June 18, 2024

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To the victors go the spoils. But for Wyc Grousbeck, owner of the NBA champion Celtics, there’s also a bigger bill coming for next season. … UEFA’s Euro 2024 is underway, but it’s not all smooth operations for the high-profile soccer tournament. … Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has some sharp words about the Bengals in the NFL Sunday Ticket trial. … Plus: More on the UFL, the Sharks, CBS, and Mark Cuban.

A note to FOS readers: We are off on Wednesday for Juneteenth, but we will be back in your inboxes on Thursday morning.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]] and David Rumsey [[link removed]]

Grousbeck’s Big Bet: Can Owner’s Spending Keep Celtics on Top? [[link removed]]

Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

The Celtics, now owners of an NBA-record 18 championships, are already the clear favorite [[link removed]] to repeat next year as champions. But doing so will likely come with heavy financial costs and will test the mettle of team owner Wyc Grousbeck (above, holding trophy), who quietly has become one of the most influential executives across the sports industry.

Operating without a megastar such as the Lakers’ LeBron James or the Warriors’ Stephen Curry, the Celtics in some ways have become an East Coast version of Golden State, traditionally one of the NBA’s top-spending teams and one that used financial muscle to help build a modern-day dynasty. Boston’s 2023–24 payroll of $184 million ranked fourth, according to Spotrac [[link removed]]—trailing only the Warriors, Clippers, and Suns—and stood above the league’s luxury tax threshold of $165.3 million. That, in turn, set up a luxury tax bill [[link removed]] for the Celtics of nearly $40 million.

As is often the case for newly minted champions, though, maintaining current levels is not an option in Boston, and next year’s figures will be higher across the board. The NBA luxury tax threshold is rising to $171.3 million. Already, though, the Celtics have more than $192 million in contract obligations for the 2024–25 season.

Further bills are also likely coming due as forward Jayson Tatum is reportedly eligible [[link removed]] for a supermax contract extension that would pay him $315 million over five years. Combined with teammate Jaylen Brown’s five-year, $304 million deal signed [[link removed]] last summer, setting a league record, the pair could be set to receive [[link removed]] $480 million between 2025 and ’29.

Paying the luxury tax again next season will establish the Celtics as repeat offenders of going over the NBA’s soft salary cap, and further penalties kick in once a team pays the tax in three of the prior four seasons.

The Man Signing the Checks

Grousbeck, however, has shown not only a willingness to dig deep in support of the Celtics, but also has been one of the most active investors in recent years across the industry. Primarily through the investment firm he cofounded, Causeway Media Partners, Grousbeck has invested in companies such as ticketing operator SeatGeek, streaming outlet FloSports, and internet radio provider TuneIn, among many others.

The owner also is a backer [[link removed]] of the John Henry–led Strategic Sports Group that completed an investment deal worth up to $3 billion with the PGA Tour to create a new for-profit commercial entity, PGA Tour Enterprises.

That’s not the only tie for Grousbeck to his Boston-area pro team ownership colleagues. Grousbeck also collaborated [[link removed]] last year with Henry’s key partner, Fenway Sports Group chairman and fellow Strategic Sports Group investor Tom Werner, to develop a situation comedy inspired by Grousbeck’s life. The show, Extended Family, debuted in December on NBC and starred Jon Cryer and Donald Faison, with former Celtics stars such as Paul Pierce and Rick Fox holding smaller roles. Thirteen episodes aired, but the network did not pick up Extended Family for a second season.

Euro 2024 Kicks Off With Record Demand and Streaming Issues [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

UEFA Euro 2024 is off and running, and by the end of Tuesday, all 24 competing nations will have played one match in what could be a historic tournament. Organizers are anticipating potential record attendance for the European football championship taking place in Germany, with ticket sales pacing ahead of the all-time-high 2,427,303 fans that made it to Euro ’16 games in France.

Ten German cities are hosting matches this month, led by high-capacity Bundesliga venues in Berlin (71,000), Munich (66,000), and Dortmund (62,000). UEFA said there were more than 50 million ticket requests for Euro 2024, representing the event’s highest demand ever. In total, 2.7 million tickets are available, with 2.3 million already being shelled out to the general public and fans of participating teams.

Germany drew more than 65,000 fans for its opening win over Scotland in Munich. The host will play Hungary on Wednesday in Stuttgart, where the stadium holds 51,000 people. Group play runs until June 26, before a knockout round that will conclude July 14.

