Hearst’s WDSU to Air Million Dollar Rodeo Competition
Hearst-owned NBC affiliate WDSU in New Orleans has secured exclusive rights to air the Hondo Rodeo Fest’s three‑night, million‑dollar competition from April 10‑12 at the Caesars Superdome. The event blends high‑stakes rodeo, a multi‑day concert lineup featuring Jason Aldean, Creed and other country acts, and a street festival. Broadcasts will air on WDSU’s 6.2 MeTV subchannel and stream via Hearst’s Very Local app. The partnership positions WDSU as the primary conduit for Western‑culture entertainment in the Gulf Coast market.
Revel Bikes Taps Levi Olsen as Sales and Site Leader
Revel Bikes, the Colorado mountain‑bike maker, has appointed Levi Olsen as its new sales and site leader. Olsen, a Golden resident, brings extensive experience across specialty retail, distribution and direct‑to‑consumer roles, previously at Spot Bikes, CeramicSpeed and Challenge Tires. He...
SFIA Report: U.S. Sporting Goods Continues to Build on Pandemic Gains
The U.S. sporting goods market reached $130 billion in wholesale sales in 2025, marking a 3.7% year‑over‑year increase and a 34.7% rise since 2020. Pickleball led category growth, climbing 22% to $410 million, while athletic footwear posted a 7.4% gain, outpacing the...
Chicago Mayor Pushing for Rejected Downtown Bears Stadium Site
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is reviving a downtown stadium proposal at the former Michael Reese Hospital site, despite the NFL and the Bears deeming it unviable. The Bears remain focused on two suburban options—team‑owned land in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and...
Bulls Finally Pull Plug on Karnišovas–Eversley Era
The Chicago Bulls fired executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas and general manager Marc Eversley six days before the regular season ends, ending a six‑year tenure that produced only one playoff appearance. The decision follows mounting fan frustration,...
Troy Aikman's Mysterious Role with Dolphins Should Have the NFL's 31 Other Teams Paying Close Attention
Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Troy Aikman has been retained by the Miami Dolphins in an undefined consulting capacity, including a seat in the team’s draft war room. The arrangement follows his earlier involvement in the Dolphins’ search for...
Travel + Leisure Co. Announces Sponsorship of Rising Swimming Star Rylee Erisman
Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) announced a sponsorship agreement with USA National Team swimmer and World Junior Champion Rylee Erisman. The partnership will fund Erisman’s training and competition while the company shares her story across its travel‑focused media channels. Erisman,...
Giants Star DT Dexter Lawrence Reportedly Asks for Trade Amid Team's Busy Offseason
All‑Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence has formally requested a trade from the New York Giants, according to ESPN. The 28‑year‑old, who is under a four‑year, $87.5 million contract through 2027, will still attend the team’s offseason workouts while negotiations stall. Lawrence’s...
Jordan Brand Celebrates UCLA Women’s Basketball March Madness Championship Win
Jordan Brand celebrated UCLA women’s basketball winning its first NCAA Division I championship, defeating South Carolina 79‑51 in Phoenix. The partnership, active since 2021, was highlighted with a social‑media video narrated by NBA star Russell Westbrook. Star guard Kiki Rice, the...
WNBA Expansion Vote: Ownership, Valuation Breakdown for 3 Teams
The WNBA is set to add three new franchises in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia, with votes due by April 9 and approval expected. Each team carries a $250 million expansion fee, but Cleveland and Detroit have secured outside capital at post‑money valuations...
Mekale Jackson of Under Armour: Trust the Culture and Let the Story Lead
Mekale Jackson, senior director of global social media strategy at Under Armour, leverages his 18‑year sports‑marketing background to fuse culture and storytelling across the brand’s product lines. Recent initiatives such as the Gunna x Under Armour Wunna Run 5K series and the episodic “Full...
Knog Sets New Distribution Partners in North America
Australian cycling accessories maker Knog announced new North American distribution agreements, adding BTI and QBP as its United States partners and Live To Play Sports as its Canadian distributor. The change ends an eight‑year exclusive relationship with Selle Royale USA,...
