July 25, 2023

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For 50 years, Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium has been one of MLB’s underrated gems, and a personal favorite after a thoughtful renovation completed in 2009. But Royals owner John Sherman is now thinking bigger and has announced a timeline to identify the site for a new ballpark district.

Meanwhile, the Open expands its ongoing dialogue with potential Saudi investment partners, and the ACC looks to close a growing financial gap with fellow Power Five conferences the Big Ten and SEC.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

The Open Becomes Golf’s First Major to Entertain Saudi Investment [[link removed]]

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

LIV Golf has received its first breakthrough with organizers of one of men’s golf’s four major championships.

Late Monday, it was confirmed that Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan met with R&A CEO Martin Slumbers on Sunday during the Open Championship’s final round at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England, as American Brian Harman claimed victory [[link removed]] by six strokes.

According [[link removed]] to The Telegraph, the meeting was “more symbolic than substantive.” Also at the meeting was Amanda Staveley — a key PIF associate and minority owner of Newcastle United who helped facilitate Al-Rumayyan’s discussions with the PGA Tour.

Ahead of the Open, Slumbers wouldn’t [[link removed]] rule out taking money from the Saudis and acknowledged the R&A’s struggle to keep up with rising prize funds in pro golf. The Open’s $16.5 million purse [[link removed]] was the smallest of golf’s four majors — and less than every purse on the LIV circuit and the PGA Tour’s elevated events.

Under its framework agreement with the PGA Tour, the PIF could become a premier corporate sponsor, providing more than $1 billion in cash. A similar arrangement with the Open could potentially be on the horizon.

Tipping Point?

At the U.S. Open, USGA CEO Mike Whan wouldn’t rule out accepting Saudi funding but downplayed [[link removed]] its likelihood.

Interest in Saudi funding also wasn’t a topic for the PGA of America or Augusta National at the PGA Championship or Masters — which both took place before the PGA Tour’s bombshell agreement was announced.

ACC Being Strategic About Bridging Revenue Gap With Big Ten, SEC [[link removed]]

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

The ACC is taking a measured approach to financially compete with the Big Ten and SEC.

At the conference’s football media days in Charlotte on Tuesday, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said that rather than expect an immediate fix, trying to narrow the per-school revenue gap [[link removed]] to $10 million to $15 million is the “right approach.”

With new media deals [[link removed]] kicking in for the Big Ten this year ($1.15 billion annually) and the SEC next year ($710 million annually), the ACC’s long-term $240 million annual deal with ESPN puts the conference a distant third through 2036. The Big 12 is brining in $200 million a year from Fox and ESPN through 2025.

“Third is certainly a good position,” Phillips said. “But we want to gain and gain traction financially in order to close the gap.”

Phillips acknowledged the ESPN layoffs [[link removed]] in explaining why the ACC can’t expect an instant increase in rights fees. “They understand the volatility that there is,” he said. “But they also are looking to grow financially based on some of their recent events.”

The conference doesn’t have a specific revenue target in mind, but it’s “trying to bridge” the gap as far as it can, Phillips said. In 2024, the ACC will have a new revenue distribution model to reward [[link removed]] teams for better postseason performance.

Phillips explained that the ACC has added [[link removed]] the CW in an effort to “be visible in all of the regions that our schools are” across the country. It’s unclear how much the CW is paying for the rights to 13 football games and 37 basketball games each year through 2027.

Something Brewing?

And there could be more ACC news soon. “We have some other things that we’re working on I can’t address with this group right now, that are pretty exciting to try to address that revenue gap,” Phillips said.

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Struggling Royals To Announce New Stadium Site In September, Says Owner [[link removed]]

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Royals’ plans for a new ballpark site should be set by the end of the regular season.

In an open letter posted [[link removed]] on Tuesday, owner John Sherman said the team plans to “share an overview of the [planned] ballpark district” in the next 30 days — including two sites under consideration — with a final site selection in the following weeks.

“This is a huge decision. We’re focused on playing the long game for the region we call home,” Sherman wrote. “In late September, we plan to announce which site will best fulfill our pledge to Kansas City.”

Slightly amending and expanding upon comments made [[link removed]] last month, Sherman’s letter references leaving Kauffman Stadium, the Royals’ home since 1973, to build a $2 billion ballpark district somewhat similar [[link removed]] to that of the Atlanta Braves.

The Royals’ candidate sites include a downtown location in Jackson County and another in neighboring Clay County. The decision will also have significant ramifications [[link removed]] on the Kansas City Chiefs’ plans for Arrowhead Stadium.

On-Field Struggles

The Royals continue to struggle on the field, adding even more urgency to their stadium plans. Just one game ahead [[link removed]] of the league-worst Oakland A’s [[link removed]], Kansas City’s farm system is also one of MLB’s poorest [[link removed]], providing even less hope for a turnaround anytime soon.

Fans have noted the lack of progress and have stayed away in droves — the Royals rank 28th in MLB attendance at 16,305 per game.

“I feel that pain alongside our team, our fans, and our community. And I get that it isn’t going to feel better until it gets better,” Sherman wrote.

Conversation Starters After two years in Las Vegas, the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games will be held [[link removed]] in Orlando. Texas QB Arch Manning signed [[link removed]] his first NIL deal — an exclusive, multiyear trading card agreement with Panini. NFL Network’s Scott Hanson is teasing [[link removed]] an “NFL RedZone for Training Camp.”

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What Mbappé’s $1B Offer Means

A Saudi Pro League team has offered $1.1 billion for a single year of Kylian Mbappé’s services. Sports broadcaster Ben Jacobs joins Front Office Sports Today to speak to what Saudi Arabia’s incredible willingness to spend means for global soccer.

Later we hear from Premier League CEO Richard Masters on the league’s tension with FIFA, financial fair play, the Premier League’s growing popularity in the U.S., and the upcoming season.

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Editor's Picks The Most Advanced Tech at the Women’s World Cup Might Surprise You [[link removed]]by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]]

This year's OCEAUNZ introduces connected ball technology to the women's game.

Jaylen Brown Inks $304 Million Extension, Richest in NBA History [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]

Brown's $304 million supermax extension with Boston is the NBA's largest ever.

CBS Announces NFL Broadcast Teams for 2023 Season [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]

Joining CBS include JJ Watt, Matt Ryan, and Jason McCourty.

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