September 14, 2023

Read in Browser [[link removed]]

POWERED BY

The historic growth of women’s soccer has been decades in the making. Now, new efforts building on those years of arduous work and multiple setbacks seek to advance the sport to even greater heights.

Meanwhile, ownership limbo continues for the Portland Trail Blazers, and the NFL further solidifies its future international presence.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

NFL Could Be Marching Toward 8-Game European Schedule [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL is already delivering on its promise to expand its European footprint.

London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is now guaranteed to host [[link removed]] at least two regular-season games — and potentially more — each year through the end of this decade.

The venue is the only one outside the U.S. built for specific NFL use and has hosted six regular-season games since 2019.

This season, Tottenham is hosting two more games, and a third is being played at Wembley Stadium, which will host the Jacksonville Jaguars once [[link removed]] per season through 2024. Germany will host another two NFL contests for a total of five games in its International Series this fall.

“We expect to do more games in the future,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said [[link removed]] last week when asked about international matchups. “We’re looking at games around the world.”

Build It, And They Will Come?

The idea of an NFL team — or even division [[link removed]] — based in Europe has long been rumored. But the NFL’s record five games on the continent this season is still several short of what would be an eight- or nine-game home schedule for a theoretical European squad.

Last week, Goodell wouldn’t shoot down the idea of a European team, while acknowledging the logistical challenges associated with the idea.

Should the NFL one day expand to eight-plus games in Europe per season, perhaps that would be enough evidence that fans across the pond would support a full-time franchise — and possibly the aforementioned European division.

Silver: NBA Isn’t Planning To Force A Trail Blazers Sale [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The long-term ownership future of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers and NFL’s Seattle Seahawks remain murky at best — but at least one league commissioner isn’t forcing a sale for clarity’s sake.

The estate of the late Paul Allen owns both teams and is led by his sister, Jody. Paul Allen, who died in 2018, left instructions to sell the teams and donate the proceeds to charity. NBA bylaws also mandate that any estate-held team in the league be transferred within a “reasonable” time period.

But nearly five years after Allen’s death, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he doesn’t intend to compel the estate to make a move.

“The board [of governors] has not discussed compelling a sale of the team,” Silver said Wednesday at the conclusion of league BOG meetings. “And obviously ‘within a reasonable time’ is subjection to interpretation. In the case of Paul Allen’s estate, it’s one of the largest estates in American history, and is highly complex in terms of his assets.

“I’ve spoken directly to Jody Allen, and they are working through those issues and in the meantime continue to operate the team in a first-class manner,” he said.

Nike co-founder Phil Knight is among those who have shown [[link removed]] interest in acquiring the Trail Blazers.

Seahawks Considerations

Any consideration of a sale of the Seahawks is operating on a different timetable.

A Seattle referendum from 1997 related to the construction of Lumen Field requires [[link removed]] that if the team is sold within 25 years of the bonds being issued, 10% of the team’s sale price must go to the state of Washington. That period ends in May 2024.

SPONSORED BY CHEVROLET

My Other Passion: Elena Delle Donne

[[link removed]]

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.

Women’s Soccer Continues Growth Post-World Cup [[link removed]]

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Already one of the fastest-growing domestic [[link removed]] and international [[link removed]] sports, particularly after the 2023 Women’s World Cup, women’s soccer continues to see historic levels of business expansion reflecting surging fan interest.

Manchester City Women has become [[link removed]] the first Women’s Super League club to complete a facility naming rights agreement, signing a pact with baby gear brand Joie to rename the 7,000-capacity Academy Stadium, the WSL’s only purpose-built venue.

In the U.S., Angel City FC — already one of the NWSL’s most prominent franchises with its star-studded ownership group of sports and entertainment icons — is reportedly [[link removed]] raising additional capital to fund further growth opportunities.

In just its second season of play, the club is already among the leaders in NWSL attendance, which has risen [[link removed]] to historic levels. Angel City’s initiative follows the recent record-setting sale of the NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars.

The latest efforts mirror a wave of growth seen in women’s basketball [[link removed]], tennis [[link removed]], and ice hockey [[link removed]].

TV Tune-In

Fueled significantly by the successful WWC, the Women’s Sport Trust also found that women’s soccer has become [[link removed]] the fourth-most popular sport on TV in the U.K., trailing only men’s soccer, tennis, and cricket.

“The visibility of women’s sport continues to grow at a phenomenal rate, due in main part to the unbelievable progress of our female athletes on the global stage,” said Tammy Parlour, Women’s Sport Trust CEO.

Also in the U.K, that country’s government also just revealed plans to invest further in women’s sports through a newly created investment accelerator [[link removed]].

Conversation Starters Over the next 72 hours, Kirk Herbstreit will cover “Thursday Night Football,” “College GameDay,” and ESPN’s Saturday primetime game — and fly back [[link removed]] to Ohio to watch his son’s game in his downtime. Boulder, Colorado, will be the hottest destination in sports media this weekend. The city will host five shows [[link removed]] including “First Take,” “The Pat McAfee Show,” and even “60 Minutes.” Arthur Ashe Stadium is one of the few venues in the world offering a court-level-operated camera [[link removed]] for tennis tournaments. The operator can track the ball at 140 mph.

SPONSORED BY MAGNIFI

Engage Fans With AI-Powered Highlights

Connected devices have thoroughly transformed the way sports media is consumed, creating a digital divide [[link removed]] as viewership fragments across platforms and screens.

For sports organizations and broadcasters, understanding how, what, and where fans are consuming sports media is essential to effectively engage and adapt to constantly changing viewership preferences. As an increasing number of viewers consume media in short, snackable portions, game highlights have emerged as a preferred viewing choice, particularly among younger generations.

Delivering relevant short-form content on-demand is the key to connecting with the sports fan community. But how can stakeholders be “everywhere at once” and bridge the digital divide in sports fandom? By harnessing the power and speed of AI-powered technologies [[link removed]] to create highlights in real time, to be consumed by fans immediately.

Download [[link removed]] to learn more.

Editor's Picks Sharpe Boosts ‘First Take’ Ratings, Leaving Bayless Behind [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]ESPN's "First Take" continues to dwarf Fox's "Undisputed" in ratings. Colorado Becomes College Football’s Most Expensive Ticket [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]Led by Deion and Shaduer Sanders, the average Colorado ticket is $517. Dartmouth Men’s Basketball Players File Petition to Unionize [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]There are two other similar NLRB cases pending. Three Chances to Win

Front Office Sports is partnering with Splash Sports to bring you Weeks 3-5 Pick X Contest [[link removed]]!

Attempt to select the winner for 16 games per slate, and get one point for each correct selection. Select the most correct answers and be one of three winners to be awarded a cash prize! Deadline to sign up is September 24, 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 David Rumsey [[link removed]], Eric Fisher [[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