August 24, 2023

Read in Browser [[link removed]]

POWERED BY

Shohei Ohtani seems almost too good to be true, as the two-way phenomenon performs feats never seen in modern baseball. But now, with a ligament tear that will prevent him from pitching for the rest of 2023, and on the cusp of the most anticipated free agency in recent memory, Ohtani’s long-term future will be questioned — with hundreds of millions at stake.

Also, the ACC could be restarting college football’s conference realignment after a brief stalemate, and the New York Red Bulls look to take advantage of Messi Mania.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

Ohtani Injury Casts Doubt On Record Contract, Angels’ Future Plans [[link removed]]

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

What was expected to be the largest contract in U.S. pro team sports history has taken a troubling and uncertain turn.

Los Angeles Angels two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani, who will hit free agency this offseason, tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Wednesday — and will not pitch again this season.

Arguably the most anticipated free agent in baseball history, Ohtani now potentially faces a second Tommy John surgery, a move that could remove hundreds of millions of dollars from a contract previously projected [[link removed]] to reach as high as $600 million.

“A tough day for him. Tough day for all of us,” said Angels GM Perry Minasian.

Late last month, the Angels opted [[link removed]] to “roll the dice” at the trade deadline and keep Ohtani — a near-lock to earn his second MVP award — in the hopes of earning their first playoff berth since 2014. But that decision has yielded disastrous results, including a 5-16 post-deadline record that has left the team well out of contention and injuries to superstars Ohtani and Mike Trout.

Franchise Uncertainty

The Ohtani news also extends a long run of turbulence for the Angels, who under Arte Moreno have been continually beset with ownership [[link removed]] and stadium [[link removed]] issues.

Despite playing in the country’s second-largest media market with two generational talents and attendance totals and payrolls regularly ranking in MLB’s top 10, the Angels are tied with Detroit for the league’s longest playoff drought, have employed four different GMs and four field managers since 2011, and have been increasingly known for organizational instability.

“It’s been a decade of disaster,” a team staffer told [[link removed]] ESPN.

Stanford, Cal, SMU Could Join ACC As Revenue Details Emerge [[link removed]]

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

After weeks of stalled progress, the ACC could finally be ready to jump aboard the expansion train — with some specific details being discussed.

Stanford, California, and Southern Methodist University are now close to joining the ACC, according to multiple reports. The new schools would reportedly accept smaller shares of revenue distribution than the ACC’s current members, and ESPN could increase its $240 million annual media rights fee by as much as $72 million, according [[link removed]] to Yahoo Sports.

Out of that new money, Cal and Stanford would accept about $7 million to $10 million annually, SMU would get nothing, and the rest would go into a pot for rewarding schools under the ACC’s new performance-based distribution model [[link removed]].

That would be akin to Oregon and Washington accepting smaller revenue payments to join the Big Ten — although those are still reported [[link removed]] to be around $30 million per year.

ACC athletic directors are scheduled to meet Thursday night, and any official vote would require approval from 12 of the 15 university presidents (including Notre Dame, which is not a full-time member). Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina, and NC State have been opposed [[link removed]] to expansion so far — so it could likely be up to those four schools to decide if the extra money from ESPN would be enough to change their minds.

A source told [[link removed]] Front Office Sports that the ACC is hoping to have a decision on expansion by the start of Week 1 games next week.

SPONSORED BY CHEVROLET

My Other Passion: J.K. Dobbins

[[link removed]]

As one of football’s best young running backs, J.K. Dobbins is mostly known for his work on the field. But like many professional athletes – J.K has his own passions off the field.

In our new series, My Other Passion, presented by Chevrolet, we hit the outdoors [[link removed]] with some of the most recognizable athletes in sports to explore their interests outside the arena.

Learn how J.K. Dobbins grew up fishing in Texas, how it helps him practice patience on and off the field, the importance of family, his thoughts on the upcoming season and more.

Watch episode one [[link removed]] now.

