May 27, 2022

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When former NBA great Tracy McGrady realized his kids were only watching one-on-one basketball on YouTube, he got the idea to start Ones Basketball League — a league featuring one-on-one basketball. Now the OBL has partnered [[link removed]] with Showtime Sports and will create a behind-the-scenes documentary following the OBL’s 2022 tour.

F1, Indy, and NASCAR to Go Full-Throttle on Same Day [[link removed]]

F1

This weekend is arguably the biggest of the year in racing, with multiple flagship events on the calendar.

On Sunday, fans will be treated to Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix at 9 a.m. ET, followed by the Indianapolis 500 at 12:45 p.m. Those up for more can tune in to NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway at 6 p.m.

While NASCAR still dominates U.S. racing, a Harris Poll commissioned by Front Office Sports found that F1 has a foothold in the U.S. market.

F1 is of interest to 34% of U.S. adults and 76% of NASCAR fans.Only 25% of NASCAR fans would prefer to watch an F1 race than a NASCAR race.

Many F1 executives and team principals have noted that an American driver could help draw U.S. interest in the series, and the numbers bear that out: 35% of U.S. F1 fans and 16% of all U.S. adults said they would be more interested in F1 if it had American drivers.

Huge Crowds Incoming

The Indy 500 is expecting [[link removed]] a crowd of over 300,000 this Sunday. However, live local broadcasts are likely to be blacked out to juice ticket sales, unless the event fully sells out.

Monaco, one of F1’s most iconic races, is estimated [[link removed]] to bring $110 million in economic activity to the city-state.

However, with stiff competition for racing sites and a street track that makes passing exceedingly difficult, there is talk of replacing Monaco on F1’s calendar.

Champions League Final A Battle for Millions, Bragging Rights, More [[link removed]]

UEFA Champions League

Whatever happens in Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final (9 a.m. ET) at Paris’ Stade de France, two of the world’s richest clubs will only get richer.

The match features the world’s most valuable soccer team, Real Madrid, against the fourth-most valuable, Liverpool, per [[link removed]] Forbes.

The Spanish club saw its valuation grow 7% year-over-year to $5.1 billion, edging rival Barcelona, which has a $5 billion valuation, for the top spot.The two clubs are the sixth- and seventh-most valuable teams in the world behind the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, and three NBA teams.While the La Liga clubs own the top two spots, the Premier League has the strongest overall presence, with six clubs in the top 11.

The average value of the top 20 soccer teams grew 10% year-over-year to $2.5 billion. All of the top teams play in Spain, the U.K., Germany, or Italy.

Millions at Stake

The two teams are playing for more than just bragging rights. The winner collects [[link removed]] $22.7 million, while the loser will take home $17.6 million as Champions League runner-up.

The tournament winnings are spread among the top-performing clubs, with each team in the Round of 16 securing $10.9 million.

Both finalists are in familiar territory, with Liverpool winning the 2018-2019 tournament and Real Madrid taking the three prior.

SPONSORED BY OUTER

Outdoor Cooking Made Easy

It wouldn’t be summer without al fresco cooking.

That’s why Outer [[link removed]] teamed up with celebrity chef and founder of Prep + Rally, Dini Klein, to create the ultimate outdoor dining cookbook.

Full of delicious grilling recipes [[link removed]], including Steak and Poblano Sandos with Cilantro Lime Crema and Gooey S’mores-Stuffed Cookies with Ice Cream. You’ll have enough recipes to keep you outside all summer long.

Start your summer the right way. Download the FREE cookbook here [[link removed]].

Long Beach Looks to Lure Angels After Anaheim Deal Falls Through [[link removed]]

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

A corruption scandal nixed what looked like a done deal for Angel Stadium, and neighboring Long Beach is looking to swoop in.

The Southern California city is presenting [[link removed]] itself as an alternative for the MLB team, following a vote by Anaheim’s city council to stop a deal with team owner Arte Moreno to purchase the stadium and surrounding land.

