May 25, 2023

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Interest in women’s soccer is soaring — and so is attendance [[link removed]]. NY/NJ Gotham FC — currently in first place in the NWSL — set a new franchise record for single-game ticket sales by selling over 10,000 tickets for its June 4 home match against the San Diego Wave. The overwhelming demand is forcing Gotham’s Red Bull Arena to open its upper bowl for the first time in franchise history.

Parts of Big Ten’s $7B Media Rights Deal Still Up In The Air [[link removed]]

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Big Ten’s new media rights deal with Fox, CBS, and NBC are set to begin this fall — but the financial figures could be in jeopardy.

Initially heralded as vital for the conference’s future and valued [[link removed]] at $7 billion, the seven-year deals negotiated by former Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren have fallen under the microscope after ESPN painted a chaotic picture of Warren’s successor Tony Petitti’s first month on the job.

When Warren left to become the Chicago Bears’ new president, the Big Ten’s media deals hadn’t been officially signed. ESPN reports [[link removed]] that more than $70 million — about $5 million per school — is now up in the air due to unsettled payment figures.

Additionally, flagship schools like Michigan and Ohio State are apparently unhappy with a requirement to play night football games well into November, claiming they didn’t agree to it.

Nebraska athletics director Trev Alberts said [[link removed]] the Cornhuskers would have no issue playing at any time slot — perhaps unsurprising given the school’s recent struggles on the field.

With no suggestion that Fox, CBS, or NBC will pull out of the impending agreements before the college football season starts, it’s likely that Big Ten schools’ revenue from the contracts will be lower than originally reported.

PODCAST

🎙️ They Said What?

“ESPN’s business model is in trouble … They’re moving more and more toward putting all of ESPN on streaming on ESPN+. Here’s the dirty little secret about streaming: You make a hell of a lot more money from commercials on broadcast television or cable television than you do from commercials on streaming … I’m not sold on the streaming future quite yet.”

— Front Office Sports senior writer Michael McCarthy on the difficulties leading to waves of layoffs at ESPN. For more on what McCarthy has to say about ESPN, the NBA playoffs, and the NBA’s upcoming media rights negotiations, check out the latest episode of Front Office Sports Today.

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

Germany’s Top Soccer Teams Vote Down Rights Deal With Private Equity [[link removed]]

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Germany’s top professional soccer clubs rejected a proposal to sell part of their media rights to private equity investors.

The German Football League (DFL), the federation that runs the country’s top two divisions, sought to bring in outside investors and much-needed cash, particularly as it attempts to keep up with heightened competition from European powerhouses such as the Premier League and La Liga.

But the plan to sell 12.5% of the DFL’s international media rights failed to secure the necessary two-thirds support from the DFL’s 36 member clubs.

Firms such as CVC Capital Partners, Blackstone Inc., and Advent International showed interest in investing, following the former’s prior deals with La Liga [[link removed]] and France’s Ligue 1, with the DFL looking to raise more than $2 billion.

During a general meeting in Frankfurt, 20 clubs voted yes, but a crucial 11 voted no, with five abstaining.

Fan sentiment played a significant role in the proposal’s defeat, as organized supporter groups for clubs such as Borussia Dortmund led nationwide protests, arguing the private equity involvement would overly commercialize the sport.

“We had a majority [in favor], but not the majority we wanted,” said Hans-Joachim Watzke, Borussia Dortmund’s chief executive.

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Michael Block Soaking In Media Blitz As He Bids For Next Payday [[link removed]]

Democrat and Chronicle

Michael Block tees off Thursday in the Charles Schwab Challenge — and five days out from his magical 15th-place finish [[link removed]] at the PGA Championship, the spotlight’s still shining on the club pro.

The Fort Worth PGA Tour event offered Block a sponsor’s exemption after he capped his stunning performance with an ace during Sunday’s final round, securing a return to next year’s PGA Championship and earning $288,333.

Embracing the media attention at Oak Hill, Block hasn’t slowed down on the way to Texas.

