March 4, 2024

Read in Browser [[link removed]]

POWERED BY

Uncertainty and tension cloud the outlook for the dominant Formula One team Red Bull. … Artificial intelligence plays an increasing role in detecting match fixing around the world. … There’s a solid return on investment for all-time NBA scoring leader LeBron James. … Plus: More on Diamond Sports Group, golfer Adrian Meronk, rugby, and fans of pro wrestling.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

Red Bull, F1 Still Taking Heat Over Christian Horner Allegations [[link removed]]

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Reigning Formula One champion Red Bull began the 2024 season in typical dominant fashion on Saturday with a 1–2 finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix, but uncertainty is still clouding the team’s future in the wake of allegations surrounding principal Christian Horner.

“There is tension here while he remains in position,” star driver Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, told The Daily Mail [[link removed]]. “The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.” Jos Verstappen was seen arguing with Horner after Saturday’s race.

And his comments are just the latest strain on Red Bull in what has been a whirlwind of a month leading up to the start of the F1 schedule:

Feb. 5: Red Bull released the following statement: “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation. This process, which is already under way, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister. The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.” Reports would indicate [[link removed]] that Horner was accused of inappropriate and controlling behavior by a female colleague. Feb. 9: Horner was questioned as part of the investigation but maintained all of his duties with Red Bull. He would later appear at the team’s car launch event and then F1 preseason testing at Bahrain. Feb. 18: F1 released its first comment on the allegations, saying, “We hope that the matter will be clarified at the earliest opportunity after a fair and thorough process. We have noted Red Bull has instigated an independent investigation into internal allegations at Red Bull Racing. We will not comment further at this time.” Feb. 28: After speculation about Horner’s future with Red Bull, the company—three days before the Bahrain GP— announced [[link removed]] the completion of the investigation and that “the grievance has been dismissed.” Feb. 29: Team principals of Mercedes and McLaren called for more transparency [[link removed]] from F1 leaders about Horner’s situation. March 1: The day before the Bahrain GP, Horner met with the heads of F1 and the FIA [[link removed]] after files reportedly linked to the allegations were emailed to team and F1 officials as well as media outlets. Horner said he wouldn’t comment on “anonymous speculation.” March 3: After the Bahrain GP, Mercedes’s Toto Wolff chimed in again, saying he hopes F1 leaders will “ set the compass right [[link removed]].”

F1 will be back in action Saturday for the Saudi Arabian GP. Max Verstappen is the betting favorite to win, but his father will not attend the race, according to ESPN [[link removed]], after his comments about Horner.

Report: Match Fixing Hasn’t Slowed. What’s New: AI Is Watching Now [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The battle against match fixing around the world is increasingly using the exploding world of artificial intelligence.

Sports data company Sportradar on Monday released the results [[link removed]] of its annual integrity report, findings coming from active monitoring of about 850,000 events across 70 sports last year and particularly the betting lines around those events. The overall results were essentially even with those for 2022, with suspected manipulation found in 0.21% of events, or one in every 467. But what did materially change was the use of AI, with that technology assisting in 73% of the flagged events.

That percentage more than doubled compared to 2022.

AI has been integrated in Sportradar’s fraud detection systems since 2018. But far beyond just sports, AI technology over the past year has hit a certain inflection point in its power and scale, perhaps most notably seen through the meteoric ascent of generative AI systems like ChatGPT and Gemini, that can create a wide range of content based on user prompts. For Sportradar, in particular, the efforts to detect match fixing in part involve AI analysis of more than 30 billion real-time odds changes and consumer betting activity across 600 global betting operators.

Andreas Krannich, Sportradar’s executive vice president of integrity, rights protection, and regulatory services, said that ongoing AI model advancements will “enhance efforts against match fixing” and help safeguard sports from manipulation.

Plenty at Stake

Though obviously a distinct minority of all games played, match fixing remains a paramount concern for every pro sports league and governing body. The NFL, which is aligned with key Sportradar competitor Genius Sports, dealt with this last year as it heightened [[link removed]] its range of penalties to players violating league policies, including the leaking of inside information to bettors.

Most of Sportradar’s flagged events came from outside of North America, with Europe, Asia, and South America combining for 1,186 of the company’s 1,329 suspicious matches. Just 35 were from North America. Overall, though, this data from Sportradar resulted in 147 sporting and criminal sanctions spanning 10 sports across 23 countries.

