December 8, 2023

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NBA players exist on an entirely different economic level than most others. But with $500,000 per player on the line in tomorrow’s final of the NBA In-Season Tournament, it’s fascinating to see how that money has gained the attention of many of the participants. Some players have said they are treating that bonus money as if it doesn’t exist and will just save it.

For LeBron James, it’s still less than he makes in a single regular season game. But for those earning closer to the league’s minimum salary of roughly $1.1 million, including several players on the Lakers and Pacers, the prize moves closer to a truly significant amount of money to receive at once

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

U.S. and Mexico’s WWC Goal: $3B Revenue, Attendance Records [[link removed]]

Credit: Jenna Watson-USA TODAY Sports

The U.S. and Mexico have made a formal joint-bid to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup – and if they win that bid, they intend to set a new economic precedent in women’s sports.

The two countries’ soccer federations, as expected [[link removed]], submitted their bid, but with the eye-popping goals of generating $3 billion in revenue from the event and drawing a total attendance of 4.5 million, according to T he Wall Street Journal [[link removed]]. That revenue projection is more than five times the $570 million yielded from [[link removed]] the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and more than twice the 2023 tournament’s attendance of 1.98 million.

“The time is right to host a FIFA Women’s World Cup that features a truly world-class experience for players and fans alike,” said Cindy Parlow Cone, U.S. Soccer president. “This will not only unlock the economic potential of women’s soccer, it will send a message to young players around the world that there is no limit to what they can achieve.”

The two federations did not detail how they intend to create that $3 billion in revenue, but there are growing reasons for the bullishness in the fiscal projections. There is arguably no sector of the sports industry rising faster than women’s sports, with the WNBA [[link removed]], NWSL [[link removed]], and PWHL [[link removed]] all reaching new milestones of revenue, attendance, and prominence this year, following on the success of the 2023 WWC.

Global professional services firm Deloitte also recently projected that 2024 will be the first year in which women’s pro sports surpasses [[link removed]] $1 billion in annual revenue.

Shared Burden

The WWC bid also extends a growing trend [[link removed]] within soccer in which multiple countries are coming together to bid jointly and share the financial and logistical burdens of hosting major tournaments. One rival bid for the 2027 WWC, for example, comes from a unified Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.

The U.S.-Mexico bid additionally seeks to follow on the joint hosting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in those countries and Canada, and create an unprecedented three-year run of major events in North America, including the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

“The U.S. and Mexico are in a unique position to host a World Cup that will leverage the same venues, infrastructure, and protocols used for the Men’s World Cup just a year prior,” Parlow Cone said.

Brazil is also bidding for the 2027 WWC.

If Low-Budget Pacers Beat LeBron’s Lakers for NBA Cup, Does It Matter? [[link removed]]

Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Despite having operated with the NBA’s lowest payroll [[link removed]], at $130 million – and having failed to make the playoffs the last three years – the Indiana Pacers are on the cusp of winning the inaugural In-Season Tournament.

In order to do so in Saturday’s final, to claim the NBA Cup, they will have to first defeat LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the league’s marquee franchises, setting up a clear David and Goliath story.

But what exactly would it mean if Indiana prevailed?

The Pacers beat Milwaukee in the first of Thursday’s two tournament semifinal games, kicking off a lively atmosphere in the NBA’s most meaningful [[link removed]] games to date in Las Vegas. The scene at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday included a unique crossover [[link removed]] of ESPN and TNT broadcast crews, a pre-game concert with Nelly and TLC, and frequent celebrity appearances, with the likes of Basketball Hall of Famer Julius Erving, actress Vivica A. Fox, and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. present.

“I believe that the NBA can make just about anything happen,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “The In-Season Tournament is something that there were many, many skeptics about for many years, and right now it’s all the buzz.”

Worth Hanging A Banner?

The awarding of the NBA Cup, however, presents a broader, still-unanswered question of how seriously teams and fans will treat the victory. The NBA’s creation of the In-Season Tournament was modeled [[link removed]] heavily after in-season competitions common to European soccer. And while the intensity of play has met league aspirations, NBA players are divided [[link removed]] on what winning would mean.

“I think at this point in my career, because I haven’t done anything yet, I’ll take a banner, but certainly ‘Bron would not answer the same way,” [[link removed]]the Pacers’ 23-year-old Tyrese Haliburton told The Athletic [[link removed]].

James, for his part, said he is using the tournament as critical preparation for the postseason.

“I understand this thing has been great, but it’s still December,” James said on the TNT broadcast immediately after defeating the Pelicans in the other semifinal. “But it is another game for us to get better.”

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FanDuel Parent Sets NYSE Listing Days Before Super Bowl [[link removed]]

Ryan Armbrust / Imagn

FanDuel parent Flutter Entertainment has solidified its plans to have an American stock listing, with trading set to begin just days before one of the biggest events for sports betting in the U.S.

Confirming months of development [[link removed]], the Ireland-based Flutter will have a listing on the New York Stock Exchange beginning Jan. 29. Aimed at occupying a greater presence in its top market, Flutter’s move will be joined by a planned delisting on the Euronext Dublin exchange while keeping a separate listing on the London Stock Exchange.

That start of trading comes just 13 days before Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. Along with March Madness, the Super Bowl typically ranks as one of the top draws each year for sports bettors, and the upcoming NFL title game at Allegiant Stadium is expected to raise the prominence of legal sports betting even more.

As a result, FanDuel will be pushing to solidify its current status [[link removed]] as the top-ranking U.S. sportsbook around that event.

Listing With Benefits

Flutter CEO Peter Jackson previously said the American listing will “bring the group significant benefits from accessing the world’s deepest and most liquid capital market.”

The U.S. stock listing is also designed to aid FanDuel’s operations in the face of heightened competition [[link removed]] from upstart market entrants [[link removed]] such as Fanatics and ESPN Bet. FanDuel’s top rival, DraftKings, is already publicly traded, and its shares have risen more than 227% this year as the company has grown its revenues while at last curtailing long-scrutinized marketing expenses.

Prior to the start of U.S. trading, Flutter will provide a “brief trading update” on its fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 results on Jan. 18. That report will precede a full quarterly earnings report on March 26.

Conversation Starters The portfolio for Arctos Sports Partners continues to grow. The U.S.-based investors added Paris Saint-Germain to a list that includes the Golden State Warriors, the Boston Red Sox, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Take a look [[link removed]]. In case you missed it, Nickelodeon will be getting an alternate broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII — and this one’s hosted by SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star. Take a peek [[link removed]] at what to expect. U.S. Soccer is building [[link removed]] a new national training facility on more than 200 acres of land in Fayette County, Georgia, with the help of Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

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Editor's Picks The Hoodie in the Booth? Bill Belichick’s TV Analyst Prospects Grow [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]If the Patriots coach is interested in TV, several TV networks told Front Office Sports they'd love to talk to him. Deadspin Alters Controversial ‘Black Face’ Story Amid Legal Threat [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]After over a week of outrage, Deadspin changed a story many perceived as an attack on a young Kansas City Chiefs fan. Seven State AGs Sue NCAA Over Transfer Eligibility Rule [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]] and Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]They say the NCAA’s one-time transfer reform didn’t go far enough. 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]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]]

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