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Afternoon Edition

August 6, 2025

ESPN and the NFL aren’t waiting for the ink to dry: ESPN is already assuming control of NFL Network’s Los Angeles studio space—just steps from SoFi Stadium, FOS has learned.

Plus: ESPN is shelling out $1.6 billion to bring WWE’s biggest events to its new streaming service.

— Ryan Glasspiegel [[link removed]], Annie Costabile [[link removed]], and Colin Salao [[link removed]]

ESPN Taking Over NFL Network’s Lease Near SoFi Stadium [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

ESPN is picking up a little real estate in its sweeping deal with the NFL.

ESPN will be assuming the lease to NFL Network’s 75,000-square-foot studios across the street from SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, sources told Front Office Sports.

It was not immediately clear how many years are left on the lease, or whether ESPN would be able to use the production facility for content outside of the NFL. An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment.

ESPN’s NBA Countdown and NBA Today studio shows originate out of Los Angeles. Late-night SportsCenter had called it home for many years as well, but ESPN recently migrated the production of it to company headquarters in Bristol.

Tuesday night, ESPN and the NFL announced a sweeping “non-binding” deal [[link removed]] for ESPN to acquire NFL Network, the branding for RedZone and its domestic linear distribution rights, and NFL fantasy assets. In return, the NFL will take a 10% stake in ESPN. The deal is pending federal regulatory approval, and it is not expected to close for at least a year.

ESPN Strikes $1.6 Billion Streaming Deal With WWE [[link removed]]

Joe Camporeale/Imagn Images

WWE continues to lay the smackdown in the revenue growth department.

WWE’s premium live events (PLEs, formerly referred to as pay-per-view) are migrating from NBC’s Peacock to ESPN’s new streaming service in 2026, the companies said Wednesday morning. The deal is for $1.6 billion across five years, a 78% increase over the previous five-year, $900 million agreement with Peacock. CNBC reported [[link removed]] that “select” PLEs will also air on ESPN’s linear networks.

The move is significant as WWE has proved to be one of the few properties whose audience will follow the entertainment and sign up for new streaming services to watch it. UFC, which like WWE is under the TKO umbrella, is another, and has its own rights deal with ESPN expiring later this year.

WWE was a pioneer in over-the-top streaming, launching WWE Network in 2014. It disrupted a model in which fans who previously paid upward of $50 for PPVs were now spending $9.99 per month on a subscription service. The PLEs moved to Peacock in 2021.

This year, WWE has at least 10 PLEs, with WrestleMania and SummerSlam spread out over two nights apiece, meaning there are 12 WWE PLE windows. It is conceivable that other events, like the Royal Rumble, could expand to two nights in the future.

The deal with ESPN does not include PLE rights for NXT, WWE’s developmental promotion, or the extensive WWE library, according to Lightshed Partners analyst Brandon Ross [[link removed]].

WWE’s TV rights are with Netflix for Raw and USA Network for SmackDown.

For ESPN, this is another gun in the holster for its upcoming streaming service, which is launching this fall for $29.99 per month. Tuesday, ESPN announced a non-binding deal to acquire NFL Network [[link removed]], and distribute RedZone on linear TV, in exchange for a 10% stake in ESPN. Industry sources have valued this stake at around $2.5 billion. The deal is subject to federal regulatory approval, and some industry insiders have speculated [[link removed]] that President Donald Trump will not let it pass through easily.

ESPN viewers who subscribe via cable or satellite will be able to watch the upcoming streaming service through login authentication.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS LIVE

Prices Increase in 10 Days

Front Office Sports returns to the Times Center in Manhattan on Sept. 16 for our sports media summit Tuned In [[link removed]].

This daylong event will feature candid 1:1 conversations with the biggest names in sports media, including:

Ian Eagle, CBS Sports Noah Eagle, NBC Sports Rob Manfred, MLB Jay Marine, Amazon Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN Brian Rolapp, PGA Tour Eric Shanks, FOX Sports Luis Silberwasser, TNT Sports Adam Silver, NBA Maria Taylor, NBC Sports

Watch for additional speakers to be announced.

Conversations will cover the future of media rights, live sports streaming, big talent moves, the rise of women’s sports, media bundles, sports betting, and more.

Included in your ticket is a full day of programming, lunch, top-tier networking opportunities, and a post-event cocktail hour.

Secure your ticket now [[link removed]] before prices increase on Aug. 16.

WNBA Players Fed Up With Dildo Throwing [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The WNBA has a sex toy problem.

It started in College Park, Ga., where a fan threw a green dildo on the court during a July 29th Golden State Valkyries–Atlanta Dream game.

Another dildo hit the court in Chicago on Aug. 1, and a third interrupted Tuesday night’s Los Angeles Sparks–Indiana Fever game in Los Angeles.

The person who threw the dildo on the court at Gateway Center Arena, where the Dream play, was arrested and faces charges of criminal trespassing, public indecency, and disorderly conduct.

In a separate incident Tuesday night, a green dildo was apparently thrown in Brooklyn during the New York Liberty’s game against the Dallas Wings, but it did not reach the court. A fan posted a video of the object in the stands and arena security rushing over and promptly removing it.

The fan who posted the video on X told Front Office Sports that they did not see where it was thrown from, but it landed directly behind where they were sitting and nearly hit someone. No one in their section was ejected, according to the fan. The Liberty declined to comment. New York police told FOS no report had been filed.

Across the country in Los Angeles, the dildo was thrown late in the second quarter after the Fever went to inbound the ball following Kelsey Plum’s free throws. The dildo appeared to hit Fever guard Sophie Cunningham in the leg before Plum attempted to kick it off the court.

