October 4, 2022

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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Things are a little bit extra in today’s Leadoff: Real Madrid’s president renews calls for the Super League, Red Bull reportedly goes over its F1 cost cap, the site of the Panthers’ abandoned $800 million practice facility hits the market, and OneFootball is looking to grow its women’s soccer audience. Click here to listen [[link removed]].

Spain, Portugal Add Ukraine to 2030 World Cup Bid [[link removed]]

Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

Spain and Portugal will reportedly add Ukraine to their joint bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Should the countries be granted hosting duties, Ukraine — which was invaded [[link removed]] by Russia on Feb. 24, 2022 — would likely host one group in the competition, promoting the idea that soccer can “rebuild hope and peace,” according to a report [[link removed]] from The Times.

An official announcement is anticipated in the coming days during a press conference at UEFA’s headquarters.The governing body is expected [[link removed]] to fully back the bid, as it wants the World Cup to take place solely in Europe.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin recently said [[link removed]] he is “sure that the 2030 World Cup will be played in Spain and Portugal,” adding that “we will do everything possible to help two countries that are passionate, live and breathe football, and that have a good infrastructure.”

The countries will go up against a joint bid from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay, as well as a reported joint bid from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Greece — the latter of which FIFA president Gianni Infantino reportedly likes, due to the inclusion of an African nation.

Host Nations

Spain hosted the World Cup in 1982. Portugal and Ukraine haven’t hosted the tournament but have been home to the European Championship finals in 2004 and 2012, respectively.

The 2022 World Cup runs Nov. 21-Dec. 18 in Qatar, which expects [[link removed]] the tournament to add up to $17 billion to its economy. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico will host the 2026 tournament.

A’s Hope for Stadium Deal Before Officials Leave Office [[link removed]]

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

With each passing day, the timeline for the A’s to strike a deal to stay in Oakland gets tighter.

The team is hoping to secure a deal by the end of the year, before mayor Libby Schaaf, who has championed the A’s proposed $12 billion waterfront development, and two city council members who have supported the project leave office.

Those two council members, Loren Taylor and Sheng Thao, are among 10 candidates running to replace Schaaf. City Administrator Ed Reiskin said [[link removed]] on Sept. 20 that negotiations between the city and team would have to conclude in roughly one week to allow for a binding council vote by the end of the year.The final council meeting of the year is Dec. 20.

On Friday, a state appeals court ruled against the A’s by determining that the state Department of Toxic Substances Control acted legally in classifying metals treated by metal shredding company Schnitzer Steel as non-hazardous.

Schnitzer Steel operates near Howard Terminal, where the A’s hope to build a stadium, housing, park land, retail, restaurants, and a hotel.

Vegas Awaits

The time crunch in Oakland, which hinges in part on a $182.9 million grant the city applied for from the U.S. Department of Transportation, has raised hopes in Las Vegas that the team could move there.

The team has scouted a handful of locations, with recent attention focused on the 38-acre Las Vegas Festival Grounds, owned by casino magnate Phil Ruffin. Bally’s Tropicana site is also of interest to the team.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KAULIG RACING

Making a Lasting Impact off the Track

While Kaulig Racing [[link removed]] is in the business to win championships, there’s a strong culture around opportunities to give back.

Kaulig Giving, the charity arm of Kaulig, is focused on helping those around them and supporting their community. They partner with charitable organizations in Northeast Ohio and beyond, including the LeBron James Family Foundation and the NASCAR Foundation.

To wrap up our series, Behind the Wheel With Matt Kaulig, our Editor in Chief Ernest Baker chats with Matt in the fifth episode [[link removed]] on Kaulig Giving, discussing partnerships that range from healthcare, education, athletics, and other opportunities for children, and the importance to Matt of giving back to the community.

Watch now [[link removed]].

Sarver Hires Moelis for Suns, Mercury Sale [[link removed]]

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver has reportedly hired investment bank and advisory firm Moelis & Company to facilitate the sale of the two pro basketball franchises.

In September, Sarver was suspended [[link removed]] by the NBA for a year and fined $10 million after an investigation revealed his bullying and use of racially and sexually inappropriate language in the workplace.

The probe was initiated after an ESPN report in 2021 detailed many of the allegations.

Last month, Sarver vowed to sell [[link removed]] the Suns and Mercury to not be a distraction.Sarver purchased [[link removed]] a 30% stake in the Suns in 2004 for $401 million.The team is valued at $1.8 billion — ranking 18th in the NBA, per [[link removed]] Forbes.A sale could now fetch more than $2 billion.

Sarver is working with Moelis & Co. after the firm guided an ownership group led by Todd Boehly and investment firm Clearlake Capital in its $3.2 billion purchase [[link removed]] of Chelsea FC in May. Moelis & Co. also works with Diamond Sports Group, a subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Lack of Support

In September, Jahm Najafi — a Suns vice chairman who holds the second-largest stake in the team — penned an open letter to employees and players calling [[link removed]] for Sarver to sell his stake.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that he doesn’t “have the right to take away his team,” while NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio called [[link removed]] for a lifetime ban of Sarver.

Conversation Starters CrossFit CEO Don Faul’s résumé is stacked. Before CrossFit, he was an executive at Google, Meta, and Pinterest. Prior to that, he was a platoon commander in the Marines. On the latest episode of My Other Passion, we spoke to Faul about the first couple months in his tenure as CEO, where he wants CrossFit to be by 2030, and diversifying his team after the controversy that rocked the company. Listen or watch now on Apple [[link removed]], Spotify [[link removed]], or YouTube [[link removed]]. The NCAA is hiring [[link removed]] an “Associate Director of Enforcement for Name, Image, and Likeness,” according to posts on TeamWork Online and LinkedIn. Given the rash of controversial injuries this NFL season, media partners like ESPN and Fox may add [[link removed]] full-time “concussion/injury” analysts to their telecasts.

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In this free, five-lesson course, execs from Meta and top sports organizations examine the growing relationship between the metaverse [[link removed]] and the sports industry. We also explore how teams and organizations can leverage emerging technologies like VR, AR, Avatars, and digital collectibles to build unprecedented connections with players and fans.

Upon completion, all participants will earn a verified digital certification badge to display on their social channels.

Register [[link removed]] for the course today!

Market Movers

U.S. stocks experienced gains across all three major indexes on Tuesday. Here’s a look at how some sports-related stocks performed:

LYV [[link removed]]

Live Nation Entertainment Inc

[[link removed]]

$80.48

[[link removed]]

+0.52%

[[link removed]] UA [[link removed]]

Under Armour Inc

[[link removed]]

$6.58

[[link removed]]

+1.00%

[[link removed]] WWE [[link removed]]

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

[[link removed]]

$73.65

[[link removed]]

+1.52%

[[link removed]] PLNT [[link removed]]

Planet Fitness Inc

[[link removed]]

$61.82

[[link removed]]

+3.33%

[[link removed]] MGM [[link removed]]

MGM Resorts International

[[link removed]]

$32.71

[[link removed]]

+3.87%

[[link removed]] DKS [[link removed]]

Dicks Sporting Goods, Inc.

[[link removed]]

$109.74

[[link removed]]

-2.10%

[[link removed]] (Note: All as of market close on 10/4/22) What to Watch

The Philadelphia Phillies (87-73) face the Houston Astros (104-56) on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.

How to Watch: 8:10 p.m. ET on TBS

Betting Odds: Astros -1.5 || ML -200 || O/U 7

Pick: Expect the Astros to rebound from Monday’s loss. Take Houston to cover.

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

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