FIFA Pushes Blanket US Tax Exemption for World Cup Teams
I've been following FIFA's efforts to secure tax-exempt status for member associations participating in the World Cup this summer. This is the first of hearing of some sort of blanket exemption for all participating teams. Interested to see whether this comes to fruition.
College Basketball Tourney Dominates TV Time, Football Playoffs Lag
He's got a point here on "playoff" expansion. The NCAA Men's Tourney already accounts for around 50% of the viewing hours for a college basketball season. Compare that with the CFP, which currently only accounts for like 17% of viewing hours for...
Mike Morris Unpacks NFL’s High‑Stakes Rights Negotiations
New pod: A conversation with analyst Guggenheim analyst Mike Morris about the myriad questions swirling around the NFL’s looming, blockbuster rights negotiations. https://t.co/6VmcON2TgU
Reed’s New 3-Year Deal Packs $20M Guarantee
WR Jayden Reed's #Packers Extension ▫️3-years, $50.25M new ▫️$20M fully guaranteed ▫️large per-game bonuses ▫️2-years, $27M practical Cap Hits 2026: $6.7M 2027: $10.8M 2028: $17.6M 2029: $17.2M
CW Partners with ESPN, Opts for Bundling over Solo Streaming
The CW will stream its 800 hours of sports content on ESPN's broadband service, a sign that bundling may be a more attractive prospect for some TV outlets than launching yet another stand alone streaming option.... https://t.co/EBd41pyqp6
Eagles Lock in Greenard, Cap Spikes by 2030
DE Jonathan Greenard's #Eagles Extension ▪️4-years, $98M base value ▪️$50M fully guaranteed ▪️Annual $500k escalator ▪️4 void years for cap ▪️2-years, $50M practical Cap Hits 2026: $6.2M 2027: $11.1M 2028: $15.7M 2029: $20.2M 2030: $44.4M (void)
Schools Hire Experts to Manage NIL Revenue Shares
The smartest programs are making major investments in partners, platforms, and people to manage NIL/rev-share... Are schools hiring general managers or analysts to manage NIL budgets? I break this down in my book NIL 101: The House Settlement 40% off https://t.co/yBVisUkFCL https://t.co/KLO5NYnlxj
Public Stadium Costs Always Climb, Warns Bradbury
Bradbury's iron law of stadium finance: the cost of a publicly funded stadium only goes up.
League Officials Face Relentless Club and Media Pressure
Those who run/ran leagues will all feel a chill down the spine on this story. You get a kicking regardless. And often your hands are tied. Clubs are ruthless in pressuring you. The media is used ruthlessly. https://t.co/MtqABPnj3Z
Athletes Craft Secret Social Feeds Beyond Traditional Platforms
Hiding in plain sight - how athletes are building a new form of social media presence On finstas, fame, and the feeds nobody paid for https://t.co/wyzgn8zAPH @Fire_and_Skill #Geosport https://t.co/cOoaPuc6DH
Non‑League Football Faces Funding Crunch and Governance Gaps
Today’s @POF_POD is an interview with @BenClasper , chair of @DulwichHamletFC and @olivernjash co-owner of @maidstoneunited about the financial challenges of non-league football, governance (or lack of it) of the leagues, pitches, pints and more 🍎 https://t.co/tAPMtmzVw5 🎧 https://t.co/fyxwwEw8mp
Industry Pushes NCAA Expansion, Ignoring Fan Preferences
Fuel for NCAA Tournament expansion was dispensed at the self-serving pump by an industry that doesn't care what the fans want whether it's 76 in March Madness or 24 in the CFP. -->
Anti‑Tanking Rules Threaten NBA Draft’s Core Purpose
At what point does the quest to stop tanking undermine NBA draft's core rationale: enable weaker teams to acquire better players? NBA turned to draft order based on inverse record to discourage team dynasties, so fans of bad teams had...
Fans Prefer TV; ESPN Must Justify Streaming Cost
…because nobody wants overpriced sports rights deals. The real challenge now is how to convince fans that the ESPN streaming service is something they need, with backdrop of proposed Nielsen data suggesting they still prefer TV to streaming. Messy stuff.
Premier League Ticket Prices Dip as Big Clubs Cut Fees
Average cost to a fan to watch a Premier League team went down from £51.93 in 2023/24 to £51.14 in 2024/25. The main drivers of this were (a) the relegated clubs, especially Luton and Burnley, were replaced by others that charged...
