June 17, 2022

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How much would you pay for a jersey with a hole in it? MLB has released [[link removed]] an apparel collaboration with Off-White featuring the brand’s signature “meteor holes.” Hats are going for $260, while a jersey will cost $1,030. T-shirts ($355) and hoodies ($630) are also available.

FIFA Announces 17 Host Cities for 2026 World Cup [[link removed]]

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

On Thursday, FIFA announced the full slate of cities that will host the 2026 World Cup, selecting 17 among 22 contenders in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

The U.S.-based hosts include the country’s largest cities, as well as some mid-sized sports hubs. The world’s biggest sports tournament is coming to:

AtlantaBostonDallasHoustonKansas CityLos AngelesMiamiNew York/New JerseyPhiladelphiaSan Francisco/Bay AreaSeattle

Every U.S. bidder other than Orlando pitched the use of an NFL stadium.

Toronto and Vancouver made the cut, as did Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Mexico will be the first country to host the World Cup three different times. This will be Canada’s first time hosting.

The U.S. will host 60 of the 48-team tournament’s 80 games, including every game from the quarterfinals onward.

A 2018 study by The Boston Consulting Group claimed [[link removed]] that the 2026 World Cup would bring an economic impact of $5 billion to North America, or $3 billion to $4 billion after factoring in investments required for playing facilities and the expected surge in tourism.

Missing the Cut

FIFA had more contenders than available slots, necessitating cuts from the list of applicants, including Cincinnati, Nashville, Denver, Orlando, Edmonton, and a joint bid between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Formula 1 Locks in Melbourne Through 2035 [[link removed]]

F1 Australia Grand Prix

There is uncertainty about which cities will remain on Formula 1’s calendar going forward, but not Down Under.

Melbourne will host the Australian Grand Prix through 2035, F1 announced [[link removed]] on Thursday, after the two sides agreed to a 10-year deal.

The lower-tier competitions Formula 2 and Formula 3 will be added to the racing weekend.Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit, which has hosted F1 since 1996, received “significant investment” over the last two years, according to F1, with further work planned for the paddock and pit lane.The April race there brought more than 419,000 fans.

“We know how important this event is to our economy, and that’s why we’ve delivered the longest extension for the race since it has been held in Melbourne,” said Martin Pakula, Victoria’s minister for tourism, sport and major events.

Wheeling and Dealing

The extension at Melbourne was just one of the recent deals F1 has struck in the southern hemisphere. The series reached [[link removed]] a three-year broadcast agreement with Brazilian company Bandeirantes, while Claro Brasil signed a deal for exclusive over-the-top rights.

Band, which took over the rights in 2021 from Globo, had sold $23.5 million in advertising connected to its F1 coverage this year. That revenue is split evenly between Band and F1-parent Liberty Media.

A major announcement on a third continent could be imminent: F1 is in negotiations [[link removed]] to bring a grand prix to Midrand, South Africa.

SPONSORED BY TECHSTARS

One-Zero Sports & Entertainment Venture Summit

The premiere sportstech event of the summer is almost here – focused on venture capital, high growth startups, and disrupting trends in areas like sports media, connected fitness, sports betting, fan engagement, ticketing, and more!

Join Techstars on July 6-8 in Indianapolis for The One-Zero Sports & Entertainment Venture Summit [[link removed]].

Each session will feature top sports venture capitalists and founders who are investing and building within sportstech categories. The VC’s include Ian Doody at PowerHouse VC and Edward King at Acies, among others. Founders include Jeremy Levine at Underdog, Khalil Zahar at Fight Camp, NBA All-Star and entrepreneur Baron Davis and more.

The summit will also include the 2022 Techstars Sports Accelerator [[link removed]] Demo Day, powered by Indy. Each ticket includes access to panels, fireside chats, demo day pitches, VIP networking sessions, food, and drinks.

Get your tickets now [[link removed]].

Department of Justice Asks Court to Limit MLB Antitrust Exemption [[link removed]]

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

A 100-year-old antitrust exemption that has helped shape Major League Baseball is coming under scrutiny.

The Department of Justice has asked the U.S. District Court in New York to limit MLB’s antitrust exemption, which has been in place since 1922.

