February 22, 2022

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Rossford High School in Ohio might have nicer facilities than a lot of small colleges and universities. The school unveiled renderings of a new $16 million indoor facility that will be heavily funded by Amazon — it’s set to host athletics, esports, the school band, and classrooms.

NFL Could Fetch Up To $50M for Halftime Show Sponsor

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY/Design: Alex Brooks

For the past 10 years, Pepsi has owned the title rights to one of the Super Bowl’s major financial assets: the halftime show. But as the contract expires, the NFL is reportedly looking to land a new sponsor.

The halftime show is one of the most-watched parts of the Super Bowl’s programming — so it makes sense that the price tag to sponsor it is hefty. The rights could [[link removed]] go for between $40 million to $50 million annually, per Sports Business Journal.

Potential buyers could be in the “tech/media” space.

One example provided was Amazon, which has made major forays into the sports world recently.Verizon, which also owned a piece of this year’s halftime show rights, could be up next as a title sponsor. Pepsi’s NFL Future

If Pepsi loses the halftime show, it won’t be the end of its storied relationship with the NFL. The two sides will certainly reach another type of agreement, according to SBJ.

Pepsi’s previous deal with the NFL, signed in 2012, was valued at about $2.3 billion all told — but that includes much more [[link removed]] than just the halftime show.

Before Pepsi, Bridgestone was the show’s sponsor and paid [[link removed]] up to $10 million annually.

Mickelson Reportedly Using Super Golf League to Pressure PGA Tour

Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

Like a character in a noir film, Phil Mickelson is playing both sides in a heightened drama.

The golf legend has been in negotiations with the Saudi-backed Super Golf League on its upstart rival to the PGA Tour. Details from an upcoming book by Alan Shipnuck delve [[link removed]] into his work behind the scenes.

Mickelson said he helped recruit three “top players” to the new league, and that they paid attorneys to write the operating agreement with the Super Golf League.Bryson DeChambeau is reportedly headed [[link removed]] to the new league.The league could announce its launch during Players Championship week — March 10-13 — a PGA Tour flagship event. Lefty’s Angle

Despite his extensive involvement with the Super Golf League, Mickelson said his real target is the PGA Tour.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates,” he said. “They’ve been able to get by with manipulative, coercive, strong-arm tactics because we, the players, had no recourse.”

He added that “the Saudi money has finally given us that leverage” to pressure PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan into making changes.

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy, one of a handful of top golfers who openly oppose the Super Golf League, blasted [[link removed]] Mickelson’s comments Sunday, calling them “naive, selfish, egotistical, ignorant.”

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Do You Know IRAs?

If you’re thinking about funding your retirement [[link removed]], it’s likely that an IRA is on your mind. But what you might not be aware of are these seven commonly overlooked IRA facts.

One of the most overlooked is that a nonworking spouse can open an IRA and even contribute as much as the wage earner in the family.

Find out six more must-knows [[link removed]], including the advantages of turning 50, how to contribute if you’re a freelancer or side-gigger, and opening Roth IRAs for children.

Video Game Industry Continues Influx of Acquisitions

Grease Monkey Games/Design: Alex Brooks

Since the start of the year, video game companies have made a flurry of acquisitions.

Last week, French video game publisher Nacon acquired Daedalic Entertainment, the developer behind “The Whispered World” and “Deponia,” in a deal valued at $60 million.

A day later, software and venture firm Animoca Brands — an NBA Top Shot investor recently valued at $5.4 billion — acquired motorsport game developer Grease Monkey Games for an undisclosed amount.

The industry’s headline-making acquisitions keep coming.

In January, Microsoft announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion.Sony agreed to buy Bungie, the original “Halo” creator, for $3.6 billion that same month.

Microsoft’s deal for Activision would make the tech giant the third-largest gaming company in the world by revenue.

Expanding Reach

Daedalic Entertainment and Grease Monkey Games present unique opportunities for their new owners.

Daedalic is developing “Lord of the Rings: Gollum,” which is likely to attract a slew of new users who are fans of the book and movie series. Meanwhile, Grease Monkey Games has partnerships with Nissan, Toyota, Ford, and BMW.

C-USA Facing Legal Fight With Departing Schools As TV Deal Looms

Ben Queen-USA TODAY/Design: Alex Brooks

Complications stemming from last year’s round of conference realignment are beginning to materialize. Conference USA could face a major legal battle with three of its outgoing schools.

It all started last fall, when Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss announced they’d accepted bids to join the Sun Belt Conference and leave Conference USA.

Beginning in December, the schools had attempted to negotiate an “amicable” split after the 2022 season, per a Southern Miss statement. On Feb. 11, the schools confirmed publicly they would leave on June 30.

The schools are obligated to pay $3 million each in exit fees, which they have agreed to do, according [[link removed]] to Sports Illustrated. The problem? Conference USA’s bylaws reportedly state that schools must give 14 months notice before they depart.

In response, Conference USA released a schedule for 2022-23 with the three schools on it, along with a threat: It will “exhaust all necessary legal actions to ensure all members meet their contractual obligations.”

Media Rights Battle

Maintaining media rights revenue may be a motivating factor for engaging in what could be an expensive fight.

Conference USA has a television deal with CBS that expires [[link removed]] after the 2022-23 season.It reported about $6.4 million in total television and marketing revenue on 2019 tax returns [[link removed]*171mt25*_ga*MjEzMTgxMzg3LjE2NDUyMTIxMjE.*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTY0NTIxMjEyMC4xLjEuMTY0NTIxMjE0MS4zOQ..&_ga=2.216739030.1507192372.1645212122-213181387.1645212121].

The conference will also lose six other schools to the American Athletic Conference, likely [[link removed]] by the 2023-24 season.

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Conversation Starters The Washington Commanders presented a new crest to celebrate their Super Bowl championships, but the team is attempting to change it after fan feedback that the years listed are the dates of the Super Bowls, not the seasons. The NFL denied [[link removed]] the team’s request to change it. The Wall Street Journal reported [[link removed]] that the SEC has subpoenaed multiple Activision Blizzard directors, widening probes into how misconduct was handled at the company. Joe Burrow, Travis Kelce, and Sloane Stephens are among dozens of athletes who invested [[link removed]] in nourishment company Kodiak. Over the past 20 months, NIKE Inc. has invested over $16 million with national and local partners through the Black Community Commitment. Tune in [[link removed]] to learn what Black History Month initiatives the company has in store for 2022 and beyond.*

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Today's Action

NHL

07:08 PM

Maple Leafs (-190) at Blue Jackets (+165)

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NHL

07:08 PM

Predators (+185) at Panthers (-220)

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NHL

10:08 PM

Sharks (+130) at Ducks (-150)

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*All times are EST unless otherwise noted.

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

Question Of The Day

Do you support PGA players competing in the Saudi-backed Super League?

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

Monday’s Answer

71% of respondents think the start of the MLB season will be delayed.

Written by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]], Owen Poindexter [[link removed]], Justin Byers [[link removed]]

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