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Morning Edition

May 1, 2025

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The Rockies are on track for the worst record in National League history, with dysfunctional management overshadowing one of the league’s best attendance track records. Does Colorado have a path to success?

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

Mile High, Rock Bottom: Rockies Stumble Toward MLB Infamy [[link removed]]

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Just about everybody in and around baseball expected the Rockies to be terrible this year. A month into the 2025 season, however, Colorado is hitting unprecedented depths.

The Rockies scratched out a 2-1 win over the Braves on Wednesday afternoon, but even with that victory, the team ended April with a 5-25 record, particularly after a recent stretch of 16 losses in 17 games. Colorado remains well on pace to fall below the modern-era MLB record of 121 losses, set just last year by the White Sox [[link removed]]. The Rockies are the first team to lose 24 of their first 28 games since the 2003 Tigers, and are off to the worst start in modern National League history.

Analytics experts and sportsbooks gave the Rockies literally no shot for the playoffs [[link removed]] on Opening Day this year. The Rockies have sunk below even those expectations in every facet of the game, with a team run differential, batting average, fielding average, and earned run average that are each at or near the worst in the league.

“Guys are frustrated for sure,” Rockies manager Bud Black said earlier this week in a significant understatement. “We’re just not getting the results overall from all 26 guys [on the roster].”

Underlying Reasons

The Rockies’ malaise has been years in the making, as the team last had a winning season and playoff appearance in 2018. Since a surprise run to the 2007 World Series, Colorado has had just three winning seasons and has finished last in the National League West division six times, with a seventh cellar spot almost certainly coming this year. A run of underperforming draft picks and soured bets in the free-agent market, such as a seven-year $182 million deal for oft-injured Kris Bryant, have only added to the problem.

Rockies owner Dick Monfort, meanwhile, has been an outspoken critic of MLB’s widening economic gap [[link removed]], saying recently, “Something’s got to happen. The competitive imbalance in baseball has gotten to the point of ludicrosity now.”

That sentiment arrives as the Rockies have the MLB’s No. 21 luxury tax payroll at $145 million, and battle in a division against the No. 1 Dodgers ($400 million), No. 5 Padres ($268 million), No. 11 Diamondbacks ($221 million), and No. 12 Giants ($213 million), representing the tightest concentration of big spending of any of MLB’s six divisions.

Perhaps stung by deals such as the Bryant pact and Monfort’s sentiment, the Rockies have not been a significant pursuer of major available talent in recent offseasons, such as Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Roki Sasaki.

Fans, however, are still coming out to Coors Field. The team’s average attendance of 25,142, including a solid draw of 29,661 for the Wednesday win over the Braves, ranks 18th in the league and is actually up about 4% from a year ago. The Rockies were an early trailblazer in creating ballpark standing-room areas favored by younger fans, now a standard offering around the league, and those fans have essentially turned Coors Field into another popular downtown bar.

SPONSORED BY TOTAL WIRELESS

UFC Taps Total Wireless

UFC’s latest partnership [[link removed]] signals a shift toward utility. Total Wireless—known for its no-frills, no-contract model—is now the official wireless provider of UFC in the U.S. At first glance, it’s an unexpected match. But both brands appeal to a similar mindset: direct, self-reliant, and no time for nonsense.

As UFC expands its commercial roster, this deal reflects a broader strategy—aligning with brands that offer real value to fans, not just flash. With a mobile-first audience streaming fights, following athletes, and demanding flexibility, the fit is more strategic than it may seem.

Inside the Octagon and outside of it, Total Wireless is making its case. Learn more about the partnership [[link removed]]—and why it reflects where UFC is heading as a business.

Kentucky Derby Arrives With $920M Churchill Downs Expansion Stalled [[link removed]]

Michael Clevenger and Christopher Granger-Imagn Images

The biggest week in horse racing is well underway in Louisville, as Churchill Downs welcomes hundreds of thousands of fans around the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby.

The festivities began with an opening night ceremony this past Saturday, with other events and horse races throughout the week, like the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, leading up to the main attraction Saturday.

Attendance, revenue, and TV ratings have all been trending up in recent years for the Kentucky Derby, but Churchill Downs hit a snag last week, deciding to pause a $920 million renovation project that was just announced in February.

Churchill Downs was planning to renovate and expand two premium hospitality spaces, the Skye and Conservatory, and construct three new permanent buildings within the infield. The projects were expected to be completed in various phases, finishing ahead of the 2028 Kentucky Derby.

However, Churchill Downs cited the “increasing uncertainty surrounding construction costs related to tariff and trade disputes as well as current macro-economic conditions” in its decision to delay the projects, with no new timelines given.

Along with the delay to the $920 million renovation, Churchill Downs announced smaller renovations to its Finish Line Suites and Mansion spaces that will total $30 million and be completed in 2026.

This all comes a year after Churchill Downs debuted a $200 million paddock [[link removed]], which concluded a separate multiyear renovation project.

By the Numbers

Last year’s Kentucky Derby, the 150th running of the race, drew 156,710 fans to Churchill Downs, the most since 2018 [[link removed]]. NBC averaged 16.7 million viewers for its broadcast, which was its most-watched since 1989. Last year, NBC extended its Kentucky Derby media-rights deal until 2032.

Churchill Downs Incorporated, the publicly-traded company that operates the Kentucky Derby, reported record revenue of $2.7 billion in 2024, up 11% from 2023.

NHL Coaching Carousel Spins Fast, Even for Highest-Paid [[link removed]]

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Being an NHL head coach is rarely a long-term endeavor, with an average tenure of 2.3 years, a figure barely half the comparable marks in the other major U.S.-based men’s pro sports leagues. Hockey’s offseason coaching carousel, however, is taking on an even more frenetic pace.

