April 25, 2022

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Just three weeks after Barcelona set [[link removed]] a UEFA Women’s Champions League attendance record (91,553) with their 5-2 win over rivals Real Madrid, they’ve topped it: Barca’s 5-1 victory over Wolfsburg in the first leg of their WCL semi-final matchup drew 91,648 fans to Camp Nou.

New $2B Stadium Could Follow New Broncos Owner

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos president Joe Ellis has teased the idea of a new stadium after a change of ownership that is expected to be finalized before the 2022 NFL season.

A potential new home for the Broncos has been met with skepticism [[link removed]], but “it’ll be the No. 1 decision the new owner will have to make,” said Ellis, and could generate fresh revenue for the city and kickstart the development of new retail, dining, and residential properties.

Estimated costs for a new stadium could exceed [[link removed]] $2 billion.It would likely include a retractable roof. The enclosure would allow Denver to host a Super Bowl for the first time.

The Broncos’ current home, Empower Field at Mile High, opened in 2001 with construction costs [[link removed]] that reached $400 million.

Last week, the Broncos received [[link removed]] five non-binding bids to purchase the team. The bids included Los Angeles Dodgers, Lakers, and Sparks co-owner Todd Boehly and Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, and Crystal Palace co-owner Josh Harris, as well as Rob Walton, per Sportico.

Walton, son of late Walmart founder Sam Walton, is reportedly [[link removed]] bidding more than $4 billion.

Complete Overhaul

Recent changes for the Broncos also include its personnel on the field. Last month, the Seattle Seahawks traded [[link removed]] Russell Wilson to the Broncos in one of the biggest swaps in NFL history.

This upcoming season, the nine-time Pro Bowler will play out the third season of a four-year, $140 million contract he signed in April 2019.

Sheffield United $148M Takeover Bid Under Review

SUFC

ClearTV Media CEO Henry Mauriss’ $148 million takeover bid for Sheffield United is being reviewed by the English Football League, according to The Athletic.

In June 2020, Mauriss submitted a $436 million bid for Newcastle United. The offer topped [[link removed]] a $374 million bid from the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Mauriss held exclusive [[link removed]] talks with Newcastle, but a deal failed to come to fruition due to what was deemed a slow takeover process by then-owner Michael Ashley.

Ashley sold Newcastle to the PIF in October 2021 in a deal [[link removed]] worth more than $385 million.

Mauriss’ ability to acquire Sheffield United depends on two EFL stipulations.

The American businessman must prove sources of funding and sustainability. Any deal for the club would have to be approved by EFL owners and directors.

Sheffield United is currently owned by Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, who initially purchased [[link removed]] a 50% stake in the club in 2013 for an undisclosed amount. The prince acquired [[link removed]] the remaining stake in 2019 for $6.4 million after an arbitration battle with British real estate entrepreneur Kevin McCabe, who owned the other 50%.

Hot Commodity

Mauriss joins a number of investors looking to tap into the world’s most popular sport.

Ligue 1’s Olympique Lyonnais has received at least six bids for an ownership stake, per [[link removed]] Bloomberg. The French club, which is valued [[link removed]] at $528 million, has received offers from American and European investors and is expecting more this week.

SPONSORED BY FIDELITY

Making the Most of Every Opportunity

At 5’7”, Andrew “Hawk” Hawkins’ 7-year NFL career was as improbable as his post-NFL successes in media, business, and entertainment.

If you ask him, he’d tell you it was all part of the plan. From the moment he achieved his dream of playing in the NFL, he’s been thinking about and working toward his second act.

His main focus these days is StatusPRO, which he co-founded with college teammate Troy Jones. Backed by some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment, the sports tech company combines player data, AR, and VR to create a revolutionary suite of training and gaming products.

Check out the latest episode [[link removed]] of Second Acts, presented by Fidelity [[link removed]], to learn more about Hawk’s impressive post-playing career.

Humans Out, Cats In at Oakland A’s Ballpark

D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland A’s are preparing to move from RingCentral Coliseum, but it seems that their fans have already done so.

The team is seeing record-low attendance at the start of the 2022 season. While the team’s home opener on April 18 drew [[link removed]] 17,503 fans, the numbers plummeted from there.

The following day brought 3,748 to the park, a 42-year low. That record lasted one day: On April 20, attendance sank to 2,703.

Among those not present were core members of the A’s leadership. Owner John Fisher, team president Dave Kaval, and other executives spent part of the week in Las Vegas meeting with landowners of sites that could one day house a new A’s ballpark.

The team is simultaneously pursuing a new home in Vegas and a waterfront development in Oakland.

The A’s traded key players over the offseason, unloading Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Chris Bassitt, and Sean Manaea. Kaval has argued [[link removed]] that a new ballpark would improve attendance and allow the team to maintain a more expensive roster.

Cat Attendance on the Rise

Though human attendance has been on the decline, feral cats are helping [[link removed]] make up the difference.

A colony estimated at 30-to-40 cats flourished in and around the coliseum during the pandemic and continues to live there.

“You have to give them an ‘A’ for dealing with the rodents, but we don’t need as many in the army right now,” stadium authority executive director Henry Gardner told Oaklandside. “We are overstaffed.”

Last-Place Coyotes to Triple Single-Game Ticket Prices

ASU

The Arizona Coyotes are at the bottom of the NHL standings, but next year they’re hoping to charge premium prices to see them.

The team released [[link removed]] its ticket prices for the 2022-23 season, with season tickets ranging from $3,649 to $14,350. Half-season options are available for around 60% of the season ticket prices.

Supply will be limited: After a dispute around its current home, Gila River Arena, the Coyotes will play at least the next three seasons at Arizona State University, which has a capacity of 5,100.

Gila River Arena holds more than triple that – 18,300 – but the team’s average home attendance this season has been 11,414, third-lowest in the NHL.The Coyotes will call ASU home for the next three seasons, with an option for the 2025-26 season.

Perhaps most eye-catching are the single-game prices announced for next season: Tickets start at $89 and rise to $350. One can currently find a seat at Gila River Arena for $24.

Desert Drama

The Coyotes were nearly locked out of their own arena earlier this year over $1.3 million in unpaid city and state taxes. The franchise caught up on its bills in December, citing human error for the issue.

The team’s situation has been in flux since the city of Glendale told the team in August that its lease would not be renewed.

In September, the Coyotes proposed a new 46-acre arena and entertainment district in Tempe.

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Conversation Starters Creative Artists Agency has signed [[link removed]] Twitch streamer Edwin Castro. The 30-year-old is known for his soccer content and has 3.5 million followers. USFL players will reportedly make $600 per week for training camp and $4,500 for being on the active roster each game, while practice squad players will receive [[link removed]] $1,500 per game. Players also have the ability to earn bonuses. For the first time since the 1978-79 season, Wrexham AFC’s attendance exceeded [[link removed]] 5,000 spectators. Wales’ oldest soccer club was purchased by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in February 2021.

The UEFA Champions League semifinals are on Paramount+ [[link removed]]. Stream Man City vs. Real Madrid on Tuesday and Liverpool vs. Villarreal on Wednesday! Who’s your pick to go up in Leg 1?*

*Sponsored Content

Question Of The Day

Do you think the Broncos will get a new stadium with its new ownership?

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

Friday’s Answer

42% of respondents have played pickleball.

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

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