Now Streaming …

The Euros bring plenty of morning and midday matches for soccer fans in the U.S. to watch. Fox Sports has the tournament’s media rights Stateside, with most games airing on the main over-the-air network or FS1 cable channel.

But five match broadcasts were sublicensed to FuboTV, which has irked some fans for a variety of reasons. Beyond having to sign up for the $79.99 monthly streaming service to watch those games, Fubo’s first Euros stream had technical issues [[link removed]] with the scoreboard graphic.

Next Up

After the soccer wraps in Germany next month, UEFA has already awarded hosting duties for the next two iterations of the Euros. Multiple countries will be involved in both upcoming editions, part of a growing trend of joint bids dominating [[link removed]] international soccer tournaments.

In 2028, Ireland will host alongside its U.K. neighbors in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In ’32, the Euros will be played in Italy and Turkey.

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LOUD AND CLEAR No Mincing Words Here

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

“I am convinced I would make a lot more money than the Bengals.”

—Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (above), when asked about NFL teams potentially cutting their own individual TV deals during his testimony at the ongoing Sunday Ticket trial [[link removed]]. “I’m completely against each team doing TV deals,” Jones said [[link removed]]. “It is flawed.” The league is fighting a lawsuit that could cost $21 billion, as plaintiffs look to break up the NFL’s model of selling its out-of-market package at a premium price point, despite interest in reducing the package’s price from the likes of ESPN and Apple. YouTube is now paying $2 billion annually for NFL Sunday Ticket, which it is selling for no less than $349 this season—and more for non–YouTube TV subscribers.

STATUS REPORT Three Up, One Down

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

UFL ⬆ Several of the spring football league’s players are earning NFL contracts. Kicker Jake Bates, who rose to fame with the Michigan Panthers, is officially headed to the Lions after signing a two-year, $1.98 million contract [[link removed]]. In March, Bates made a game-winning 64-yard field goal at Ford Field, where Detroit plays. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are reportedly signing [[link removed]] St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Willie Harvey Jr., who led the UFL in tackles this season.

Sharks ⬆ Armed with the No. 1 pick in next week’s NHL draft, the team is expecting [[link removed]] north of 12,000 fans to attend its watch party at its home arena, SAP Center, in San Jose. Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini (above) is the consensus top selection [[link removed]]. Meanwhile, season-ticket renewals have been the Sharks’ best since 2016.

CBS ⬆ Sunday’s Chicago Sky–Indiana Fever game on the network averaged [[link removed]] 2.25 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA game on any network in 23 years.

Mark Cuban ⬇ The Mavericks minority owner no longer has control of basketball operations, which he said he would retain after selling his majority stake, according to ESPN [[link removed]]. Dallas will look to rebound next season after a 4–1 series loss in the NBA Finals to the Celtics.

EVENT

Future of Sports Is Headed to Cannes

Join us June 19 for an afternoon of networking and creative conversations. As creatives in the communications and advertising fields gather for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, we will celebrate sports media on a global level for an afternoon of engaging keynotes, discussion, and networking.

The exclusive event, hosted in partnership with Publicis Sports and NBC Sports, will unpack major topics in sports media today, including women’s sports equity, the evolution of sports partnerships, and the next decade of global sports.

Learn more [[link removed]] or request to attend this exclusive event, supported by our partners Relo Metrics and Footballco.

Conversation Starters Joe Mazzulla, once an assistant coach at Division II Fairmont State in West Virginia, is now the youngest coach to lead an NBA Finals team at 35, and he guided [[link removed]] the Celtics to a world championship Monday night. Adidas’s connected ball technology, capturing touches at 500 times per second, led to a Belgium goal being overturned [[link removed]], sealing Slovakia’s historic 1–0 win over Belgium in the Euros. Gretchen Walsh credits name, image, and likeness for staying at Virginia, where she and her sister, Alex, have been NCAA champions every year. Gretchen, 21, broke the women’s 100-meter butterfly world record Saturday and qualified [[link removed]] for her first Olympic team Sunday night. Editors’ Picks ESPN’s Up-and-Down NBA Season Ends With Finals to Forget [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]The Finals are set to stay on ESPN through 2036. MLB Attendance Continues to Trend Up in the Pitch Clock Era [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]The pitch clock has helped spike attendance numbers the past two seasons. The Celtics’ $600 Million Duo Fits Comfortably Under the NBA Salary Cap for Now [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]Boston has another year before its title core starts getting prohibitively expensive. 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]], David Rumsey [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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