July 26, 2023

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Team USA returns to the pitch tonight against the Netherlands — and unlike the men’s tournament-ending bout against the Dutch in Qatar last year, the USWNT are big favorites for this group-play match.

In the NFL, the Bears have yet another suitor for a potential stadium site, while another Midwest team unveils modest but significant upgrades to their venue, and baseball’s attendance boom is extending to the minor leagues.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]]

Richton Park Joins Growing List of Bears Stadium Suitors [[link removed]]

Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears’ search for a new stadium site is starting to look like the back of a concert tour T-shirt.

As the NFL team continues its self-described stalemate [[link removed]] with Arlington Heights, Illinois over a tax dispute, suburban Richton Park has now become [[link removed]] the latest Chicagoland municipality to make a play for the franchise.

The town joins rival bids from Aurora [[link removed]], Naperville [[link removed]], Waukegan [[link removed]], and the city of Chicago [[link removed]] itself.

“I understand how the complexity of completing a stadium deal at the former Arlington Park site can be frustrating,” wrote Richton Park mayor Rick Reinbold in a letter to the Bears. “Allow me to interest you in the greenfield opportunities awaiting the Bears in Richton Park!”

Reinbold touted the town’s median household income of $98,000 per year and proximity to area highways and mass-transit systems.

The southern suburban town is about 32 miles from Soldier Field, closer to Chicago’s downtown than the Waukegan and Aurora options. But for the Bears, the issue is likely more about economics than geography.

“What is so obvious here is the team playing the municipalities off each other,” Andrew Brandt — former Green Bay Packers executive and executive director of Villanova’s Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law — told Front Office Sports. “The Bears are taking advantage, and the better deal they strike now means more revenue later.”

The Bears’ vision has been centered on a domed stadium and entertainment district capable of hosting major events such as the Super Bowl and Final Four. Initial cost projections are in the vicinity of $5 billion.

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🎙️ They Said What?

“That’s tough for anybody to recover that fast. When you’re playing football, it is a war.”

— Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews on the NFL adding Thursday night flex scheduling this season. To hear more from Andrews, check out the latest episode of Front Office Sports Today.

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USA-Netherlands Match Also High Stakes For World Cup, Fox Sports [[link removed]]

Jenna Watson-USA TODAY Sports

The USWNT is back in action on Wednesday night in the FIFA Women’s World Cup for a group-stage match that has big implications for not only the red, white, and blue, but also tournament organizers and Fox Sports.

Last week, the U.S. cruised [[link removed]] to a 3-0 opening win against Vietnam, drawing the second-most viewers ever for a USWNT group-stage game as American fans helped fill up the 40,000-plus capacity Eden Park in Auckland.

Wednesday night, the USA takes on the Netherlands at 9 p.m. ET on Fox from Wellington Regional Stadium, which is counting on a strong turnout after seeing dismal [[link removed]] crowds for early matches like Spain-Costa Rica and Sweden-South Africa — even after FIFA gave away 20,000 free [[link removed]] tickets to games in New Zealand because of lagging sales.

For Fox, it’s the final primetime U.S. game of group play — and the last guaranteed marquee matchup of the tournament. A win would ensure that a draw against Portugal — in a match scheduled for 3 a.m. ET next Tuesday — would be enough to win the group and bring on potentially two more primetime games in the Round of 16 and quarterfinals.

A second-place finish would mean games in the middle of the night, unless Fox is able to convince FIFA to shift game times mid-tournament.

And for the USWNT — performing under the pressure of trying to win a third-straight World Cup — it’s all about avoiding the dreaded upset. On Tuesday, tournament co-hosts New Zealand were upset by the Philippines, just days after New Zealand pulled off a surprise of its own by taking down Norway in the tournament’s opening match.

Making the group stage guarantees a payment of $60,000 per player, with that number escalating to $270,000 for the eventual champion.

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Cincinnati Bengals Unveil $20M In Upgrades For Aging Stadium [[link removed]]

Cincinnati Bengals

Few NFL teams are as electric on the field as the Joe Burrow-led Cincinnati Bengals — but the team’s 23-year-old Paycor Stadium could use a jolt.

