February 5, 2024

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Messi Mania takes another step backward as the Argentinian superstar doesn’t play in a friendly in Hong Kong. … The Arizona Coyotes make further progress in a bid to build a new arena and mixed-use development in north Phoenix, but is Salt Lake City the better answer? … A landmark collection of vintage Michael Jordan game-worn shoes garners a record-setting price. … Rick Pitino doesn’t have much regard for NCAA enforcement. … Plus: More on the 2026 World Cup schedule release, and those impacted.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

Messi Mania Turns Sour, Even Before the 2024 MLS Season Starts [[link removed]]

Victor Fraile-USA TODAY Sports

The Lionel Messi experience in MLS ended 2023 in downbeat fashion, and ’24 is starting even uglier, spotlighting the risks for the league and Inter Miami in counting on the Argentinian superstar for sustained, large-scale business growth.

After injuries to Messi and a six-match winless streak marred [[link removed]] the conclusion of Inter Miami’s season last year following an initial surge [[link removed]] of fan interest, a preseason tour by the club has revealed more problems.

An ambitious [[link removed]] and still-ongoing trip that has included stops in El Salvador, Dallas, Saudi Arabia, and most recently Hong Kong has generated just one win and a tie in five matches. More troubling, a Sunday match in Hong Kong featured fans booing [[link removed]] and demanding ticket refunds as both Messi and teammate Luis Suárez did not play due to further injuries.

Tatler XFEST Hong Kong, organizer of the match, is now withdrawing from roughly $2 million in government grants related to the event. Messi had been a key fixture in prematch advertising, and on Friday, Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said Messi was “likely” to play in Hong Kong, further heightening fan expectations.

“The [Hong Kong] government, as well as football fans, are extremely disappointed that Messi could neither play in the friendly match, nor explain to the fans in person upon request,” Hong Kong officials said. “The way that the organizer and Inter Miami handled the situation could not meet the expectations of the fans who showed strong support to Messi, especially those visitors who came all the way here for the match.”

The preseason tour further spotlights load management [[link removed]] issues that have increasingly become a prevalent concern in soccer, drawing public remarks from other icons in the sport such as French superstar Kylian Mbappé. For Inter Miami, the matches will precede a 34-game MLS regular season, as well as planned appearances in the Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup—adding to the pressure on the 36-year-old Messi and whether his body will hold up to the demand.

Two more matches are scheduled for the current Inter Miami preseason tour: Wednesday in Tokyo against Japan’s Vissel Kobe, and back in Miami on Feb. 15 against Argentinian club Newell’s Old Boys.

ONE BIG FIG Rare Airs

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY

$8,023,800

Amount that a collection of Air Jordan shoes worn by Michael Jordan during all six of the Chicago Bulls’ title-clinching games sold for at Sotheby’s—a world auction record for game-used shoes. The Dynasty Collection includes one of the following shoes (autographed) from each game: Air Jordan VI (1991), Air Jordan VII (’92), Air Jordan VIII (’93), Air Jordan XI (’96), Air Jordan XII (’97) and Air Jordan XIV (’98).

Despite Phoenix Progress, Salt Lake City Looms in Coyotes’ Arena Efforts [[link removed]]

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Coyotes’ long-planned effort to build a new arena and mixed-use development has taken another step forward. But that hasn’t stopped chatter that a move to Salt Lake City might be the preferable outcome.

The NHL team has filed an application to buy about 200 acres of state trust land in north Phoenix, advancing [[link removed]] on recent interest [[link removed]] in that area and signaling that the location could be the project’s new home after voters in Tempe, Ariz., rejected [[link removed]] building there. The Coyotes confirmed the application, but said other sites remain in consideration, and the team signed [[link removed]] a letter of intent last August on a separate parcel in Mesa.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, meanwhile, said during the league’s All-Star weekend in Toronto that the Coyotes’ arena situation “will be addressed in the next few weeks.”

