Big Ten Secures Dual Titles, $60M NCAA Payout
So the @BigTen wins both the men's and women's titles, and takes home the biggest @NCAA payday from both the men's and women's tournaments. On the men's side, the Big Ten earned 30 units, which will pay about $60 million over the next six years. SEC second, Big 12 third. https://t.co/HiiTJCKtwp
Friday Night Slots Remain PayTV's Biggest Revenue Engine
The Friday night prime windows were identified in 2016 as material incremental economic value drivers from PayTV partners…And PayTV still pays nearly all the bills. Playing on Fridays isn’t new. Saying that you can’t schedule a particular team...
Stadium Deal Slams Taxpayers, Calls Out Owner Privilege
No it's not--this is a terrible deal for taxpayers--but if you'd like to read some bullshit cliche pro-stadium talking points from a guy who gets to hang out in the owner's box, then this is the op-ed for you. ...
Incentivize Top Teams to Visit Underdogs for Revival
Can Cinderella be revived? The recovery process must start with the regular season. “You have to create sufficient incentive for the haves to play road games against the have-nots.” -->
NIL Turned College Sports Into Minor‑league Spectacle
NIL has destroyed college sports. We had a really good run there for a while when college sports mattered and the players and teams meant something to each other. Now it’s just the minor leagues.
ESPN Won’t Control WWE Creative, McAfee Plot Rumored
ESPN ain’t dictating creative to WWE Obviously they want McAfee in the mix but no one there is banging pots and pans for him to be the secret Randy Orton caller It’s probably been planned at least dating back to when...
Labor Relations, Not Executive Orders, Ensure College Sports Stability
Great to join @finebaum on @espn to talk about President Trump's new executive order on college sports and why, IMO, the ultimate path to stability in college sports is through labor relations—not executive orders, not Congress and not antitrust lawsuits:...
CM Punk Advises Ari Emanuel: Cut Ticket Prices
CM Punk essentially just told Ari Emanuel “if you want to sell more tickets lower the prices” Spicy 🌶️
ESPN to Cut Around 30 Off‑Camera Jobs
ESPN is about to be hit with a round of layoffs. I’m told the number will land near 30, primarily in off-camera departments. My story for @PuckNews: https://t.co/GNxIfhNx3g
Shaq to Lead New Professional Dunking League
Shaquille O’Neal is going to be the commissioner of a new professional sports league devoted to dunking. Yeah, I said it.... https://t.co/SOf4OXuY52 via @variety
NIL Deals Concentrate Talent, Cutting NCAA Upset Frequency
One impact of college players able to monetize their name, image and likeness (NIL): fewer upsets in men’s NCAA basketball. Top players stack teams in power conferences, where they get more exposure than mid-majors and earn more (“less than 10% of...
Treat College Athletes as Employees to Avoid Antitrust Lawsuits
The only way for NCAA, conferences & schools to avoid more antitrust lawsuits is for some players to be deemed employees, then unionize & bargain with conferences (since state laws are a hurdle for some public college athletes). Everything else...
Ari Emanuel Didn't Hijack WWE Over Orton's Muse
The beauty of pro wrestling is trying to figure out what's real and what's a work but I just have a hard time believing Ari Emanuel stomped his feet and overruled WWE's whole creative apparatus because he was monomaniacally obsessed...
Student Manager Experience Launches Sports Business Careers
Dusty May, Ollie McLellan, @JessicaBerman1 and The Great Value of Being A Student Manager To Set Up A Career... #sportsbiz #michigan #uconn #finalfour https://t.co/K6IFzbDMQG https://t.co/8VwZHxkaQD
Cleveland, Detroit WNBA Expansions Raise Premium Valuations Pre‑launch
WNBA teams in Cleveland and Detroit don't start play until 2028 and 2029, but they both raised $ at valuations above the expansion fee. CLE sold ~45% at $290M, and DET targetting $325M value for 60%. Philadelphia has longer runway...
From Idea to 1.5M: HYROX’s Rapid Global Rise
HYROX has gone from concept to 1.5M participants globally in less than a decade. So how was it created and what's been the secret to its success? At SportsPro London, CEO & Co-Founder Christian Toetzke will join me on stage to break...
Dexter Lawrence Eyeing $82M, Three-Year Extension
Assuming an extension is involved, Dexter Lawrence currently projects toward a 3 year, $82M contract according to Spotrac's model.
