April 26, 2023

Read in Browser [[link removed]]

POWERED BY

One of the biggest [[link removed]] names in ESPN’s round of Disney-mandated layoffs is Nate Silver, founder of FiveThirtyEight, which was bought by ESPN in 2013. The site will continue in his absence.

Women’s World Cup Could Be Worth $300M In Media Rights [[link removed]]

Richard Martin/Presse Sports

The 2023 women’s World Cup is the most recent women’s sports property set to cash in big on its next media rights deal.

The tournament could be worth more than $300 million, according [[link removed]] to The Wall Street Journal — which would make it the most expensive women’s tournament in the world.

The revelation came after FIFA — inspired by the 1.12 billion viewers for the 2019 edition across all platforms — began looking into the value of the women’s World Cup as a separate property from its men’s counterpart.

Previously, there were no available estimates for the package.

Similar Situation

The NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament has faced a similar conundrum to the women’s World Cup, as its current media rights deal packages it with 28 other NCAA sports.

A media rights consultant estimated that the tournament could be worth between $81 million and $112 million annually in 2025, when the next deal rolls around. The current deal averages $34 million a year for all sports combined.

Since then, new NCAA President Charlie Baker previously told [[link removed]] Front Office Sports the NCAA is conducting a market analysis, with the help of Endeavor, to determine the most lucrative way to sell the package.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey told FOS he believes there should be a thorough exploration of selling the women’s tournament on its own.

PODCAST

🎙️ They Said What?

“Baseball has been played since the 1860s and there have been baseball cards since the 1860s. I think it is a way for people to capture a moment in time, capture an era, and feel like they’re a part of it.”

-Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of collectibles marketplace Goldin, on the intrinsic value of baseball cards and other sports memorabilia

Listen and subscribe on Apple [[link removed]], Google [[link removed]], and Spotify [[link removed]].

FC Barcelona Secures $1.6B Financing for Camp Nou Renovation [[link removed]]

Spotify

FC Barcelona has the green light for its $1.6 billion Espai Barça project — highlighted by a massive renovation to its Camp Nou stadium.

The legendary Spanish club’s board of directors officially agreed to financing with 20 investors for the project — as well as confirmed reports [[link removed]] from earlier this month that it will be able to repay all construction-related debts by 2047.

Barça plans to pay in installments at five, seven, nine, 20, and 24 years, a plan that will include a flexible structure and grace period. The club also confirmed it didn’t use any team assets as a guarantee or take out a mortgage on the stadium.

The club will use revenue generated from the renovated stadium and hosting games again to repay the debt — estimated by the team to be $271 million annually.

Barcelona has counted several notable financial institutions among its partners during the financing process, including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, JLL, Pérez-Llorca, DLA Piper, Key Capital Partners, Legends, and IPG 360.

In addition to the Camp Nou revamp, Espai Barça will build up the team’s facilities and surrounding infrastructure in the Les Corts neighborhood of Barcelona.

The construction on Camp Nou has been a long time coming, as the stadium’s poor condition has reportedly [[link removed]] incurred fines for failing to meet European competition standards.

SPONSORED BY UNILEVER

Forgettable Underarms, Unforgettable You

[[link removed]]

Whether you’re playing in a pick-up game, heading into a big interview, or hugging someone you care about, new and improved Dove Men+Care [[link removed]] 72 hour antiperspirant helps prevent underarm distractions like sweat and odor so you can forget about your underarms and focus on being unforgettable.

New Dove Men+Care antiperspirants are reformulated with 72 hours [[link removed]] of sweat and odor protection, one-quarter moisturizing cream, and long-lasting fragrance.

You can purchase Dove Men+Care antiperspirant sticks, aluminum-free deodorant sticks, or dry sprays wherever personal care products are sold. Learn more [[link removed]].

Hawks Owner Sees Bright Future for Development Near Arena [[link removed]]

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Hawks’ owner is looking forward to bringing some new neighbors to his team.

Ares Management co-founder Tony Ressler is going forward [[link removed]] with a development near his team’s State Farm Arena and Mercedes Benz Stadium, home to the Atlanta Falcons and MLS club Atlanta United.

The project at the 50-acre Centennial Yards site will include housing (20% of which will be affordable housing), office space, retail, and parks. Ressler brushed off concerns related to inflation and interest rates regarding the project.

Ressler’s group — which includes NBA Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal and Grant Hill as well as civil rights leader Andrew Young — owns around 35% of the project, while the real estate company CIM Group owns the rest.

“Supporting small businesses, and of minorities in particular, is good for the economy and good business,” Ressler told Bloomberg. The project has committed to 38% minority contractor participation.

The $5 billion project is receiving around $2 billion in tax incentives, and city and state taxes collected at the site will go to its developers for a 30-year period. The group will also pay reduced property taxes for 20 years.