Caesars Bullish on Alberta iGaming Launch July 13
Caesars officials reiterated a bullish view on Alberta's iGaming and sports betting launch July 13; Company expects to launch both Caesars Palace Online Casino and Horseshoe gaming platforms
Caesars Declines to Discuss M&A Amid Fertitta Rumors
Caesars officials started today's earnings call by saying they would not address potential mergers or acquisitions; $CZR has been rumoured to be acquired by former Golden Nugget CEO Tilman Fertitta
RSI Soars 123% Amid Industry Decline
Including an after-hours spike following increased revenue guidance projections, $RSI stock is now up more than 123% in the past 12 months; Rush Street's growth comes as most other digital operators have seen significant drops
BetRivers Parent Posts Record Revenue, Profit, Raises Outlook
BetRivers parent $RSI reported: - Record quarterly revenue of $370.4 million [up 41% y-o-y] - Record quarterly net income of $26.2 million [up 134% y-o-y] - Record quarterly AEBITDA of $60.2 million [up 81% y-o-y] Company also raises full year revenue, AEBITDA guidance
Sportsbooks Thrive While Vegas Revenue Stagnates
Two biggest stories from Caesars earnings both reinforce ongoing trends: - Sportsbooks increasing revenues, profit margins despite decreasing handle - Las Vegas revenue figures are essentially flat year-over-year
Caesars Boosts Betting Revenue and AEBITDA Amid Declining Handle
Caesars increased sports betting net revenue and AEBITDA despite a (3)% year-over-year decline in handle and only a 1% growth in monthly active players
Caesars to Add New Jersey, Completing 27-Jurisdiction Wallet
Caesars expects to integrate New Jersey into its universal sportsbook digital wallet shortly, the final of 27 live jurisdictions
Caesars Online Betting Revenue Jumps 12
Caesars online sports betting and casino division reported $374 million in net revenue for Q1 2026, an 11.6% year-over-year improvement; AEBITDA grew to $69 million from $43 million, a 60.5% increase
Tempo Basketball's Canadian TV Deal Details Expected This Week
Here's viewership info on tomorrow's game. Some of you asked about this: From everything I've heard, I would expect info/details about @TempoBasketball 's Canadian TV deals to come out very soon and I'll predict this week.
Toronto Tempo TV Deal Details Expected This Week
Some of you asked about this. From everything I heard, I would expect details about the @torontotempo's Canadian TV deals to come very soon and I'll predict this week.
Braintree Town's £1.2m Debt Fueled by Director Loans
Braintree Town lost £165k in 2024/25 taking total losses to over £1.2m. Like most clubs at that level they are reliant on benefactors to keep the lights on and in their case it is interest free loans from current and former...
JPMorgan Chase Becomes First Global Banking Partner for Olympics
#JPMorganChase has been named the first Global Banking Partner of the #Olympics & #Paralympics. #Sponsorship covers #LA28 & #FrenchAlps2030. $JPM https://t.co/8Y4pkUrIgv
Governor Kelly Condemns False Promises While Peddling Her Own
Oh, the irony of Governor Kelly calling out anyone else for making "false promises," after she backed a billionaire stadium giveaway based on her own *false promises* of economic returns. https://t.co/F1J2LHZ4fH
Stacy Johns Departs Bay FC to Lead LA Sparks
Stacy Johns, who joined NWSL club Bay FC as CEO in March, is leaving to instead serve as president of the WNBA's L.A. Sparks. My colleague @TomFriendWriter has details at @SBJ. https://t.co/PI5ytfp7kv
Playa Society Pioneers Space for Women’s Sports
From pitch to torchbearer: How Playa Society built space for women's sports https://t.co/dExhesfa5E via @usatoday
Haslams' $205M Deal Triggers Full $165M Clause
EXCLUSIVE: When Arthur Blank committed $165 million to join @NWSL, his deal had a unique clause that would have lowered the fee if the next team paid less than $200 million. The Haslams' $205 million deal will ensure the full amount....
F1's Debut IMAX Race Sells Out in NYC
F1's first race in IMAX theaters is this weekend, and—at least in NYC—it's basically sold out. https://t.co/YLTGIhtLhr
Bridge News Owner’s Past Missteps Threaten Media Legacy
Bridge News is owned by Five Hour Energy founder Manoj Bhargava whose disastrous management of Sports Illustrated put the future of the venerable publication at risk a couple years ago. Interestingly, Bhargava has given millions to GOP-aligned groups/causes. https://t.co/na3l9HTmDP
SCOTUS Likely to Uphold State Sports Betting Authority
"Wallach puts the probability at 70-80% that SCOTUS will side with state regulators. The alternative would contradict the 2018 PASPA repeal that empowered states to regulate sports betting." https://t.co/dBl2sp7OO2
Cora's $13.5M Deal Gives Him Freedom to Choose
Alex Cora, per @JonHeyman, is owed $13.54 million from the Red Sox through 2027. I'm sure he's in no rush to take a new job and getting to spend time with family is invaluable. He'll have his pick of opportunities,...
