Flag football could be part of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles — with the help of America’s most popular professional sports league. 

The NFL has had its sights on expanding its reach through flag football as it looks to grow its international business to $1 billion annually over the next 10 years. The league believes that flag football as an Olympic sport could expedite the process of attracting new fans. 

• The IOC will meet in December to decide whether flag football will be an Olympic sport.
• The LA28 organizing committee will also make recommendations for additional sports. 

Flag football has a unique opportunity to showcase its viability as an Olympic sport this month. 

The World Games — an international, multi-sport event — are featuring flag football for the very first time during a 10-day long competition that began on July 7 in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Long Time Coming 

American football hasn’t been recognized as an Olympic sport since the 1932 Summer Games in Los Angeles — when it was included as a demonstration sport. The sport’s chances have been hampered by the fact that teams require at least a one-week gap between games. 

However, the IOC has had the sport on its radar since the International Federation of American Football became recognized as a governing body by the organization in 2013.

The IOC’s support is likely to help flag football’s case.

French commercial network L’Équipe has struck a deal with Amazon to co-broadcast one Ligue 2 match each week during the 2022-23 season.

Amazon won the majority of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 rights last year in a deal reportedly worth $279 million per year until the end of the 2023-24 season. 

• The tech giant has access to eight games per week for both leagues. 
• BeIN owns rights to the remaining games. The broadcaster recently won a court ruling requiring Canal+ to continue paying for the Ligue 1 games it sublicenses after a year-long legal fight.

Amazon and L’Équipe had a partnership last year in which the latter aired the first 10 rounds of Ligue 1 for free. L’Équipe’s new sublicensing deal begins on Ligues 2’s opening day between Metz and Amiens on July 30. 

L’Équipe reportedly struck a broadcasting deal with LIV Golf in June.

Top-Tier TV

This week, Amazon also announced a new pricing structure to watch Ligue 1. The season-long pass for Ligue 1 costs $100. Amazon is currently running a $90 promotion for Prime members who purchase the pass July 11-28. 

Last year, the Ligue 1 pass cost a monthly $13.17 on top of the $6.07 Amazon Prime membership fee.

The winner of next weekend’s British Open will receive a record $2.5 million — $1.5 million less than Branden Grace secured for his first-place finish at the last LIV Golf Invitational Series event.

The overall purse announced by the golf governing body R&A on Friday is a 22% increase over last year’s British Open. The 150th Open will commence at St. Andrews on Thursday, and golfers who signed on with LIV Golf can compete, just as R&A partner USGA allowed them to play in last month’s U.S. Open.

Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson are among the LIV Golf competitors slated to play in the British Open.

• The total purse for the British Open is $14 million. LIV Golf’s Portland event earlier this month at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club had a purse of $25 million.
• The British Open will have 156 competitors compared to the 48-player field for LIV Golf’s first two events.
• A player missing the cut at the British Open could make as little as $7,000. Jediah Morgan earned $120,000 for his dead-last finish at the Portland LIV Golf event.

Peace Talks Ahead?

“If these people are serious about investing billions into golf, I think ultimately that’s a good thing,” said Rory McIlroy, a four-time major champion who has so far has rejected LIV Golf’s overtures. “Everyone needs to try to come together a little more.”

As the Arizona Coyotes wait for their temporary home at Arizona State University to be brought up to NHL standards, the team is already comparing the arena’s potential revenue to its old rink.

“From a revenue perspective, it’s going to be at the same if not better than where we were before,” Coyotes president Xavier Gutierrez said.

• Without going public with full- and half-season tickets, the Coyotes are “two-thirds” sold, according to Gutierrez. 
• He expects there to be around 4,700-4,800 fans, with about 350-400 students.

“We never wanted to get to a situation where we’re gouging people,” he added. “We wanted to get to the NHL average for the lower bowl, which is about $157 average ticket price. Right now, we’re about $170.”

The Coyotes were last valued by Forbes at $400 million — No. 32 of 32 NHL teams.

Road Trip

The Coyotes, who will play at ASU for the next three seasons, are starting their season with six road games, followed by four “home” games and another 14 road contests. 

While ASU’s $115 million facility is expected to be completed in October, modifications to the arena — required by the NHL — aren’t expected to be done until December. The team is reportedly working with ASU on temporary facilities for October games.

In June, the team pitched a $1.7 billion plan for an arena and entertainment district.