Vegas Tourism Drops $100K Aces Deals With No Word on Investigation
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) has ended its $100,000‑per‑player sponsorship with the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces after two seasons. The deal, announced in May 2024, was scrutinized for potentially circumventing the league’s salary cap, prompting a second...
Report: L.A. Faces a Rocky Road to the 2028 Olympics
The LA28 organizing committee projects a $7 billion budget, but a SAJE report warns actual costs could reach $12 billion, citing security, sanitation, and transit overruns. LA28 has secured over $2 billion in sponsorships and aims to sell 97 percent of tickets, yet critics...
Rays Return to Rebuilt Tropicana Field, but Bigger Questions Remain
The Tampa Bay Rays are back at Tropicana Field for their 2026 home opener after a $60 million, year‑long renovation that added a new roof, upgraded suites, turf, video board and locker rooms. The upgrades, praised by CEO Ken Babby, leave...
Teneo Tees Off with Justin Rose
Teneo, a global advisory firm with about 1,800 professionals, has signed Olympic gold‑medalist golfer Justin Rose as a three‑year brand ambassador. Rose, world No. 7 and recent Farmers Insurance Open champion, will wear the Teneo logo on his left sleeve at...
Kraft Heinz Becomes NFL’s First Condiment Partner In Five-Year Global Deal
Kraft Heinz has secured a five‑year global partnership with the NFL, becoming the league’s first condiment partner. The agreement places flagship brands such as Heinz ketchup, Kraft cheese, Velveeta and Philadelphia cream cheese at the heart of high‑visibility NFL moments,...
NCAA May Alter Pro Draft Eligibility. Antitrust Suits Will Follow.
The NCAA Division I Cabinet is considering a rule that would permanently bar pre‑college athletes who enter a professional draft and do not withdraw from competing in college sports. The proposal, slated for a 2026 rollout, targets basketball, baseball and...
What A Trip To The Masters Really Costs: $125 Tickets To $100,000 Trips
The Masters Tournament’s ticket lottery draws over 2 million applicants, with odds roughly 1 in 200. 2026 ticket prices start at $125 for practice rounds and rise to $160 for tournament days, a $20 increase from the prior year. While resale...
Seattle Mariners Sign Shortstop Colt Emerson To $95 Million Contract
The Seattle Mariners have locked up top prospect Colt Emerson on an eight‑year, $95 million contract, the largest deal ever for a player without MLB service time. The agreement includes a $25 million club option for 2034, escalators for awards and a...
New Era 2026 NFL Draft Collection Celebrates ‘Moment in the Mirror’
New Era unveiled its 2026 NFL Draft Cap Collection, featuring reflective liquid‑chrome treatments that highlight each team’s logo. The lineup includes the iconic 9Fifty snap‑back along with 59Fifty, 9Seventy Stretch‑Snap, 39Thirty M‑Crown, 9Forty M‑Crown and Casual Classic styles, all offered...
CardVault Opens at Ballpark Village in St. Louis
CardVault, the sports‑card retailer co‑founded by Tom Brady, opened its 14th U.S. location at Ballpark Village in St. Louis, directly across from Busch Stadium. The store carries graded cards, singles, sealed products from Topps, Panini, Upper Deck, Pokémon and Fanatics Authentic, and...
Alabama Makes Nate Oates One Of 5 Highest-Paid Coaches In College Basketball
Alabama announced a contract extension for head coach Nate Oats through the 2031‑32 season, elevating his compensation to over $6 million annually and placing him among the five highest‑paid men’s basketball coaches. The deal follows Oats guiding the Crimson Tide to...
Axar Patel Becomes Part of Rotoris Circle in Latest Brand Association
Axar Patel, captain of the Delhi Capitals, has joined the Rotoris Circle, the premium watch brand’s curated network of athletes, entrepreneurs and cultural figures. Rotoris is shifting from traditional endorsements to a storytelling‑led community that emphasizes ambition, discipline and progression....