SPONSORED BY WSC SPORTS

Introducing the 2024 Tech Playmakers Award

In the last decade, emerging technologies [[link removed]] have transformed the sports media landscape, driving teams, leagues, and sports media organizations to continually evolve.

Front Office Sports and WSC Sports have joined forces to honor the remarkable work of content and product teams shaping the future of fan engagement with the 2024 Tech Playmakers Award [[link removed]]. Here’s how it works:

Every month from now through September, we’ll gather nominations and recognize one winner per month. In October, the grand winner of the 2024 Tech Playmakers Award will be selected from the pool of monthly winners.

Learn more about the award and nominate your team [[link removed]] today.

Pretty Good ROI

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James reached a career milestone Saturday, surpassing 40,000 points as the Lakers fell to the Nuggets, 124–114. James scored 26 points, bringing his career total to 40,017. According to Spotrac [[link removed]], his career earnings while with the Cavaliers, Heat, and Lakers amount to $479,466,457, which would mean King James has earned an average of $11,981.56 per point.

STATUS REPORT Two Up, Two Down

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Regional sports networks ⬆ Just two days after receiving [[link removed]] court approval for two core parts of its effort to recover from Chapter 11 protection, Diamond Sports Group made another big step in its unlikely reemergence by filing its formal reorganization plan. The key question of which team rights it will have post-bankruptcy, however, remains unsettled. Plus, discussions are still ongoing between the Bally Sports parent and the NBA, NHL, and MLB.

Adrian Meronk ⬇ The golfer (above) lost out on an extra $241,250 in prize money from LIV Golf’s tournament in Saudi Arabia over the weekend due to a one-stroke penalty for slow play [[link removed]]. Meronk finished -11, good for T-6, and still earned $508,750. One stroke better would have tied him for fifth with Jon Rahm and resulted in a $750,000 payout.

Rugby ⬆ Allegiant Stadium drew a crowd of 40,746 [[link removed]] for two National Rugby League matches Saturday. The top rugby competition from Australia and New Zealand opened its 2024 season in Las Vegas in an attempt to capitalize on the U.S. sports market.

Wrestling fans ⬇ All Elite Wrestling’s pay-per-view broadcast on the Bleacher Report Live app Sunday night was filled with technical difficulties, and fans were not happy, according to reports compiled by Awful Announcing [[link removed]].

SPONSORED BY WSC SPORTS

Automate Content for Record Engagement

If you want hockey stick growth on all your content metrics, here’s the answer.

WSC Sports [[link removed]] automates the instant creation and distribution of content with features that give you the control. The platform is built on sport-specific AI technology for more than 30 sports—a must for every content strategy.

More than 430 partners around the world, including the NBA, Bleacher Report, LaLiga, New York Rangers, ACC Digital Network, University of Southern California, and YouTube TV, rely on WSC Sports for technology that enables more views, more formats, and more fans. Drive record results [[link removed]] with AI.

Learn more [[link removed]].

Conversation Starters In just eight days, more than 10,000 players have opted in [[link removed]] to EA Sports College Football 25, already reaching 87% of the video game’s goal. Following Caitlin Clark’s breaking of “Pistol” Pete Maravich’s NCAA Division I scoring record, Nike installed [[link removed]] another sign—a hoop—across the street from a billboard honoring the Hawkeyes star in Iowa City. In case you missed it, Kristin Juszczyk, a designer whose husband, Kyle Juszczyk, plays for the 49ers, made a custom vest for Caitlin Clark before the Iowa star’s senior day. Check it out [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Drake, LeBron James Make PGA Tour Investment [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]The rapper and NBA star will try to boost the PGA Tour, despite not having a strong association with golf. Chris Mortensen, Who Broke Some of Football’s Biggest Stories, Dies at 72 [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]When coaches and QBs—and plenty others—moved, Mort often knew first. Sheer Madness: What You Need to Know About MLB’s New Uniform Saga [[link removed]]by Eric Fisher [[link removed]]MLB’s reworked uniforms have become a major source of spring training controversy. 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]], Eric Fisher [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here [[link removed]].

Update your preferences [link removed] / Unsubscribe [link removed]

Copyright © 2024 Front Office Sports. All rights reserved.

80 Pine Street Suite 3202 New York, NY 10005