February 28, 2022

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If you want to see Coach K’s final home game as Duke’s coach, it’ll cost you. The get-in ticket price for Saturday’s game vs. North Carolina is currently $3,690; the average price is $5,392.

Russia Suspended Indefinitely by FIFA, UEFA

FIFA/Design: Alex Brooks

All Russian teams — club and national — have been banned indefinitely by FIFA and UEFA following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Monday’s announcement [[link removed]] comes just one day after FIFA revealed [[link removed]] initial measures including no competitions in Russia, member associations playing under the name “Football Union of Russia” not “Russia,” and no Russian flags or anthems at matches.

The original decision brought heavy criticism from Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Poland — the team slated to face Russia in a World Cup playoff semifinal next month. The winner would take on one of the former two teams, but all three have refused to face Russia.Federations in France, the U.S., and England said they wouldn’t play the country.

The updated suspension removes the possibility of Russia’s appearance in the 2022 World Cup, which has a budget [[link removed].] of $700 million. The overall winner will receive $62 million.

It is not clear if Poland will receive a bye.

Governing Bodies’ Goals

The IOC suggested on Monday that Russian and Belarussian athletes and officials be excluded from international events. The Ukrainian ministry of sport also called on international bodies to do the same, but didn’t include Belarussian athletes or teams.

In a joint statement, the presidents of FIFA and UEFA expressed that they “hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly” so that soccer can be “a vector for unity and peace amongst people.”

Derek Jeter to Sell Stake in Marlins Worth $45M, Step Down as CEO

Jason Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter announced Monday he is stepping down as CEO of the Miami Marlins and selling his 4% stake in the franchise worth roughly $44.8 million.

“The vision for the future of the franchise is different than the one I signed up to lead,” Jeter said.

Jeter, who retired in 2014 after 20 seasons and five World Series titles with the New York Yankees, acquired his stake in the Marlins in 2017 with investor Bruce Sherman and others for $1.2 billion. Nearly five years later, the team is valued [[link removed]] at $1.12 billion — the lowest in MLB.

Jeter’s tenure as CEO and part-owner of the Marlins saw lackluster results on the field.

The team posted a 218-327 record in the four seasons under Jeter’s watch.They reached the playoffs once during that span in a pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Still in the Game

In 2014, Jeter founded The Players’ Tribune, an athlete-focused media platform. Minute Media acquired the site in 2019, adding the publication to a network of sports media sites that includes The Big Lead, FanSided, and digital esports platform DBLTAP.

Jeter has been working [[link removed]] with The Players’ Tribune and MLB to produce “The Captain,” a documentary series from ESPN about the former Yankee that will debut on ESPN and ESPN+ later this year.

SPONSORED BY NIKE

How Nike Is Leveling the Playing Field

Black History Month is a time for celebration, remembrance, continuing the push for racial equality, and sustaining momentum so that we can enact meaningful change.

The fight for racial equality has gained much needed attention and amplification from people and organizations throughout the sports industry, including Nike.

Check out [[link removed]] the recent conversation between Ernest Baker, Editor-in-Chief at Front Office Sports, and Jarvis Sam, Vice President of Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Nike as they go into detail about the company’s approach towards celebrating Black History Month through three initiatives:

The Black Community Commitment 2022 Black History Month Product Launch The Future Movement

Watch now [[link removed]].

Chelsea Owner Hands Over Stewardship of Team

Chelsea FC/Design: Alex Brooks

Chelsea F.C. owner Roman Abramovich is handing over control of the team amid a very delicate time regarding his role in the Premier League.

Abramovich said [[link removed]] on Saturday that he will give stewardship of Chelsea to its charitable foundation.

“I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the Club, players, staff, and fans,” Abramovich wrote.

The billionaire steel magnate has ties to the Russian government, which have led many, including Member of Parliament Chris Bryant, to call for his ouster as Chelsea owner due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.The club owes Abramovich around $2 billion. There has been speculation that he could call in the loan if government actors attempt to wrest control of the team from him. Abramovich’s net worth is an estimated $13.3 billion, per Forbes.The club’s financial situation [[link removed]] will reportedly not change.

