August 10, 2023

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The first NFL regular-season Sunday is still a month away, but today’s news is all about football. The league is adding NFL RedZone and the NFL Network to its NFL+ streaming service — but at an additional cost emblematic of rising fees across the streaming landscape. The Buffalo Bills are experiencing early cost overruns in their new stadium construction, and San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York is facing some potentially ugly insider trading allegations.

It’s yet another sign that the NFL is truly a year-round force and dominates attention like nothing else.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

NFL+ Prices Jump With NFL Network, RedZone Additions [[link removed]]

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

As its streaming service heads into its second season, the NFL is expanding its offerings — and increasing prices.

NFL+ will now cost $6.99 per month (up from $4.99) or $49.99 annually for its base tier, and $14.99 per month (up from $9.99) or $99.99 per year for NFL+ Premium. In exchange for the additional cost, the service will now include NFL Network, and the premium tier will offer NFL RedZone.

This builds on the core offerings of NFL+, which last season included live out-of-market preseason games, live local and primetime regular-season and postseason games on mobile and tablet devices, and live game audio.

Streaming Prices Rising

The pricing strategy falls in line with recent trends of other streaming services in sports and entertainment. Disney is yet again raising [[link removed]] the prices of its platforms, including ESPN+. Peacock also became more expensive [[link removed]] this month.

More live content for NFL+ is clearly part of the league’s plan to build up its value as it continues to seek a new investor for NFL Media — an ongoing process [[link removed]] since at least 2021. While the NFL was looking for a new company to buy the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, it initially hoped to bundle [[link removed]] that package with an investment in NFL Media, which includes the aforementioned NFL Network and programs like NFL RedZone.

YouTube TV ended up with the Sunday Ticket rights for an annual $2 billion, and parent company Google didn’t make an investment in NFL Media.

Bills’ New Stadium Faces Early Cost Escalation, Could Reach $1.9B [[link removed]]

Buffalo Bills

Just three months into construction, the Buffalo Bills’ new stadium development is already feeling the effects of inflation.

The Bills began construction in early May on the forthcoming facility in Orchard Park, New York, but the initial $1.4 billion cost estimate for the project soon rose [[link removed]] to $1.54 billion, is now approaching $1.7 billion, and could ultimately reach $1.9 billion, according to multiple [[link removed]] reports [[link removed]].

The elevating costs — pegged primary to rising labor and materials costs — will be the team’s responsibility as part of its deal [[link removed]] with the state of New York and Erie County, wherein the team controls the stadium design and construction in return for agreeing to shoulder all cost overruns.

This type of cost escalation isn’t new to NFL stadium projects. California’s privately funded SoFi Stadium saw an initial cost projection of $2.66 billion more than double to a total cost of $5.5 billion amid numerous obstacles, including a final development during the depths of the pandemic.

But it’s more unusual to see such significant cost overruns so early in a facility construction process. The new Bills stadium — also set to be called Highmark Stadium — isn’t projected to open until 2026.

Bills COO John Roth told the Associated Press that “we don’t know enough yet to confirm” the cost overruns. If solidified, the situation could elevate the Bills’ initially planned $550 million contribution to the project beyond the $850 million in public money — and create a cash crunch for the franchise.

Even though the NFL is reaching [[link removed]] unprecedented revenue heights, the Bills still play in one of the league’s smallest markets and are funding their contribution through the NFL’s G4 loan program and personal seat licenses.

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49ers CEO Accused Of Insider Trading Amid Chegg Controversy [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

A member of one of the NFL’s most prominent families is facing accusations of insider trading.

San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York has been sued in two separate civil lawsuits in California from shareholders related to his role as a board member of educational company Chegg Inc. The company’s board and leadership have been accused of concealing its role in helping college students cheat on online exams — which ultimately became a scandal [[link removed]] for Chegg.

The lawsuits also allege that Chegg leadership made false and misleading statements to the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and dumped Chegg stock at market peaks without informing investors about the depth of the cheating scandal.

The 49ers executive has been paid about $2 million for his part-time work on Chegg’s board and profited by $4.9 million sales of company stock — and the legal action claims that some of that money represents ill-gotten gains.

“York engaged in insider sales before the fraud was exposed,” one of the lawsuits reads.

York is part of the York-DeBartolo clan, which has owned the 49ers since 1977, and has been an influential NFL figure, playing a key role in the development of Levi’s Stadium and the team’s acquisition [[link removed]] of English soccer club Leeds United and serving on several critical league committees.

The company has denied the allegations. The 49ers said they are “proud” of the work done with Chegg through its foundation to provide scholarships.

Not Quite The Same

Though also centered on insider trading, this situation materially differs from that of Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis, who has been charged [[link removed]] criminally and could be forced to sell the club.

Conversation Starters Logan Paul and KSI’s PRIME is now the official [[link removed]] hydration sponsor of Bayern Munich. Despite its conference’s struggles, the Pac-12’s Oregon State is putting the final touches [[link removed]] on $153 million in upgrades to Reser Stadium, making it a “national best-in-class” football facility. The Phillies’ Michael Lorenzen, who was traded from the Tigers in midseason, threw the franchise’s 14th no-hitter in only his second start [[link removed]] with the team on Wednesday.

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Editor's Picks Book: Mickleson Made Over $1B in Wagers, Attempted to Bet on Ryder Cup [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]Mickelson allegedly has lost nearly $100 million on gambling, says Billy Walters. ESPN May Ban Its Own Employees From Wagering On ‘ESPN Bet’ [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]ESPN may ban its own employees from wagering on its new branded 'ESPN Bet'. ‘Stanford Steve’ Coughlin to Succeed Chris Fallica on College GameDay [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]"Stanford Steve" takes his gambling act from SportsCenter to College GameDay. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Sports Careers [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Brian Krikorian [[link removed]]

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