ISL 2025-26: Fast&Up India Joins Odisha FC as Hydration Partner
Fast&Up India has signed a deal to become the official hydration partner of Odisha FC for the Indian Super League 2025‑26 season. The agreement supplies the club with electrolyte tablets, energy boosters and recovery formulations aimed at boosting stamina and...
How Mediation Can Help Resolve Pro Sports Disputes
Professor Mark Grabowski argues that mediation is underused in U.S. professional sports, despite its success in past NHL and NFL labor disputes. He cites the 2012 NHL‑PA negotiation, where a federal mediator helped bridge a $200 million revenue‑sharing gap, and the...
IPL 2026: RCB Retain boAt as Audio Partner for Eighth Straight Season
boAt has renewed its role as the official audio partner of Royal Challengers Bengaluru for IPL 2026, marking the eighth consecutive season of collaboration. The deal is anchored by the "Champions Choose Champions" campaign, linking boAt’s audio‑wearable portfolio with RCB’s...
Channel 4: 3m Tune in for The Boat Race 2026
Channel 4 aired the Boat Race for the first time on April 4, 2026, attracting a total reach of three million viewers. The men’s race peaked at two million viewers, delivering a 31.3% audience share, while the women’s race peaked at 1.4 million...
PWHL Breaks Women’s Hockey Attendance Record With MSG Game
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) set a new attendance record by drawing 18,006 fans to a sold‑out Madison Square Garden showdown between the New York Sirens and Seattle Torrent. The milestone follows a 25% jump in average attendance after...
Caleb Williams Beyond the Gridiron
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is expanding his brand beyond football through his investment firm 888 Midas, which he launched before his NFL debut. His diversified portfolio spans a Peruvian berry farm, an NWSL franchise, and a stake in AI startup...
Millions in Prize Money on the Line at Men’s, Women’s Final Fours
The NCAA has expanded its long‑standing "units" payout system to include the men’s and women’s championship games, adding $2 million for each team that reaches the title match and another $2 million for the winner. This change pushes total tournament‑related payouts beyond...
“Fab Five” Reunion Drives TNT and CBS’s Experimental Final Four Altcast Built on REMI Workflow
TNT Sports and CBS Sports will air an alternate broadcast of the Michigan‑Arizona Final Four semifinal on truTV and HBO Max, featuring the reunited Michigan "Fab Five" as on‑air commentators. The production uses a remote‑integration (REMI) workflow anchored by NEP’s...
Caleb Williams Didn’t Mean to Start an ‘Iceman’ Fight
Caleb Williams, the 2024 NFL first‑overall pick, filed a trademark for his nickname “Iceman” on March 16, aiming to control merchandise bearing his name. The filing sparked an IP clash with NBA Hall of Famer George Gervin, who filed a...
Quiet WNBA Expansion Draft Clears Way for Busy Free Agency
The WNBA’s two 2026 expansion franchises, Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, completed a quiet draft that yielded no marquee superstars. Portland used its No. 1 pick to secure forward Bridget Carleton, while Toronto selected wing Marina Mabrey, both tagged as Potential...
Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Transfers, Eligibility Rules
President Donald Trump issued a second executive order aimed at reshaping college athletics by imposing a five‑year eligibility window, limiting transfers to one free move and a second after a four‑year degree, and banning "professional" athlete participation. The order also...
Fire and Tempo Select 22 Players in WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 Presented by State Street Investment Management SPY
The WNBA announced that the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo each selected 11 players in the 2026 expansion draft, bringing the total to 22. Selections featured two recent champions, 14 internationals, and two unrestricted free agents who can be designated...
Tommy Lloyd Turns Down UNC To Stay At Arizona
Arizona assistant coach Tommy Lloyd declined UNC's offer, signing a five‑year extension with Arizona that makes him one of the highest‑paid college coaches. The contract averages about $7.5 million per year, includes a $9 million buyout and larger bonuses, and raises his...
