August 11, 2023

Read in Browser [[link removed]]

POWERED BY

Milwaukee has long been one of my favorite baseball towns. Despite existing in Chicago’s long shadow, Brewers fans are always passionate, the game-day experience there is truly unique, and the team routinely outperforms its small-market status, both on and off the field. But protracted stadium negotiations are inserting new levels of uncertainty about the franchise’s future.

Meanwhile, the Messi Effect continues to deliver significant returns for MLS and its business partners, and La Liga giant Barcelona gets another jolt of critical funding through a deal bringing a portion of the club’s operations to the U.S. stock market.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

Relocation Idea Rises As Brewers’ Stadium Talks Stall [[link removed]]

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee’s nearly seven-decade run as an MLB market could end unless there’s a dramatic turnaround in ongoing stadium negotiations, according to a new report.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported [[link removed]] the Brewers could begin exploration of a relocation by this fall if a deal isn’t reached to improve American Family Field as part of a lease extension.

For months, the Brewers have detailed [[link removed]] $448 million worth of needed renovations, work that currently falls to the state’s Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has similarly pressed [[link removed]] state officials to honor their obligations.

Prior rumors of the Brewers’ potential relocation have been dismissed as overblown brinkmanship, but efforts by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers to secure $290 million in funding for stadium improvements continue to run into political resistance [[link removed]].

The Brewers’ lease runs through the end of 2030, but the team has been pressing for immediate facility improvements.

The Atlanta Braves played for 13 seasons in Milwaukee before relocating to Georgia in 1966, and the Brewers have been a Wisconsin fixture since 1970, regularly surpassing its market size in attendance and local TV ratings.

Possible Landing Spot

Should relocation become a serious option, Nashville would likely be among the top candidates, as it is already home to the NFL’s Titans, NHL’s Predators, and MLS’ Nashville SC, as well as the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate.

“We will keep working with both sides of the aisle to find a creative solution to ensure the stadium district can meet its obligations and sign a generational lease extension at American Family Field,” said Rick Schlesinger, Brewers president of business operations.

‘Messi Effect’ Sparks Surge in MLS Season Pass Subscribers [[link removed]]

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The exact number of subscribers that MLS and Apple have generated for their new MLS Season Pass remains one of the industry’s most guarded secrets.

But Inter Miami’s managing owner, Jorge Mas, says the count has more than doubled since Lionel Messi’s heralded arrival at the club.

Mas posted Thursday what had long been expected and seen elsewhere [[link removed]] in league and club business: Messi has drawing power like no one else.

“The Messi Effect is real!” Mas added on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Also, Spanish-language viewership on MLS Season Pass has surpassed 50% for Messi matches, and continues to rise. How exciting for a truly global fan base!”

MLS officials haven’t confirmed Mas’ statement, and the exact subscriber count for MLS League Pass hasn’t been publicly disclosed. But Apple CEO Tim Cook shared Mas’ post on his feed.

The New York Post reported in late July that the MLS Season Pass count reached 800,000 prior to Messi’s arrival, but MLS hasn’t confirmed that figure. Any sort of meaningful subscriber lift, however, represents a key step forward for a league that has embraced [[link removed]] direct-to-consumer distribution like no other major U.S. sports league and is helping reshape the sports media landscape.

Messi’s contract reportedly entails that the Argentinian superstar is sharing [[link removed]] in revenue from new subscriptions to MLS Season Pass.

Subscriptions to MLS Season Pass have also been granted to fans through season-ticket purchases to MLS clubs, as well as through a subscriber promotion offered by wireless carrier T-Mobile.

SPONSORED BY SURFSHARK

Slow Streaming? Use a VPN to Speed It Up

In some cases, a slow internet connection can be traced back to your internet plan. Yes, your ISP can be responsible for a football stream slowing down. How? It’s called internet throttling [[link removed]](or bandwidth throttling).

