December 4, 2023

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Despite a 4-9 record, there is still a feeling of hope surrounding the Washington Commanders, thanks largely to the arrival of new ownership, led by Josh Harris, and the prospect [[link removed]] of a new stadium. But it will be hard for the franchise to truly turn the corner until it begins to reassert a home-field advantage. A haven for visiting teams for much of the Dan Snyder era, Miami fans took over [[link removed]] FedEx Field on Sunday to the point where Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said he couldn’t “remember an away game where we’ve had that much support, that much love from our fans.”

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

Premier League Reasserts Dominance With $8.5B Domestic Rights Deals [[link removed]]

Premier League

The Premier League has completed an $8.5 billion set of domestic media rights agreements that reasserts its presence as one of the world’s most dominant sports properties.

In four-year pacts starting with the 2025-26 season, Comcast’s Sky Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT will broadcast up to 270 live games per season, each retaining their status with the league, while the BBC will continue to broadcast a free-to-air highlights package.

The highly anticipated [[link removed]] agreements are described as the largest sports media rights pacts ever completed in the U.K. A 4% increase from the prior rights cycle, the aggregate fees nearly double the recently struck [[link removed]] domestic rights in Italy for Serie A.

“The outcome of this process underlines the strength of the Premier League and is testament to our clubs, players, and managers who continue to deliver the world’s most competitive football in full stadiums, and to supporters, who create an unrivaled atmosphere every week,” said Premier League CEO Richard Masters.

Notably, the deals leave out streamers Amazon and DAZN.

Amazon, which has held a smaller package of Premier League rights since 2019, maintains UEFA Champions League rights but has been more measured in its acquisition of European and South American domestic league rights. The streaming and retail giant reportedly [[link removed]] declined to bid on the full Premier League offering, given the volume of games.

How the $1B Golf Ball Industry Might Add a Few Strokes To Your Game [[link removed]]

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

At a time when recreational golf is growing like never before, amateur players will face a significant change to their everyday game, thanks in part to the politicking of a billion-dollar industry.

In March, two of golf’s governing bodies, the United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (commonly known as the R&A), proposed a controversial rule change [[link removed]] to decrease the distance that golf balls fly in elite competitions. The bifurcated plan was to roll back the golf ball for professionals while leaving the amateur game unchanged.

Now, Golf Digest reports [[link removed]] that after a review period that included feedback from players, golf courses, and equipment manufactures, the change will now impact golf balls at every level of the sport — not just the pros.

Beginning in 2028, amateur golfers will have to start using balls that, on average, cover 5% less distance than today’s balls. That would mean a 250-yard drive would now go about 238 yards. Professionals will have to adopt the rule in 2026, per the report.

Too Much Money At Stake?

In 2022, the global golf ball market was valued [[link removed]] at $1.04 billion, according to a report from the research guide Market.US, and it is anticipated to reach $1.35 billion by 2032.

Golf ball manufacturers like Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, and others were reportedly [[link removed]] not fans of the split proposal. The concern: They’ve always been able to say they are selling recreational players the exact same equipment that pros are using. Rory McIlroy, in a post [[link removed]] on X, said that ball manufacturers “think bifurcation would negatively affect their bottom lines.”

The USGA And R&A are expected to announce the decision this week.

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Coyotes Closing in on Arena Site in Move Toward Long-desired Stability [[link removed]]

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Coyotes are reportedly close to a decision on where to build their $2.1 billion sports and entertainment district, a move that could bring a major dose of stability to the long-struggling franchise.

Nearly four months after the NHL team signed [[link removed]] a letter of intent to purchase a plot of land in Mesa as the possible development site, the Coyotes are now said [[link removed]] to be focusing on a separate parcel in north Phoenix, adjacent to Scottsdale.

The new location would represent something of a compromise. It’s further away from Mesa and other areas in metro Phoenix’s southeast valley, which represents a sizable portion of the team’s season-ticket base. But it’s very near some of the wealthiest areas in north Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, and it’s closer to Glendale, the team’s previous home.

Even after signing the letter of intent in Mesa, the team said it would continue to explore other potential development sites. For now, the team remains [[link removed]] at Arizona State University’s 5,000-seat Mullett Arena, a facility less than a third the size of the NHL’s next-smallest arena.

A final decision and announcement regarding the arena site is expected [[link removed]] within the next several months. Despite years of uncertainty and lagging attendance, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has remained steadfast [[link removed]] in his support of keeping the Coyotes in the country’s 11th-largest media market.

Media Matters

The Coyotes also remain in a state of transition with regard to local media rights. The team recently parted ways with the bankrupt Diamond Sports Group and struck [[link removed]] a separate deal with Scripps Sports to show their games locally. That deal, however, changed [[link removed]] the specific local TV channels used, and some fans found it difficult to find early-season games.

The team also filed a formal claim against DSG in October seeking [[link removed]] nearly $18 million in unpaid rights fees.

The Coyotes are enjoying a resurgent season, holding the top wild card slot in the Western Conference after only reaching the playoffs once in the last 11 seasons.

Conversation Starters After being flexed into Week 15’s “Monday Night Football” game, the Eagles now have three-straight standalone [[link removed]] games in December. Philly’s games have consistently been among the league’s most-watched all year. Every year, several pro hockey teams hold a teddy bear toss after scoring their first goal. The Edmonton Oil Kings have collected and donated 163,000 bears since 2008, and at their Dec. 1 game vs. Everett, their fans threw 15,000 onto the ice. See [[link removed]] how other teams stacked up. A golf simulator bar in Cedar Rapids offered free beer [[link removed]] to football fans until Iowa scored its first points against Michigan on Saturday. (Spoiler alert: That never happened.) SPONSORED BY INVESCO QQQ Between unprecedented conference realignments, historic media rights deals, the wild world of NIL, and high-stakes competition, this space couldn’t be more exciting right now, but you need someone to help you make sense of it all. That’s where we come in. James Madison, the FCS Team That Spent Like an FBS Team To Become One [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]The Dukes have been spending like a Sun Belt program for years. After Unbeaten FSU’s Snub, Financial and Legal Fallout [[link removed]]by Eric Fisher [[link removed]]FSU, ACC to take sizable revenue hit despite Seminoles' undefeated season. Florida Lawmakers Consider Protesting Florida State CFP Omission [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]It's unclear what form a bill would take. New Lawsuit Could Decide Whether NIL Is Subject To Title IX [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]It's one of the biggest unanswered questions of the NIL era. Careers in Sports

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