The 46-year-old Southern California PGA Professional was a favorite of on-site reporters after Tuesday’s practice round and has appeared on popular programs like Barstool’s “Fore Play” golf podcast and “The Pat McAfee Show.”

Block’s group, which tees off at 2:38 p.m. ET, will be featured on ESPN+ Bonus Coverage and is sure to be heavily covered when Golf Channel joins the festivities at 4 p.m. He could be in for another payday this weekend if he makes the cut, as even last place pays out just over $18,000.

However, sportsbooks aren’t high on the golfer’s chances. Many have Block at around -350 to miss the cut and at +800 to for another top-20 finish.

Amid the whirlwind of publicity, Block has hired [[link removed]] an agent and accepted an invite to play in next month’s RBC Canadian Open. Meanwhile, the 7-iron he used for his Sunday ace is still in his bag this week — despite an offer [[link removed]] of $50,000 for the club.

Tiger Global Set To Invest In Cricket’s Rajasthan Royals [[link removed]]

Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

New York-based investment firm Tiger Global is poised to invest about $40 million in one of the world’s most famous cricket teams.

Looking to capitalize on the fast-growing popularity of the global sport, the technology-focused outfit will invest in the Indian Premier League’s Rajasthan Royals, according to multiple reports.

The deal would value the Royals — one of the eight founding franchises of the IPL — at $650 million.

The Royals are majority-owned by U.K.-based sports investment platform Emerging Media Ventures, but private investment firm RedBird Capital — a partner in Fenway Sports Group, the YES Network, and XFL, among other assets — also owns [[link removed]] a minority share.

Tiger Global would come in as a minority partner.

A massive cultural phenomenon in India and other parts of Asia, cricket is quickly gaining a deeper presence on other continents. Last year, U.S.-based media giants Paramount and Disney battled [[link removed]] for IPL domestic media rights, and last month, the league began its first full-fledged season since 2019.

Back in the States, Major League Cricket plans to begin [[link removed]] play in July utilizing a six-team, single-entity model backed by a group of investors including Microsoft executive chairman and chief executive Satya Nadella.

Conversation Starters Amy Olson has qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open — while six months [[link removed]] pregnant. Olson has earned $2.6 million over her 10-year career but wanted one more shot at Pebble Beach before giving birth: “I’m going to waddle up there and do whatever I can.” A new NCAA survey found that 58% of 18-to-22-year-olds have engaged [[link removed]] in at least one sports betting activity — and that betting is more prevalent among students living on campus (67%). A little over a year before they start, the 2024 Paris Olympic Summer Games have now sold [[link removed]] 6.8 million tickets.

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Editor's Picks Questions Mount in Brian Davis’ Lawsuit Over Commanders Sale [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]A federal judge seeks more information before Brian Davis' lawsuit against the firm handling the sale of the Commanders moves forward. Justin Bieber, DJ Khaled Among New Investors in Tiger Woods’ TMRW Sports [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]The TGL team-based golf league will debut in January. NCAA Says 67% of On-Campus Students Bet on Sports [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]The NCAA's study follows multiples recent college betting scandals. Question Of The Day

Do you plan on watching any WNBA games this season?

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Wednesday’s Answer

31% of respondents use food delivery services/apps 1-3 times a month, and 13% use them 4-plus times a month.

DISCLAIMER

* Source [[link removed].]

**Disclosure: Based on a study conducted by Facet in April 2023. A statistically valid sample of members following Facet’s current planning process demonstrated that more than half of these members, defined here as a majority, achieved value greater than their planning fee. This value was shown to reoccur on an annual basis. Assumptions included average expenses and fees, using retirement tax savings, portfolio expenses and tax loss harvesting as value drivers using Facet’s investment services, and discounting value to align with the acceptance of Facet recommendations. Facet assesses clients an annual flat fee for service based on the complexity of planning needs. There is no separate or additional fee for investment management. This is not a guarantee or prediction of actual results for any member and results may vary by member. Some value like tax loss harvesting may vary year to year. Facet Wealth, Inc. (“Facet”) is an SEC registered investment adviser headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. This is not an offer to sell securities or the solicitation of an offer to purchase securities. This is not investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

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