May 30, 2023

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The NBA Finals is set as the Miami Heat dominated the Boston Celtics in Game 7, 103-84, on Monday night in Boston. ABC will broadcast Game 1 of the Heat at the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night with an earlier start time of 8:30 p.m. ET, and Disney will launch an alternative [[link removed]] broadcast with the debut of ‘NBA In Stephen A’s World’ on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

White Sox and Bulls Owner Acquires Controlling Stake of Stadium Network [[link removed]]

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Jerry Reinsdorf, the Chicago White Sox and Bulls owner, has taken majority control of Stadium, the multiplatform sports network he helped create in 2017.

Industry sources have confirmed to Front Office Sports that Reinsdorf’s Silver Chalice sports media entity recently acquired a controlling stake in Stadium previously held by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The equity move was precipitated in part by Sinclair’s own corporate issues, sources said. The company’s Diamond Sports Group, which owns and operates the Bally Sports regional sports networks, filed [[link removed]] for bankruptcy protection in March and is continuing [[link removed]] reorganization efforts.

Neither Silver Chalice nor Sinclair commented.

But sources indicated further, large-scale moves are expected by Stadium in the new Reinsdorf-led structure. Those moves will be closely watched against the backdrop of the October 2024 expiration of the regional rights contract for the Bulls, White Sox, and Chicago Blackhawks with NBC Sports Chicago.

Reinsdorf has previously explored [[link removed]] starting his own network to varying [[link removed]] degrees.

The Chicago-based Stadium – which operates out of the Bulls’ home arena the United Center – currently offers a series of live games, particularly within college sports, as well as highlights and studio programming. Key on-air personalities include basketball insiders Shams Charania and Jeff Goodman. It is available through a series of digital, cable, and over-the-air platforms.

Stadium was initially developed through a merger of assets from the former 120 Sports, Silver Chalice’s Campus Insiders, and Sinclair’s American Sports Network. Following this latest equity transfer, Stadium will continue to supply some programming to Sinclair-controlled outlets.

PODCAST

🎙️ They Said What?

“I planned to serve in the military and represent this country until I retired — a good 20, 22 years at least. Unfortunately, I was only able to serve for three-and-a-half years. Being on the [United States Para Ice Hockey] National Team is another way to wear my nation’s uniform.”

— Christy Gardner, a U.S. military veteran and Women’s Para Ice Hockey gold medalist, on what drove her to compete at the highest level despite suffering injuries that led to the amputation of both her legs. For more on Gardner’s inspirational story, check out the latest episode of Front Office Sports Today.

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

Man United, Hornets Most Likely to Follow Commanders Pending Sale [[link removed]]

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Who’s on deck?

With final approval of the Washington Commanders’ $6.05 billion sale [[link removed]] to Josh Harris’ group expected to come soon and the Ottawa Senators narrowing [[link removed]] down bids close to $1 billion for the NHL franchise, even more, pro teams will likely be changing hands in the near future.

In the NBA, Micheal Jordan has been exploring [[link removed]] a sale of his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets to one of his minority investors since March.

Jordan reportedly would have rethought [[link removed]] his intentions had the Hornets won the NBA Draft lottery. Charlotte landed the second pick, narrowly missing [[link removed]] out on the chance to select French phenom Victor Wembanyama.

In MLB, the Washington Nationals were once up for sale, but the Lerner family has since taken the team off the market while dealing with issues around its MASN regional sports network. Ted Leonsis, who owns local counterparts the Capitals and Wizards, reportedly [[link removed]] bid over $2 billion for the Nationals.

Internationally, Manchester United’s sale process drags [[link removed]] on as the Glazer family may or may not follow through with a sale of the team, which will likely go for more than $6 billion.

Another NFL team to keep an eye on is the Seattle Seahawks. The future of the team has been up in the air since late owner Paul Allen’s death in 2018. Allen’s sister Jody is likely to sell [[link removed]] the team in 2024. The Seahawks have recently been valued [[link removed]] by Forbes at $4.5 billion.

Three NWSL teams are also on the market [[link removed]] — the OL Reign, Chicago Red Stars, and Portland Timbers. A deal [[link removed]] for the Red Stars could come sometime this spring.

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French Open Underway Without One of Its Biggest Draws [[link removed]]

Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

The second Grand Slam on the tennis calendar is underway as the French Open looks to find a new identity this year without defending champion Rafael Nadal.

