The Saudi Pro League continues to make its impact felt across international soccer just one week into its new season.

Neymar is joining the upstart league in a deal that will cost nearly $300 million, including a $98.5 million transfer fee. Al-Hilal lured the Brazilian superstar from Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain with an $88 million annual salary for the next two seasons.

If it wasn’t already clear, the SPL has no plans to stop courting the sport’s top players. Cristiano Ronaldo has made the biggest headlines thanks to a contract valued at more than $200 million with commercial incentives. He was followed by former Real Madrid teammate and 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, who is reportedly making more than $100 million per year.

While the SPL couldn’t lure Kylian Mbappe for even just one year — despite being willing to shell out at least $1 billion in total — Neymar is only 31, which still represents a coup for the Saudi League, as he is much younger than Ronaldo (38) and Benzema (35).

Expanding Media Reach

Some SPL coverage has been broadcast via Fox Sports’ digital channels since Friday. The network has signed on as the league’s English- and Spanish-language media rights partner in the U.S. and could reportedly show several games per week on its FS2 cable channel. 

While it’s unclear how much the rights are costing Fox, any media exposure from a major American company is a big step up for a league with little previous clout in international soccer.

The Messi Effect is now so strong that opposing coaches are looking to directly influence ticket sales to preserve home-field advantage in the wake of Lionel Messi’s transformational arrival to MLS.

A perfect 5-0 since the Argentinian star joined last month, Inter Miami plays the Philadelphia Union in the Leagues Cup semifinals on Tuesday. Messi’s immense appeal has compelled Union head coach Jim Curtin to plead with local fans not to resort to the resale market — and possibly create a pro-Inter Miami crowd at Subaru Park.

“Please don’t sell your tickets, no matter how much money they’re offering for them — please,” Curtin said. 

Resale ticket prices for the match are beginning at about $300 each on major platforms.

“We know that we’re going to have a packed Subaru Park. It’s going to be the No. 1 ticket in the city, for sure. I’m sure some celebrities will be out here in Philly, so I’m excited for it,” Curtin added.

Messi has sparked substantial increases in MLS League Pass subscriptions, merchandise sales, and social media audiences.

Another Messi Docuseries

Apple has solidified plans for a forthcoming six-part docuseries on Apple TV+ covering Messi’s time in MLS, promising “unprecedented access to Messi and his new Inter Miami family.”

The project is separate from the company’s previously announced four-part documentary, which focuses more on Messi’s overall career and his triumphant run with Argentina for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

Apple will work with New York-based production company Smuggler Entertainment on both efforts. 

The Carolina Hurricanes are set to receive continued investment from their local government — nearly $300 million — to pay for more renovations at PNC Arena.

A special meeting has been scheduled on Tuesday to discuss potential projects that would include a long-term lease for the team at the 24-year-old venue in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes averaged the second-highest attendance in the NHL last season, drawing just over 19,500 fans across 41 home games.

Also on the table is a plan for Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon to build a multi-use development on 80 acres of what is mostly parking lots and undeveloped land. That project could include offices, shops, bars and restaurants, a sportsbook — sports betting will be fully legal in North Carolina in 2024 — and a music venue.

Good For ‘Pack, Too

PNC Arena is adjacent to N.C. State’s football stadium, so any further development would serve both pro hockey and college football fans alike.

Specifics for the facility renovations are yet to be determined, as the process has been delayed several times reaching back to before the pandemic began in 2020. PNC Arena’s last significant upgrade was a new $4.2 million video board in 2019.

Next week, the Wake County Commission could officially approve the renovation funding, greenlighting more moves.