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
Sports Betting Should Be Regulated as a Financial Product, Not Gambling, Aspiring Prediction Market Provider Says
Novig CEO Jacob Fortinsky announced the platform will transition this summer from a 35‑state sweepstakes model to a federally regulated Designated Contract Market, enabling operation in all 50 states. He argued that sports‑event contracts function as binary financial instruments and should be overseen as a financial product rather than traditional gambling. Co‑founder Adam Mastrelli of AI‑driven firm 57 Maiden cited personal bans from major sportsbooks for being “sharps,” prompting a shift to fee‑free prediction markets. The regulatory clash between federal agencies and states is expected to reach the Supreme Court within two to three years.
NESN App Costs $1.41 per Sox Game, Extra Fees Looming
So, @Dave_Dyer @PressHerald: @NESN app has 145 @RedSox games in 2026 (at 89.5%, isn't that a super-majority?) The app is $29.99 a month, which comes to $205.03 for the seven-month @MLB campaign. Not bad, at $1.41 a game. (Do MLB...
Star Power and ABC Boost WNBA Viewership Surge
If you want an early line on WNBA viewership, as my guys @AustinKarp and @paulsen_smw will attest, watch out for the @IndianaFever-@DallasWings viewership number when it comes out next week. Caitlin Clark is back healthy. Paige Bueckers is a TV...
Husqvarna Ends Factory Racing Team, Shaking Up SuperMotocross Schedule
Husqvarna Mobility announced it will disband its U.S. factory motocross and supercross program after the 2026 SMX World Championship, shifting to a model that supports independent teams. The move forces top riders Malcolm Stewart and RJ Hampshire to seek new...
Broadcasters Ask Congress to Rewrite 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act as Streaming Paywalls Rise
The National Association of Broadcasters and major TV networks have pressed Congress to revisit the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act, citing the shift of games to subscription streaming services. A letter from Rep. Tony Wied and a poll showing 72% of...
Ballpark Research Reveals Team-Media Revenue Secrets
Camden Yards in lede. Already hooked. Started my career at Orioles RSN doing distribution + local ad sales. That backstop was inventory we actively thought about. Excellent research x ballpark-by-ballpark visual treatment is genuinely brilliant. Nice work @JacobFeldman4. 👏 Assigning this to every...
ESPN's Tiny Revenue Gains Mask Massive Rights Costs
⬆️ On the top-line: #ESPN paid significant equity (10% @ $30 billion valuation) to squeak out minimal top-line revenue growth in its first consolidated quarterly earnings reports (Q2/FY2026): reporting $4.6 billion I n revenue for its sports division, solely crediting...
BetMGM‑Fremantle Deal Yields Record $240K Win on ‘The Price Is Right’
Contestant Vanesa from Virginia walked away with more than $240,000 after playing the new “Lion’s Share” game on CBS’s The Price Is Right. The win, announced by BetMGM and Fremantle, marks the largest single‑game payout in the show’s daytime history...
Sports Media Shifts: NFL Courts Netflix, March Madness
NEW PODCAST: @paulsen_smw, @Armand_Broady & @derekfutterman return for the Sat. roundtable. Topics: What March Madness expansion means for consumers/media; the NFL vs. Fox vs. Congress; the NFL heavily courting Netflix & big NBA viewership. TO LISTEN: https://t.co/ldSOoKDIvD
Community Leaders' "Economic Impact" Numbers Are Usually Fabricated
I often wonder why there hasn't been a big journalistic expose on the ridiculousness of these "economic impact" figures that community leaders trot out. I'm not aware of a single case where the presented numbers weren't totally made-up nonsense. It's...
Puma Appoints Heather Blaber as SVP of Marketing, Signaling Fresh Brand Push
Puma introduced Heather Blaber as Senior Vice President of Marketing on May 7, 2026, during its Q1 earnings call. The appointment comes as the company reports $44.8 million in revenue and raises its 2026 net product revenue guidance, suggesting a renewed...
ScoreBet Pushes Risky Low Limits; States Should Intervene
ScoreBet really taking some risks out here lmao. States really shouldn’t let sportsbooks have THIS low of limits https://t.co/IuVSx471JS
Netcompany-Ineos Still Looking for a Second Co-Title Partner
Netcompany has joined Ineos as a co‑title sponsor of the British WorldTour cycling team, marking the start of a five‑year partnership that puts artificial intelligence at the core of the squad’s strategy. While Ineos will remain a long‑term backer, the...
Saturday's SportsBiz Highlights: The Highlight Reel Recap
It’s Saturday, which means The Highlight Reel, @Sportico’s recap of the top #SportsBiz stories. Sign up for all our newsletters here ⤵️ https://t.co/YDv6TFimqx https://t.co/WKQ8oPsh3u
Mesmerize Deploys 3,000 U.S. Brand Ambassadors for FIFA World Cup 2026 Sampling Blitz
Mesmerize, a product‑sampling agency, announced a three‑city activation plan for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, deploying more than 3,000 U.S. brand ambassadors and coordinating with major retailers. The effort targets the surge of foot traffic in Miami, New York and...
