September 6, 2024

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American tennis is back in the spotlight at the US Open. With Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Jessica Pegula in the mix, an American man or woman could win the title for the first time since 2003. Plus, US Open viewership spikes whenever an American makes a deep run—and we look into what it all means.

— Colin Salao [[link removed]] and Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

American Tennis Stars Fritz, Tiafoe, and Pegula Chase US Open Glory [[link removed]]

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have controlled men’s tennis for the past two decades and, in the process, have haunted the once-great American tennis pipeline [[link removed]]. The last American man to win a Grand Slam was Andy Roddick in the 2003 US Open, and the Big Three are largely to blame for the drought.

But, for differing reasons, America’s ghosts are not hovering over Arthur Ashe Stadium this weekend—and neither is Carlos Alcaraz, the closest Big Three disciple—and the U.S. will have the chance to defend its home slam.

The winner of Friday’s semifinal between Taylor Fritz (above) and Frances Tiafoe will determine which of the two Americans will play in Sunday’s final. It’s the first time since 2009 that an American male will make a Grand Slam final, and the first since 2006 that one will be in the US Open championship.

American women have had more success than the men this century, mostly because of Serena Williams, but in part because of other US Open breakthroughs like Sloane Stephens in 2017 and Coco Gauff last year.

While Gauff was knocked out in the round of 16 this year, American Jessica Pegula [[link removed]] faces World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s women’s final, giving the U.S. women a chance to win their home slam in back-to-back years for the first time since Williams won three in a row from 2012 to 2014.

American Athletes, America’s Attention

Last week, ESPN announced a new 12-year deal [[link removed]] with the United States Tennis Association to remain the US Open’s American broadcaster until 2037. While the deal, which is estimated to be worth $170 million annually, has yet to kick in, ESPN can expect to roll into the agreement following a strong 2024 due to the success of the American tennis stars.

Last year, Gauff’s maiden Grand Slam win [[link removed]] over Sabalenka averaged 3.4 million viewers on ESPN, the most-watched women’s final since the network began broadcasting the tournament 15 years ago, and up nearly 100% from the year before.

However, it wouldn’t be a shocker if no American wins on either side—Pegula is the underdog against Sabalenka, and either Tiafoe or Fritz will be the underdog if World No. 1 Jannik Sinner advances past Jack Draper—but the odds won’t change fan interest in the match.

In 2022, Tiafoe was a 2-to-1 underdog [[link removed]] and ultimately lost against Alcaraz, but the semifinal averaged 3.1 million viewers and was the most-watched men’s match of the tournament, outpacing the final between Alcaraz and Casper Ruud by nearly one million viewers.

However, what could cut into viewership numbers is the looming dispute between ESPN parent company Disney and DirecTV [[link removed]], which has kept subscribers of the No. 3 pay-TV distributor blacked out from ESPN networks for the entire week.

Bears President Urges Chicago to ‘Figure This Out’ on New Stadium [[link removed]]

Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Already facing an uphill battle to build a new downtown stadium, Bears president Kevin Warren has sent a new message about how Chicago is losing out on major events as a result.

Nearly six weeks after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said it would be “near impossible” for a Bears stadium funding bill to clear the state legislature [[link removed]] this fall, Warren again hit on the loss of marquee competitions such as the Super Bowl, Final Four, and the College Football Playoff [[link removed]] because Chicago does not have a domed stadium, as well as the general lack of large-scale construction happening in the city.

“If we can’t figure this out in Chicago, shame on us,” Warren said Thursday, speaking before the Economic Club of Chicago. “What we have to do is stop looking at what we don’t have in Chicago. Let’s put our assets on the table and figure out what we do have and how we can come together, make this city even stronger than it already is, make it a better place, and create an incredible revenue stream for Chicago.”

The Bears are seeking a $4.7 billion domed stadium along Lake Michigan [[link removed]] and near Soldier Field, the team’s current home facility. Despite asking for roughly half that figure in public support toward the development, Warren sought to reframe the request as an opportunity, rather than a taxpayer burden.

“There’s ways you can look at money [for a new stadium]. You can look at it as, ‘What do we have to give up?’” Warren said. “Or, you can look at it as, ‘What can we invest to come together?’ This is truly one of those situations that one plus one will equal 100.”

The Bears are still focused on the downtown location for the new stadium. Conversations, however, continue between team officials and suburban Arlington Heights [[link removed]], where the franchise owns 326 acres.

“I love that community. … The majority of our [season-ticket] base is up kind of north from that standpoint,” Warren said. “The biggest thing we need to figure out is the tax situation. We just need to make sure we get our arms wrapped around it. But we still remain the largest landowner in Arlington Heights, and I’m fortunate that we have a fantastic piece of property.”

Teamwork Strategy

The Bears have long contemplated working with MLB’s White Sox [[link removed]] to tap jointly into a local hotel tax and provide public funds for both the NFL team’s own stadium and a separate proposed ballpark [[link removed]]. As the White Sox are facing their own growing challenges [[link removed]], including potentially setting a modern-day MLB record for losses in a season, Warren remains open to collaborating with both that team and other Chicago-area pro teams.

“We’re definitely going to work together [with the White Sox] to see what we can figure out,” Warren said. “We’re wide open to being able to work with the multiplicity of the different sports organizations [in Chicago].”

