October 7, 2024

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How much would you pay for a piece of a goalpost? Vanderbilt’s athletic department is finding out from fans at this very moment.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]], Eric Fisher [[link removed]], and Colin Salao [[link removed]]

Vanderbilt, and Its Quarterback, Are Trying to Cash In on Alabama Upset [[link removed]]

Butch Dill-Imagn Images

The wide-reaching impact of Vanderbilt’s shocking upset over Alabama continues to play out for the school and its players.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, who threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns in the Commodores’ 40–35 win Saturday, is not being shy about his desire to cash in on the moment. Pavia seemingly posted his agent’s phone number to X [[link removed]] on Monday afternoon. The quarterback wrote: “For NIL inquiries hit my Agent … 5055447267 … ‘Vandy we turnt’ ‼”

On Sunday, Pavia took to social media to apologize for swearing during his postgame interview [[link removed]] on the SEC Network.

Vandy Fever

Pavia isn’t the only one looking to capitalize on the victory, though.

On Vanderbilt’s official online store, fans can buy T-shirts commemorating the biggest win [[link removed]] in the football program’s history. A black shirt with gold text reading “WE REIGN SUPREME” is available for $32.99. The shirt also includes the 40-35 game score, as well as the location (Nashville, Tennessee) and the date (October 5, 2024).

The school, which was fined $100,000 by the SEC [[link removed]] after fans stormed the field at FirstBank Stadium, has also been auctioning off items from the historic game [[link removed]], like individual pylons, pieces of the goalposts, and game balls.

Utah Hockey Didn’t Exist Six Months Ago. It’s Debuting to Major Buzz [[link removed]]

Rob Gray-Imagn Images

The Utah Hockey Club completes its rebrand Tuesday night when it hosts the Blackhawks to cap off the NHL’s opening-night tripleheader of games on ESPN. The puck is dropping in North America after the Devils swept the Sabres in a two-game global series in Prague over the weekend.

Salt Lake City’s new NHL franchise has gone through a wild ride this year:

Just six months ago, the team completed the 2023–2024 season as the Arizona Coyotes [[link removed]]. The NHL moved swiftly in buying the team from owner Alex Meruelo and reselling it to Ryan Smith, who also owns [[link removed]] the NBA’s Jazz and is a co-owner of Real Salt Lake (MLS) and the Utah Royals (NWSL). Smith then relocated the franchise to Utah. It took just two months for Smith & Co. to land on the interim name of Utah Hockey Club [[link removed]] for at least this season. Permanent options [[link removed]] range from the Yeti and Glaciers to the Mountaineers and Mammoth. With Utah playing in the Delta Center (also the home of the Jazz), Smith and local officials are nearing a $900 million deal [[link removed]] to help fund upgrades to the arena and the surrounding area.

Now, as the season begins, Utah is a major part of the NHL’s expected continued growth [[link removed]].

Hitting the Ice

The hype has been building around Utah all summer and into the fall ahead of the franchise’s regular-season debut.

“You felt the general enthusiasm from the public—and that started with an Uber ride to dinner right after we first landed here,” Bill Armstrong, the club’s general manager, tells Front Office Sports senior reporter A.J. Perez, who is in Salt Lake City covering the special occasion.

“There’s a fascination with having their own NHL team in this market,” Armstrong says. “There’s already been a lot of powerful moments that we’ve had with this community and it’s still early on. We want to be community-obsessed and we want to pay them back for that emotion that they gave us on the first day.”

Utah head coach André Tourigny is ready to get the season started. “So far, everything that’s been promised has been delivered,” he told the media in Salt Lake City on Monday. “I think the enthusiasm around the team is through the roof.”

“We have a great opportunity to start in front of our fans with a lot of energy,” Tourigny said. Utah will go on a three-game road trip after their home opener.

SPONSORED BY FANSERV

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Sports Innovation Lab, the leading data and analytics company in sports and entertainment, has announced a strategic partnership with FanServ [[link removed]], a private sports marketplace connecting media buyers with sports publishers. This collaboration merges Sports Innovation Lab’s fan insights and audience data with FanServ’s advanced advertising platform, enabling more targeted, data-driven marketing campaigns that enhance fan experiences and boost sponsorship value. Sports Innovation Lab’s proprietary fan data, powered by its Sports Data Cloud, has attracted major brands like Nike, Verizon, and NASCAR.

Now, through FanServ’s platform [[link removed]], media buyers can precisely target these fan audiences, delivering better ads and gaining insights into campaign performance. This partnership sets the stage for more impactful fan engagement and sponsorship success [[link removed]].