Men’s favorites Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz each won their first-round matches in straight sets at Roland Garros, while American Jessica Pegula, the No. 3 seed and daughter of Bills and Sabres owners Kim and Terry Pegula, easily advanced to the second round in the women’s draw.

But Nadal’s absence has been the biggest story as the Spaniard is missing the tournament because of a lingering hip issue after he won last year’s event for the 14th time.

“I always want to watch Rafa playing,” Alcaraz, the No. 1-ranked men’s player, said [[link removed]] in the event’s lead-up. “Hopefully, we’ll see him next year that he’s 100%.”

“Him and Roland Garros is something special,” added [[link removed]] American player Coco Gauff.

Nadal has said [[link removed]] he is likely to retire in 2024 but is hopeful for one more run at the French Open and winning his 15th trophy in Paris.

Money Talks

Prize money for this year’s event has increased [[link removed]] by more than 12% to $54.6 million.

Former top-ranked men’s player and two-time French Open champion Jim Courier recently explained [[link removed]] on the Front Office Sports Today podcast how pro tennis is striving for a healthier existence with top players helping lower-ranked competitors get paid more.

“Players like Federer and Djokovic and Nadal and Venus Williams [said] ‘We don’t need a check that’s $3 million this year to be $3.5 million next year.’ If it goes up to $3.1 million … and then first round prize money goes from $25,000 to $40,000, that’s a better use of that money,” Courier said.

Hawaii Officials Pivot On Aloha Stadium Project [[link removed]]

Marco Garcia-USA TODAY Sports

Hawaii officials have shifted plans to renovate the aging Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, creating a new structure in which upgrades to the facility itself and development of an adjacent entertainment district will occur together.

A large-scale repair of the 48-year-old Aloha Stadium and creation of the district had previously been set to happen separately. But state politicians determined the split-project approach would have invited excessive cost overruns.

A public-private partnership will now focus on a single, integrated development, with $400 million in state funds already appropriated. The stadium itself is projected [[link removed]] to cost less than $500 million.

“In the development world, the stadium was going to be the loss leader, it will be the crown jewel of the area, but it’s not the moneymaker,” said [[link removed]] state senator Glenn Wakai to KHON-TV.

Aloha Stadium was the site of the NFL’s Pro Bowl in all but two years between 1980 and 2016, and also served as the longtime home of college football’s Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and hosted numerous bowl games. But since late 2020, the stadium has been closed due to a series of safety and pandemic-related issues.

A new Aloha Stadium – with a capacity roughly halved from its original 50,000 – is expected to be ready for the Rainbow Warriors’ 2028 football season.

Conversation Starters WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert says that NIL has been a huge positive [[link removed]] for women’s sports. The NHL’s headquarters occupies four floors of a Manhattan skyscraper. Take a quick tour [[link removed]]. The Oakland A’s have unveiled renderings of their proposed, retractable roof, 30,000-capacity stadium in Las Vegas. The price tag? A whopping $1.5 billion. Take a look [[link removed]].

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The Influence of CTV on Sports Franchise Valuation

Live sports programming has always dominated primetime ratings on linear television, but streaming content has become extremely popular [[link removed]] with younger generations of sports fans, particularly among millennials and Gen Z viewers.

The surge in demand for streaming TV and short-form content has disrupted the traditional TV media rights model and significantly boosted the valuation of sports franchises. With streaming television’s influence on ever-expanding media rights, franchises across all sports are being purchased at a premium due to their promising growth potential [[link removed]].

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Weekend's Best Brittney Griner’s Return A Cause For Hope, A Call For WNBA Change [[link removed]]by Dorothy Gentry [[link removed]]For Griner, at least, her days of playing abroad are done. Golazo Network’s Risky Play To Be America’s 1st All-Soccer Network [[link removed]]by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]]Golazo Network is CBS Sports' second FAST channel after CBS Sports HQ. Lawyer Questions Authenticity of Brian Davis’ Claims [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]A lawyer questioned the "genuineness" of Brian Davis' documents. Question Of The Day

Are you interested in learning a new language?

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

Friday’s Answer

52% of respondents plan to watch the MLB All-Star Week events this year.

Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Pro [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Greg Lee [[link removed]]

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