LALIGA Signs Duracell as Official Partner of Added Time in New Global Deal
Spain’s top football league LALIGA has signed a three‑year global partnership with battery maker Duracell, naming the brand the official partner of added time. The deal will see Duracell’s logo on fourth‑official boards and other touchpoints from the 2026‑27 season...
High Dive World Champion James Lichtenstein Signs Sponsorship Deal with International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) announced a sponsorship agreement with reigning high‑diving world champion James Lichtenstein. The signing ceremony at Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center included a 27‑meter exhibition dive and remarks from ISHOF leadership and city officials. ISHOF highlighted...
Infosys Takes US Court Action Over $5M Arbitration Award
Infosys moves US court over $5 million arbitration award against former Everton prospective owner 777 Partners https://t.co/RJO3jkT0YM
Basketball: Amazon Seeks NBA Fan Expansion in Japan as Views Catch On
Amazon Prime Video has launched an 11‑year exclusive deal to stream NBA games in Japan, marking a shift from Rakuten’s long‑standing broadcast rights. The platform delivered 67 regular‑season games and full playoff coverage this season, with the Spurs‑Thunder matchup drawing...
PE Capital Floods College Sports, Outpacing Demand
Counter to the narrative, it would appear that as of this moment, the supply of Private Equity capital in the college sports space far exceeds the demand…
Pep Guardiola Provides Update On Contract Extensions For Man City Stars: 'Close But Not Done'
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said the club is close to finalising a four‑year contract extension for England star Phil Foden, which would keep him at the Etihad until 2030. He also expressed optimism that Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol will...
Amazon Nails NFL, NBA Streams but Mismanages Crowd Noise
Amazon has overall done a great job with NFL and NBA. But I don’t think they’ve gotten the crowd noise levels right for either yet.
One Bye Week Boosts Big Ten Fox Friday Lineup
Key reason there's a bit more meat on the Fox Friday lineup in the Big Ten: one bye week. That will have a greater (positive) impact on the weekly inventory than many realize for all conferences
Accenture Becomes Official Business and Technology Consulting Partner for the WTA
Accenture has been named the official Business and Technology Consulting Partner of the Women’s Tennis Association. The multi‑year deal will start with a revamp of the WTA Player Zone, using AI and data tools to create a seamless digital hub...
Gray Media Q1 2026 Revenue Drops 11% as It Expands Station Portfolio
Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) posted Q1 2026 results showing retransmission consent revenue fell 11% to $339 million and core advertising slipped mid‑single digits to $361 million. The broadcaster added stations in four new markets, closed deals covering ten additional markets, and highlighted...
Many PGA Tour Stops Nod To Travel, Myrtle Beach’s Event Goes All In
The ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, a PGA Tour stop, doubles as a full‑funnel marketing vehicle for the Grand Strand, pairing a private‑jet broker with the Visit Myrtle Beach tourism board. The tournament features a $4 million purse, a $720,000 winner’s check...
Shaquille O'Neal on Partnership with Authentic Brands
Shaquille O'Neal and Authentic Brands Group CEO Jamie Salter announced the launch of “Dunkman,” a new professional dunk‑league designed to compete with the NBA’s annual dunk contest. The partnership, which now controls roughly 51% of the joint venture, builds on...
DraftKings, FanDuel Push Further Into Prediction Markets
DraftKings and FanDuel are expanding beyond traditional sportsbooks by becoming market makers in prediction markets. DraftKings announced its own market‑making operation, calling it a fast‑to‑profitability line that already generates positive returns. FanDuel’s parent, Flutter Entertainment, also entered market making on...
Kim Ng: Don’t Expect Robot Umps in Pro Softball Anytime Soon
Kim Ng, commissioner of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), said robot umpires are not imminent for professional softball. While Major League Baseball rolled out its Automated Ball‑Strike (ABS) system in 2026, logging 124 challenges and overturning 67 calls in...
Ritz‑Carlton Teams with U.S. SailGP for Exclusive New York Race‑Weekend Luxury
The Ritz‑Carlton announced a global partnership with the U.S. SailGP Team, unveiling exclusive race‑weekend packages at its NoMad and Central Park hotels and a one‑day sailing activation in Central Park for the May 30‑31 New York Sail Grand Prix. The...
News: March Madness Expansion, Russell Wilson, Nexstar and More
The sports media landscape is shifting as the NCAA finalizes a March Madness expansion, NFL streaming rights become a White House topic, and major broadcasters negotiate new deals. Disney says it hasn’t engaged the NFL on early renewal, while Comcast...
WNBA League Pass to Offer Spanish Language Option
One interesting media thing: The league is working on getting WNBA League Pass in Spanish.
Canada Drives Half of WNBA Merchandise Sales, Commish Says
WNBA commish Cathy Engelbert is in town for tonight's @WNBA first-ever game for the @TempoBasketball. Called it an "emotional day" for her given her time here before. Said there was an "authenticity" and "energy in investment with Canadian fans" when...
