February 13, 2024

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The College Football Playoff reportedly has a new media rights deal worth nearly $8 billion. … Tiger Woods finally details his post-Nike future, and we break it down. … Nevada sportsbooks broke more records during Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. … Plus, more on TNT’s NBA All-Star Game plans, a downturn in soccer spending, Fanatics’ MLB jerseys, and an update on the Royals’ ballpark situation.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]]

ESPN Reportedly Lands $7.8B CFP Extension. Here’s What We Know [[link removed]]

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The race for the College Football Playoff’s future media rights may be over.

The Athletic is reporting [[link removed]] that ESPN and the CFP are in agreement on a six-year, $7.8 billion extension for the network to retain all of the Playoff’s broadcast rights through the 2031–32 season. ESPN has owned rights to the CFP since it began in ’14, and its current contract runs for the next two seasons. The new deal hasn’t been officially signed, per The Athletic, and is contingent upon CFP leaders finalizing details of the expanded 12-team format.

Last month, ESPN college football reporter Pete Thamel put out a report [[link removed]] saying his network was in talks about a deal of this nature. (Front Office Sports has previously reported, however, that Fox Sports was planning a major push to get a slice of the rights.)

Both ESPN and the CFP declined to provide a comment on the report to FOS.

What FOS Is Hearing

FOS reporter Amanda Christovich: FOS was unable to confirm The Athletic’s report, with one industry source saying that it definitely took some by surprise. If the report is true, however, it could be ESPN’s checkmate against Fox in the battle for college football supremacy. The two have been the ruling duopoly [[link removed]] of CFB media rights, with ESPN controlling the SEC and Fox controlling the Big Ten, for the past several years.

According to The Athletic, ESPN could still sublicense some games in the expanded 12-team event out to other networks, so Fox could still broadcast a few games if it buys them from ESPN. Not to mention that the new streaming sports bundle [[link removed]] with Fox Corp., ESPN, and Warner Bros. Discovery allows all three networks to benefit from one another’s inventory. But ultimately, the college football duopoly appears to be collapsing into a monopoly—something commissioners at non-ESPN conferences have been trying to prevent for more than a year.

FOS senior writer Michael McCarthy: ESPN might as well put an “F” in its name for football. To me, ESPN is sending a message to friend and foe that it’s making itself primarily a football-driven media company. We know the four letters have locked up the NFL’s Monday Night Football package through 2033—along with its first two Super Bowls. Now it’s finalizing rights to the only bowl games that will move the needle TV-wise over the next decade of college football. Plus, it’s sending a shot across the bows of Fox Sports, its biggest rival for college football rights.

As media consultant Lee Berke told me Tuesday: “Football has done extraordinarily well for [ESPN]. They have both pro and college. They’ve made a substantial investment in retaining all the SEC rights going forward—and they’re splitting the Big 12. Look, ESPN owns bowl season. There’s very few bowl games that are not part of that package. Essentially, what will happen is these bowls, under this expanded Playoff system, will increasingly be the only major bowl games that matter. To have that entire franchise is a terrific opportunity. … [Football] delivers time and again. So it makes a lot of sense.”

Crowded Competition

Aside from ESPN [[link removed]], CBS, Fox, NBC, Warner Bros. Discovery, Apple, and Amazon had all been linked [[link removed]] to at least hold preliminary discussions with the CFP for some or all of its media rights. Fox, in particular, was said to be weighing [[link removed]] a “massive bid.” Sources previously told FOS [[link removed]] that the CFP was exploring the idea of creating a Super Bowl–like rotation among multiple network partners for the national championship game. In the end, though, it appears ESPN was able to win out.

Tiger’s Post-Nike Future Comes With a New Business Plan [[link removed]]

Credit: Sun Day Red

Tiger Woods is returning to competition on the PGA Tour at this week’s Genesis Invitational not only with a new look, but also the next evolution of his business career.

The 15-time major champion is believed to have made [[link removed]] at least $500 million from multiple contracts with Nike throughout his 27-year tenure with the company that officially ended last month. Now, after much speculation and anticipation, Woods has unveiled [[link removed]] his new apparel brand, Sun Day Red, which is actually its own company, under the TaylorMade umbrella. (Woods has used TaylorMade clubs since 2017.)