Abramovich is not currently on the U.K.’s sanction list.

Playing Diplomat

A spokesperson for Abramovich said that the owner accepted [[link removed]] an outreach from Ukraine to help negotiate an end to Russia’s assault.

Talks between the two sides began on Monday. Neither side has commented on the details of Abramovich’s role due to the sensitive nature of the situation.

Conversation Starters In The Leadoff, Ligue 1 is auctioning off $1.7 billion in media rights, Authentic Brands Group acquires 55% of David Beckham’s brand management firm for $269 million, Churchill Downs is exiting the sports betting business, and a new video game-focused SPAC is raising $250 million. Click here to listen [[link removed]]. Attendance for college football games in 2021 reached a record [[link removed]] low for an average of 39,848 fans per game, down 15% year-over-year, according to the NCAA. The average marks the fewest since 1981 at 34,621 fans per game. The NFL has named its five hosts [[link removed]] for international games for the 2022 season. The New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Green Bay Packers will host games in London, while the Arizona Cardinals will host in Mexico City, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Germany. McLaren has reached a multiyear partnership [[link removed]] with delivery platform Gopuff. As part of the deal, Gopuff will have its logo appear on McLaren’s Formula 1 race cars through the 2022 season. The two companies will also offer exclusive merchandise and experiences. On Monday, Kyler Murray’s agent Erik Burkhardt issued a lengthy statement pressuring the Arizona Cardinals to prioritize a long-term contract for the 24-year-old quarterback. Burkhardt said he “sent a detailed contract proposal” that indicated Murray’s twin desires [[link removed]] to be paid similarly to his QB peers and still lower next season’s cap hit to provide financial flexibility. Subscribe to Scoreboard for more [[link removed]] on Murray’s potential extension.

SPONSORED BY KAULIG RACING

Establishing A Culture of Competition and Community

Since its inception in 2016, Kaulig Racing has experienced tremendous growth [[link removed]] both on the track and off it.

A well-established entrepreneur and philanthropist, Matt Kaulig is attracting partners [[link removed]] in new and innovative ways. When the team competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) in Kaulig’s native Ohio, all three of its drivers raced with all locally-based companies like LeafFilter Gutter Protection, Rocky Boots, and auto parts manufacturer, Ramco Specialties Inc.

This local approach to partnerships is mirrored by the team’s approach to fan engagement. The team is highly active on social media, inviting fans to experience the enthusiasm [[link removed]], camaraderie, and friendship that define Kaulig Racing.

Learn more [[link removed]] about Kaulig Racing’s rapid growth and what makes it the Next-Gen Team.

Market Movers

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

PLNT [[link removed]]

Planet Fitness Inc

[[link removed]]

$84.28

[[link removed]]

+0.02%

[[link removed]] GCO [[link removed]]

Genesco Inc.

[[link removed]]

$64.51

[[link removed]]

+1.38%

[[link removed]] SBGI [[link removed]]

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

[[link removed]]

$29.84

[[link removed]]

+9.91%

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

AT&T, Inc.

[[link removed]]

$23.68

[[link removed]]

-0.21%

[[link removed]] MCRI [[link removed]]

Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.

[[link removed]]

$77.71

[[link removed]]

-0.40%

[[link removed]] MTN [[link removed]]

Vail Resorts Inc.

[[link removed]]

$260.93

[[link removed]]

-1.55%

[[link removed]] (Note: All as of market close on 2/28/22) What to Watch

The Syracuse Orange (15-14) face the North Carolina Tar Heels (21-8) on Monday at Dean E. Smith Center.

How to Watch: 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Betting Odds: North Carolina -8 || ML -335 || O/U 155* ( Bet on DraftKings [[link removed]])

Pick: Expect the Tar Heels to overwhelm the Orange. Take North Carolina to cover.

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

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

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Front Office Sports Insights [[link removed]] - The most promising opportunities where sports meets industry

Front Office Sports Scoreboard [[link removed]] - The biggest stories in sports and the numbers behind them

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