The initial response from some players in the WNBA was humorous. Fever guard Sydney Colson went on her podcast dressed as the green dildo [[link removed]] after the initial incident in Atlanta. Her cohost and former teammate Theresa Plaisance then conducted an interview with Colson in jest.

However in the weeks since, as incidents continue to occur, players’ patience has worn thin.

“Arena security?!” Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison posted on [[link removed]] social media. “Hello?! Please do better. It’s not funny. Never was funny. Anything on the court is so dangerous.”

“It’s super disrespectful,” Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams said following the Sky’s game against the Valkyries. “I don’t really get the point of it. It’s really immature. Whoever’s doing it just needs to grow up.”

On Aug. 1, Cunningham posted on X [[link removed]] saying, “stop throwing dildos on the court… you’re going to hurt one of us.”

Sparks coach Lynne Roberts echoed players’ sentiments following her team’s win over the Fever.

“It’s ridiculous, it’s dumb, it’s stupid,” Roberts said postgame. “It’s also dangerous. Player safety is number one, respecting the game, all those things. I think it’s really stupid.”

In an interview with FOS [[link removed]], retired WNBA legend Diana Taurasi said, “I would have picked that thing up and thrown it right back at them.”

The league did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday night. After the Chicago incident, it said in a statement that any fan who threw an object on the court would be banned for at least a year.

Though no culprit has been identified in Chicago, Sky president Adam Fox told FOS that the team handed over arena security footage to Chicago police, who he said were investigating. If police can identify the thrower, the Sky will press charges, Fox said.

“It’s not safe,” Fox said. “It’s literally in the announcement before the game. Throwing objects, running onto the floor, any of that stuff is prohibited.”

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS TODAY NFL and ESPN Finalize RedZone Mega-Deal

FOS illustration

The NFL and ESPN finalized their merger, with the RedZone brand and other NFL properties heading to the network in exchange for a 10% stake worth at least $2.5 billion. FOS senior reporter Michael McCarthy joins the show to explain the details of the acquisition and how this impacts Scott Hanson, ESPN’s journalistic integrity, and the streaming landscape as a whole. WWE is also joining the Disney family, which we get into with FOS media reporter Ryan Glasspiegel.

Plus, we are joined in studio by WNBA legend Diana Taurasi, who has thoughts on the players’ fight for pay equity, expansion of the league, and the recent incidents of sex toys being thrown onto the court during games. She also discusses her new documentary on Amazon Prime Video that showcases her career—the good and bad.

Watch the full episode here [[link removed]].

ONE BIG FIG Cost-Cutting Celtics

David Butler II-Imagn Images

$301 million

Amount of money the Celtics have shed from their projected payroll and tax penalties this offseason, according to data from ESPN’s Bobby Marks [[link removed]]. Boston is expected to pay $239 million in salary and tax penalties after trading away Georges Niang on Tuesday, which is down from $540 million as of June 15.

To shed payments, the Celtics have parted ways with several key players from their 2024 championship team. They traded Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porziņģis to the Hawks. They also let Luke Kornet sign with the Spurs in free agency, while Al Horford is not expected to return to Boston.

STATUS REPORT Two Up, One Down, One Push

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Power 4 conferences ⬆ The NCAA board of directors approved a new governance structure that gives Power 4 conferences more leverage. The SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC will have a weighted voting power of 65% of the NCAA’s major oversight and governance committees. The Big East on the men’s basketball oversight committee will gain a weighted vote as well.

ULM athletics ⬆⬇ The University of Louisiana at Monroe appointed Bryant Vincent as its new interim athletic director, who is also the school’s head football coach. In his first season with the Warhawks, Vincent led them to a 5–7 record, and now he will balance the responsibilities of coach and AD. Bear Bryant at Alabama, Darrell K Royal at Texas, and Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin are notable coaches who served in both roles concurrently.

Micah Parsons ⬇ The Cowboys’ star pass rusher has requested a trade and is currently a hold-in at training camp (not participating in practice) while he seeks a contract extension. Owner Jerry Jones admitted he has not yet spoken to Parsons directly or with his agent, sounding somewhat noncommittal about getting a deal done before the season begins. With negotiations at a standstill for now, Jones says he is unsure whether Parsons will play [[link removed]] in the team’s regular-season opener against the Eagles on Sept. 4.

Son Heung-min ⬆ The 33-year-old South Korean soccer player will soon join the list of international stars who have moved to MLS later in their careers. LAFC has finalized a deal with Tottenham Hotspur [[link removed]] to acquire Son for a price ranging from $20 million to $26.5 million. If it falls on the higher end of that range, the deal would break the current MLS transfer-fee record set at $22 million by Atlanta United’s Emmanuel Latte Lath. Son is currently under contract with Tottenham until 2026 for about $10 million per year.

Conversation Starters The Dodgers lead the pack in attendance with an average of more than 50,000 fans per game. Check out the full list [[link removed]]. ESPN is releasing a documentary on the Little League World Series. Here’s a sneak peek [[link removed]]. Jared Allen played 12 seasons in the NFL and registered 136 sacks. Listen to his formula for success at his Pro Football Hall of Fame speech [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks ESPN Reaches NFL Draft Rights Extension Following Mega-Deal [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]The network will continue to broadcast the draft through 2030, say sources. Serie A Players Agree to Automatic 25% Pay Cuts If Relegated [[link removed]]by Ava Hult [[link removed]]The new rule applies to all contracts signed after Sept. 2. Disney Buying NFL Network, NFL Getting 10% Stake in ESPN [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]] and Ryan Glasspiegel [[link removed]]The deal rewrites the playbook for pro leagues and their TV partners. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Shows [[link removed]] Written by Ryan Glasspiegel [[link removed]], Annie Costabile [[link removed]], Colin Salao [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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