July 18, 2023

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Want to invest in the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves? They officially split from Liberty Media today.

Meanwhile, the Spurs want a new arena to showcase Victor Wembanyama, the SEC isn’t thinking about life beyond 16 teams, and a former ESPN personality is itching to get back in the game.

And if you haven’t yet, be sure to check out our free-to-enter giveaway for a subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket. Click here [[link removed]] to enter — full details at the bottom of this newsletter.

— David [[link removed]]

Spurs Reportedly Eyeing New Arena In Latest Franchise Boost [[link removed]]

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Thanks to Wembymania, the revival of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs could now extend to perhaps the biggest piece of new business yet: a new arena.

The arrival of French phenom and top-overall draft pick Victor Wembanyama has already fueled a series of ticket sales [[link removed]], merchandise [[link removed]], and television [[link removed]] boosts for the Spurs [[link removed]] and the NBA. Now, the Spurs are reportedly [[link removed]] looking at developing a new arena in downtown San Antonio.

The new venue would form part of the core of a larger sports and entertainment district that would also include a new stadium for the San Antonio Missions, the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

There is common ownership among the teams as Spurs managing partner Peter J. Holt is a partner of the Missions, along with other shareholders and former Spurs legends David Robinson and Manu Ginobili.

Sitting on San Antonio’s east side, the Spurs’ current home, the 21-year-old AT&T Center, has failed to generate the scale of adjacent development imagined, while the Missions’ Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium — on the far-west side — isn’t fully compliant with MiLB facility standards. The AT&T Center lease expires in 2032.

Spurs officials declined to comment.

The arena discussion follows the team’s development of a practice facility that will anchor a $500 million mixed-use complex, The Rock at La Cantera [[link removed]], opening later this year.

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Liberty Media Will Remain Part of Braves’ Post-Split Future [[link removed]]

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Liberty Media shareholders have approved the Atlanta Braves’ plans to become an independent, publicly traded company — but the company will still be a core part of the Braves’ reality for the foreseeable future.

Although the shareholders’ assent to the deal followed a speedy 10-minute virtual special meeting on Monday, the transaction to make the Braves a standalone operation is more complex.

Each share of the current Liberty Braves Group tracking stock will be exchanged for a share of the new Atlanta Braves Holdings Inc., with the formal transition due after Tuesday’s close of business.

While the Braves and Liberty are “ entering [[link removed]] into certain agreements in order to govern the ongoing relationships” between the two, significant overlap will remain.

Liberty chairman John Malone is expected to retain about 47.5% of the aggregate voting power of Atlanta Braves Holdings, and company CEO Greg Maffei will be the chairman, CEO, and president of the new entity. Other projected board members include current Braves chairman Terry McGuirk, Liberty board director Brian Deevy, Hallmark Media president and CEO Wonya Lucas, and Rocksolid Holdings managing director Diana Murphy.

Liberty will also provide Atlanta Braves Holdings with various corporate governance and financial services for a monthly fee.

Designed in part to highlight the Braves’ success [[link removed]] as the MLB’s best team on and perhaps off the field, the split is seen as a potential precursor to an eventual sale of the club: The corporate separation eases the tax implications of such a deal.

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SEC Content As 16-Team ‘Super-Conference,’ Says Commissioner [[link removed]]

Syndication: The Tennessean

As other conferences scramble to keep their balance in the shifting landscape [[link removed]] of college sports, the SEC is content with where things stand.

“I think we are a super-conference,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said on Monday during the conference’s football media days in Nashville. Texas and Oklahoma will join the SEC next year, and that’s where the expansion will conclude — for now.

“We know who we are,” Sankey said. “We’re comfortable as a league. We’re focused on our growth to 16 [teams]. We’ve restored rivalries. We’re geographically contiguous with the right kind of philosophical alignment, and we can stay at that level of super-conference.”

Sankey, 58, recently signed a contract extension through 2028 and may not want to be a part of even more growth, as the SEC competes with the Big Ten — also expanding to 16 teams next year — to be the biggest, baddest conference.

“When you go bigger, there are a whole other set of factors that have to be considered,” Sankey said. “And I’m not sure I’ve seen those teased out, other than in my mind late at night.”

You Can Go Home Again

When the Longhorns and Sooners are welcomed as official members next summer, the SEC announced it will take its media days to Dallas — the city that hosted Texas’ and Oklahoma’s final Big 12 media days this year.

Meanwhile, Sankey confirmed the SEC is working to extend Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s contract to continue hosting its conference title game. When asked if the Tennessee Titans’ new domed stadium [[link removed]] would ever be considered as a championship game host, Sankey reiterated that Atlanta is “where our focus is.”

Trey Wingo Wants Back In Live Sports Events [[link removed]]

Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Trey Wingo is ready to start calling more live sporting events again — nearly three years after ending his 23-year tenure at ESPN.

Previously a mainstay on ESPN’s NFL Draft and golf coverage, Wingo is back in action this week hosting [[link removed]] an alternate telecast of the Open Championship on Peacock.

“I would love to continue to call golf and do more live events,” Wingo told Front Office Sports. “For me, that’s the thing that gets me going.”

After his ESPN contract was not renewed, Wingo created a podcast and joined Pro Football Network as a content creator and equity holder. At the end of his ESPN tenure, Wingo hosted a radio show with Mike Golic.

But Wingo says there’s still nothing like calling a live event. “​​It’s just a blast because you never know what’s going to happen.”

As for what could be next, Wingo isn’t shy about his addiction to golf and football. “My Sundays consist of watching every single game and sharing it all on Twitter,” he joked. “But golf is way up there for me.”

Could golf fans see him back on the screen this September for the Ryder Cup, also broadcast by NBC? “I’m certainly not going to say no to that idea,” Wingo said.

Viewer Habits Changing

Excited for his new role this week, Wingo believes alternate broadcasts are here to stay.

“There is an audience for this different way of looking at things,” he said, describing new-age media. “It’s instantaneous, it’s faster. It’s definitely looser. … That’s the thing that people are gravitating to, and I don’t see this trend stopping anytime soon.”

Conversation Starters Netflix has announced [[link removed]] plans for a docuseries on the U.S. Women’s World Cup team, set to premiere this fall. The project will follow Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Alyssa Thompson with unprecedented access as the USWNT seeks its third straight World Cup title. Check out Nike’s new ad [[link removed]] for Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz. Los Angeles Clippers star Terance Mann just bought a brand-new, $4.8 million home in the San Fernando Valley. Take a tour [[link removed]].

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Editor's Picks Miami Mayor Leverages Messi Mania for Presidential Bid [[link removed]]by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]]

Francis Suarez's campaign is giving away tickets to Messi's Miami debut.

Greg Sankey Explains Why He’s Against State Laws Governing NIL [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]

Sankey called the current landscape "a race to the bottom."

Trey Wingo Calling Golf Again During Open Championship [[link removed]]by David Rumsey [[link removed]]

The former ESPN personality is hosting a "RedZone" style show on Peacock.

Question Of The Day

How often do you go to fast food restaurants?

Regularly [[link removed]] Often [[link removed]] Sometimes [[link removed]] Never [[link removed]]

Monday’s Answer

62% of respondents watched Wimbledon this year.

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