Invest in Sports Heads to San Francisco May 6
Reminder: Sportico is bringing Invest in Sports to San Francisco May 6. Great lineup of speakers, including: @warriors owner Joe Lacob @AcrewCapital's Theresia Gouw @SacramentoKings owner Vivek Ranadive @ThornsFC/@theportlandfire owner Alex Bhathal https://t.co/BtKMcy5za7
Berkshire Hathaway's Cash Dwarfs All Major Sports Leagues
If you add up the value of all the teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, Berkshire Hathaway has more than double that sitting in cash right now.
31 Conferences to Share Women’s Tournament Revenue Over Three Years
Here's what each of the 31 @NCAA DI conferences will make in units from this year's women's basketball tournament. Payments spread across three years, starting in 2027. 📈: @Sportico, @LevAkabas https://t.co/AH6zhbWGun
AI, Values, and Trust: Rebuilding College Sports Media
Wrote a little bit this morning about AI in media and college sports administration...as well as values, service, and how to get fans (and readers) to trust you again. https://t.co/3aG47EVBNr
WNBA Expansion Fees Dwarfed by $300M+ Team Valuations
Banger @WNBA scoop here from @kbadenhausen. The league's three expansion teams are paying $250M fees, but they're already raising at much higher valuations. Detroit - $325M Cleveland - $290M Also, Will Smith is an investor in Philadelphia. https://t.co/VB2gTICRjE
WNBA Governors Vote on High‑Priced Expansion in CLE, DET, PHI
SCOOP: NBA & WNBA governors are finally voting this week on W expansion in CLE, DET & PHI, per memo sent to teams. Cleveland ($290M) & Detroit ($325M) have raised $ at higher prices than $250M expansion. W team governor...
Giants Save $13M, Lawrence Gets $20M Deal
Trading DL Dexter Lawrence New Team Acquires 2026: $20M 2027: $19.5M #Giants Dead Cap $13.9M ($13M savings) https://t.co/4OLQwpacVw
ESPN Absorbs NFL Talent, Except Scott Hanson, Adds Digital Shows
Additional nuggets in ESPN/NFLN deal 1) While almost all NFL Media TV talents became ESPN employees, Scott Hanson did not 2) ESPN plans to eventually populate NFLN with some digital shows (similar to what it's been doing on E2) + possible...
Big Tech and ESPN Poised to Host FanDuel Teams
Which Companies Will Next Carry FanDuel’s NBA And NHL Teams? (Amazon, Apple, ESPN?) https://t.co/k4dzzdTNfO via @TVAnswerMan
Michael Jordan Tops All-Time Athlete Earnings at $4.5 B
Michael Jordan is the highest-paid athlete of all-time by far He earned $275 million in 2025, mostly from Nike, to bring his lifetime inflation-adjusted earnings up to $4.5 billion, per @Sportico https://t.co/B2kON527ow
NCAA's New Eligibility Rules Likely Spark Antitrust Lawsuits
The NCAA is considering new eligibility rules that would impact pre-college players and pro draft participation. Expect antitrust litigation should those rules go into effect. I look at potential legal fallout in my weekly @Sportico sports law column: https://t.co/kXWgyni3L7.
State vs Federal Rules Shape Sports Betting Future
State sovereignty vs federal regulations is going to determine a lot about the future of the sports betting biz
Football's Financial Crunch: Losses, Bonuses, and Wage Caps
Tomorrow’s @POF_POD with @kevinhunterday ⚽️EFL losses ⚽️Fines and PSR ⚽️Tax and player income ⚽️Klopp £9.6m bonus ⚽️College programmes v academies ⚽️Wage caps https://t.co/K5aI4Fkbq9
Key WNBA Dates: Offer Period to Draft in April
Upcoming #WNBA Dates April 6-7: Offer/Core Designation Period April 8-10: Negotiation Period April 11th: Free Agency Commences April 13th: Draft
Tax Dollars Prop Up Minor League Stadiums
My article examining public subsidies going to minor league baseball stadiums is now published in Economic Inquiry. See next post for ungated link https://t.co/5HpMbUDxVX
NFL's Billion‑Dollar Media Demands Spark Backlash, FIFA Diversifies Revenue
🆙 Episode #44 of The Bundle is now available. The monthly walk-through with @UnffclPrtnr and @MurrayBarnett, trading facts, insights, and opinions at the intersection of #sports, #streaming, and #media — this time including but not limited to: • 🏈 NFL's media...
