August 24, 2022

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The former and present versions of the USFL are no longer at odds. A holding company representing owners from the original league — which ran from 1983-85 — reached a settlement [[link removed]] in a trademark lawsuit with Fox Sports. In April, the network resurrected the USFL as a spring football league using several classic team names and logos.

Sportsbooks, Tribes Slug It Out Over Sports Betting in California [[link removed]]

Danielle Parhizkaran / USA TODAY NETWORK

The question of legalized sports betting in California has become the most expensive ballot fight in California’s history.

Two propositions on the November ballot, Proposition 26 and Proposition 27, offer competing visions of legalized sports betting. Each needs to surpass 50% to become law, and if they both do, the one that gets more votes will win out, though litigation is expected in that scenario.

Between the two propositions, supporters and opponents have raised [[link removed]] $364 million.Prop 26 allows sports betting only on tribal lands. Annual revenues to the state under this law would likely increase by tens of millions of dollars, per the California Legislative Analyst’s Office.Prop 27 would allow for mobile sports betting. Sportsbooks would be able to participate after paying $100 million for a five-year license (renewals cost $10 million) and partnering with a tribe. Annual state revenues under Prop 27 are estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars, but likely no more than $500 million.

DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Wynn Resorts, and some tribes have thrown money behind Prop 27.

Political action committees have raised huge sums, including one supporting Prop 27 that raised $150 million. Another, which promotes Prop 26, raised $106.7 million.

Power Play

Tribal governments have shown their political sway in California, first by lobbying against legislative measures that would have legalized sports betting, then by helping to secure opposition to Prop 27.

The state Democratic and Republican parties found [[link removed]] a rare moment of agreement, with each officially opposing Prop 27.

Andretti to Build $200M Racing HQ in Indiana [[link removed]]

Andretti Autosport

Andretti Global, the parent company of Andretti Autosport, has announced plans to build a new $200 million global racing headquarters in Fishers, Indiana.

“For us, it’s about more than just having somewhere to work on the cars,” said CEO Michael Andretti. “It’s about having the global motorsport home and sharing that with our people, our fans, and our sponsors to advance the sport and leave a lasting legacy.”

The project will be a 575,00 square-foot facility across 90 acres.It is pending approval from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation board.Andretti Global hopes to have the facility operational by 2025.By 2026, it could add up to 500 jobs to the local community.

Costs of building the new facility will be partly subsidized by the IEDC, which plans to invest [[link removed]] up to $19 million in Andretti Autosport through conditional tax credits once the project is approved.

‘Racing Capital of the World’

Andretti Global joins McLaren Racing as motorsport giants building facilities in Indiana — “the racing capital of the world.”

In May, McLaren Racing announced it will build a $25 million IndyCar facility in Indiana. The 97,000-square-foot facility will be operational within the next two years.

“We want to have a bigger North American platform than our competitors in Formula 1,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown told [[link removed]] Front Office Sports.

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Dynamic NFTs Change The Game

Fresh off the launch of Autograph Signature Experiences – an interactive program that rewards fans with unprecedented access – Dillon Rosenblatt, Co-Founder and CEO at Autograph, joins Ernest Baker, Editor in Chief at Front Office Sports, for a conversation around the Future of Fandom [[link removed]].

In this conversation [[link removed]], learn how dynamic NFTs like those included in Autograph Signature Experiences are granting fans more ownership and access than ever before. Plus, get the details on the first Signature Experience drop, The Huddle, featuring Co-Founder and certified G.O.A.T. Tom Brady.

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Sony PlayStation Faces $5.9B Class-Action Lawsuit [[link removed]]

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Sony PlayStation is facing a class-action lawsuit in London that could seek up to $5.9 billion in damages over allegations of overcharging customers for video games and in-game purchases.

At the heart of the lawsuit are claims that Sony’s role as a major player in the $200 billion global gaming market [[link removed]] allowed the company to administer unfair conditions to developers.

As a result, developers allegedly provided customers with “excessive and unfair” pricing.

The lawsuit was filed [[link removed]] at London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal.It is pending approval by judges as an opt-out collective action.The class-action suit could include 8.9 million customers.

Customers eligible for compensation are those in the U.K. who have purchased digital games and content on their PlayStation console through its online store since August 2016.

Sony’s PlayStation Network — which includes the PlayStation Store — has roughly 102 million monthly active users [[link removed].] as of June 2022, down from 111 million users in December 2021.

Done Deal

Sony is facing a potential legal hurdle, but will otherwise look to benefit from its recent purchase of Bungie, the original creator of “Halo” and the current developer of “Destiny.”

In July, Sony closed [[link removed]] its $3.6 billion deal for Bungie, which will continue to independently develop and publish games but will use Sony to accelerate the development of projects.

EA Teams Up with MLS for Post-FIFA Future [[link removed]]

EA

Electronic Arts’ signature soccer game will no longer bear the FIFA name in the near future, but it will still enjoy participation from nearly every major soccer league across the globe.

Most recently, the company extended [[link removed]] its partnership with MLS, which has worked with EA since 1999.

EA and FIFA ended their long-term licensing agreement this year, meaning September’s “FIFA 23” will be the last EA title to carry the governing body’s name for now. The following game in the series will be titled “EA Sports F.C.”

In addition to MLS, EA has agreements with over 300 partners, including the Premier League, Bundesliga, and Serie A. The deals cover more than 700 teams and 19,000 athletes.Earlier this month, EA struck a deal to become [[link removed]] La Liga’s title sponsor, replacing Spanish bank Santander.

“There are a good chunk of La Liga fans that are fans because they play FIFA, and not necessarily because they watch games on the weekends,” La Liga North America CEO Boris Gartner told Front Office Sports.

Women’s Soccer Gets in the Game

“FIFA 23” will be the first EA title with women’s teams, including the top-flight English and French leagues, Barclays FA Women’s Super League and Division 1 Arkema.

The NWSL and Frauen-Bundesliga have been rumored to be part of the game as well, but neither league has been announced as of Tuesday.

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Conversation Starters HKS Architects dropped a rendering of a proposed 60,000-seat stadium at Tropical Park. Take a look [[link removed]] at what could be the Miami Hurricanes’ future home stadium. The NWSL announced [[link removed]] that its 2022 championship will be played on Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. ET from Audi Field in Washington, D.C., and air on CBS – the game’s first-ever primetime spot. Eight-time Olympic gold medalist sprinter Usain Bolt recently filed [[link removed]] a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for his signature victory pose. Today's Action

MLB

08:10 PM

Twins (+195) at Astros (-230)

Bet Now [[link removed]]

MLB

04:10 PM

Guardians (+140) at Padres (-165)

Bet Now [[link removed]]

MLB

08:05 PM

Cardinals (-205) at Cubs (+175)

Bet Now [[link removed]]

*All times are EST unless otherwise noted.

*Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See [[link removed]] for details.

Question Of The Day

Are you a regular consumer of sports drinks?

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Tuesday’s Answer

82% of respondents don’t want Saudi Arabia to host the Olympics.

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

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