The Bears have previously targeted a 2028 opening for the new stadium, and they say every year of delays beyond that adds $150 million to the overall cost [[link removed]]. But facing complex political realities, Warren refused to put a drop-dead date on a new stadium.

“When we cut that ribbon—that’s the drop-dead date,” he said.

SPONSORED BY AT&T BUSINESS

Explore the Future of Fan Experiences

The 2024 AT&T Innovation Exchange [[link removed]] in Las Vegas offered a visionary look at the future of fan experiences in sports and entertainment.

Key figures, including L.A. Clippers Chairman Steve Ballmer and AT&T CEO John Stankey, unveiled how cutting-edge technologies—like AI-driven fan engagement and immersive VR—will transform arenas like the Intuit Dome. Panels featuring leaders from the NBA, Disney Parks, and Cosm emphasized the importance of blending innovation with emotional connection, ensuring fans remain at the heart of every experience.

The event also spotlighted the explosive growth of women’s sports, with the WNBA leading the charge. Discover how AT&T is enabling the next generation of sports fandom.

Read [[link removed]] the full story.

ONE BIG FIG Worldly Ambitions

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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The estimated total number of international games [[link removed]] the NFL could play in a season in the “short to medium term,” Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt (above) told Sports Business Journal. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday he wants the league to “go well beyond” the maximum of eight international games that was approved by owners last year.

The Eagles and Packers play Friday in Brazil, the first of five international games scheduled for the 2024 season.

WEEKEND PRIZE POOL U.S. Opportunity

Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Front Office Sports tees up every weekend sporting slate with a ledger of the purses and prize pools at stake. Here’s what’s up for grabs this weekend:

WTA, ATP Tour: US Open, New York

When: Saturday (women’s) and Sunday (men’s) Purse: $75 million First place: $3.6 million (individual)

NASCAR Cup Series: Quaker State 400, Atlanta

When: Sunday Purse: $7.8 million First place: Individual payouts are no longer disclosed EVENT

Join us Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. ET for Future of Sports: Ticketing [[link removed]], supported by 3D Digital Venue.

From new technology and utilizing consumer data to QR codes, NFC chips, and fingerprint scans, all of the changes will get their moment at our upcoming virtual summit featuring industry experts fluent in ticketing innovation.

Register now [[link removed]].

STATUS REPORT Three Up, One Down

The Enquirer

Bengals ⬆ Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (above) told reporters Friday that he and the team are “pretty close” to a new contract [[link removed]]. The three-time Pro Bowler has two years left on his current deal, but he’s been holding in during training camp with the hope of securing a new deal. Fellow receivers Justin Jefferson (Vikings) and CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys) secured deals this offseason to become the two highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the league.

Jalen Ramsey ⬆ On the other side of the ball, the Dolphins agreed to a three-year, $72.3 million deal, including $55.3 million guaranteed with their star cornerback. The extension makes the three-time first-team All-Pro the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

The Hundred ⬆ The cricket tournament with rules designed to make the game short and simpler has begun its search for private investors [[link removed]], according to Bloomberg. The England and Wales Cricket Board has opened investments for eight teams, and it is looking to sell the 49% stake it owns in the teams.

Inter Miami ⬇ The MLS team announced Wednesday that its new stadium near Miami International Airport will open in 2026 [[link removed]] despite Jorge Mas, one of the team’s owners, previously saying the team was aiming for a 2025 opening. It’s unclear whether superstar Lionel Messi will play in the new stadium as his current contract with the team ends in 2025.

SPONSORED BY FRONT OFFICE SPORTS EVENTS

The Event for All Things Sports Media

In just four days, Front Office Sports is bringing together leaders within the sports media space for our inaugural sports media summit, Tuned In [[link removed]].

Join us as we sit down for intimate conversations with some of the industry’s biggest newsmakers. Speakers will represent organizations from ESPN, Roku, NBCUniversal, and more. Conversations will cover a plethora of topics including:

Future of media rights Sports streaming Rise of talent Athletes turned media moguls Women’s sports Sports betting Convergence of legacy and new media

With enriching discussions, elite networking, and exclusive insights, you won’t want to miss out.

Registration is filling up quickly— register now [[link removed]] to secure your spot!

Conversation Starters San Marino, the third-smallest European country, is ranked dead last on FIFA’s world rankings. On Thursday, the country’s soccer team got its first win in 20 years after defeating Lichtenstein [[link removed]], 1–0. Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson made their season debut Thursday, and they’re two of the NFL-record 15 black quarterbacks who will start Week 1 [[link removed]] in 2024. Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee spent nearly two years in Brazil on a Mormon mission, and he showed off his Portuguese at a press conference with the Brazilian media. Take a look [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Sinclair Fires Tennis Channel CEO Over Work With Dr. Phil [[link removed]]by Eric Fisher [[link removed]]It’s a major executive shakeup in the closing days of the US Open. The Most Heated Rivalry in Chess Is Back After Two Years [[link removed]]by Owen Poindexter [[link removed]]The world’s best player will face the man he accused of cheating. Federal Judge ‘Concerned’ with House v. NCAA Settlement Proposal [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]Lawyers now have three weeks to submit an amended settlement proposal. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Written by Colin Salao [[link removed]], Eric Fisher [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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