March 14, 2022

Read in Browser [[link removed]]

POWERED BY

It’s a good thing the Bucs “kept the light on” for Tom Brady. The seven-time Super Bowl champ announced he’s coming back for season No. 23, but at least one person might not be thrilled about it. On Saturday night, a bidder paid $519,000 at an auction for Brady’s “last” touchdown ball. 🤦‍♂️

NCAA to Distribute $625M to D-I Conferences, Schools

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY /Design: Alex Brooks

Every year, the NCAA distributes about 60% of its total revenue — most of which comes from the Division I men’s basketball tournament — to D-I schools and conferences.

This year, the NCAA will pay out more than it ever has to D-I schools. The governing body has allocated $625.5 million, according [[link removed]] to the 2022 NCAA Division I revenue distribution plan.

Last year, the NCAA distributed $613.4 million — back up from the $246.3 million it sent to schools after the 2020 men’s tournament was canceled due to the pandemic.But by 2032, the NCAA has budgeted for $826.6 million worth of distributions, documents [[link removed]] show.

The increase follows a steady growth in payouts for media rights for the men’s tournament. This year, the rights will pay out about $870 million, per [[link removed]] the NCAA’s 2021 annual fiscal report. They’ll reach about $1 billion by 2026.

March Money

The distribution system is based on a number of factors, including men’s March Madness. Of this year’s allocations, about $233.7 million — or 37% — are related to eligibility, participation, and success [[link removed]] in the Big Dance.

There is, however, no such system to reward prowess in the women’s tournament — a major equity flaw recognized by the 2021 NCAA gender equity report.

NFL Wants Fully Capitalized Bids for Denver Broncos

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

The NFL is requiring that bids for the Denver Broncos be fully capitalized to restrict buyers from raising money after an offer has already been made.

The club announced [[link removed]] it was for sale on Feb. 1.

The league is looking to prevent [[link removed]] a similar situation to the 2018 sale of the Carolina Panthers, which received investor-heavy offers from businessmen Ben Navarro and Alan Kestenbaum, but was only completed after billionaire David Tepper stepped up with a winning bid of $2.2 billion.

The Broncos are expected to sell for a record price between $3.5 billion and $4 billion.The NFL will allow $1 billion of acquisition debt.

Currently, the Broncos are owned by the Pat Bowlen Trust, and its trustees have a fiduciary duty to get the most money possible from the sale, which must be approved by the NFL to be finalized.

Potential Buyers

BuyTheBroncos, a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), is looking to raise over $4 billion to purchase the team. However, the DAO faces an uphill battle, as NFL bylaws require every ownership group to have a principal owner with a 30% stake and caps groups at 24 people.

Prospective minority owners Byron Allen and venture capitalist Robert Smith have expressed interest, along with a group that includes Peyton Manning and John Elway. Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils co-owner Josh Harris and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos could also bid.

SPONSORED BY BABBEL

Speak a New Language in 3 Weeks

What’s more fun than cheering on your favorite sports team through the TV? Cheering them on in another language!

Luckily, Babbel [[link removed]] has you covered.

Babbel is a premium, subscription-based language learning platform, available in 14 languages. Developed by over 150 linguists, Babbel is helping millions of people speak and understand a new language quickly and confidently.

Babbel’s app lessons allow you to tailor your learning [[link removed]]to topics that interest you. Mix it up with Words & Sentences exercises, or take one of the Special Courses, with topics ranging from sports, travel, and festivals, to tongue twisters, and more.

With Babbel, sports fans can cheer, grieve, and celebrate together. Get up to 60% off [[link removed]] your subscription and start learning today!

Female Golfers Fueling Sport’s Growth

Design: Alex Brooks

The total number of golfers worldwide has reached 66.6 million — up from 61 million five years ago — and the game shows no signs of slowing down as it gains popularity with women.

No segment has seen as much growth [[link removed]] since the pandemic began in March 2020 than female golfers, according to the National Golf Foundation.

The percentage of women on courses hit 25% in 2021, up from 19% 10 years ago. In 2021, girls made up 35%, or 1.1 million, of junior golfers compared to 15% in 2000.More than a quarter of girl golfers are non-Caucasian, up from just 6% 20 years ago.

