October 4, 2023

Read in Browser [[link removed]]

POWERED BY

It’s almost the start of hockey season, and I’m fascinated with ESPN’s plan [[link removed]] to create “Frozen Frenzy,” an NHL take on “NFL RedZone” and its rapid-fire pace. The effort speaks to several trends and issues at once, including the NHL’s need to further amplify its own high-quality product, the heightening battle for the time and attention of fans, and the still-underrated power and influence of “NFL RedZone” on the rest of sports broadcasting.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

World Cup Expansion Continues With Six Nations Hosting In 2030 [[link removed]]

Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

FIFA is already set for historic expansion with the 2026 World Cup thanks to its three-nation hosting plan — but will push the envelope even further with six different host countries across three continents for 2030.

On Wednesday, the global soccer governing body announced [[link removed]] its plan to have joint-bidders Morocco, Portugal, and Spain serve as the primary hosts of the 2030 World Cup. In addition, the tournament’s first three matches will be played in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup, which was staged in Uruguay.

This essentially doubles the scale of the 2026 framework — in which the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will co-host — and is designed to spread the tournament’s global reach as much as possible.

FIFA began a co-hosting model for the World Cup in 2002 when Japan and South Korea shared that year’s event, then reverted to a more traditional framework for the subsequent five iterations, including the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The most recent Women’s World Cup also featured a two-nation hosting model, with Australia and New Zealand posting [[link removed]] a series of event records.

“In a divided world, FIFA and football are uniting,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino. “What a great message of peace, tolerance, and inclusion.”

Not all agree, though, and fan advocacy group Football Supporters Europe blasted the 2030 decision, the increased travel required, and Saudi Arabia’s plan to bid for the 2034 World Cup.

“FIFA continues its cycle of destruction against the greatest tournament on earth,” the group said [[link removed]]. “Horrendous for supporters, disregards the environment, and rolls out the red carpet out to a host for 2034 with an appalling human rights record. It’s the end of the World Cup as we know it.”

The six host countries for the 2030 World Cup will each receive automatic bids for the 48-team field.

The 2026 World Cup continues to experience its own drama. FIFA is expected to soon announce the schedule — and particularly which city will host the event final. The race for that coveted match is said [[link removed]] to be between New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium and Texas’ AT&T Stadium.

EXCLUSIVE

Apple, Amazon Consider Acquiring College Football Playoff Rights

Days after Front Office Sports discovered that NBC is interested in media rights for the expanded College Football Playoff, sources have confirmed Apple and Amazon have also had preliminary discussions to acquire the rights. Both companies have yet to obtain top-shelf college sports media rights so far.

Read more in this exclusive report [[link removed]] from FOS reporter Amanda Christovich and senior reporter Michael McCarthy.

WNBA To Formally Announce Expansion, But How Many Teams? [[link removed]]

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The WNBA will officially take its next step toward team expansion on Thursday ahead of the WNBA Finals, which begin in Las Vegas on Sunday.

A Bay Area group led by Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob reportedly has a deal [[link removed]] in place for a 13th WNBA franchise, while a new report [[link removed]] on Wednesday notes that the Bay Area team would join the league in 2025.

It’s likely that the WNBA will eventually add a 14th team to give the league an even number, but it’s uncertain when such an announcement, or more news regarding further expansion, will come.

Expanding to multiple new markets by 2025 has been a stated goal [[link removed]] of WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Now, the question is: Which locations beyond the Bay Area should earn a franchise?

A shortlist of cities the WNBA has been considering includes Nashville, Toronto, Austin, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Denver. Of those, only Charlotte has previously been home to a WNBA team. However, Toronto, Philadelphia, and Denver all have long-standing NBA teams and could mimic the dual-ownership model reported to be crystallizing in the Bay Area.

The last team to join the NBA was the Atlanta Dream in 2008. Since then, the former San Antonio Stars relocated to Las Vegas to become the Aces, and the former Detroit Shock moved first to Tulsa and then Dallas, where they were renamed the Wings.

