September 15, 2023

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Who’s ready for more Coach Prime hype this weekend? I’m in Boulder, Colorado, to take in some of the madness as ESPN and Fox Sports descend on campus to continue capitalizing on the Deion Sanders phenomenon.

In other news, athletes may be feeling some Netflix fatigue, Cincinnati is spending big on a new sports development, and F1 isn’t the only racing circuit seeing gains in the U.S.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]]

Boulder Ready For Take Two As College Football’s Hollywood [[link removed]]

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Less than a month into the season, the hottest town in college football is Boulder, Colorado.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders delivered big in his home debut against Nebraska and has started off the season 2-0 — and this weekend, everybody wants a piece of his Buffaloes.

ESPN will broadcast Colorado-Colorado State at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, in the process bringing “College GameDay” to Boulder for the first time since 1996. The hype is so big right now that Fox Sports is bringing its rival “Big Noon Kickoff” pregame show to town for the second weekend in a row despite not having broadcast rights to the game this time around.

And the mania doesn’t stop there. ESPN is broadcasting “First Take” and “The Pat McAfee Show” live from Boulder on Friday, while even venerable CBS newsmagazine program “60 Minutes” is rumored [[link removed]] to be coming to Boulder.

Tougher Foes Ahead

Saturday will be another milestone moment for the Coach Prime era, but likely not the last — No. 18 Colorado is favored to win by at least three touchdowns and could rise higher in the AP Top 25 rankings.

Next week will bring a high-profile matchup at No. 13 Oregon before Colorado welcomes Heisman Trophy front-runner Caleb Williams and No. 5 USC to Boulder on Sept. 30. The average secondary-market ticket price [[link removed]] for Colorado home games for the remainder of the season is now a staggering $517.

PODCAST

🎙️ They Said What?

“You got to get out there on the field and play. You got to understand what the market is and what it isn’t … the running back position just isn’t getting paid as much.”

— Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning on NFL running backs holding out for higher salaries. To hear more from Manning about running backs, Aaron Rodgers, and the NFL season, check out the latest episode of FOS Today.

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

Netflix Fatigue May Be Hitting Sports Docuseries [[link removed]]

Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

As athletes become more open to sharing their personal lives, 2023 has been the biggest year yet for sports documentaries, with new shows surrounding tennis, golf, cycling, and the NFL — all on the back of immense success surrounding “Drive To Survive” and Formula 1.

But as the fever for behind-the-scenes content crests, some athletes appear to be less welcoming to the cameras.

When the Ryder Cup takes place in Italy later this month, Netflix won’t have full access to Team USA while it films the remaining stages of Season 2 of “Full Swing.” USA captain Zach Johnson said [[link removed]] the 12 golfers decided together not to allow Netflix into their team rooms.

Still, it won’t stop Netflix. Season 1 of “Full Swing” didn’t follow players during last fall’s President’s Cup in Charlotte, North Carolina, and even with limited access, the streaming giant’s presence will still be felt at the Ryder Cup.

Season 2 cast members haven’t been announced, but Front Office Sports can confirm Netflix cameras were following and filming Rory McIlroy — who participated in Season 1 — at the Tour Championship in Atlanta last month.

‘Quarterback’ Audible?

Netflix’s “Quarterback” series, which starred Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes along with Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota in its debut season, has been having trouble finding willing participants for its followup.

“I think maybe some guys are thinking that it is going to be a distraction,” said [[link removed]] Peyton Manning, an executive producer for the show.

On Wednesday, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said [[link removed]] he had discussions with Netflix but wasn’t sure there was going to be a second season. During training camps, several high-profile stars like Jalen Hurts [[link removed]] and Josh Allen [[link removed]] said they declined invites to participate in the show.

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Cincinnati Joins Mixed-Use Trend With $1B Plan [[link removed]]

Sam Greene & Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Yet another major American city is jumping on to the mixed-use sports development trend.

As a quickly growing set of locales such as Atlanta [[link removed]], Kansas City, [[link removed]] Phoenix [[link removed]], Las Vegas [[link removed]], and Denver [[link removed]] have embraced the strategy of putting pro sports facilities at the core of urban revitalization efforts, Cincinnati is now looking at a similar project.

On Friday, FC Cincinnati — which currently ranks [[link removed]] fifth in MLS league attendance this year — will pitch [[link removed]] the Cincinnati Planning Commission on a mixed-use complex adjacent to the club’s TQL Stadium that would include a concert venue, hotel, restaurants, apartments, and office space.