Soccer’s U.S. Boom: MLS and NWSL Break Attendance Records [[link removed]]

Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

The mainstream limelight may not be on soccer quite as much as it was last year, but the sport is nonetheless having a historic season in the U.S. with plenty of new records being set.

Over the weekend, Major League Soccer surpassed 11 million in 2024 attendance [[link removed]], reaching that figure for the first time in league history, and doing so with 16 matches and nearly two weeks left in the regular season. The figure beat last year’s league record of 10.9 million.

Inter Miami forward and international superstar Lionel Messi remains a major attraction, including an April 13 match at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, home of the NFL’s Chiefs, that drew 72,610, the largest individual attendance figure for the league this season. But now in his second MLS season, every game involving Messi is no longer a national curiosity. Additionally, MLS attendance figures also owe to other factors, including growth in season-ticket sales across the league, more consistent scheduling, and local strength in numerous individual club markets.

Further attendance growth is expected next year when the league’s 30th team, San Diego FC, begins play.

The Women’s Surge

The National Women’s Soccer League, meanwhile, has more than ably followed up on a banner 2023 season [[link removed]] that included record attendance, the establishment of two expansion franchises, and record-setting TV contracts. This year, the NWSL has already surpassed 1.5 million in attendance [[link removed]]—surging past last season’s 1.37 million—and expects to reach two million by the end of the regular season. Both the expansion Bay FC and the revived Utah Royals began play this year, with the former currently in line for a playoff spot.

Furthering trends from earlier this season [[link removed]], the NWSL is also enjoying the fruits of an expanded schedule and more games played in larger, MLS-sized facilities. The league additionally set a single-game league record [[link removed]] in June with a game at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, home of MLB’s Cubs, that drew more than 35,000.

While a rising tide lifts all boats, the NWSL’s achievements this year nonetheless arrive as the WNBA has hit an entirely different inflection point with the transformative arrival of heralded rookie star Caitlin Clark [[link removed]].

Rising Tide

The robust soccer numbers also highlight the growth of the sport in the U.S. as a series of major international events are due to hit the country in the next several years, including the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

In years past, the survival of both MLS and the NWSL were in question at various points as both attendance and revenue numbers were shaky in many markets. Those rocky periods are increasingly a distant memory now.

“When I started this journey many years ago, I never thought the league would be where it is today,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said earlier this year, upon hitting the 25th anniversary of his tenure. “It speaks to the resilience of the sport in our country.”

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS TODAY ESPN Lands Its Next NBA Insider

FOS illustration

Shams Charania is headed to ESPN to replace Adrian Wojnarowski, who retired just weeks before the start of the NBA season. Front Office Sports senior writer Michael McCarthy has been following this one since the beginning, and he had the scoop that the deal was “on the 5-yard line.” McCarthy joins the show to discuss how this deal came together.

Plus, the NFL continues to push games outside of its typical viewing hours, and international play is a big reason why. FOS newsletter writer David Rumsey offers his assessment of the league’s increasing TV time.

Watch, listen, and subscribe on Apple [[link removed]], Spotify [[link removed]], and YouTube [[link removed]].

SPONSORED BY U.S. BANK

Caitlin Clark’s rapid rise in women’s basketball has shown no signs of slowing down. The Indiana Fever star’s latest accolade—the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year award, announced Thursday—is just the latest cherry on top of what continues to be an impressive year on and off the court. She won 66 out of 67 votes, with rival Angel Reese receiving the remaining vote.

Check out [[link removed]] the Women’s Sports content hub to read the full article and stay up to date on all things women’s sports.

Conversation Starters The Savannah Bananas will play inside NFL stadiums for the first time during their 2025 Banana Ball World Tour. Check out the list [[link removed]]. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray announced a partnership with Call Of Duty [[link removed]]. “To the trolls who memed me into a bag, thank you!” Murray tweeted. Matt Barnes, NBA champion and host of All The Smoke, joined The FOS Interview to discuss the state of basketball media, his growing media company, and the rise of the WNBA. Watch it here [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Ohtani Ball to Be Sold Before Courts Determine Rightful Owner [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]At least three people are suing over ownership of the ball. A DraftKings Exec Left for Fanatics. Then the Bitter Legal Battle Began [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]Mike Hermalyn has been sidelined at Fanatics for nine months now. Landmark House Settlement to Pay College Athletes Gets Preliminary Approval From Judge [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]The deal in House v. NCAA previously appeared to be in jeopardy. Question of the Day

Have you attended an MLS game since Lionel Messi joined the league?

YES [[link removed]] NO [[link removed]]

Monday’s result: 51% of respondents would rush the field after a huge win for their favorite school, knowing it would cost the program money.

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