Schools Can't Selectively Opt Into NIL Settlement
Schools have flexibility in how they participate, but that flexibility isn’t unlimited. Can a school opt in to the House Settlement for some sports but not others? The full explanation is in my book NIL 101: The House Settlement Now 40% off https://t.co/yBVisUkFCL https://t.co/Go2YoYRqpE
India's Sports Economy Surpasses $2 B, Grows 13.4%
India’s sports economy tops $2 billion, grows 13.4% in 2025: WPP Media https://t.co/GKTzRidH9t via @ETBrandEquity
Women's Sports Investments Soaring 227% Yearly Since 2022
Since 2022, investments in women’s sports teams have grown about 227% annually, on average, according to McKinsey. https://t.co/cjb6n1YLaw via @MorningBrew
FIFA's Sketchy Prediction Partner Deal Exposed
More on FIFA’s dodgy prediction partner deal from @uglygame and colleagues at - https://t.co/uujkC8CuJv https://t.co/BglWhZ5HEx
UCLA's Title Boosts Revenue, Not Deficit
A women's basketball title won't solve UCLA's massive athletics deficit, but expect a commercial jump. The Bruins sold $313,000 in tickets in fiscal 2024, 34th among public FBS schools. UConn was at $3.25M; South Carolina $1.6M. More on UCLA's title👇 https://t.co/KFJlqHZdg0
Southampton's £158 M Revenue Dwarfed by 73% Wage Costs
Wembley bound Southampton submit 24/25 accounts, when the Club finished 20th in the Premier League. 🔑 figures ⚽️Revenue £158m ⬆️ 86% ⚽️Wages £116m ⬆️ 43% ⚽️Wages 73% of revenue ⚽️Underlying loss £62m ⬇️29% ⚽️Player sale profits £29m ⚽️Pre tax loss £54m (profit £17m) ⚽️Total accumulated losses £197m ⚽️Player...
Nevada Extends Ban on Kalshi, Calls Sports Betting Gambling
Nevada judge extends Kalshi ban, calls sports contracts 'indistinguishable' from gambling. Nevada is now the only state with a court-enforced, in-effect ban against the New York-based company. Via @TheBlockCo https://t.co/hfLZkUB79w
States' Legal Missteps Preserve Sports‑Event Contracts, Ignoring NV Lessons
If the States had retained outside counsel and/or filed suit first in state court rather than sending C&D letters to Kalshi, there likely would not be any sports-event contracts today. The lessons of NV & NJ have not been heeded...
Streaming Reach Matches TV, Audience Grows Faster Than Subscriptions
The traditional reach-versus-revenue trade-off between 📺 linear TV and 📲 OTT streaming may only apply to broadcast television anymore: As linear cable/satellite TV shrinks and streaming expands, their reach expectations have largely converged for the most-scaled pure-play streamers. Especially with Prime...
Sports Media Shake‑up: Robo Umpires, WSJ Critique, Upcoming ParaB
The Varsity * Robo umps are here. * Wapo hires some sports reporters. * Rupert's WSJ swipes at NFL's antitrust exemption. * Don't expect a lot of changes at NFL Network. * Passan: WBC shouldn't be more than every three years. Plus, I sat down with...
Saturday's SportsBiz Highlights: Subscribe to Sportico's Recap
It’s Saturday, which means The Highlight Reel, @Sportico’s recap of the top #SportsBiz stories. Sign up for all of our newsletters here: https://t.co/YDv6TFimqx https://t.co/B252dlmLIU
Fox, Sinclair Slam NFL Antitrust Exemption for Streamers
An NFL Partner 👇 Fox, Sinclair Decry NFL Antitrust Exemption as Sop to Streamers https://t.co/ORRVrmc6xZ via @sportico @crupicrupicrupi
NFL Media Rights Threaten the Film and TV Industry
. @MattBelloni writes about the NFL media rights negotiations from a Hollywood perspective. "One of the biggest threats to the film and TV industry maybe isn’t A.I. or YouTube or whatever studio Larry Ellison is consolidating today. It’s football." https://t.co/d0FHLVav0X
Sports Ad Spending Faces Pressure Amid Economic Uncertainty
How Sports Ad Market Could React to This Dicey Economic Moment https://t.co/82dIgPJh0A via @sportico @crupicrupicrupi
ESPN Seeks to Retain NFL Insider Ian Rapoport
Marchand: "ESPN is interested in retaining NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, whose contract is up at the end of the month." https://t.co/eixYomd1T7
Ranking the Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time
So Much to Discuss From @kbadenhausen's great work on the Highest-Paid Athletes of All-Time: https://t.co/quqjLta1pg via @sportico
Athlete Billionaires: The Next Wave of Richest Sports Stars
💰New Episode💰 - A Conversation With @kbadenhausen About the Richest Athletes 👇 Sporticast: The Next Wave of Athlete Billionaires Is Coming https://t.co/7iRuBER3bh via @sportico