The Virginia legislature will reconvene April 4 in a special session where the Washington Commanders’ $3 billion domed stadium proposal is expected to come up for a vote on the floor. 

The two versions of the bill have been in a conference committee since March 2, before the 2022 session concluded on March 12 after a stalemate on the state budget.

The special session could stretch over multiple days — outstanding bills, a gas tax holiday, and the budget will be debated before a floor vote occurs.

Del. David Reid proposed several amendments for the public funding portion of the stadium complex that could reach as much as $1 billion. 

• A proposal that would make the Commanders forward 75% of the naming rights revenues to the stadium authority until the bonds issued to finance the project are paid off — up from the 50% currently proposed. 
• The Commanders and NFL must certify “in writing” that both parties have “addressed and resolved all outstanding claims of sexual harrassment or misconduct made against owner Dan Snyder.” 
• The development of an “end-of-use plan” to “ensure that a derelict stadium does not become a financial burden.”

Treating Commanders Like Amazon

Reid looks to bolster the benchmarks much like those Amazon received from state and local officials when millions of dollars in incentives were approved for a new headquarters in Arlington. 

“You’re going to have to have your own investments, and then the state will incentivize you after you’ve met certain goals,” Reid told FOS.

COVID put a major strain on the global spectator sports market, from fanless stadiums to postponed games and canceled seasons.

Now, one study suggests that it’s bouncing back in a big way — and poised for further growth.

The market — which totaled $127.04 billion in 2021 — is set to grow to $181.47 billion by the end of 2022, according to a study. That’s a compound annual growth rate of 42.8%. 

By 2026, the market could reach $272 billion, with a CAGR of 10.6%.

• The study attributes steady GDP growth as one factor assisting the jump.
• Recovering commodity prices also contributed.

While North America boasted the largest slice of the global sports pie, Africa’s market is slated to grow the quickest.

Future Technologies

The study addressed an increasingly popular innovation in the market: virtual reality technology. Specifically, teams have begun to create 360-degree simulations of stadiums and tracks, which provide the ability to watch events from new vantage points.

The feature was available for a game between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs.

After a public split last year, Nike and Kobe Bryant’s estate are reuniting.

Nike will resume producing shoes and apparel for the Zoom Kobe series, Nike and Vanessa Bryant announced Thursday.

“I am so proud that my husband’s shoes are still the most worn by players on NBA courts and that the demand for his shoes remains so desired by his fans around the world,” Bryant wrote.

Almost 20% of NBA players have worn Nike Kobe sneakers in games since Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant, and seven others died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

• Nike will launch a Gigi Bryant shoe series with all proceeds donated to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
• The first new shoe from the partnership will be the Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet 16,” Nike said in a statement. The release could come as soon as May 1, which would have been Gianna Bryant’s 16th birthday.
• Nike and Vanessa Bryant will partner on establishing a youth basketball center in Southern California.

Before The Reunion

The partnership between Nike and the Bryant estate expired in April 2021 after 18 years. Prior to the split, she expressed dissatisfaction with the availability of Kobe brand products. In the following weeks, Vanessa Bryant unveiled the Mambacita clothing line in honor of her daughter. 

Bryant’s estate filed 13 trademarks from May 2020 to June 2021.

FBS conferences are beginning to capitalize on a new revenue stream: player data.

On March 9, the Mid-American Conference became the first NCAA conference to do so when it announced a deal with Genius Sports. Just one week later, the Pac-12 inked a partnership with Tempus Ex Machina.

• Both partnerships give the aforementioned companies the ability to collect and present player data for use by teams and fans.
• The MAC’s partnership reportedly provides an opportunity for the data to be sold to sportsbooks — representing another way the previously taboo gambling industry is becoming part of college sports.
• The Pac-12, however, is not selling data to sportsbooks currently.

In 2021, the NBA and NFL both made similar deals for more than $100 million each — which could have served as an inspiration for NCAA conferences.

Potential Caveat

As conferences look for new ways to innovate — and as sports betting continues to increase in popularity — it makes sense for more conferences to put player data on the market.

But pro leagues sell data of their athletes. There may be legal concerns about whether conferences have the right to sell data of amateur players without compensating them.