June 14, 2023
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Good afternoon, this is Eric Fisher [[link removed]], newsletter co-author. The Oakland A’s remain in last place in the AL West, even with a seven-game winning streak. But no MLB team has been the center of more discussion this year, and that ramped up even more with news of Nevada senate approval of a Las Vegas ballpark and a remarkable “reverse boycott” back in Oakland.
Now Another City Is Trying To Entice The Chicago Bears To Move [[link removed]]
Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
The list of potential home cities for the Chicago Bears continues to grow, but perhaps leaves the NFL team no closer to a definitive stadium solution.
Suburban Waukegan, Illinois — located near the Wisconsin border and about 45 miles from downtown Chicago — is the latest [[link removed]] municipality to publicly convey interest in having a new Bears stadium, joining fellow suburbs Arlington Park [[link removed]] and Naperville [[link removed]] along with the city of Chicago [[link removed]].
Like the other towns, Waukegan seeks to have a domed stadium and entertainment district that could host a wide range of events beyond Bears games. The entire project had been pegged at $5 billion at Arlington Park.
“We believe the Monsters of the Midway deserve the opportunity to continue the tradition of playing along the shores of Lake Michigan,” wrote Waukegan mayor Ann Taylor in a letter to the Bears.
The heightened stadium interest from various parts of greater Chicago stems in part from the Bears saying a seemingly inevitable move to Arlington Park is now “at risk” amid a tax dispute there. Bears officials said they have a “responsibility to listen to other municipalities in Chicagoland,” including Waukegan.
The Waukegan entry, however, presents challenges. No NFL stadium would be further from its home market downtown, beating the roughly 40 miles [[link removed]] from the 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium to downtown San Francisco. And like in Naperville, there are no concrete plans how land parcels could be assembled to match the 326 acres the Bears purchased for $197.2 million at the former Arlington International Racecourse.
Nevada Senate OKs $380M Funding for A’s Ballpark, Assembly to Amend [[link removed]]
Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
The Nevada senate passed a $380 million bill that would help fund a Las Vegas ballpark for the A’s should they move from Oakland.
The bill now moves to the state’s assembly, but that body is expected [[link removed]] to add amendments of its own before voting on the bill, according to the Nevada Independent.
Should the assembly pass an amended version, the bill would have to be approved once more by the Senate before heading to the governor’s desk for a signature or veto.
On Tuesday, two amendments added to the bill by the senate prompted a 13-8 vote in favor of the project.
One amendment provided more definition to the project, including codifying the Tropicana site as its location, and the other added in unrelated bill language that Gov. Joe Lombardo had previously vetoed.
The vote is just the latest development in a complicated saga as the MLB team continues searching for a long-term home.
A’s Fans Call Out Ownership
On Tuesday night, A’s fans staged a “reverse boycott” of team ownership during the team’s home game against the Tampa Bay Rays, chanting [[link removed]] “Sell the Team!” and “Stay in Oakland!”
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This Year’s Wimbledon Will Set A Record for Prize Money [[link removed]]
Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
Tennis’ oldest Grand Slam championship is getting a big boost in prize money.
The All England Club said the total prize pool [[link removed]] for 2023’s Wimbledon will rise by 11% from a year ago to a tournament record level of $56.5 million. Singles winners will get $3 million each, up from $2.5 million a year ago and matching the 2019 level, while those losing in the first round of the singles tournament will get $69,500 each, up by 10% from 2022.
The total Wimbledon prize pool, up by 17.6% compared to 2019, marks a strong resurgence from the pandemic, which led to the cancellation of the 2020 tournament and reduced prizes in 2021.
Other segments of the 2023 tournament such as doubles and mixed doubles also will feature double-digit percentage increases in prize money. The event is set for July 3-16.
“Our ambition with this distribution is to return the singles champions and runners-up prize money to the levels in 2019 while … providing deserved support in the early rounds of the event,” said Ian Hewitt, All England Club’s chairman.
Wimbledon’s prize pool now compares more favorably to other tennis Grand Slams. The 2023 French Open [[link removed]] awarded a total of $54.6 million, while the 2023 Australian Open [[link removed]] gave out $52.8 million. Last year’s US Open featured a prize pool of $60.1 million.
Conversation Starters Netflix continues to show off its prowess in sports documentaries by releasing [[link removed]] a preview of their new production of “Quarterback,” an inside look at the stories of the NFL quarterback. TNT had an opportunity to broadcast its first major professional championship series in its production of the Stanley Cup Final. The network unveiled a unique look [[link removed]] into the Vegas Golden Knights’ celebration. NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokić was honored [[link removed]] by his home country Serbia after winning the NBA title.
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Editor's Picks NBA Playoffs Is Most-Watched in Five Years, But Finals Lag [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]
The playoffs across ABC, ESPN, and TNT averaged 5.47 million viewers.
Dwyane Wade Reportedly Interested in Chicago Sky Ownership Stake [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]
Wade already owns stakes in the Utah Jazz and Real Salt Lake in MLS.
Lawmakers Advance Bill to Permit Alcohol Sales at Michigan College Stadiums [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]
11 of 14 Big Ten schools currently allow alcohol sales inside stadiums.
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