TV provider. The move aims to translate the tournament’s...
Deep Dive Into NFL Media Rights and TV Future
Tomorrow on The Grill Room: The best (and most fun) analysis anywhere on this week’s NFL media rights deals, the Upfronts, and the future of football on T.V., with the @Ourand_Puck & @sherman4949… Follow here: https://t.co/OUrgd2dr7a @PuckNews https://t.co/9qkkEwBBZ1
Amazon to Open ‘TNF’ With Bills-Lions, Highmark Stadium Debut
Amazon announced that its 2026 Thursday Night Football (TNF) season will open with a Bills‑Lions matchup on Sept. 17, the first regular‑season game at the Bills’ new Highmark Stadium. The debut aligns with the NFL’s rollout of next‑generation venues for several...
How to Watch the Los Angeles Lakers Vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 2026 NBA Playoffs Second Round Game 4
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers must win Game 4 of the second‑round NBA playoffs on Monday, May 11, to avoid a sweep by the top‑seed Oklahoma City Thunder. The game tips at 10:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed exclusively on...
May 14 Balance Locked to Single Fanatics App
As of May 14th, Fanatics Markets available cash balance will be assigned to one product, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino or Fanatics Markets, per customer email. Users can still access and use either Fanatics app at any time, but funds won't...
Prime Video Announces “The Greatest” Ali Series
New series coming to @PrimeVideo on life of Muhammad Ali, produced by @michaelb4jordan, dubbed “The Greatest” https://t.co/2T4CwNlTgc
Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and More Lead WNBA’s Opening Weekend Sneaker Lineup
The WNBA’s 30th season kicked off with a three‑game opening weekend that showcased a star‑studded sneaker lineup. Caitlin Clark wore Nike’s Kobe 5 Protro “Rookie of the Year,” while Angel Reese appeared in Reebok’s Engine A ahead of her own signature shoe. Breanna...
DOJ Probe Unrelated to Streaming Gripes and NFL Schedule Shifts
I’m sure that there is no correlation between the DOJ probe into Sports Broadcasting Act and grumbling about putting too many games on streamers and today’s NFL news that Fox, NBC got more games and CBS got to move an...
NFL Prioritizes Standalone Broadcast Windows for Media Partners
The #NFL is clearly focused on creating more standalone windows for its media partners. I discussed the logic behind this decision some weeks ago on #PathwayToThePodium. #NFLSchedule https://t.co/tSlqrzhbh3
Ryan Lochte to Coach College Swimming at $34 an Hour
Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte has been hired as an assistant coach for Missouri State’s swimming and diving program, earning $34.10 an hour—about $30,000 a year—plus performance bonuses. The contract runs from August 2026 to June 2027 and includes $750 for...
CBS Adds National NFL Primetime Slot in Week 15
CBS going to be adding an incremental national NFL window this season, taking a matchup that would have been folded into the regional window and putting that in primetime in Week 15 (Dec. 19 at 8pm ET)
NFL Prioritizes More Stand‑Alone Games in New CBS, Fox Deals
The NFL is also creating more stand alone games with these new deals w CBS and Fox. More stand alone games is a top priority at league.
FOX & NBC Expand NFL Packages While League Faces Antitrust Scrutiny
Fox and NBC are expanding their NFL coverage for the 2026‑27 seasons. Fox will add two more regular‑season games in 2026, including the high‑profile Week 10 Munich matchup and a Week 15 Saturday game. NBC’s Peacock platform will receive an additional exclusive...
CBS Upgrades Regional Game to Prime‑time, Boosting Its Value
To be clear, CBS is getting to make a regional afternoon game into a prime time Saturday game. More value for them.
NFL Treats Networks Like Oprah: Extra Games for All
The NFL is playing Oprah with the broadcast networks: “you get an extra game and you get an extra game.” https://t.co/OXEuwvyr9g
Northeast Pennsylvania’s Harry’s Sporting Goods to Close
Harry’s Sporting Goods, a Berwick, PA retailer operating since 1891, announced it will close by early June 2026. Owner Kerri Troiani cited the pandemic‑induced shutdown and the loss of key vendors—most notably Nike in 2019—as primary reasons. Attempts to sell...
Fox's Thanksgiving Eagles‑Cowboys Could Shatter NFL Ratings
Fox will air Eagles-Cowboys on Thanksgiving in the late afternoon window. Could have a decent shot of setting some NFL viewership superlatives with that one.
MLB's Multi‑Platform Expansion Could Trigger FCC Scrutiny
Derek Jeter at Fox upfront says MLB on more platforms than ever. Grist for the FCC probe?
Advertisers Shift $13.2B to Streaming, Favor Sports and Spectacle at Upfront
Advertisers entering Upfront are prioritizing sports, streaming and large‑scale spectacles, driving $13.2 billion in streaming commitments—a 17.9% jump from last year—while broadcast primetime dollars dip 2.5% to $9.1 billion. The shift pressures networks to deliver mass‑audience events, with Disney’s $10 million Super Bowl...
Fox Predicts 150M Total, Overseas Will Eclipse US Viewership
Michael Strahan at Fox upfront says Fox expecting 15 mil viewers per US game in world cup, and 150 mil across the whole event. Obviously overseas figures will dwarf that.
Washington Commanders' 2025‑26 Games Stay on Free TV
Hang on, @crupicrupicrupi Every Washington @Commanders game in 2025-26 was on free broadcast TV in the local market. That's not to deny that @NFL games are migrating to @PrimeVideo and @netflix https://t.co/PbxZlIvPd9