Riedel Named Official Connectivity Provider of 2026 Commonwealth Games
Riedel Communications has been appointed the Official Connectivity Integration Provider and Official Partner for Team Scotland for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The company will design, install and manage an end‑to‑end connectivity ecosystem, including its DIVA+‑based Glasgow 2026 Games...
Madison Square Garden And Kalshi Predictive Market Announce Multi-Year Partnership
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. and regulated prediction‑market exchange Kalshi announced a multi‑year partnership, naming Kalshi the Official Prediction Market Partner of the arena. The sixth‑floor concourse will be rebranded as the Kalshi Concourse, featuring interactive digital activations and LED...
How Qatar Airways Will Activate the World Cup 2026: A Global CMO Perspective From a FIFA Host City Director
Qatar Airways is redefining World Cup 2026 sponsorship by treating the tournament as a global system rather than a visibility‑driven campaign. The airline integrates its network strategy, brand positioning, customer experience and market expansion into a unified activation platform. This...
Club Sportico: MLB Backstops Are Becoming Billboards
Club Sportico compared backstop advertising in all 30 MLB stadiums between 2016 and 2026, finding a dramatic increase in signage behind home plate. The league’s backstop media value reached $1.9 billion in 2024, driven largely by smaller‑market clubs seeking revenue as...
Sportico Transactions: Moves and Mergers Roundup for May 8
The May 8 Sportico roundup highlights a wave of leadership appointments, brand partnerships, and strategic transactions across the sports ecosystem. Elevate named Olly Dale managing partner for Europe and Asia, while AMBSE added Keith McCloat as CFO of the upcoming NWSL Atlanta...
GBR Friday | Acushnet Q1 2026: Sales Growth Returns Ahead of Key Equipment Cycle
Acushnet reported Q1 2026 net sales of $753 million, a 7.1% year‑over‑year increase, driven by solid performance across Titleist balls, clubs and gear. Growth was broad‑based, with the United States, EMEA, Japan and the Rest of World all posting gains, while Korea...
Amazon Is Leveraging Its Sports Rights in Pursuit of Advertising Domination
Amazon reported $17.1 billion in advertising revenue for Q1, surpassing Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount combined, and disclosed $70 billion in ads revenue over the trailing twelve months. Prime Video, now profitable, shifted to an ad‑supported model last year, giving users the...
Levi's Links up with Football Association to Create England Fanwear Ahead of World Cup
Levi’s has partnered with the English Football Association to launch a five‑piece denim fan collection ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The line features two jackets, red baggy shorts, a bandana and a tote, all styled in the Three Lions...
Eyes on Networks and Streamers as NFL Readies Schedule Release
The NFL will unveil its 2026 regular‑season schedule on May 14 during a primetime special on ESPN2 and the NFL Network. Ahead of the release, NBC, Fox and Amazon will hold their 2026‑27 advertising upfronts, each expected to highlight at...
Follow Charlotte Henry: Your Go‑To Sports Media Expert
Want to give a Friday shout out to the amazing @charlotteahenry who is an essential go to resource on all sports media and business of media news at her site The Addition. She’s also the author of Streaming Wars....
WNBA Launches Biggest Season Ever with Expansion, Record Contracts
Tonight marks the start of the #WNBA’s biggest season ever. Literally. New larger media deals with increased exposure. Two expansion franchises. The biggest player contracts in the league’s history.
WNBA Season Arrives on Time and in a New CBA World
The WNBA kicked off its 2026 season on schedule under a landmark seven‑year collective bargaining agreement that dramatically raises player compensation, with the minimum salary jumping to $270,000 and the salary cap expanding fivefold. The new CBA introduces the EPIC...
NFLSchedule Drops May 14; GMFB Unveils International Slate
#NFLSchedule Release confirmed for Thursday, May 14 at 8 pm et. Expect media partners to sprinkle some announcements in the lead-up, particularly with #Upfronts going on. #GMFB will reveal the international slate Wednesday morning. #NFL
New League Could Serve as WNBA’s Badly Needed G League
Several WNBA teams faced roster crises last season, prompting the league’s new CBA to add two developmental spots per team and expand rosters to 14. To further address injury‑driven shortages, former WNBA president Donna Orender is launching the Upshot League,...
See How MLB Broadcast Ads Evolved 2016‑2026
🚨🚨 @JacobFeldman4 just built a website that will let you see every single @MLB team's backdrop in 2016 vs. 2026. If you're curious about how advertisements (and new camera angles) have crept into baseball broadcasts, it's a fascinating tool. Quick...
Pulling Back the Curtain: How Things Actually Work at Global Ski / Outdoor Companies (Ep.393)
In the latest GEAR:30 episode, hosts and industry leaders from Rossignol, Armada, Salomon and Atomic discuss how the world’s largest ski and outdoor brands operate on a global scale. The conversation moves from European design hubs to U.S. market nuances,...
Megan Rapinoe Backs Angel Reese’s Media Boycott, Sparking Athlete‑led Shift in Brand Strategy
Former US soccer star Megan Rapinoe publicly supported WNBA forward Angel Reese’s choice to forgo mandatory post‑game interviews, even if it means paying league fines. The endorsement signals a growing trend of athletes using media avoidance as a branding tool,...