Long Beach’s city manager issued a statement on Wednesday stating that the city is prepared to reopen discussions about building a stadium for the Angels.It tried to lure the Angels in 2019 with plans for a stadium and surrounding commerce district on a 55-acre waterfront parcel.Negotiations ended in December 2019, when the team entered exclusive talks with Anaheim.

The Angels’ lease in Anaheim runs to 2029, and the team has a trio of three-year options that could extend their stay to 2038.

Fallen Angels

The team appeared to have a deal in place with Anaheim in which a company controlled by Moreno would purchase the stadium and surrounding land for $320 million.

That was before an FBI investigation alleged [[link removed]] that city mayor Harry Sidhu provided confidential information to the team while seeking a $1 million campaign donation, and then obstructed the investigation. Sidhu, who was up for reelection in November, resigned on Monday but denied any wrongdoing.

Sony Expects $300M from PC Games [[link removed]]

Playstation

Sony is projecting it will pocket $300 million from PC gaming titles in the coming fiscal year.

The tech giant, which reported [[link removed]] $80 million in PC net sales in FY2021, is projecting a significant jump thanks to its agreement in January to acquire Bungie — the original creator of “Halo” and current developer of “Destiny” — in a deal valued at $3.6 billion. The deal, which will see Bungie continue to independently develop and publish games, is expected to close this year.

Sony expects roughly 15% to 20% of its releases in the fiscal year ahead to be on PC.By 2025, the conglomerate expects that figure to reach around 30%.

Despite the desire to embrace PC gaming, Sony has only announced [[link removed]] one upcoming title for PC so far, “Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection,” which has yet to receive a release date.

Sony deepening its ties in PC gaming allows the Tokyo-based company to expand its reach in a global gaming market that is projected [[link removed]] to reach $222 billion in 2022, per Data.ai. The analytics platform estimates that PC and Mac gaming will reach $40 billion, the same as last year.

PC titles also help Sony alleviate supply chain constraints [[link removed]], which have hampered the company’s PS5 sales. As a result, Sony has begun ramping up production of PS4s to help cover the demand.

Spreading the Wealth

Sony has not only invested in itself but other major players in the gaming industry. Last month, Epic Games raised [[link removed]] $2 billion, split evenly between Sony and Lego Group owner Kirkbi.

SPONSORED BY NIELSEN

How Influencers Can Grow Your Brand

Many social media platforms have seen incredible growth [[link removed]] the past few years as the pandemic drove people indoors, in front of screens and searching for connection.

Brands that are able to curate the right combination [[link removed]] of influencer, platform, content, and interest can create connections that drive engagement — and ROI.

In fact, 71% of consumers trust advertising, opinions and product placements from influencers, making it clear that influencers continue to be a powerful partnership for brands. So how can brands, teams, and leagues know which influencer is right for which campaign?

Download [[link removed]] Nielsen’s latest report to learn more about the power of influencers, and make the right decision for your brand.

Conversation Starters When it comes to the business of sports, Front Office Sports has you covered — that’s why Digiday just named us a finalist for their Best Newsletter award. But we want your thoughts, too. All you have to do is take a quick reader survey here [[link removed]]. The best part? You have a chance to win some cool Front Office Sports merch or a $500 Visa gift card! Colin Kaepernick, who earned $43.5 million on the field through his NFL contracts, worked out for the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday – his first [[link removed]] formal session in almost three years. The Players Trunk, which sells former and current athletes’ team apparel, appeared on “Shark Tank” last week – likely the first NIL company to appear on the show – and turned down [[link removed]] offers from Mark Cuban and Kevin Hart. SMU Football has announced [[link removed]] plans for a $65 million training complex to be completed by the 2024 season. Question Of The Day

Have you ever played video games on a PC?

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

Thursday’s Answer

45% of respondents say ownership affects which team they root for.

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

Written by Owen Poindexter [[link removed]], Justin Byers [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]]

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