December 2, 2021

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MLB teams spent a one-day record $1.4 billion in salaries — 27 deals total — on Wednesday, just hours before the league locked players out as the collective bargaining agreement expired at midnight. The sport’s last lockout was 26 years ago.

Oakland A’s Scouting Bally’s Site for Stadium

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

The Oakland A’s are still in talks with their hometown on a new stadium, but are also drawing up plans to flee to Sin City.

The team is reportedly eyeing [[link removed]] the site of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The 35-acre parcel is currently leased by Tropicana owner Bally’s, which would have to approve any bid made by the A’s.

Major League Baseball has endorsed the A’s exploring new markets for relocation.

The team is also looking into a golf course at Wynn Resorts. It had explored land owned by Caesars Entertainment, but that possibility has reportedly [[link removed]] been ruled out.

Bally’s pays [[link removed]] $10.5 million per year on a 50-year deal with Gaming and Leisure Properties to occupy the land.A move to that site would require a public-private partnership such as the one that helped fund the Las Vegas Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders left Oakland in 2020.The A’s said previously they could build a $1 billion ballpark in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, a plan that would keep the A’s in Oakland made progress in October when the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve county funding for a $12 billion project to build a new stadium and develop the surrounding area.

County supervisor Nate Miley said [[link removed]] he expects the situation to resolve in the next six months. A key next step is for the city to certify an environmental impact report.

La Liga Clubs Offering Alternative to $2.3B CVC Deal

La Liga/Design: Alex Btooks

FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, and Athletic Bilbao are making a last-minute attempt to stop a $2.3 billion deal between La Liga and CVC Capital Partners — by offering an alternative funding proposal.

Spain’s soccer club presidents are set to vote [[link removed]] next week on CVC’s proposed deal for a 10.95% stake in a new company called [[link removed]] La Liga Impulso that would oversee all of the soccer league’s businesses, subsidiaries, and joint ventures.

The proposal comes after the league’s revenue fell 8% during the pandemic.

The three teams are reportedly prepared to present an alternative plan as soon as this week, despite a provision in the original deal allowing individual clubs to opt out [[link removed]].

All three teams previously voiced their opposition to the CVC deal, as the league could potentially lose control of media rights for the next 50 years. The Spanish Soccer Federation called the CVC deal illegal and harmful.The teams’ new proposal reportedly cuts that time frame in half. They’re working with Bank of America Corp. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. on the plan.

Last month, CVC, Advent International, and Italy’s FSI fund entered an agreement [[link removed]] with Italy’s Serie A soccer league for a similar deal — $2 billion for 10% of a new company managing the league’s broadcasting rights.

La Liga needs 22 of 42 votes from clubs in its first and second divisions to approve the deal.

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100 Thieves Valued at $460M After $60M Raise

100 Thieves/Design: Alex Brooks

100 Thieves, an esports and apparel company, has completed a $60 million Series C funding round valuing it at $460 million.

The round was led by Green Bay Ventures and included investors Breyer Capital and Artists Capital Management.

Initially launched as a branded apparel company by professional video gamer Matt “Nadeshot” Haag, 100 Thieves established a footprint in gaming following a $10 million seed round in 2017 led by Cleveland Cavaliers owner and Quicken Loans co-founder Dan Gilbert.

Two years later, 100 Thieves raised $35 million in a Series B round, giving the company a post-money valuation of $160 million.

100 Thieves has wasted no time diversifying its business during its meteoric rise.

The company collaborated with Cash App in April to launch the 100 Thieves Cash Card that includes incentives and a $1 donation to charity.The same month, it launched an exclusive line of NFTs as part of the company’s Enter Infinity apparel collection.In May, it extended its partnership with JBL that includes outfitting teams and content creators with headsets.It completed its purchase of gaming keyboard maker Higround in October for an undisclosed amount — the first acquisition in 100 Thieves history.

100 Thieves has esports teams and content creators that compete in “League of Legends,” “Fortnite, “Call of Duty,” and “Apex Legends.” Last month, the company was named the Esports Organization of the Year at the Esports Awards.

Conversation Starters In The Leadoff, Premier League clubs oppose an independent regulator, Las Vegas tourism boosts bonds for the Raiders’ $2 billion stadium, Microsoft’s CEO sells half of his shares, and Michael Jordan and Giannis Antetokounmpo invest in WatchBox. Click here to listen [[link removed]]. Chinese-state media has warned [[link removed]] the WTA that it is “opening a Pandora’s box” for suspending events in China following concerns for the safety of Peng Shuai. Last month, the professional tennis player vanished from the public eye after publishing an essay detailing an affair with a former Chinese vice premier. GMS owner Maury Gallagher paid [[link removed]] $19.1 million for the majority stake in Richard Petty Motorsports. The deal included charters to run two cars in the Cup Series championship next year, marking GMS’ first time competing in NASCAR’s top series. In the sports and live audience industry, it’s more important than ever before to choose the right data warehouse. Download [[link removed]] our latest white paper to learn the top three factors to consider, and what make’s StellarAlgo’s data warehouse the best of the bunch.*

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New Leader in Tech Services Makes its Debut

Next League [[link removed]], driven to become the recognized leader in technology services for the sports, media, health & wellness industries, launched yesterday [[link removed]].

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The digital ecosystem is rapidly evolving. Next League is investing heavily in this emerging technology landscape, which includes blockchain, the metaverse, and the technologies around sports betting.

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The world is changing and the NEXT version of digital is upon us – learn more [[link removed]].

Market Movers

U.S. stocks experienced gains across all three major indexes on Thursday. Here’s a look at how sports-related stocks performed:

LYV [[link removed]]

Live Nation Entertainment Inc

[[link removed]]

$106.47

[[link removed]]

+2.71%

[[link removed]] DIS [[link removed]]

Walt Disney Co (The)

[[link removed]]

$147.32

[[link removed]]

+2.96%

[[link removed]] T [[link removed]]

AT&T, Inc.

[[link removed]]

$23.05

[[link removed]]

+3.41%

[[link removed]] WWE [[link removed]]

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

[[link removed]]

$49.22

[[link removed]]

+3.73%

[[link removed]] VFC [[link removed]]

VF Corp.

[[link removed]]

$74.12

[[link removed]]

+3.90%

[[link removed]] CWH [[link removed]]

Camping World Holdings Inc

[[link removed]]

$41.17

[[link removed]]

-1.86%

[[link removed]] (Note: All as of market close on 12/2/21) What to Watch

The Dallas Cowboys (7-4) face the New Orleans Saints (5-6) tonight at Caesars Superdome.

How to Watch: 8:20 p.m. ET on FOX / NFL Network

Betting Odds: Cowboys -4.5 || ML -220 || O/U 47.5*

Pick: Expect the Cowboys to get on track after two consecutive losses. Take Dallas to cover.

Who ya got? Reply to this newsletter with your prediction for the Cowboys-Saints winner and final score.

*Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook [[link removed]]for details.

Written by Owen Poindexter [[link removed]], Abigail Gentrup [[link removed]], Justin Byers [[link removed]]

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