Atlanta’s status as one of 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup adds urgency to complete the project, Ressler added. That tournament’s games will be played at Mercedes Benz Stadium.

Ressler, who bought the Hawks in 2015 for $730 million, is worth an estimated $7.2 billion. His Ares Management has raised [[link removed]] $3.7 billion for sports-related investments and has offered to buy a minority stake in Manchester United.

Aaron Rodgers Effect: Jets To Become National TV Darlings [[link removed]]

The Post Crescent

The acquisition of superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers is turning the New York Jets into prime-time darlings.

The four-time NFL MVP makes the Jets instant Super Bowl contenders — and the league’s TV partners are scrambling to add Gang Green to their fall schedules.

The Jets could be featured in six prime-time games, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter [[link removed]]. The 7-10 Jets played in only one nationally televised game [[link removed]'s%20Adam%20Schefter%20reported%20that,in%20a%20Thursday%20night%20matchup.] in prime time last season, a Thursday night loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

CBS Sports should be the main beneficiary of the 39-year-old’s move from the NFC to the AFC, as it has the latter’s rights package.

Still, the NFL is likely to give at least one Jets game window to each of its TV partners, which include CBS and Fox Sports (Sunday afternoons), NBC Sports (“Sunday Night Football”), ESPN (“Monday Night Football”), and Amazon Prime Video (“Thursday Night Football”).

On Sundays, Rodgers’ Jets should be heavily featured in CBS’ and Fox’s late-afternoon game windows, which draw the highest weekly audiences. And with both NBC and ESPN able to employ “flex scheduling” this season, several Sunday afternoon Jets games could be moved to prime time to reach a national audience.

“The conversations are ongoing,” said one source.

SPONSORED BY CISCO

Securing the Draft

There’s nothing quite like the NFL Draft.

32 teams, 259 picks, dozens of war rooms, and endless streams of phone calls, all of which shape the destinies of teams, families, and players alike.

And none of this would be possible without Cisco [[link removed]].

As an Official Technology and Cybersecurity Partner of the NFL, Cisco ensures the league is always connected and protected [[link removed]] – especially on Draft night.

From connecting war rooms across the country and facilitating split-second decision-making to ensuring the security of all stakeholders, Cisco technology plays an integral role in everyone’s Draft experience.

Read the full story here [[link removed]].

CONVERSATION STARTERS In partnership with ZIYNX and Pepsi, Front Office Sports introduces Difference Makers [[link removed]] – a series highlighting how four amazing student-athletes are using their life lessons and skills honed through sport to be equally successful on the corporate field.* Playfly Sports was honored in the E&Y Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 Awards. Plus, the quickly-emerging sports marketing & media powerhouse’s CEO & Founder, Michael Schreiber, was recently named [[link removed]] a finalist from the Greater Philadelphia Region.* Know an up-and-coming young professional changing the game in the business of sports? Nominate them for the Front Office Sports Rising 25 Award [[link removed]]. Nominations now open through May 2. Deion Sanders’ first spring game [[link removed]] as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes drew 551,000 viewers to ESPN — almost doubling the 287,000 who tuned in to Lincoln Riley’s first USC spring game in 2021. On the eve of the NFL Draft, Kentucky QB Will Levis’ odds to be the top overall pick [[link removed]] shrunk dramatically after a trending post on Reddit — from ‘SaleAgreeable2834’ — claimed that the prospect himself said Carolina will take him at No. 1. Connor McDavid signed an eight-year, $100 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers in 2017 — which no doubt afforded him this custom-built Alberta Mansion designed by his girlfriend, interior decorator Lauren Kyle. Check it out [[link removed]]. Today's Action

MLB

08:38 PM

Athletics (+205) at Angels (-245)

Bet Now [[link removed]]

NBA

09:00 PM

Warriors (-120) at Kings (+100)

Bet Now [[link removed]]

MLB

08:45 PM

Cardinals (-110) at Giants (-110)

Bet Now [[link removed]]

*All times are EST unless otherwise noted.

*Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See [[link removed]] for details.

Question Of The Day

Would you consider flying private?

Yes [[link removed]] No [[link removed]] I already have [[link removed]]

Monday’s Answer

61% of respondents say their company uses software to manage HR.

DISCLAIMER

*Sponsored Content

Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Pro [[link removed]] Written by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]], Doug Greenberg [[link removed]], Owen Poindexter [[link removed]], Michael McCarthy [[link removed]] Edited by Greg Lee [[link removed]], Brian Krikorian [[link removed]]

If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here [[link removed]].

Update your preferences [link removed] / Unsubscribe [link removed]

Copyright © 2023 Front Office Sports. All rights reserved.

80 Pine Street Suite 3202 New York, NY 10005