The French Grand Prix isn’t on the Formula 1 calendar next year — and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says there’s no guarantee of European races going forward as the sport expands in other parts of the world.

The race, first held in 1906, acknowledged F1’s decision in a statement. The most recent iteration took place last month and was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

• F1 says the French Grand Prix could return to the calendar on a rotating basis.
• The race was initially taken off F1’s calendar after 2008 and returned in 2018.
• The 2023 calendar will add races in Qatar, Shanghai, and Las Vegas. Regulations cap the number of annual races at 24.

France’s current deal, which expires this year, pays F1 $22 million annually. New entrants are paying higher fees, with Qatar reportedly shelling out $55 million and China paying $50 million.

Spa or Kyalami?

The contract for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa ends this year, and there has been speculation the race would not be included in the 2023 schedule to make space for new events. However, negotiations with Kyalami in Midrand, South Africa, are proceeding slowly, raising the possibility that Spa could return.

Red Bull team CEO Christian Horner has called for legacy races like Spa, Silverstone, and Monza to be protected from cuts.

Is Britain’s richest man being ghosted by its richest soccer team?

Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently publicized his interest in buying Manchester United, but the billionaire reportedly hasn’t heard back from the team’s current owners, the Glazer family.

Worth an estimated $11.6 billion, Ratcliffe’s interest isn’t unwarranted. The Glazers, who purchased the team for a reported $951 million in 2005, are currently seeking at least $235 million in funding to make infrastructure improvements to the team’s Old Trafford stadium.

• A loan and stake sale have reportedly been discussed.
• Funds in exchange for a part of the team’s media rights are likely, per The Times.

Ratcliffe owns cycling team INEOS Grenadiers, as well as soccer clubs Nice and FC Lausanne-Sport. He also bid for Chelsea FC this year.

Outlets recently reported that the Glazers would seek a record $5.9 billion — at least — if they were to sell the team. Forbes last valued the team at $4.6 billion.

Glazer Gossip

The Glazers are facing scrutiny from Man U fans, with mounting pressure to sell.

Under the family, who also owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Man U has paid around $1.1 billion in interest and debt repayments, while the family has collected $406 million in consulting fees, dividends, and share sales.

The Saudi Pro League, Saudi Arabia’s top-flight soccer competition, secured a naming rights deal with real estate developer Roshn that’s worth $127.5 million over five years.

Roshn CEO David Grover said he hopes the agreement will “intensify our efforts in supporting the Saudi sports scene.”

• The league will be renamed the Roshn Saudi League.
• The deal was facilitated by Rise Group, the league’s exclusive sponsorship agency.

Between 2020 and 2021, the Saudi Pro League generated $480 million in revenue.

The Public Investment Fund 

The deal adds to a growing list of sports-related investments for Roshn and its largest backer, the Public Investment Fund — Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

Roshn secured a three-year deal with Formula 1 in December 2021 to be named a sponsor of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The company also has deals with the Riyadh Marathon and the Saudi Sports for All Federation.

The Roshn Saudi League joins the LIV Golf Series and Aston Martin as recent sports-related investments by the PIF. In July, Aston Martin received an investment of roughly $93 million from the PIF to help the car brand alleviate debt after it returned to F1 in 2021.

A new $1 billion soccer stadium and complex is one vote away from becoming a reality for Inter Miami CF — an MLS club co-owned by David Beckham.

The project is pending approval by Miami-Dade Aviation Department, which requires a review of construction plans in “special safety zones” that are in place to limit expansion around Miami International Airport.

• The project would include a 25,000-seat stadium, shopping mall, hotel, and park.
• There are also plans to include office space.
• The project would redevelop the 131-acre Melreese Golf Course and Country Club.

The potential stadium and complex have received backlash from airlines operating out of Miami due to concerns that construction equipment could obstruct flights. Airlines believe the stadium’s lighting system could interfere with the vision of pilots.

However, the project received approval from the Miami City Commission in April. 

In July, the commission approved the project’s zoning plans, which require developers to provide public benefits like cash and recreational parks in order to build.

Hot Commodity

Earlier this year, Authentic Brands Group purchased a 55% stake in Beckham’s global brand management firm, DB Ventures. Financial terms were not disclosed, but CNBC reported that the deal was worth $269 million.

ABG is also the largest stakeholder in Studio 99, a production company co-founded by Beckham three years ago.