“[Team owner] Alex Meruelo told me as recently as last week that he was certain he was going to get this done,” Bettman said. “I don’t make it a practice of contradicting owners unless I have hard facts to the contrary. I’m both hopeful and reasonably confident that he’s going to do what he says.”

Despite Bettman’s confidence, calls persist for the team to move to Salt Lake City, particularly after Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith amplified [[link removed]] his efforts to bring an NHL franchise there. The Athletic was the latest to argue [[link removed]] for a move to Utah, saying, “The reality is, if the Coyotes can’t get going on a new building and Salt Lake City is ready to go—which Smith says they are—then the easy, and relatively seamless, solution is to transfer Arizona to Salt Lake City.”

NHL Players Association leaders are also voicing concern about the Coyotes’ situation and raising the prospect of relocation.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had two unofficial deadlines to come up with some movement, and we’ve gone past both of those,” said union executive director Marty Walsh. “If there’s no plan in Arizona, I would encourage a move to another location, absolutely. … They’re playing in a college arena, and they’re the second tenant in that arena. This is not the way to run a business.”

While the arena pursuit continues, the Coyotes are playing at Arizona State University’s 5,000-seat Mullett Arena (above), by far the smallest venue in the NHL.

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NFL’s Danger Zone?

While the NFL has embraced sports betting with its first Super Bowl in Las Vegas, any players in attendance during Super Bowl week are having to navigate a maze of potential hazards due to the league’s strict gambling bylaws. Whether intentional or not, the situation is primed for players to break the rules.

Reporter Dan Kaplan joins Front Office Sports Today to share exactly what kinds of pitfalls players should be on the lookout for, including detailed regulations on casino events and sportsbook locations.

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

LOUD AND CLEAR No Laughing Matter

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

“It’s a joke.”

—Rick Pitino, on the NCAA’s enforcement staff, noting [[link removed]] that “they’re going to get taken to court every time they try to make a rule” while trying to police member schools in the NIL era. The Hall of Fame basketball coach was responding to a question about renewing the rivalry with Connecticut while trying to rebuild the St. John’s program.

STATUS REPORT Three Up, One Down: All–World Cup Edition

Anne-Marie Caruso/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

NYC’s Mayor ⬆ A rare win for Eric Adams (above): the NYC region [[link removed]] will host the 2026 men’s World Cup Final, FIFA announced Sunday. Many anticipated Dallas, after floating the idea of opening its baseball stadiums for ticketed watch parties, would get the match.

Mexico City ⬆ Estadio Azteca, in the capital city, landed the opening match, making it the only stadium to host the World Cup three separate times.

Atlanta ⬆ The city’s leaders and soccer fans are ecstatic after receiving eight matches from FIFA, including a coveted semifinal. The growing soccer city will soon become the new headquarters of U.S. Soccer, officials announced in September.

Jerry Jones ⬇ In the same week, the Texas billionaire lost both his bid to host the World Cup final and his Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, to the rival Washington Commanders.

Conversation Starters The NBA has unveiled [[link removed]] a state-of-the-art LED court for the 2024 All-Star events taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It will include live replays, player tracking, real-time stats, and interactive games for fans. UCLA star Kiki Rice, who became Jordan Brand’s first NIL athlete in 2022, is also the first NIL athlete to receive [[link removed]] her own player edition shoe. The NFL and the Sphere have announced [[link removed]] a deal that will see custom visuals displayed throughout Super Bowl week in Las Vegas. Editor’s Picks Tuned In: Shannon Sharpe, Undisputed YouTube Champ, One-Ups Skip Bayless [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]Club Shay Shay and Nightcap have Sharpe on top of his old co-host. What Happens When the NFL Welcomes Hundreds of Players to a Locale It Once Shunned? [[link removed]]by Daniel Kaplan [[link removed]]Almost 600 players descend upon a city the NFL once shunned. You May Dislike the Pro Bowl Games. But Perhaps Reconsider Your KPIs [[link removed]]by Eric Fisher [[link removed]]The league’s objectives go far beyond simply drawing a mass television audience. 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]], Margaret Fleming [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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