By limiting high internet speed, ISPs passively encourage their clients to switch to more expensive plans. Getting a VPN [[link removed]] is an effective way to hide your internet traffic from the ISP and enjoy safe and high-speed streaming anytime.

Stream [[link removed]] fast and private!

​Barcelona Secures Vital Funding With $1B Media Deal [[link removed]]

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

FC Barcelona completed a crucial funding deal on Friday to help address lingering questions [[link removed]] about the club’s finances heading into the new La Liga season.

The Spanish club is creating a new company, Barca Media, which will be valued at $1 billion and listed on the U.S. stock market.

Several steps were taken to facilitate the move. Barca is merging its digital content units with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) called Mountain & Co. I Acquisition Corp to form Barca Media in a deal expected to close by the end of the year. The team also announced new investors in Barca Vision (previously known as Barca Studios) — which comprises the club’s Web3, blockchain, and metaverse efforts — after uncertainty about the effort.

LIBERO football finance AG and private investors advised by NIPA Capital B.V. have acquired 29.5% of Bridgeburg Invest, the holding company of Barca Vision, for $131.5 million. LIBERO says its stake is 9.8%, meaning NIPA’s would be 19.7%.

Socios.com and Orpheus Media had originally agreed to acquire 49.5% of Barca Vision for $109 million each. A source told Front Office Sports that the two companies paid about $11 million upon signing the deal and agreed to pay $32.8 million annually from 2023-25.

Barcelona isn’t allowed to sell more than 49.5% of Barca Vision under club guidelines, so the new investors are buying portions of these stakes. Socios is selling a 7.13% stake (equivalent to the scheduled 2023 payment) and retaining about a 17% stake, according to the source.

That means Orpheus is likely selling most of its 24.75% stake in Barca Vision, potentially keeping about a 3% stake.

Conversation Starters Formula 1 lit up [[link removed]] the MSG Sphere on Thursday night for the Las Vegas Grand Prix — which is now fewer than 100 days away. UFC President Dana White says he recently met [[link removed]] with Italian officials about holding the Elon Musk-Mark Zuckerberg fight at the Colosseum in Rome. Collin Morikawa’s family emigrated [[link removed]] from Japan to Hawaii, where his grandparents were born and raised. For every birdie the golfer makes in the FedEx Cup playoffs, he’s pledged $1,000 to wildfire recovery efforts in Maui.

SPONSORED BY PWC

Redefining the Stadium Experience

The modern-day sports fan seeks more than the traditional in-stadium offerings.

They want a frictionless experience [[link removed]], blending the comforts of watching from home with the thrill of live-game action.

That’s why sports organizations invest in data-driven “smart” districts and mixed-use developments to deliver unprecedented fan experiences, from tracking in-game action to concessions and parking.

And PwC is leading the charge.

PwC Smart Venues [[link removed]] are digital representations of physical spaces that learn and adapt in real-time—helping you understand customer needs while….

Enhancing the fan experience Streamlining operations Improving sustainability Driving sponsorship revenue

To learn more about how PwC Smart Venues are blending data, technology and innovation to create the stadiums of the future, read the full article [[link removed]].

Editor's Picks Pac-12 Reportedly Rejected ESPN’s $30 Million Per School Annual Offer [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]The collapsing Pac-12 reportedly rejected a competitive offer from ESPN last year. Four Iowa State Football Starters Charged In Betting Probe [[link removed]]by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]]The state continues to hand out charges from its gambling probe. Peacock Reaches Sports Streaming Deal for U.S. Bars, Restaurants [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]EverPass Media will distribute Peacock's sports content in bars, restaurants. Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.

Live Nation USA - Multiple Locations Apply Now [[link removed]] IMG Academy USA - Multiple Locations Apply Now [[link removed]] Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group,Inc USA - Multiple Locations Apply Now [[link removed]] 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]]

If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here [[link removed]].

Update your preferences [link removed] / Unsubscribe [link removed]

Copyright © 2023 Front Office Sports. All rights reserved.

80 Pine Street Suite 3202 New York, NY 10005