On Tuesday, the team unveiled a $20 million set of planned upgrades including new videoboards, upgraded concession stands — featuring 78 self-service kiosks — two new bars, a new social gathering space, and a jungle-themed photo set.

A series of new banners, graphics, and murals will also be installed throughout the facility.

The Bengals already sell more than 101% of its stadium capacity including standing room, ranking [[link removed]] sixth in the league. But the planned enhancements will still provide critical fan experience improvements and new revenue potential for a team operating in one of the NFL’s smallest markets.

“We think our fans deserve the best experience,” said Caroline Blackburn, the Bengals’ senior manager of digital strategy. “We’re going to do everything in power to keep building on that.”

The upgrades are slated to be completed in time for the start of the Bengals’ regular-season home opener against AFC North rival Baltimore on Sept. 17.

Meanwhile, the team remains [[link removed]] in talks with Ohio’s Hamilton County over the future of the publicly owned Paycor Stadium following the 2026 end of its current lease.

MiLB Attendance Spike Boosts Baseball’s Recovery [[link removed]]

Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK

After more than three difficult years and a complete organizational reformation, Minor League Baseball has returned to pre-pandemic attendance patterns — another sign of baseball’s general resurgence.

The affiliated minor leagues are averaging [[link removed]] 4,034 per game, nearly identical to 2019’s 4,041 per game and up by 5% from a year ago.

The rebound arrives after a 2020 season lost entirely to the pandemic, MLB’s 2021 takeover [[link removed]] of MiLB that cut the number of affiliated teams from 160 to 120, ballpark capacity restrictions as health conditions improved, and a slower rebound to group and corporate ticket sales crucial to minor league operations.

“Not only are we back to pre-pandemic levels overall, but we’re seeing real gains in attracting new fans, people who hadn’t previously experienced Minor League Baseball,” Jeff Goldklang, president of the Goldklang Group — which owns the Single-A Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs — told Front Office Sports.

“You also see what’s happening in the travel and hospitality industries. People have been so ready to get back out, and we’re tapping into that,” he said.

The MiLB attendance trend mirrors MLB’s annual growth at the turnstiles — now projected [[link removed]] at 6% to 8%. A key element in that increase at the major-league level is a trio of new rules [[link removed]] that have created meaningfully shorter and more action-packed games — rules first tested in MiLB.

But the MiLB boost is arguably even more meaningful: The loss of the entire 2020 season and the MLB takeover resulted in a significant loss of operational talent at many minor league clubs.

Conversation Starters Fanatics is planning to open a retail sportsbook [[link removed]] in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ arena district. The 5,000-square-foot property, set to open in late August, features four betting windows, 14 self-service betting kiosks, a LED Video Wall, 16 TVs, and a full-service restaurant. MLB’s revamped studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, will house four main sets — each named after one of the league’s legends. Take a tour [[link removed]]. Playfly Sports announces the launch of Playfly Sports Consulting [[link removed]], an innovative brand consulting agency led by Michael Neuman and Dan Parise. The team will guide brands in deploying strategic investments through breakthrough activations in sports and entertainment.* Get twice the taste for $1! Buy any of these Wendy’s fan faves like Dave’s Single, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, 10 PC Nuggets, or Medium Frosty, and get another for just $1. BO GO get it now [[link removed]]!*

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Editor's Picks Brian Flores Can Proceed to Trial Against NFL, Judge Says [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]

A judge reconfirmed support of Flores moving to trial vs. the NFL.

Sens. Tuberville, Manchin Introduce ‘Commonsense’ Bipartisan NIL Bill [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]

It's the first bipartisan NIL bill officially introduced in this Congress.

The 15 Highest-Paid Players at the Women’s World Cup [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]

Alex Morgan ranks first at $7.1 million, followed by Megan Rapinoe.

Question Of The Day

Do you own a bike?

Yes [[link removed]] No [[link removed]] Not yet but I want to [[link removed]]

Tuesday’s Answer

81% of respondents are involved or has someone in their household who is involved with youth sports.

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