November 18, 2022

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Today’s Leadoff covers some big moves: CAA tops Forbes’ list of most valuable sports agencies, the Royals’ move could keep the Chiefs in place, NASCAR starts a division in Brazil, and Liberty Media splits off the Atlanta Braves. Click here to listen [[link removed]].

No Beer Allowed at FIFA World Cup Stadiums [[link removed]]

Budweiser

Organizers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup made a jarring announcement on Friday: no beer.

Just two days before the tournament begins, FIFA revealed [[link removed]] that no beer will be available at and around the eight stadiums in Qatar. The host country was originally allowing beer despite its tight alcohol policies.

“Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus on the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations, and licensed venues,” a FIFA statement reads.

Budweiser, the tournament’s exclusive beer sponsor, will continue to sell its alcohol-free Bud Zero product.

Budweiser’s deal is reportedly worth $75 million for every World Cup cycle. The company has been a World Cup sponsor since 1986.There had already been reported tension between Budweiser and FIFA about how to get supplies into Qatar.

Alcoholic beer will still be allowed [[link removed]] after 6:30 p.m. in specific permitted fan zones in the country, and there will still be zones for intoxicated fans to sober up.

The announcement comes days after demands [[link removed]] — reportedly from the country’s royal family — to move beer tents to more obscure locations. An official told the New York Times that the governing body agreed to it amid concerns of full tent shutdowns.

Luxury Living

There is one exception to the rule.

An official FIFA Champagne, beer, and other drinks — including wines — will reportedly [[link removed]?] be available in stadium luxury suites reserved for FIFA officials and wealthy guests.

Lawsuits Unlikely to Derail Potential Commanders Sale [[link removed]]

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Commanders were hit with their second lawsuit [[link removed]] in as many weeks, although legal experts told Front Office Sports that neither civil complaint should hold up an expected sale [[link removed]] of the franchise.

The consumer protection lawsuit filed [[link removed]] on Thursday by District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine alleges the team ran a “decades-long unlawful scheme” to hold back thousands worth of ticket deposits.

The same office sued [[link removed]] the Commanders — along with owner Dan Snyder, the NFL, and commissioner Roger Goodell — on Nov. 19 over allegations that they made efforts to impede hostile workplace investigations of the team.

There are other ongoing investigations.

The House Oversight Committee is expected to issue [[link removed]] its final findings by year’s end. Rep. James Comer, who is in line to take over the committee, told FOS in a statement the investigation is ”over” when Republicans take over the House in January. Former SEC chair Mary Jo White, who is leading the second outside investigation into the team, has yet to issue her report. Maryland reached a settlement [[link removed]] with the Commanders on Friday, but probes by Virginia and the Department of Justice remain ongoing. Why It Won’t Likely Hinder Sale

“Any buyer will resolve all outstanding lawsuits and investigations before closing,” said attorney Howard Gutman, a former U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, adding that “$7 billion has the ability to fix lots of things.”

Sports attorney Daniel Wallach agreed: “Even if it’s millions, which won’t happen, a multi-billion-dollar franchise sale means that neither side will sweat the exposure.”

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MLB Latest To Cut Ties With FTX [[link removed]]

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The oldest major professional sports league in America is the latest entity to cut ties with embattled cryptocurrency exchange FTX.

Major League Baseball confirmed Thursday it has terminated [[link removed]] its five-year sponsorship deal with FTX after the exchange — along with more than 130 affiliated companies — filed for bankruptcy last week.

MLB and FTX agreed to the deal in 2021, making FTX the league’s official exchange.The league’s umpires had worn an FTX patch on their shirts from July 2021 through this year.

FTX’s bankruptcy has spurred the collapse of several sports-related deals.

Earlier this week, the Miami Heat and Miami-Dade County terminated [[link removed]] a 19-year, $135 million naming rights deal with FTX secured in March 2021. The contract between the team, county, and FTX requires the exchange to pay $16.5 million if it faces an “insolvency event.”

The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team suspended its sponsorship deal with FTX, and Cal suspended [[link removed]] its naming rights deal for the football field at California Memorial Stadium.

Cal was in the midst of a 10-year, $17.5 million deal with FTX that was to be paid in crypto.

Esports organization TSM — the most valuable esports company in 2022 at $540 million — has also decided to suspend [[link removed]] its 10-year, $210 million naming rights deal with FTX.

Legal Woes

A consortium of investors has sued [[link removed]] FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and several high-profile athletes who promoted the exchange.

Included in the $11 billion class-action suit are seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady, NBA star Steph Curry, and others.

Conversation Starters Major League Cricket has been quietly establishing itself in the U.S. — and now it’s ready for its closeup. Front Office Sports analyst Ronen Ainbinder joins senior writer Owen Poindexter on The Newsroom to discuss the rise of cricket in America and what could be coming next. Listen and watch on Apple [[link removed]], Spotify [[link removed]], and YouTube [[link removed]]. Manchester United is exploring [[link removed]] the possibility of terminating Cristiano Roanldo’s contract and suing him for breach of contract, per ESPN. FanDuel is looking to elevate [[link removed]] some under-covered sports in the hopes that it can pique the interest of sports bettors.

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NASCAR's Investment in New Content

“WSC helps us instantly create content for each of our social channels and specifically tailor it to how users want to ingest it,” Amy Anderson, Head of Content Strategy at NASCAR Studios said. Read the full interview [[link removed]] to learn how NASCAR is utilizing WSC Sports.

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Today's Action

NHL

10:00 PM

Kings (-105) at Canucks (-115)

Bet Now [[link removed]]

NCAA

09:00 PM

South Florida (+420) at Tulsa (-540)

Bet Now [[link removed]]

NCAA

09:45 PM

Diego State (-625) at Mexico (+470)

Bet Now [[link removed]]

*All times are EST unless otherwise noted.

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

Market Movers

U.S. stocks were mixed on Friday. Here’s a look at how some sports-related stocks performed:

SIRI [[link removed]]

Sirius XM Holdings Inc

[[link removed]]

$6.41

[[link removed]]

+0.23%

[[link removed]] EA [[link removed]]

Electronic Arts, Inc.

[[link removed]]

$130.08

[[link removed]]

+0.46%

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

Planet Fitness Inc

[[link removed]]

$75.05

[[link removed]]

+1.08%

[[link removed]] RCI [[link removed]]

Rogers Communications Inc.

[[link removed]]

$44.61

[[link removed]]

+1.16%

[[link removed]] FOX [[link removed]]

Fox Corporation

[[link removed]]

$29.16

[[link removed]]

+1.68%

[[link removed]] LULU [[link removed]]

Lululemon Athletica inc.

[[link removed]]

$347.64

[[link removed]]

-3.22%

[[link removed]] (Note: All as of market close on 11/18/22) What to Watch

The Indiana Hoosiers (2-0) face the Xavier Musketeers (3-0) on Friday night at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati.

How to Watch: 6 p.m. ET on FS1

Betting Odds: Hoosiers -2.5 || ML -150 || O/U 142.5

Pick: Expect coach Mike Woodson to have the Hoosiers prepared. Take Indiana to cover.

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