August 29, 2023

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Nearly a decade ago, the formation of Pegula Sports and Entertainment to house the operations of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres sparked local hope that it would replicate the success of other multi-team entities such as Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. That hope never materialized — in the front offices, on the field, or on the ice — and now PSE is being dissolved.

Meanwhile, Inter Miami is pushing to complete a new stadium to capitalize on the heat generated by Lionel Messi, and the development of women’s pro hockey reaches a critical milestone with the first franchises of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

Messi’s Dominance Has Inter Miami Hurrying To Finish $1B Stadium Development [[link removed]]

Inter Miami

Lionel Messi’s sensational debut at Inter Miami has the MLS club pushing for its long-awaited $1 billion stadium project [[link removed]].

Miami Freedom Park — a 131-acre development built around a $350 million soccer-specific stadium — is now scheduled to open in 2025. Messi is signed with Inter Miami through that year, when he will turn 38.

During Miami’s nine-game win streak since Messi’s arrival, its four home matches have been played at the 21,000-seat DRV PNK Stadium. The new venue at Miami Freedom Park will have a slightly larger capacity of 25,000.

It’s unclear if the new stadium will be open in time for the start of the 2025 MLS season, which will likely begin in late February. Construction has begun on the venue, and an official groundbreaking ceremony will take place later this year.

Any delays from this point on could bring the possibility of a stadium opening without Messi. The club is already projecting [[link removed]] $200 million in revenue next year — nearly quadruple its projection for this year — and a third season of Messi plus a new stadium would likely take that number even higher in 2025.

However, Messi could opt to play for Inter Miami beyond 2025, furthering the club’s capitalization on the superstar. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will include matches at the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium, and Argentina is building [[link removed]] a training facility in Miami — meaning South Florida could be in for even more Messi Mania in the coming years.

New Pro Hockey League Wants to Capitalize on Women’s Sports Boom [[link removed]]

Syndication: Arizona Republic

The women’s pro hockey landscape will be unified next year in top markets across the U.S. and Canada, building on rising trends in women’s sports.

Fans’ interest in women’s sports has been increasing [[link removed]] — from viewership to sports betting — most recently around [[link removed]] the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Now, women’s hockey has its chance to benefit from that momentum.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League, a merger [[link removed]] of two competitions under the ownership of Los Angeles Dodgers controlling owner Mark Walter, will begin play in 2024 with franchises in New York, Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa.

More details are forthcoming on arenas and team branding, but all six of those cities have NHL franchises. And while the NHL wouldn’t comment to Front Office Sports about any specific role it has in helping select cities or in future collaborations with franchises, the league said [[link removed]] it looks forward to working with the PWHL.

Next up for the PWHL will be sealing a media rights deal for the broadcasts of its games.

The Premier Hockey Federation — one of the assets Walter acquired — had a deal [[link removed]] with ESPN that was set to run through 2024. However, that deal does not carry over to the PWHL, ESPN confirmed to FOS. The PWHPA, also owned by Walter, broadcasted various events across outlets like NHL Network and regional sports channels.

The 2024 season will include 24 regular-season games per team, and six players per team will be able to sign three-year contracts worth at least $80,000 annually.

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A Day on the Water With J.K. Dobbins

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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.

Pegula Disbands Sports Holding Company As Bills, Sabres Undergo Changes [[link removed]]

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo’s two major pro sports teams are both undergoing major changes at crucial moments for their organizations.

Terry Pegula, owner of both the NFL’s Bills and NHL’s Sabres, has dissolved Pegula Sports and Entertainment, the parent organization that previously oversaw both franchises. Pegula also appointed himself as Sabres president, a title he also holds for the Bills.

The teams will now operate as separate entities for the first time since Pegula purchased the Bills in 2014.

The restructuring follows a series of prior senior-level leadership changes. Pegula’s wife, Kim, has been unable to continue in her prior role as PSE president and CEO following a cardiac arrest last year, and last month, Terry Pegula fired Ron Raccuia, who previously oversaw both franchises.

Sabres COO John Roth will aid Pegula and lead business operations for both teams, but they will otherwise have separate staffs and day-to-day operations.

Buffalo Venues

In less than two weeks, the Bills begin the 2023 NFL season, once again as Super Bowl contenders. The team is also in the midst of building a new stadium in Orchard Park, New York, though with rising [[link removed]] cost estimates to at least $1.7 billion.

The Sabres are in the initial stages of planning a large-scale upgrade to their home arena, KeyBank Center. The 27-year-old, publicly owned venue in downtown Buffalo hasn’t undergone any major renovations since opening and will require several years to complete them during Sabres offseasons.

While the dissolution of PSE has heightened local speculation of a potential Sabres franchise sale, most of that arena work will be privately funded [[link removed]] by Pegula.

The team is also trying to break an active, 12-year postseason drought, the longest in NHL history — and currently tied for the longest in all of U.S. major pro team sports.

Conversation Starters This season, Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium will use a new robot [[link removed]] guard dog named Benzie, who will monitor 11 acres around the stadium, sending real-time video and running in 30-minute shifts. University of Central Florida QB John Rhys Plumlee is planning to donate [[link removed]] all proceeds from his jersey sales to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando. Nike has a new NYC billboard for Olympic sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson. Check it out [[link removed]].

SPONSORED BY ZOOMPH

Navigating NFL Sponsorship Strategies for the New Season

Ready… set… hut! There are just a few short weeks until the start of the 2023 NFL Season and Zoomph is kicking the season off with their upcoming webinar [[link removed]], “Kickoff Insights: Navigating NFL Sponsorship Strategies for the New Season.”

On Tuesday, September 26th, at 1:00 p.m. ET, members of Zoomph’s Insight team will be joined by NFL partnership and social media industry experts to discuss trends, topics, and more for the upcoming season [[link removed]]. The agenda will include covering branded analytics from last season, an Apple Music Halftime success story, and what to look out for in the months ahead.

Attendee spots will be limited, so reserve your spot [[link removed]] today and receive our 2022/23 season report for FREE!

Editor's Picks Illegal Streaming Costs Sports Billions, Leagues Want Swift Government Action [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]The NFL, NBA, and UFC requested changes to the DMCA. Nebraska Volleyball Targets Attendance Record in Stadium Spectacle [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]Nebraska expects to set a crowd record for global women's sports. Tennis Star Jack Sock Shifts to Pro Pickleball Amid Sport’s Rise [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]Sock, 30, wants to be a "bridge" between tennis and pickleball. 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.

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