Golf’s growing popularity among women is partly due to the emergence of entertainment venues such as Topgolf, where women now account for roughly 45% of all off-course golfers. Women’s organizations such as Fore the Ladies Inc. have also stepped in to help golf gain traction with emerging demographics.

Great for Business

Callaway Golf generated [[link removed]] a quarterly record $712 million in revenue in Q4 2021, a 90% increase compared to the same period the year prior. Full-year revenue reached $3.1 billion, a 97% increase compared to FY2020.

The PGA Tour Superstore — owned by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank — reported record [[link removed]] sales growth in fiscal 2021. The golf industry’s largest retailer saw its sales jump 21% in October 2021 and 19% a month later.

Major League Rugby Scrums for Piece of U.S. Sports Market

Major League Rugby/Design: Alex Brooks

Amanda Windsor White is president of a team in one of the U.S.’s most established sports cities, but she still has to build an audience for Rugby ATL from scratch.

“I’ve lived in Atlanta for 15 years,” she told Front Office Sports. “I’m a sports fan. I keep a pulse on all the things happening in the city.” And yet, had it not been for a friend connected to the team’s former ownership group, “I would not have known there was a rugby team.”

Though operating with a fraction of the budget of the larger sports leagues and launching only four years ago, Major League Rugby has already gained a foothold.

The league has collectively attracted over $100 million in investments, according to White.The annual average cost of operating a franchise is between $4 million and $6 million. Some of the 13 teams have already broken even.The expansion fee for a new team is $10 million.

The league’s best-attended game last year came when Rugby ATL visited the LA Giltinis in front of a crowd of 7,389. Most teams’ stadiums have a capacity under 5,000.

Growing the Community

White, the first woman president in the league (and Rugby ATL’s only full-time employee), values the unique perspective she brings to the sport.

“I don’t see it as the challenge of being a woman,” she said. “I just want to take a different approach than everybody else has.”

Specifically, White sees a need to reach out beyond rugby’s core audience, noting the sport has been “insular” so far.

“It’s going to take people with outside thinking and more diverse backgrounds to speak to a different audience and take a different approach.”

SPONSORED BY COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Make Your Future a Priority

Have you been thinking about your future in the sports industry? Now is the time to put yourself first and join the Columbia University Sports Management Program [[link removed]].

Schedule an hour for yourself and join the program’s leadership for an online information session on Tuesday, March 22 at 11 a.m. ET [[link removed]].

Hear more about the program and why they are #InALeagueOfOurOwn [[link removed]] at the next information session.

Conversation Starters Major League Soccer has taken out a $25 million loan [[link removed]] from a syndicate of eight Black banks, creating Tier 1 capital — the interest and fees will be paid in advance. In turn, the banks can offer more loans to economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Carlyle Group has entered an agreement [[link removed]] to purchase Dainese SpA, an Italian motorcycling clothing brand, from Investcorp International for $691 million. Discovery shareholders have approved [[link removed]] the company’s $43 billion merger with WarnerMedia. Nearly two thirds (65.7%) of NIL deal spending has come from national brands, with an anticipated first 12-month spend of $380.6 million. Learn [[link removed]] how your brand can leverage NIL in 2022 and beyond.*

*Sponsored Content

Today's Action

NHL

07:35 PM

Coyotes (+145) at Senators (-170)

Bet Now [[link removed]]

NBA

10:10 PM

Bulls (-190) at Kings (+160)

Bet Now [[link removed]]

NBA

08:10 PM

Hornets (-365) at Thunder (+280)

Bet Now [[link removed]]

*All times are EST unless otherwise noted.

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

Question Of The Day

Are you participating in a March Madness bracket contest?

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

Friday’s Answer

33% of respondents would be more willing to buy a Peloton under a monthly pricing plan.

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

MORE FROM FRONT OFFICE SPORTS:

The Leadoff [[link removed]] - Daily business of sports podcast

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

*If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2357)(IL). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN). 21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN/MI/VA only. Odds and lines subject to change. Eligibility restrictions apply.” See [[link removed]] for details.

Copyright © 2022 Front Office Sports. All rights reserved.

80 Pine Street Suite 3202 New York, NY 10005

If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here [[link removed]].

Advertise [[link removed]] / Update your preferences [link removed] / Unsubscribe [link removed]