The 8.5-acre project is projected to cost between $250 million and $300 million, and if approved, will go before the City Council toward a projected 2026 opening. But it’s only part of more than $1 billion in proposed development [[link removed]] along the west side of Cincinnati’s downtown, some of which could also include a new arena.

Demolition efforts on the FC Cincinnati property started early this year, but the latest step marks a key inflection point for the project.

FC Cincinnati also has some high-powered partners with the proposed project, as it is working with Marquee Development, which is controlled by the Ricketts family, who also own the Chicago Cubs and have redeveloped the Wrigley Field area.

Bengals In The Mix?

For now, the city’s building efforts leave out the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.

The team is currently completing [[link removed]] $20 million in upgrades for the 23-year-old Paycor Stadium, but those efforts are only the start of a larger conversation. The Bengals and Ohio’s Hamilton County are in the midst [[link removed]] of talks over the future of the publicly owned facility following the 2026 end of the current lease.

IndyCar is Latest Racing Circuit Enjoying U.S. Viewership Bounce [[link removed]]

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Formula 1 has seen unprecedented growth in the U.S., thanks largely to the popularity of “Drive to Survive” docuseries on Netflix. But it’s not the only racing series seeing record numbers.

IndyCar’s 2023 season, which concluded on Sunday, was the circuit’s most-watched campaign since 2011. NBC Sports averaged 1.32 million viewers per race across the 17-event schedule — shattering the network’s record number last year.

The viewership boost came during a season that saw one of the largest crowds [[link removed]] ever to attend the Indianapolis 500, which welcomed more than 300,000 fans in May.

It’s all part of the latest wave of new interest in motorsports, which continues to attract American fans and stakeholders.

NASCAR is filming [[link removed]] a Netflix series this fall during its Cup Series Playoffs in a continuing effort to draw younger fans. Meanwhile, NASCAR’s second-tier Xfinity Series just signed a record $805 million deal with CW, which will broadcast the circuit’s races until 2031.

Then there’s F1. The inaugural running of the Las Vegas Grand Prix is expected to be one of the biggest sporting spectacles [[link removed]] of the year. ESPN has been seeing viewership gains [[link removed]] for its F1 races this season, as the network pays [[link removed]] a reported $85 million annually for the series’ U.S. media rights.

F1 and NASCAR both conclude their 2023 seasons in November.

Conversation Starters DePaul University is massively leveling up [[link removed]] its athletic facilities with plans for an upgraded arena, new weight room, and more. After owner Mat Ishbia announced plans to ditch cable TV in April, the Phoenix Suns will broadcast 70+ games on a local channel, tripling availability — and the team will provide free TV antennas [[link removed]] to fans who fill out the necessary form. Should Atlanta get another chance at an NHL franchise? Take our poll [[link removed]].

SPONSORED BY PRUDENTIAL

Ethan Quinn asks, “Now What?”

As 19-year-old Ethan Quinn makes his professional tennis debut, one of the primary things on his mind is … planning for retirement.

Why? Because Ethan understands that athletic training and hard work pays off in more ways than one – so he is partnering with Prudential [[link removed]] to invest a portion of his earnings and make it last.

Utilizing Prudential Stages for Retirement [[link removed]] and their team of financial advisors, Ethan will let his money work for him as he builds his tennis career. Through the power of compound interest, his investment could be worth as much as $2.8 million – the value of the grand prize at the US Open – when Ethan is eligible for retirement.

Connect with Prudential [[link removed]] and find out if you’re on track to meet your retirement goals! No matter where you are, Prudential can help you plan for what’s next.*

Editor's Picks Sportsbooks Are Content With Bettors ‘Embracing’ Colorado Hype [[link removed]]by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]]Heading into Week 3 and longer-term, the books aren’t sweating it. 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. Changing Market Forces NFL To Reevaluate Ownership Rules [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]The NFL formed a new committee to study potential ownership rule changes. Question Of The Day

Do you watch sports mostly through streaming or linear channels?

Streaming [[link removed]] Linear [[link removed]] Both [[link removed]]

Thursday’s Answer

52% of respondents plan to tailgate before football games this season.

DISCLAIMER

*Ethan Quinn is a paid promoter and will be a customer of Prudential. For more information about his partnership, go to prudential.com/nowwhat.

Prudential Stages is an umbrella marketing name for Pruco Securities LLC, (sometimes referred to as “Pruco”) doing business as Prudential Financial Planning Services, pursuant to a separate agreement. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Pruco, a registered investment adviser.

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