Hosting Messi’s Highly Anticipated MLS Debut Is No Accident For Red Bulls [[link removed]]

Syndication: The Enquirer

Lionel Messi has already made a drastic impact on American soccer, but he still has a key debut ahead.

After eight games in the Leagues Cup and U.S. Open Cup competition, Messi will play in his first regular-season MLS tilt on Saturday night when Inter Miami visits the New York Red Bulls.

It’s expected to bring in two-to-three times the revenue of an average match, Red Bulls president and GM Marc de Grandpré told Front Office Sports. “It’s our largest-ever MLS gate since we’ve been at Red Bull Arena,” de Grandpré said.

The match’s timing involved some luck — the Leagues Cup run delayed a Miami home game — and strategic planning. “The process started when we heard he may be coming — last December, those rumors were rumbling,” de Grandpré explained. “So we worked with the league to make sure that our home match against Miami would be in the latter half of our season.”

What Could Have Been

In future seasons, the Red Bulls could host Messi in MetLife Stadium, which boasts a capacity of 82,500, compared to Red Bull Arena’s 25,000. “This year, it couldn’t work out because the Jets and Giants are playing Saturday,” said de Grandpré. “But it’s certainly something that’s on the table as we look forward.”

Inter Miami has yet to lose with Messi — something de Grandpré sees as a good challenge for MLS. “I also believe that it pushes everyone across the league to elevate their standard,” he said. “We have to make sure that we keep developing our product on the pitch — make it more competitive, not only within the Americas but globally.”

Editor’s Note: You can hear more from de Grandpré about hosting Messi on Friday’s episode of the Front Office Sports Today podcast. Check here [[link removed]] for the latest episodes.

Conversation Starters YouTube’s NFL Sunday Ticket Student Plan will cost [[link removed]] $109 for the entire season or bundled with NFL RedZone for $10 more. Students must be 18 or older, verified as a student by SheerID, and be enrolled as a student at an accredited college or university. For Wednesday’s Inter Miami-FC Cincinnati broadcast [[link removed]], Paramount+ featured a “Star Cam” following Lionel Messi throughout the entire match. Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman gave his teammates custom headphones [[link removed]] as part of his NIL deal with Beats by Dre.

SPONSORED BY MORGAN STANLEY

Important Skills for the Next Generation

Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment’s Money in the Making [[link removed]] empowers the next generation of athletes, entertainers, sports and entertainment professionals, and emerging talent by equipping them with financial acumen for their journey to success.

As they pour effort into their crafts, a solid financial standing plays a pivotal role. Money in the Making offers digital financial education [[link removed]] tailored for emerging talent, covering vital topics like brand building, wealth management, budgeting, investing, NIL, and more.

This accessible resource accommodates busy schedules, fostering financial literacy without complexity. It addresses the critical need for financial education in a landscape where young talents have many avenues to monetize their skills.

Morgan Stanley GSE developed this program to empower tomorrow’s stars, providing tools and resources for them to navigate their financial futures effectively. Learn more [[link removed]].

Editor's Picks Defiant Panini Is Contesting Early Breakup With NFLPA [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]Panini seeks arbitration after the NFLPA ended the deal. Stephen A., Shannon Sharpe Officially Team Up in New-Look ‘First Take’ [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]Stephen A. Smith confirmed Shannon Sharpe joining ESPN's 'First Take'. Amazon, Warner Bros. In Race for New NASCAR Summer Package [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]NASCAR's current deals with NBC and FOX expire after 2024. Your Chance to Win in Winner-Takes-All

Front Office Sports is partnering with Splash Sports to bring you a Season Long NFL Survivor Contest [[link removed]].

This contest follows a winner-takes-all format, meaning only one participant will be declared the winner and receive the entire prize of up to $2,250. In the event of multiple winners, the prize will be divided equally among all the winners. The grand prize is dependent on the number of entries. Deadline to sign up is September 10, 2023.

ENTER HERE [[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