May 12, 2023
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The Manchester United sale saga looks close to a conclusion, as the Glazers appear to have selected a preferred bidder. On the latest Front Office Sports Today, we break down the latest from Old Trafford, as well as updates on Adidas, Peloton, and the Oakland A’s.
Listen and subscribe on Apple [[link removed]], Google [[link removed]], and Spotify [[link removed]].
Tom Brady Seeking Ownership Stake In Raiders [[link removed]]
Syndication: The Providence Journal
Tom Brady is in “deep discussions” to acquire a minority ownership stake in the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, according to ESPN.
The prospective deal isn’t expected to impact Brady’s $375 million, 10-year agreement to become Fox Sports’ No. 1 game analyst starting with the 2024 season. Citing sources, ESPN said Fox has “blessed” the possible deal.
“Discussions between the two sides have been going on for weeks and could soon be reaching a resolution, yet sources say it’s still an extremely sensitive and fluid negotiation,” wrote [[link removed]] ESPN’s Seth Wickersham and Adam Schefter.
“Brady’s investment is expected to be ‘passive,’ a source with direct knowledge of the situation says, and he would not have any operational control or authority over the club in business or football matters.”
According to Forbes, the Raiders had a valuation [[link removed]] of $5.1 billion in 2022.
The NFL’s policies on overlapping media employment will only kick in if the potential owner holds a position of authority that could impact media rights negotiations, according to ESPN. Fox and the NFL agreed to an 11-year media rights deal to pay the league $2 billion annually through 2033.
Last year, Brady was involved in similar talks for a minority stake in the Miami Dolphins.
This could mark the seven-time Super Bowl winner’s second ownership foray with Raiders majority owner Mark Davis.
In March, Brady purchased [[link removed]] a stake in the WNBA Las Vegas Aces, also majority-owned by Davis.
Ryan Reynolds Out of Running for Senators [[link removed]]
Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Reynolds’ group is out of the running for the Ottawa Senators — and it’s not a negotiating ploy.
The 46-year-old actor emerged as the fan favorite after he joined the Remington Group’s effort to acquire the Senators. Sources told Front Office Sports his withdrawal wasn’t for lack of money or interest.
ESPN [[link removed]] and The Athletic [[link removed]] reported Thursday that the Remington Group was bowing out after it was unable to obtain an exclusive 30-day window to negotiate a deal to acquire land in downtown Ottawa for a new arena. The request, if granted, would have put the whole bidding process on hold.
It was a big ask, and one source told FOS that it just didn’t fly, as there were enough other credible contenders ahead of Monday’s final bid deadline [[link removed]].
The Remington Group — which had real estate mogul Christopher Bratty as its major financial backer — will not submit a surprise bid, a source confirmed to FOS.
The Senators, who went on the market in November, are expected to fetch around $1 billion, setting a record price for an NHL franchise.
That leaves six groups in play, including those of rapper Snoop Dogg [[link removed]] and Sacramento Kings owner Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé [[link removed]].
Canadian businessman Steve Apostolopoulos’ bid for the team is also in much better shape than his attempt to purchase the Washington Commanders [[link removed]], something a source attributed to the Sens going for about $5 billion less.
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Key Figure in FIFA Corruption Probe Faces No Further Charges [[link removed]]
FIFA
A central figure in a scandal undermining the integrity of global soccer governance won’t face further charges.
Alejandro Burzaco, the former head of Argentine sports marketing company Torneos y Competencias, was sentenced [[link removed]] to time served after cooperating with prosecutors and pleading guilty in a sweeping corruption probe regarding soccer media rights.
He won’t face a fine either, though he previously forfeited $21.7 million.
Burzaco provided a window into the world of soccer media and hosting rights, which has been rife with accusations of corruption. He admitted to bribing officials at FIFA and some of its regional affiliates for marketing rights to the World Cup, Copa America, and other tournaments.
By his account, he wasn’t alone. Burzaco said that Qatar bribed FIFA for 2022 World Cup hosting duties, an accusation echoed by other sources, such as those interviewed in the documentary “The Men Who Sold the World Cup.”
In 2017, he testified to paying bribes to Juan Angel Napout, who helmed CONMEBOL, South America’s governing soccer body, from 2014 to 2015 before being arrested on corruption charges.
Burzaco also tagged soccer officials in Brazil and Peru — the former was convicted, while the latter was found not guilty. He also testified at the trial of former 21st Century Fox executives Hernan Lopez and Carlos Martinez, who were accused of handing out bribes in exchange for broadcasting rights. Lopez was convicted, but Martinez was acquitted.
Conversation Starters How’s this for cold: The Carolina Hurricanes used Cameo [[link removed]] to get New Jersey celebrities to congratulate them for eliminating the Devils from the NHL playoffs. Al McCoy has been the voice of the Phoenix Suns for half a century. Thursday night, he signed off for the final time [[link removed]]. Have suggestions or feedback on how Front Office Sports can continue to improve? Take our survey [[link removed]] for a chance to win a $250 Visa gift card or FOS merch. Submissions are now open through May 21.
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SPONSORED BY SLING TV What to Watch
The Golden State Warriors take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals at Crypto.com Arena.
How to watch: 10 p.m. ET, ESPN with Sling TV [[link removed]]
Gaming odds: Warriors +3 || ML: +124 || O/U 219.5
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