February 20, 2024

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The Lerner family has a change of heart and pulls the Nationals off the market. … Adam Silver’s plan to bring more competitiveness and intensity to the NBA All-Star Game backfires. … Plus: More on the PWHL, golf caddies, Mexico’s Club América, and Barcelona.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

An About-Face in D.C. As Lerners Pull Nationals From the Market [[link removed]]

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

For the second time in a year, an MLB club that had been for sale has been pulled off the market.

Nationals managing principal owner Mark Lerner and his family are no longer entertaining offers for all or part of the team, according to The Washington Post [[link removed]], ending an exploration of a sale in place since early 2022.

“We’ve just decided that it’s not the time or place for it,” Lerner told the Post. “We’re very happy owning the team and bringing us back a ring one day.”

The Lerner family’s decision follows that of Angels owner Arte Moreno, who early last year said [[link removed]] he “just couldn’t go through” with a sale of that franchise.

The Nationals’ situation, however, arrives with a particular set of circumstances. Billionaire private equity executive David Rubenstein, who was rumored to be interested in buying the Nationals, is instead buying [[link removed]] the Orioles. Rubenstein previously sought to partner [[link removed]] on the Nationals deal with Washington Wizards, Capitals, and Mystics owner Ted Leonsis, who is now grappling with rising complications [[link removed]] with his planned Alexandria, Va., arena and mixed-use development.

The Rubenstein deal in Baltimore, meanwhile, is being seen as a potential catalyst for solving the long-running impasse around the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. The regional sports network is co-owned by the Orioles and Nationals, with the Orioles holding a supermajority share, and a prior dispute over rights fees extended [[link removed]] for more than a decade. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred recently suggested that Rubenstein’s arrival could spark bigger changes to MASN’s structure, saying [[link removed]] “change always produces an opportunity.”

The Lerners also own a series of commercial and residential properties near Nationals Park, creating a deeper tie between the club and the family’s long-running real estate business, which like others in that industry was battered during the pandemic. The Nationals have an estimated value [[link removed]] of $2 billion.

But the clan additionally faces rising unrest from fans who have seen four straight losing seasons and steadily falling payrolls since the Nationals’ World Series title in 2019, coupled with the departure of stars such as Trea Turner, Juan Soto, and Max Scherzer.

Pundits Bashed a 397-Point NBA All-Star Game—But Fans Still Watched [[link removed]]

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

NBA commissioner Adam Silver couldn’t completely hide his frustration with the distinct absence of competitiveness, effort, and defense in this year’s All-Star Game, conducting the trophy presentation with his own lack of enthusiasm.

“To the Eastern Conference All-Stars, you scored the most points. Well … congratulations. Giannis [Antetokounmpo], your team, this trophy is yours,” Silver said [[link removed]].

Three months ago, Silver was clear about his intent [[link removed]] to produce a more competitive All-Star Game, shifting the event back to a conference-based format. What he got instead was a record-setting 397-point game largely devoid of normal basketball energy as players looked to avoid injury, prompting numerous pundits to suggest the game has grown irredeemable and needs to be rebuilt from scratch.

Much like the NFL’s dramatic reshaping [[link removed]] of the Pro Bowl to the Pro Bowl Games, the NBA holds a series of sometimes-conflicting objectives for its midseason showcase. The All-Star Game offers an additional platform for corporate sponsors and for league grassroots initiatives while additionally serving as a fertile source of social media content. It also prominently showcases the league’s top talent, which can manifest in other revenue lines, such as merchandise sales and viewership of regular-season and playoff games.

But as the NBA is already grappling [[link removed]] with player load management issues, the All-Stars were clearly disinterested in doing anything that could impact their availability in the second half of the season.

“All these guys here are very valuable to their teams, so it’s some mixed emotions about it,” said Lakers forward Anthony Davis. “You try to go out there and compete a little bit, and not just be a highlight show. But at the same time … God forbid something happens in the All-Star Game when it could have been avoided.”

Despite that sentiment, and the lack of defense on display in Indianapolis, fans did not object. The game drew [[link removed]] an average audience of 5.5 million, up 14% from record-low viewership a year ago, with exposure boosted by a Warner Bros. Discovery coverage plan that included alternate broadcasts on TruTV and B/R Sports on Max to supplement core coverage on TBS and TNT.

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Look around. What do you see?

Cars. Lots of them. And guess what? They’re probably on Autotrader [[link removed]].