Which Streaming Stories Did You Miss This Week?
Netflix broadened its sports footprint by expanding its EverPass Media partnership, allowing the Tyson Fury‑Arslanbek Makhmudov fight and future events to be streamed in bars and restaurants. Crunchyroll opened fan voting for the 2026 Anime Awards, extending participation to MyAnimeList...
NCAA May Remove Prize Money Limits After Landmark Settlement
The NCAA is reviewing three rule proposals that would let college athletes accept prize money without jeopardizing eligibility, a move likely spurred by a February settlement with tennis players Reese Brantmeier and Maya Joint. Currently, athletes may only keep prize...
UConn’s Braylon Mullins Waiting to Cash In On Game-Winning Shot
Braylon Mullins’ deep three-pointer with seconds remaining knocked Duke out and propelled UConn to its third Final Four in four years. The shot places him among March Madness legends, but unlike past heroes, he now faces potential NIL deals worth...
DIRECTV Is Offering the Best Deal to Watch the Final Four
DIRECTV is promoting its MySports Genre Pack at a discounted $45 per month for the first two months, positioning it as the cheapest way to stream every game of the 2026 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Four and national championships....
Boston Legacy FC Sets Regional TV Partnership With WBTS Boston & NBC Sports Boston
Boston Legacy FC announced a multi‑year regional media partnership with WBTS (NBC 10) and NBC Sports Boston, securing live coverage of 13 matches for its inaugural NWSL season starting April 3, 2026. The schedule features eight home games and five away contests...
NAB 2026: Encompass Digital Media and Techex Launch Cloud-Based Master Control Service for Live Events
Encompass Digital Media and Techex have unveiled Altitude Events, a cloud‑native master control service that combines Encompass’s Altitude Media Cloud platform with Techex’s tx darwin transformation engine and Densitron UI. The solution handles the full live‑event chain—from signal acquisition and dynamic...
DAZN, TikTok to Livestream Serie A Match
DAZN is teaming with TikTok to livestream a Serie A match—Juventus versus Genoa—directly to users in the UK and Ireland. The free broadcast will appear on the @DAZNFootball TikTok channel on April 6, 2026, kicking off at 6 pm BST. Both companies frame...
High Stakes, Big Budgets: How Brands Are Navigating a Massive Sports Year
Brands are tightening budgets amid a crowded sports calendar that includes the Super Bowl, 2026 Winter Olympics and FIFA World Cup. Global ad spend is set to exceed $1 trillion, but live‑sports slots remain prohibitively expensive, with 30‑second Super Bowl spots...
Ivy League Scores Legal Win Over Athletic Scholarships
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the Ivy League’s policy of offering no athletic scholarships, confirming the league’s antitrust compliance. The court found the plaintiffs failed to define a relevant...
Coca-Cola Named as Official Soft Drinks Partner to Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
The Coca‑Cola Company and its largest bottler, Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners GB, have been named the Official Soft Drinks Partner for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and an Official Partner of Team Scotland. The agreement designates Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar, Powerade and...
Netflix Drew the Youngest MLB Opening Day Audience Since 2017
Netflix streamed its first live MLB game on Opening Night 2026, attracting roughly 3 million viewers – the largest Opening Day audience since the pandemic‑shortened 2020 season. The 18‑49 demographic was the strongest for an MLB opener in nearly a decade,...
NCAA Men’s Final Four: A Tale of the Tall
College basketball’s Final Four this year featured unprecedented size, with each of the four teams averaging at least 6‑foot‑6 when weighted by minutes. The height surge, now in the 90th percentile of Division I history, has translated into elite offensive rebounding,...
Does HBO Max Have Any Deals for Men's March Madness?
HBO Max will stream the 2026 NCAA Men’s March Madness Final Four (April 4) and championship (April 6) without additional fees, but it offers no standalone discount. Viewers can instead subscribe to a Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max ad‑free bundle for $33...