June 27, 2023

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Good afternoon. Eric Fisher [[link removed]] here. College sports fandom often runs at a deeper and more personal level, but the record attendance posted for the College World Series remains nothing short of remarkable.

Also, Manchester United offers a hopeful financial outlook at a time of franchise instability, while Formula E breaks new ground with an upstart competitor in sports streaming.

Record-Setting Crowds Watch LSU Claim Seventh CWS Crown [[link removed]]

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

The College World Series might never rise to the stature of the Final Four in basketball or the College Football Playoff [[link removed]], but it continues to set records and reach new levels of popularity.

The 2023 CWS drew [[link removed]]a total attendance of 392,946 and a per-game average of 24,559 for the 16-game event. Both figures, beating pre-tournament expectations [[link removed]], are the best in the CWS’ 73-year history in Nebraska. LSU’s clinching victory over Florida on Monday drew 24,878.

The event benefited from a large and vibrant fan base traveling from Louisiana to Charles Schwab Field Omaha to support the Tigers. The throng of LSU faithful on hand included former star Tigers quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner, and current Cincinnati Bengal Joe Burrow, as well as Kim Mulkey, coach of the 2023 national champion LSU women’s basketball team, and LSU football coach Brian Kelly.

“We have the best fans in the country,” said LSU first baseman Tre’ Morgan. “They’re all on the rail, standing up, cheering, chanting ‘LSU.’ If that didn’t give you goosebumps, then I don’t know what else would.”

The latest attendance totals add momentum from prior event records set in 2021 and 2022. The CWS figures also support a $54 million effort [[link removed]] to make Omaha a national youth sports destination. The planned project is centered around renovating the public Tranquility Park field complex.

The CWS championship win was LSU’s seventh, but first since 2009. The Tigers’ win also is the fourth consecutive CWS title won by a Southeastern Conference team.

Man United Posts Bullish Financial Results, Offers No Clues On Sale [[link removed]]

MUFC

The ongoing saga of the Manchester United sale remains decidedly unresolved, but the Premier League club has posted another set of bullish financial results — and is projecting even brighter days in the future.

As both British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe [[link removed]] and Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani continue competing efforts to buy the club, it posted $217 million in fiscal third-quarter revenue, up by 11.3% from the same period a year ago. Adjusted earnings for the period ended March 31 nearly doubled to $51 million, and the net loss narrowed by 79.8% to $7.1 million.

Manchester United sold 2.4 million tickets during the 2022-23 season, beating a club record set six years ago.

Reflecting a broader economic recovery [[link removed]] in European soccer, the club also raised its fiscal 2023 outlook to a record revenue level between $800 million and $815 million.

In a call with analysts, club officials offered no clues on the sale process, instead focusing on core business functions, particularly during the current U.K. cost-of-living crisis [[link removed]].

“We see strong tailwinds to the value of global TV rights of the Premier league and UEFA competition, and a competitive sponsorship market with many new market entrants looking to build and strengthen their brand through association with leading sports brands such as ours,” said Manchester United CEO Richard Arnold.

The U.S.-based Glazer family, the club’s current owners who also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have been the subject of repeated fan protests, and Manchester United’s last Premier League title arrived a decade ago.

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The Impact of Connected TV on Team Valuations

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]].

Leagues, franchises, and sports that can be innovative and agile enough to stay aligned with the shifting mediums of engagement will have the advantage for capturing the next generations of valuable fans.

Find out [[link removed]] how your company can gain this advantage for connecting with younger sports fans everywhere they’re consuming sports media on connected TV.

CBS, Roku Strike Deals To Air More Formula E Races In 2024 [[link removed]]

Al Sermeno-USA TODAY Sports

Formula E is expanding its U.S. media presence through an expanded deal with current partner CBS Sports and a new streaming pact with Roku.

Beginning in 2024, CBS will air five races live on its broadcast channel and Paramount+. Throughout the season, the Roku Channel will stream 11 races on its free, ad-supported streaming (FAST) option available on Roku devices and online.

The 2024 Formula E calendar is not set yet, but the 2023 campaign includes 16 rounds total. Financial details of the deal are not available.

Last weekend, Formula E raced in front of a sellout crowd in Portland, Oregon, where the series will return next year. Until 2023, Formula E had been racing in New York City, but limited space and construction issues forced [[link removed]] the series to find a new U.S. stop.

The EV racing series says it reaches 20 million fans per race through [[link removed]] live viewing, highlights, and recaps. It is also hoping its new Gen3 car entices younger fans to follow the series.

Getting In The Game

Roku’s agreement marks its first entry into live sports rights. The Roku Channel currently has content deals in place for a variety of sports and entertainment programming.

It would be hard to imagine a major sport opting for an exclusive deal with Roku, but it’s clear the company is confident in the upside of airing live sports in general.

Conversation Starters Tickets for Germany’s second-ever NFL game, featuring the Chiefs and Dolphins, went on sale [[link removed]] at 12 p.m. local time Tuesday. Within two minutes, the queue had 1.4 million people in it — and by 12:15, tickets were sold out. During the Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Rocco’s Pizza holds a Jell-O shot [[link removed]] competition. Proceeds for every $5 shot go to each team’s local food banks. This year, Rocco’s sold more than 90,000 — with LSU fans buying 64,000. USA Lacrosse CEO Marc Riccio foresees exponential growth for the sport in the U.S. and abroad.. He joins Front Office Sports Today to discuss how lacrosse can boost its profile — and the push to become an Olympic sport in 2028. Listen and subscribe on Apple [[link removed]], Google [[link removed]], and Spotify [[link removed]].

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Editor's Picks In Latest NIL Memo, NCAA Tells Schools To Ignore State Laws [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]

Schools are now in an extremely difficult position.

Pickleball Injuries Could Cost U.S. Nearly $400 Million Per Year [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]

UBS estimates that pickleball injuries have cost Americans $377 million this year.

Omaha Invests $54 Million to Become National Youth Sports Destination [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]

The revamped multi-sport complex will span roughly 30 fields.

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