Big cars, small cars, blue cars, new cars.

Whether you’re into timeless classics or the latest trends (Did somebody say “solar-powered, eco-friendly, vegan-leather-wrapped, aromatherapy-scented, disco-ball-equipped, self-driving car”?), if you see it on the road, you can likely find it on Autotrader.

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ONE BIG FIG Texas-Sized Deal

Austin American-Statesman

$10.6 million

The average annual salary [[link removed]] of Texas head football coach Steve Sarkisian, who recently received a contract extension in the wake of Nick Saban’s retiring from Alabama earlier this year. Sarkisian is guaranteed $74.2 million through 2030.

STATUS REPORT Three Up, One Down

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

PWHL ⬆ The Professional Women’s Hockey League broke the world attendance record for a single women’s hockey game when Toronto defeated Montreal on Friday in front of 19,285 fans at Scotiabank Arena. The previous record was 18,013 at the 2013 IIHF Women’s World Championship for a Canada-Finland game in Ottawa.

Caddies ⬆ For the first time, an active PGA Tour caddie will serve as the lead broadcast analyst for a tournament when Jim “Bones” Mackay calls the action for NBC Sports [[link removed]] at this week’s Mexico Open. Mackay, who has previously served as an on-course reporter for NBC, will be part of a three-person booth Friday through Saturday. After rising to fame as Phil Mickelson’s caddie from 1992 to 2017, Mackay has worked in TV and since ’21 has been the full-time caddie for Justin Thomas, who is not playing in Mexico. NBC has been experimenting [[link removed]] with various lead analysts since parting ways with Paul Azinger.

Club América ⬆ A new listing on the Mexican Stock Exchange that comprises Liga MX side Club América, among other assets, soared [[link removed]] by as much as 100% in its market debut Tuesday. The new stock, Aguilas, was spun off [[link removed]] from parent company Grupo Televisa in part to help finance the $150 million to $160 million renovation of Azteca Stadium ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Barcelona ⬇ La Liga has cut [[link removed]] the club’s annual spending limit by another $71 million, down to $220 million from $291 million. In September, the financially stricken club’s spending cap was initially reduced by $429 million for the current 2023–24 season. That means the club has now seen its spending abilities cut by roughly $500 million this season.

SPONSORED BY LIVEPASS

One Membership for All Things Live

seasonshare [[link removed]], the leading customizable ticketing technology platform in the sports and entertainment industry, announces the launch of LivePass [[link removed]], a subscription-based marketplace connecting fans to unsold inventory across a variety of entertainment experiences.

LivePass subscribers pay a monthly fee in exchange for points that can be put toward tickets for various sporting events, concerts, comedy shows, and other live events across the country.

LivePass allows event operators to enter a broader marketplace where they can set point requirements and inventory for each event without degrading the value of their other ticket offerings. Through LivePass, teams and venues are able to foster a direct relationship with a new generation of consumers who crave affordability, flexibility, and a digital-first experience.

Learn more [[link removed]] about how LivePass is driving the future of live event attendance.

Conversation Starters As part of a deal with WhatsApp, the radio button on the Mercedes Formula One steering wheels will be replaced with the WhatsApp logo. Check it out [[link removed]]. The College Football Playoff has finalized [[link removed]] a new 5–7 format for the expanded 12-team format, which will begin this upcoming season. Nike’s first World of Flight store in the U.S. will be in Philadelphia, and it will feature [[link removed]] only Jordan Brand products. Editors’ Picks FuboTV Sues ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery Over New Streaming Venture [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]The lawsuit attempts to block the joint project. New Salary Records for Colorado Football Assistant Coaches [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]The 10 assistants will make a combined $4.65 million this year, a school record. A’s Continue to Make History With Their Broadcast Team While Vegas Future Is Uncertain [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]NBC California hires Harry Caray’s grandson to join the broadcast team. Win a Vegas VIP Hoops Package

Front Office Sports has teamed up with the Pac-12 Conference to provide a VIP experience [[link removed]] to the Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament in Las Vegas from March 13 to March 16, 2024.

One lucky winner will receive two (2) all tournament passes with club access to the tournament at T-Mobile Arena. The winner will also receive a hotel room for four (4) nights in Las Vegas, a food and beverage voucher, and two (2) tickets to a Cirque du Soleil show. For more information on the Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament , visit Pac-12.com. Deadline for entry is Feb. 25, 2024. See Official Rules [[link removed]] for details.

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