WBC Spent $265K on Canelo‑Crawford Fight Tickets.
In his congressional testimony last week, Nick Khan said the WBC, ostensibly a non-profit sanctioning body, bought $265k worth of tickets to Canelo-Crawford in Las Vegas last year. These are the receipts https://t.co/tyTP4YFEsc
Brighton to Build UK's First Dedicated Women's Stadium
Built For Her: Brighton confirm plans for first purpose built women's stadium in UK and Europe at a cost of £80m https://t.co/V2vgE3cM3l
NFL Trade Buzz and Boston Upheaval Highlighted
TODAY'S POD ▪️Remaining 5th-Year Option ▪️NFL Trade Candidates ▪️Pickens & the Cowboys ▪️Upheaval in Boston https://t.co/duZq0bOpXg https://t.co/FK6YqhulOL
MLS Leverages Relocation Threats for Stadium Funding
Whether a move threat is realistic is almost beside the point if you just want to use it to shake down an existing host city for stadium dollars, which appears to be MLS's main goal here in leaking talk of...
Rounding Up Fake Figures Inflates Impact by $500M
My favorite example was when a reporter rounded up an obviously phony economic impact number from 9.5 to 10 billion. Yeah, just another $500 million. No big deal.
Federal Judge to Decide Future of NIL Legal Framework
The biggest test for NIL as a legal concept looms on May 27, when a federal judge will review House settlement class counsel's motion challenging the College Sports Commission's approach to review of NIL deals. A lot is at stake. My...
Investors Target Vegas, Seattle in $10B NBA Expansion
Sports alert: @NBA expansion race heats up as investor groups circle Las Vegas and Seattle franchises worth up to $10bn Read the full story here: https://t.co/EvgGkySHMK https://t.co/3wwbqIcK2U
Season Ticket Elites Demand Taxpayer‑funded Luxury Lounge
Surprise, the guys who buy season tickets on the club level want taxpayers to help pay for their luxury leisure outlet.
Sportradar Q1 2026 Beats Forecast, Launches $250M Buyback
SRAD 1Q26 this morning... reiterates 2026 outlook... earnings call at 8 am... ☕️ Sportradar Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Announces $250 Million Enhanced Open Market Share Repurchase Program https://t.co/qVVNYHEhBo
Teams Splurge on Fifth-Year Options, Especially on Defense
TBD 5th-Year Option Decisions Anthony Richardson IND, QB: $22.4M Jack Campbell DET, LB: $21.9M Quentin Johnston LAC, WR: $16.4M Myles Murphy CIN, DE: $14.4M Felix Anudike-Uzomah KC, DE: $14.4M Lukas Van Ness GB, DE: $14.4M Jahmyr Gibbs DET, RB: $14.3M Mazi Smith NYJ, DT: $13.9M Deonte Banks NYG, CB: $12.6M
Losing PayTV Bundle Cuts Access to Crucial Revenue Data
Fan connection and positive financial indicators are super-de-duper and all but it doesn’t help you get within 100 light years of the $113M laid in plan…And it never will regardless of what’s being said. There’s no happy face...
Team on Market 18 Months
Remarkable. This team has been on the market for ~18 months. "If there is a local ownership group with the vision and resources to chart a path forward, we urge them to come forward."
Vancouver Beats Vegas as Ideal MLB Expansion Market
At this point we are in the cheap talk threat stage. Being the 5th major-league team in a smaller Las Vegas seems less than ideal. Vancouver is a strong market. Yeah, the owners want a new stadium. Who doesn't, these...
Methodology Changes Inflate Nielsen Ratings; Full-Year Data Pending
Yeah. And keep in mind, some of those viewing increases are driven by folks who were always watching and have just within the past two years been measured thanks to strategic methodological changes in Nielsen’s viewing currency…And come this fall...
Evaluating Antitrust Exemptions in College Sports
Very insightful take from antitrust attorney and economist (and former FTC commissioner) @JoshWright1977 on how to think about potential antitrust exemptions in college sports: