September 14, 2023

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I’ll definitely be checking out some of the new Prime Vision features during Eagles-Vikings tonight as Amazon kicks off its second season of exclusively streaming “Thursday Night Football.”

The game begins Week 2 of the NFL season as the debate over turf fields is only heating up. Meanwhile, Manchester United inks a record deal, and could the NHL return to Atlanta?

— David Rumsey [[link removed]]

Streaming Is Here To Stay. Amazon Wants To Make It Even Better [[link removed]]

Amazon

When it comes to the second season of “Thursday Night Football” — beginning Thursday with the Minnesota Vikings at the Philadelphia Eagles — Amazon plans to level up how NFL fans follow the league by offering the kind of presentation a traditional linear setting can’t provide.

The NFL games will feature an array of new enhancements for viewers — some powered by artificial intelligence — that represent merely the latest move in the company’s fast-growing sports streaming ambitions.

Just in the last four months, the company has entered [[link removed]] discussions about a potential ESPN equity partnership, signaled an intention to compete [[link removed]] for NASCAR rights, acquired [[link removed]] a set of pickleball rights, still shows [[link removed]] the Premier League domestically, and could even be a significant player in the next round [[link removed]] of NBA rights.

But the “TNF” games remain the core of the company’s sports portfolio, and given the unrivaled [[link removed]] popularity of the league in the U.S., also serve as the foremost showcase of Amazon’s ability to stream live events at mass scale.

Black Friday Boost?

Amazon averaged an audience of 9.6 million viewers in 2022, per Nielsen — a figure that jumps to 11.3 million when including Amazon’s first-party measurement data. Even though those numbers were down sharply from the prior audience for “TNF” on Fox Sports, there was a silver lining: The median age of 47 for Amazon’s exclusive coverage was eight years younger than the league’s linear average.

After preseason controversy [[link removed]] about how Nielsen will count “TNF” audiences, those numbers will also get a sizable boost from the first-ever Black Friday game [[link removed]] on Nov. 24 between the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, a contest that will be in front of the usual paywall and could turn the day after Thanksgiving into another national football holiday.

“This is a chance to start a new tradition with the league, and is something we’re thinking big about in every possible way,” Jared Stacy, Amazon Prime Video director of global live sports production, told Front Office Sports.

The loss [[link removed]] of star Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has clouded those aspirations somewhat, but the game is still expected to at least challenge, if not surpass, new audience records for a live streaming event. Amazon is also working to reduce online latency — for years the bane of any live sports streaming — down to 10 seconds or less for “TNF.”

PODCAST

🎙️ They Said What?

“I don’t think people understand that NFL is king … After our very first [“Thursday Night Football”] broadcast, I was on screen for maybe four total minutes, and I’m trending on Twitter.”

— Taylor Rooks, Amazon Prime’s “Thursday Night Football” reporter, on the huge amount of attention given to the NFL over any other American sports leagues. To hear more from Rooks about “TNF” and her career, check out the latest episode of Front Office Sports Today.

🎧 Listen and subscribe on Apple [[link removed]], Google [[link removed]], and Spotify [[link removed]].

NHL Open to Atlanta Revival as League Looks Beyond 32 Teams [[link removed]]

The Gathering at South Forsyth

After multiple failed runs, an almost unthinkable dream may be getting new life — the return of the NHL to Atlanta.

In 2011, the Thrashers moved after 12 years in Atlanta and became the Winnipeg Jets. Prior to that, the Flames franchise spent its first eight NHL seasons in Atlanta before moving in 1980 to Calgary, where they have played since.

But now, amid new development in the city, the NHL appears to be interested in trying a third time in Atlanta. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said [[link removed]] he thinks that scenarios that previously derailed pro hockey in the city could be “overcome.”

Earlier this year, rumors of the NHL’s return to Atlanta began popping up after a local developer began planning a multi-billion-dollar mixed-use development project [[link removed]] whose centerpiece would be an 18,000-seat, hockey-capable arena.

Daly pointed to rink location as paramount — and highlighted how The Battery was boosting the Atlanta Braves’ overall business success. “They struggled, as I understand it, attendance-wise for years, even though they had a very successful team on the field,” he said. “Their latest stadium is in a perfect location and sells out regularly.”

The NHL says it is always open to new markets and apparently wouldn’t have any problem finding new investors if it chose to expand or current teams wanted to sell. “There are more people who want to own professional hockey teams,” Daly said.

It’s unclear if and when the NHL could look to expand beyond 32 teams. However, the league is dealing with a high-profile arena situation in Phoenix as the Coyotes continue [[link removed]] to seek a new venue.

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Audiologists and sports enthusiasts alike have been raving about Horizon’s powerful German technology [[link removed]] and modern, sleek design. These cutting-edge devices will ensure that you catch every detail – from the roar of the crowd to the whistle of the referees.

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NFL Turf Controversy Grows With Union Push For Grass Fields [[link removed]]

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury could ignite a full-blown labor controversy between the NFL and its players association.

A day after the New York Jets quarterback was confirmed [[link removed]] to have torn his left Achilles tendon, union executive director Lloyd Howell publicly called on the league to do away with turf fields.

“The players overwhelmingly prefer [grass], and the data is clear that grass is simply safer than artificial turf,” Howell said.

“It is an issue that has been near the top of the players’ list during my team visits and one I have raised with the NFL. While we know there is an investment to making this change, there is a bigger cost to everyone in our business if we keep losing our best players to unnecessary injuries.”

Charge Of Hypocrisy

Particularly grating to the union and individual players is that FIFA is demanding grass fields be installed for facilities to host games during the 2026 World Cup — something major NFL facilities such as SoFi Stadium, AT&T Stadium, and MetLife Stadium are actively pursuing [[link removed]].

“It makes no sense that stadiums can flip over to superior grass surfaces when the World Cup comes or soccer clubs come to visit for exhibition games in the summer, but inferior artificial surfaces are acceptable for our own players,” Howell said.

The union and individual players like Rodgers have previously pushed [[link removed]] the league to move away from turf without success and have limited power on the issue within the current collective bargaining agreement. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told ESPN on Wednesday that the issue is “complex” and that future league actions will be guided by science.

But as more players go down to turf-related injuries, the calls for reform will only escalate.

“This is worth the investment, and it simply needs to change now,” Howell said.

Record $75M Kit Deal Suggests Glazers May Never Sell Manchester United [[link removed]]

Manchester United FC

Manchester United’s latest record-breaking deal is further evidence that the Glazers may have no interest in selling the Premier League club — despite strong protests from its supporters.

American tech giant Qualcomm is taking over Manchester United’s main shirt sponsorship in what is the most lucrative [[link removed].] kit deal in the world, according to multiple reports. The company will pay $75 million annually to display its Snapdragon brand.

TeamViewer has been paying nearly $56 million a year for those rights, which will now end after this season.

Rumors are rampant that the Glazers could sell Man United, but the controversial club owners continue racking up record revenues despite failing to win a Premier League title since 2013. In July, the club extended [[link removed]] its deal with Adidas to make its uniforms for a staggering annual fee of $115 million — more than any other English club.

The Glazers haven’t commented publicly about a potential sale in months after pushing [[link removed]] back any formal process at the end of last season.

European Conquest

While some U.S. major sports leagues have begun to allow small jersey sponsorship, the deals pale in comparison to the likes of top European soccer pacts.

The New York Yankees are receiving [[link removed]] $25 million per year from their new jersey sponsor, while the Los Angeles Lakers [[link removed]] and Golden State Warriors [[link removed]] are getting $20 million annually.

Manchester United’s $75 million more than doubles even the most expensive stadium naming rights deals in the U.S., like the $35 million Crypto.com Arena deal [[link removed]].

Conversation Starters A pub in Wisconsin offered [[link removed]] free drinks if the Jets lost on Monday — and fans began running up tabs after Aaron Rodgers left the game with his season-ending injury. But the Jets still won in overtime, compelling everyone to pay. Coco Gauff’s U.S. Open victory drew record [[link removed]] viewership for a women’s major tennis final — and over 1 million more viewers than the men’s final. The 2023 WNBA regular season drew its best [[link removed]] viewership on ESPN in 17 years — up 18% from 2022.

SPONSORED BY CHEVROLET

A Day Outdoors With Elena Delle Donne

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As one of the WNBA’s biggest stars in the last decade, Elena Delle Donne is mostly known for her work on the court. But like many professional athletes – Elena has her 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 hiking helps Elena Delle Donne find peace away from the court, the importance of always moving and staying active, and how her family inspires her to push through adversity.

Watch episode two [[link removed]] now.

Editor's Picks Senate Subpoenas Saudi Investment Fund Records in PGA Tour Inquiry [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]Senate hearing reveals deep concerns about the potential PGA Tour-LIV deal. NFL Media Machine Continues To Dominate In Week 1 [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]NBC and CBS posted their best Week 1 viewership since 2015. NFL Games On Nickelodeon Have Been A Hit. Disney Wants To Replicate [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]Disney and ESPN are planning a kids-focused alternate telecast of NFL game. Question Of The Day

Do you plan to tailgate before any football games this season?

Yes [[link removed]] No [[link removed]] N/A [[link removed]]

Wednesday’s Answer

88% of respondents follow sports outside of the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL.

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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