SPONSORED BY TURNSTILE

NFL Jersey Patch Program: What's It Worth?

All eyes have been on the NFL as the journey to Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII continues.

Commercially, the NFL kicked off the season in a dominant position [[link removed]]. New media deals in place, sponsorship revenue [[link removed]] is growing, and attendance is up year-on-year. Business is booming for the world’s richest sports league.

But the league is still more than $5 billion short of achieving the $25 billion annual revenue target by 2027. With TV deals now locked in until the end of the decade, the league will need to look elsewhere to find ways to make up the shortfall.

Could now be the right time for the NFL to share in the successes of patch programs like the NBA, NHL and MLB? And if so, what would an NFL jersey patch program be worth?

Download Turnstile’s FREE report [[link removed]] now.

Rays’ Historically Low Playoff Attendance Highlights Market Challenge [[link removed]]

Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Rays’ record-low turnout for their first 2023 playoff game has reinforced the local market issues surrounding the franchise since their debut more than a quarter-century ago.

The Rays drew just 19,704 fans to Tropicana Field on Tuesday for their American League Wild Card Series opener against the Texas Rangers — the smallest non-pandemic crowd for an MLB postseason game since the 1919 World Series.

The low draw was partly due to some external, league-driven factors. MLB scheduled the game for a 3:08 p.m. ET start, when many fans are at work or school, and its wild card slate wasn’t finalized until Sunday evening.

But the latest figure also extends a long-running and troubling issue for the Rays, who have struggled to draw fans despite regularly fielding competitive teams. The Rays ended the 2023 regular season with MLB’s fourth-smallest total attendance, drawing 1.44 million and beating only Kansas City, Miami, and Oakland.

For many years, critics have pointed to the club’s playing on the west side of Tampa Bay, away from much of the region’s population base, as a critical drag on attendance. During the Rays’ recent announcement [[link removed]] of a new stadium deal, team owner Stu Sternberg cited a changing St. Petersburg as a key reason to stay instead of building elsewhere in the area.

“This region, and especially this city, are growing up around us and are better equipped to support a Major League Baseball team,” Sternberg said.

The latest total challenges that notion and will likely be joined by a similar number on Wednesday, as the Rays had another afternoon start for Game 2 against the Rangers.

Conversation Starters ESPN’s “Frozen Frenzy” NHL show will be hosted by John Buccigross. Do you plan on watching? Take our poll [[link removed]]. The Phillies sold out [[link removed]] all three of their potential Wild Card games before the series even began — with tickets selling for over 500% more than other games. “Toy Story Funday Football” delivered the largest audience [[link removed]] for any live event to date on Disney+, while the traditional Jags-Falcons broadcast was the most-viewed event ever on ESPN+.

SPONSORED BY T-MOBILE

The Power of 5G in Professional Baseball

As consumer spending shifts from material goods to memorable moments, sports organizations are tasked with curating unforgettable experiences for fans.

That’s why T-Mobile and the MLB® turned the 2023 MLB® All-Star Week™ into a hotbed of tech innovation [[link removed]], all powered by T-Mobile 5G Advanced Network Solutions. The duo delighted fans on and off the field with:

Real-time pitch location tracking and challenges. 5G Batting Practice HD drone and catcher mask cameras delivering unprecedented close-up and birds-eye view perspectives of the game. The groundbreaking MLB NEXT APP, offering AR-powered 3D visualizations during live play.

Learn more [[link removed]] about how T-Mobile 5G innovations reimagined the 2023 MLB® All-Star Week™ Experience.

Editor's Picks Could Bill Belichick Be the Next Great NFL TV Analyst? [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]Notorious for curt answers and a prickly attitude toward the media, the Patriots coach could be a great analyst, some insiders believe. Australian Open Adds Extra Day to Combat Late Finishes [[link removed]]by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]]The 2024 edition will begin on a Sunday for the first time. Ryder Cup Viewership Drops in U.S., Rises in U.K. [[link removed]]by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]]NBC’s event coverage attracted 1.32 million average viewers on Sunday. 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