May 4, 2023

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With the 149th edition of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, Churchill Downs VP of Sales & Strategy Sarah Contardo stops by Front Office Sports Today to discuss the Derby’s history and this year’s innovations to the race. Then, FanDuel TV anchor Todd Schrupp breaks down what makes the Kentucky Derby so special, the Churchill Downs experience, and the latest at FanDuel TV.

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

NFL Facing Joint Investigation By California, New York [[link removed]]

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL is the target of another workplace investigation — and this time, it’s not just about the league’s handling of the Washington Commanders.

On Thursday, the attorneys general in California and New York announced a joint probe of the NFL that will examine if the league violated federal and state employment discrimination laws.

“We have serious concerns about the NFL’s role in creating an extremely hostile and detrimental work environment,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.

New York Attorney General Letitia James added, “No person should ever have to endure harassment, discrimination, or abuse in the workplace.”

The news release announcing the probe listed the reasons for the investigation.

A former director for NFL Enterprises filed a lawsuit [[link removed]] in California last month alleging she was retaliated against for raising concerns of “pervasive sexism” to human resources before being laid off last year. A former NFL Network wardrobe stylist’s 2017 lawsuit [[link removed]] led to the firings of Marshall Faulk, Warren Sapp, and Ike Taylor. Donovan McNabb and Eric Davis, who were also accused of harassment in the lawsuit from their time at NFL Network, were terminated by ESPN. How the league handled the Commanders’ hostile workplace allegations that were the focal point of an investigation by the House Oversight Committee that concluded [[link removed]] in December.

“Our policies are intended not only to comply with all applicable laws but to foster a workplace free from harassment, intimidation, and discrimination,” read a statement by the NFL. “We take these matters seriously and will fully cooperate with the attorneys general.”

Alabama Fires Baseball Coach Amid Betting Probe [[link removed]]

Syndication: Tuscaloosa News

University of Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon has been fired amid an inquiry into suspicious betting activity surrounding the team.

Bohannon, who has been Alabama’s head coach since 2017, was terminated for “among other things, violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of University employees,” the university said Thursday, citing an ongoing review.

Multiple outlets report that the scope of the investigation centered around the coach and no student-athletes were involved.

Pennsylvania joined Ohio [[link removed]] and New Jersey in ordering sportsbooks to halt wagering on Crimson Tide baseball after spotting unusual betting activity during Alabama’s game against LSU last Friday. The alleged suspicious bets took place inside the BetMGM Sportsbook at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

According to ESPN [[link removed]], the investigation from Ohio’s casino commission stems from two bets on LSU to win placed by the same unidentified customer. LSU won Friday’s game, 8-6.

The Southeastern Conference has also launched an investigation.

“As many states have acted to legalize sports gambling, we are reminded of the threats gambling may pose on competitive integrity,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said.

Next week marks the five-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s overturning of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, also known as PASPA, allowing states to legalize sports betting. In April, the NFL suspended [[link removed]] five players for violations related to the league’s gambling policy.

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Motorsports Marketing is Revving Up

If it seems like everyone and their leather-Ferrari-racing-jacket-wearing friends are F1 fans these days, it’s because motorsports [[link removed]] are red-hot

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+40% increase in motorsport athlete endorsement deals +80% increase in F1 engagement on social media 3.5x sponsorship growth over U.S. major pro sports

Fueled partly by flashy new races in Miami and Vegas, along with riveting shows like Netflix’s Drive to Survive, the marketing opportunities motorsports offer have never been bigger. So how should your company get involved?

If your brand is keen to capitalize on the racing rush, SponsorUnited’s report has everything you need to get started.

Download [[link removed]] the 2022-23 Motorsports Marketing Partnerships Report to learn more.

New Bills Stadium Clears Final Hurdle [[link removed]]

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are finally getting their new stadium.

With the Erie County legislature approving the final $250 million for the $1.54 billion project on Thursday, the team said construction will “begin immediately [[link removed]].”

The new stadium will be built next door to Highmark Stadium. The Erie County legislature also extended the lease at Highmark, set to expire this summer, on Thursday.

The new facility is expected to be completed in time for the 2026 season.

“Now that all the negotiations are over, we are excited to begin [[link removed]] the physical phase of this project, which will lead to the opening of the stadium,” Bills executive VP and COO Ron Raccuia said. “Major construction in June will begin with excavation. The final design elements are never really final, but it’s extremely dialed in at this point.”

More than half the cost of the stadium — originally expected to cost $1.4 billion — is backed by public financing.

New York agreed [[link removed]] to pay $600 million last year, with Erie County contributing $250 million. The NFL is expected to add $200 million — the maximum amount under the league’s G-4 loan program — with the Bills paying for the rest, including any overages.

Opening in 1973, Highmark is the fourth-oldest NFL stadium in the country behind the Chicago Bears’ Soldier Field (1924), the Green Bay Packers’ Lambeau Field (1957), and the Kansas City Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium (1972).

Conversation Starters In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, New Balance is raising awareness for clubs like ‘Run Talk Run’ that encourage people to run their way and prioritize their mental health. Check out [[link removed]] the newest episode of our Empowering Change series.* Despite a late start time on Tuesday night, TNT’s telecast of Game 1 of the Warriors-Lakers Western Conference Semifinal averaged [[link removed]] 7.4 million viewers and peaked at 8 million — making the first LeBron James-Steph Curry playoff matchup in five years the most-watched Western Conference Semifinal ever on cable. Rich Paul’s basketball-centric Klutch Sports agency, which represents stars such as LeBron James, is expanding [[link removed]] into football by acquiring ELITE Athlete Management, a group that represents Odell Beckham Jr. among about 40 other NFL players, per Ian Rapoport. Attorneys for Shannon Sharpe followed Pat McAfee’s lead by seeking the dismissal [[link removed]] of Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre’s defamation lawsuit. Sharpe’s lawyers claim the Fox Sports 1 host’s comments about Favre’s links to the Mississippi welfare scandal are protected speech.

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The Key to Growth at the ACC Digital Network

“WSC Sports has been a key driver in our ability to put out more content in an efficient manner.” – Matt Carstens, Executive Producer and General Manager of the ACC Digital Network in a recent interview [[link removed]] with Front Office Sports.

WSC Sports [[link removed]] automates the instant creation and distribution of video highlights by giving you access to sport-specific machine learning technology for over 20+ sports.

In addition to the ACCDN, over 300 partners, including the Pac-12 Conference, Conference USA, University of Pittsburgh, BYU, Rice University, and more rely on WSC Sports to build the premier modern fan experience.

You can’t provide the best experience without automation. Your most creative people need time to craft stories for fans. Stay ahead of the curve and click here [[link removed]] to learn more.

What to Watch

The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Thursday night at Chase Center.

How to watch: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN

Betting odds: Lakers + 6 || ML Lakers + 215 || O/U 227

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