This week, the Penguins fired Mike Sullivan, who was behind the bench for 10 seasons and won two Stanley Cups, while the Canucks parted ways with Rick Tocchet after failing to come to terms on a new contract. Those moves created the seventh and eighth head coaching vacancies around the league.

That figure is equal to the NHL offseason coaching carousel a year ago, but both the names and dollars involved make the latest situation particularly remarkable. The league’s highest-paid coach [[link removed]], Sullivan ($5.5 million), and No. 3 coach (the Rangers’ Peter Laviolette, $4.9 million) were both fired. Additionally, the wave of dismissals involves three of the four U.S.-based Original Six teams, with the Blackhawks and Bruins looking for new head coaches in addition to New York.

The names and numbers could also grow in the coming days based on the outcome of a particularly tense opening round of the NHL playoffs, with a minimum of five of the eight first-round series due to reach at least a sixth game.

To that end, the coaching carousel also reflects a vastly altered playoff landscape this year [[link removed]], one that includes the largest presence of Canadian teams since 2017 and no U.S. Original Six franchises for the first time in league history.

The other teams with open coaching slots include the Ducks, Flyers, and Kraken, and like Blackhawks, Bruins, Canucks, Rangers, and Penguins, those teams had significantly greater hopes for the 2024–2025 season that were not realized. New York, in particular, won the Presidents’ Trophy last year.

It’s likely, however, that several of the newly fired coaches will soon resurface in the other openings, as the NHL has tended to recycle familiar names across multiple teams.

“Two things can be true: that someone can be a great head coach and they’ll move on to become a great head coach on their next stop, and it can also be time for a change here,” said Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas after parting ways with Sullivan. “That was the conclusion that I had come to. It was something on my mind during the season.”

The NHL’s situation, though continuing the heightened turnover inherent to the job, also resembles a frenetic period that just unfolded for NFL head coaches [[link removed]].

Yahoo Sports Selling Rivals to On3 Ownership Group [[link removed]]

YouTube

A major college sports property is entering the transfer portal.

Yahoo Sports is selling Rivals to the On3 ownership group led by serial entrepreneur Shannon Terry, representatives of both sides confirmed exclusively to Front Office Sports. Yahoo Sports will be taking a stake in the aggregate ownership group in the transaction, the reps added.

It is a full-circle moment for Terry, who was a co-founder of Rivals and involved in the process of selling it to Yahoo for about $100 million in 2007. Terry founded the On3 network in 2021. (He was also the founder of 247, which sold to CBS in 2015.)

Terms of the deal—including how much Rivals and the On3 ownership group are valued at, and what percentage Yahoo now owns of the parent company—were not disclosed. Yahoo Sports will have a seat on the parent company’s board, and leverage its large scale for content distribution and subscription growth.

“Rivals is an icon in college sports and recruiting media,” Terry said in a statement. “We’re excited to build on the momentum behind Rivals, which has a longstanding legacy as the most recognized brand and author of the recruiting industry. We look forward to taking Rivals to new heights with significant new investment focused on recruiting, high school sports, and passionate college fan communities.”

“We’re thrilled to be working with the Yahoo Sports team again,” he continued. “From the start, it was clear both parties saw tremendous value in a partnership. Yahoo Sports has world-class distribution, a strong editorial platform, and an expansive content network that will play an integral role in the continued growth of On3 and Rivals.”

Both Rivals and On3 have a combination of free and premium subscription content, and subscribers of each network will gain access to the other. The sites have clear synergies as On3 covers college athletics at-large where Rivals has long been a behemoth in recruiting rankings and coverage.

“Rivals has a proud legacy, a vast network, and has stood among the most respected names in college sports coverage for over two decades,” Yahoo Sports president Ryan Spoon said. “It’s long been a cornerstone of our sports ecosystem, and together with On3, we are creating a powerful, future-forward platform that elevates athletes, energizes fans, and drives innovation across the sports industry.”

The deal is expected to be finalized by the end of June.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS LIVE

Redefining the Future

As a proud extension of the Mizuho Americas Open, Excel Sports Management and Front Office Sports introduce the Breaking Barriers Summit [[link removed]], presented by Versant Health and Delta Air Lines—designed to celebrate and empower female leaders across industries.

Inspired by the excellence, resilience, and ambition seen in women’s golf, this exclusive event unites trailblazers and changemakers for meaningful conversations about leadership, innovation, and empowerment.

Through dynamic panel discussions and networking opportunities, the summit fosters collaboration among industry leaders, inspiring the next generation of women in business.

The Breaking Barriers Summit will take place May 8 in New York City. Learn more or request to attend here [[link removed]].

Conversation Starters Amazon’s NBA broadcast team for next season includes Steve Nash, Stan Van Gundy, and Dirk Nowitzki, among others. Check out the full list [[link removed]]. Penn State football coach James Franklin says he recruits players who want the Penn State experience, not just big NIL checks [[link removed]]. Shedeur Sanders went from 144th overall to No. 3 in NFL Draft jersey sales. Take a look [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Burleson: NFL Has Taken Christmas Crown From NBA [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]After setting streaming records, the NFL will air a Christmas tripleheader in 2025. NFL Fines Falcons $250K, Jeff Ulbrich $100K For Shedeur Sanders Prank Call [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]Ulbrich’s 21-year-old son prank-called the quarterback during the NFL Draft. House v. NCAA Settlement Has a Little-Known Federal Lobbying Provision [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]It would effectively muzzle plaintiff lawyers in Congressional debates. Question of the Day

Do you plan to watch Saturday's Kentucky Derby?

Yes [[link removed]] No [[link removed]]

Wednesday’s result: 73% of respondents said they’ve never bought a jersey of a rookie drafted outside the first round, while 27% said they have.

Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Shows [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Or Moyal [[link removed]]

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