The “statement of interest” filing — in which the department weighs in on a case as neither plaintiff nor defendant — concerned a suit brought by three minor league teams. The teams were among 43 that lost their MLB affiliation in 2020.

MLB asked that the suit be thrown out, citing the antitrust exemption. The Department of Justice asked the court to “define the exemption narrowly.”

Should the exemption be cut back, MLB teams could move to different cities without input from the league.Minor league players could explore other playing opportunities, which advocates argue would pressure teams to improve wages and living conditions.

Federal legislation has been introduced this year to remove MLB’s exemption, which is unique among U.S. sports leagues.

Minor Matters

The New York Mets are in talks [[link removed]] with state representatives and advocacy groups on improving wages and conditions for their minor league affiliates, all of which play in New York State.

Sen. Jessica Ramos, whose district includes Citi Field, wrote a letter to Mets owner Steve Cohen calling on the team to pay weekly salaries year-round, cover or provide in-season housing and meals, cover the cost of offseason training, and adjust salaries based on the cost of living in certain areas.

NCAA Digging into Miami’s NIL Deals, Meets UM Booster [[link removed]]

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The University of Miami is facing an inquiry by the NCAA regarding NIL deals involving the school’s athletes.

The NCAA has conducted interviews with those involved with Miami athletics, including Miami booster and billionaire John Ruiz — who pledged to spend [[link removed]] at least $10 million on NIL deals.

Ruiz has signed [[link removed]] 115 athletes to NIL pacts, with the majority being Miami students.He has already built an NIL payroll that is roughly $7 million.The inquiry is believed to be the first serious inquiry into a college athletic department since the NIL era began in July 2021.

The NCAA’s probe into Miami and Ruiz is the result of a broad set of rules governing NIL deals that continue to be updated [[link removed]] since being enacted last July.

The guidelines prohibit deals from being used as recruiting inducements or forms of pay-for-play — including deals from boosters and their collectives.

Ruiz’s involvement in a potential NIL violation comes after two of his companies — healthcare application LifeWallet and Cigarette Racing Team — secured [[link removed]] a two-year, $800,000 endorsement deal with Nijel Pack, a men’s basketball transfer from Kansas State.

What’s Next

Ruiz believes that the NCAA’s inquiry will show no signs of NIL violations. “I’m extremely comfortable with what we are doing,” Ruiz told [[link removed]] Sports Illustrated. “I have nothing to hide.”

Others, like the SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum and AL.com’s John Talty, have said they believe [[link removed]] the NCAA will continue its previous mode of operation by delivering little to no enforcement.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS EVENTS

The Future of Women in Sports

The passing of Title IX in 1972 had an immediate impact on the sports world – the lasting impact however, has proved to be far greater. Women’s sports have not only grown at the college level, but at the professional level as well.

To celebrate this historic moment, Front Office Sports will host a virtual summit [[link removed]] featuring intimate conversations with some of the most influential female athletes and business leaders. Discussions will include:

What It Means to Be Bold and Brave: A Candid Conversation with Allyson Felix: Olympian, Activist and Entrepreneur NIL and the Road to Equity for Women in College Sports Trailblazing Pros on Breaking Barriers UCLA’s Reilyn Turner on the Collegiate Athlete Experience In the Huddle with Bucs’ Coach Lo

Check out the full agenda [[link removed]] and reserve your spot now!

Conversation Starters The St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority is urging [[link removed]] that the remaining $500 million of a $790 million settlement involving the Rams’ relocation to Los Angeles be put into higher-earning investment funds until an agreement is reached. NFL star defensive back Richard Sherman will join [[link removed]] Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” coverage team this season. University of Iowa walk-on wide receiver Jordan Kumm has signed [[link removed]] a deal with convenience store Kum & Go. An investigation into an alleged $3 million non-disclosure agreement authorized by Vince McMahon has unearthed allegations [[link removed]] of sexual misconduct by the WWE chairman. Question Of The Day

Is your city a World Cup host?

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

Thursday’s Answer

5% of respondents have watched at least some of this year’s Royal Ascot.

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

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

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