May 24, 2023

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Talk about a job perk: Premier League club Brighton clinched a spot in a European tournament for the first time [[link removed]] in its 121-year history. Owner Tony Bloom has promised every team employee — nearly 1,000 people — a 20% bonus for their role in achieving the milestone.

Contract Extension Could Put Roger Goodell In Rarified Air [[link removed]]

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Roger Goodell’s next contract extension could take him past three-quarters of a billion dollars in career earnings as NFL commissioner.

The league is working [[link removed]] to keep Goodell — whose deal expires in 2024 — in place through 2027, when he’ll turn 67, in a deal that many believe will be his last.

Goodell was hired in 2006 for a reported compensation [[link removed]] of about $6.5 million. His most recent annual salary is believed [[link removed]] to be nearly $64 million — which means Goodell’s pay has increased nearly tenfold since taking over the NFL’s top job.

This latest deal could push Goodell’s personal wealth into the stratosphere.

Using the NFL’s tax filings [[link removed]] from 2006-15 and various reports since the league gave up its tax-exempt status, a conservative estimate would put Goodell’s earnings to date at close to $500 million.

By 2027, he could be expected to easily eclipse $700 million in earnings or even more, given the league’s ever-growing revenue — from deals like the current $10 billion bundle of annual media rights through the next decade.

Some owners might even want Goodell to stay beyond 2027 — and it wouldn’t be the first time Goodell has backed away from the idea of retirement. In 2017, former NFL communications executive Joe Lockhart said [[link removed]] the commissioner viewed his current deal as his last.

A League Of His Own

Goodell’s current salary dwarfs those of his contemporaries.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred appears to be the closest at a reported [[link removed]] $17.5 million per year, with the NBA’s Adam Silver reportedly [[link removed](%2417.5%20million).] at $10 million.

Honda Reenters Formula 1 in Exclusive Deal with Aston Martin [[link removed]]

David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

Formula 1’s shift toward sustainability is luring a major engine manufacturer.

Honda announced [[link removed]] Wednesday that it will return to F1 in 2026, supplying engines exclusively to Aston Martin in a major step for both companies.

Honda supplied engines to various teams from 2015-21, most recently for Red Bull, which continued to work with Honda in 2022 after engine construction was officially handed over to Red Bull Powertrains.

Red Bull finished a close second to Mercedes for the 2021 Constructors’ Cup, won handily in 2022, and has continued its dominance this year, winning all five races to date.

As for Aston Martin, the move presents an opportunity to decouple from rival Mercedes, which currently supplies its engines.

“The nature of F1 is if you want to win, it means beating Mercedes, and it is extremely difficult to beat an organization as good as Mercedes if you are reliant on them for intellectual property, facilities, and components,” said [[link removed]] Aston Martin’s group CEO, Martin Whitmarsh.

Sustainability Matters

When Honda left F1, it said that the series was no longer aligned with the carmaker’s research and development goals, including a shift toward sustainability. F1 recaptured Honda’s interest by adjusting vehicle requirements to include more electric power and sustainable fuels starting in 2026.

That change “is in line with the direction Honda is aiming toward carbon neutrality, and it will become a platform which will facilitate the development of our electrification technologies,” Honda global CEO Toshihito Mibe said.

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USF Nears Green Light For $340M On-Campus Stadium [[link removed]]

Gator Sports

The University of South Florida is on track to build a brand new stadium.

The finance committee of the school’s board of trustees unanimously approved [[link removed]] the financial plan for the $340 million, 35,000-seat venue set to open in July 2026, with construction beginning in October.

The building would house USF’s football and lacrosse teams. The football team currently plays at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“I think an on-campus stadium really improves the student experience and really activates the campus,” said USF chief financial officer Richard Sobieray. “It brings some additional reputation to the university, and I think it’s a positive thing.”

The full board of trustees and the state university system board of governors still have to approve the project before it can officially move forward. The trustees could approve the plan at a meeting on June 13.

USF would spend $140 million under the plan, with another $200 million borrowed over 20 years. The school would source $50 million from donations to the USF foundation, $31 million from its capital improvement fund, and an estimated $59 million from selling broadband equipment and licenses.

The stadium was designed by Barton Malow and Populous, which will receive $22 million for its services.

Conversation Starters Josh Johnson has played for a record 14 NFL teams, a UFL team, an AAF team, and an XFL team. As he returns to Baltimore for his 15th season of football, check out his full resume [[link removed]]. A month ago, defensive lineman Bear Alexander transferred from Georgia to USC. Now, he’s settling into a new apartment [[link removed]] in Los Angeles. Former NFL linebacker Ryan Shazier’s spinal cord injury temporarily paralyzed him from the waist down and ended a promising career. But Shazier has regained the use of his legs — and his post-NFL life is just getting started. He joins Front Office Sports Today to talk about his incredible personal triumph, his continued love for football, his own medical marijuana line and podcast, and a possible future in the broadcast booth. Listen and subscribe on Apple [[link removed]], Google [[link removed]], and Spotify [[link removed]].

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What’s Next for Augmented Reality in Sports

AR adoption is booming with 700 million people using AR effects across Meta platforms each month. Sports partners are leading the charge, with fun, interactive effects that engage fans and build community.

That’s why Front Office Sports has partnered with Meta to launch Metaverse Essentials: Building the Future, our latest free course [[link removed]] covering the ins and outs of metaverse-related technologies.

The four-lesson course includes a lesson on Building Expressions and Connections, where Meta’s Angel Gonzalez sits down with Sportsmanias CEO Vicente Fernandez and House of V CCO Justin Allen to discuss how augmented reality can unlock new immersive experiences [[link removed]] for athletes and fans alike.

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Editor's Picks Pat McAfee Likely to Land Max Kellerman’s Slot on ESPN [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]] and Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]Longtime host Max Kellerman may be a domino to fall after Pat McAfee's hiring. Gotham FC Breaks Club Record For Home Match Tickets Sold [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]Gotham FC set a new club record for single match ticket sales. A’s, Nevada Leaders Announce Stadium Deal, Legislation Coming [[link removed]]by Owen Poindexter [[link removed]]The Oakland A's have announced a Las Vegas stadium deal, pending legislation. What to Watch

The Carolina Hurricanes meet the Florida Panthers on Wednesday in Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference Finals at FLA Live Arena.

How to watch: 8 p.m. ET, TNT

Gambling odds: Hurricanes +1.5 || ML Hurricanes -105 || O/U 5.5

Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Pro [[link removed]] Written by David Rumsey [[link removed]], Owen Poindexter [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Brian Krikorian [[link removed]]

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