Notably, Sun Day Red will be based in San Clemente, Calif., giving it a separate headquarters from TaylorMade’s about 25 miles south in Carlsbad. Financial details are not available, but trademark attorney Josh Gerben speculated on X [[link removed]] that the deal structure suggests Woods and TaylorMade “are sharing ownership (and profits) of the new company.” Woods did not have equity with Nike.

Focusing on performance wear and luxury lifestyle fashion, Sun Day Red will make golf staples like hats, polos, gloves, shorts, and pants, as well as hoodies, T-shirts, and fleeces. The main logo is a drawing of a Tiger, and for now, the iconic “TW” logo made famous by Nike is gone.

Woods will begin wearing Sun Day Red during this week’s tournament, but the brand won’t be available to the public until May 1. Right now, Woods, who nearly had his right leg amputated after a car crash in 2021, will continue to wear FootJoy shoes, but footwear is part of Sun Day Red’s long-term plans.

Previously, Nike endorsers included Woods-branded sports gear as part of their deals (although 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler prefers Woods-branded shoes). It remains to be seen whether Sun Day Red will look to sign any professional golfers as clients moving forward.

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ONE BIG FIG Super Bowl Bets Soar

James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

$185.6 million

Amount made in bets on Super Bowl LVIII across 182 sportsbooks, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board [[link removed]]. The figure, which is up 23% from 2023 and beat the previous record from ’22 of $179.8 million, is the most wagered on a Super Bowl in any state’s history.

STATUS REPORT Two Up, Two Down

Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals ⬆ The Royals officially announced that they have chosen a site [[link removed]] in downtown Kansas City to build their new ballpark. The MLB team, which will still need to secure some public funding, originally sought to pick a site last fall but had been delaying its decision as it tried to choose between neighboring counties.

Alternate broadcasts ⬆ TNT Sports’ plans for this weekend’s NBA All-Star festivities will feature two alternate broadcasts. On Sunday, Charles Barkley and Warriors forward Draymond Green will host the NBA All-Star Game altcast on TruTV and Max. On Saturday, the Access 23 Jordan Brand altcast will be hosted by Adam Lefkoe and Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, featuring Vince Carter and Carmelo Anthony.

English soccer spending ⬇ The January transfer window for international soccer saw English clubs spend 80% less than they did in the same time frame in 2023, according to FIFA [[link removed]]. U.K. clubs spent $184 million last month, compared to $896 million a year ago [[link removed]].

Fanatics ⬇ This year, MLB uniforms are being manufactured by Fanatics, which is licensing Nike’s logo for the jerseys. As spring training draws near, the early reviews are not great. Cardinals players are reportedly unhappy [[link removed]] with their look and feel, and the Mariners’ new replica jerseys are already drawing the ire [[link removed]] of some fans.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS AWARDS

New Award Franchises Announced

Front Office Sports is excited to announce the launch of multiple data-driven award franchises in partnership with Sports Innovation Lab. These inaugural awards will recognize companies and organizations defining the future of sports.

The new award franchises are:

Best Venues [[link removed]] Most Sustainable [[link removed]] Best College Athletic Departments [[link removed]] Most Impactful [[link removed]]

The submission period for Best Venues is open now through April 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Take advantage of early submissions through Feb. 25.

Learn more about the award and submit your venue [[link removed]]!

Conversation Starters With Las Vegas in the books and New Orleans next up for the Super Bowl, the Big Game will then make back-to-back appearances [[link removed]] on the West Coast in 2026 and ’27. The Sphere saw some big names on its exterior during Super Bowl week, including Nike, Pepsi, Budweiser, Adidas, and U2. Check out [[link removed]]the complete list. Team owner Ted Leonsis is facing his largest setback [[link removed]] to date in an effort to build a $2 billion arena district in Alexandria, Va., for the Washington Wizards and Capitals. A key legislator has declared legislation backing the plan is “not ready for prime time.” Editors’ Picks Tuned In: On Sunday, 123.4 Million Viewers. On Tuesday, 800 Layoffs [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]CBS delivered monster TV numbers. Days later, Paramount slashed hundreds of jobs. A’s Name Jenny Cavnar First Female MLB Play-By-Play Announcer [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]Former Rockies reporter and backup announcer now heads to NBC Sports California. Never Bigger: Super Bowl LVIII Draws Record Audience of 123.4 Million [[link removed]]by Eric Fisher [[link removed]]Chiefs-49ers title game stands alone as the most-watched event in American television history. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Sports Careers [[link removed]] Written by David Rumsey [[link removed]], Michael McCarthy [[link removed]], Amanda Christovich [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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