January 9, 2023

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The 2029 Asian Winter Games will be held [[link removed]] in Trojena — a futuristic Saudi Arabian megacity that looks like something straight out of a James Cameron film. The city doesn’t actually exist yet and is part of a $500 billion smart-city project.

College Athletics College Football’s Title Game Makes First L.A. Appearance [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

As a home to USC, UCLA, and the Rose Bowl (frequent site of the BCS National Championship), Los Angeles has long been a college football town. But the four-team College Football Playoff has never played a championship game in L.A. — until now.

On Monday night, SoFi Stadium will host the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship between Georgia and TCU, exactly 330 days after hosting Super Bowl LVI.

Local officials expect more than 31,000 hotel room bookings and revenue from multiple events held throughout the city for the CFP matchup. In 2017 when the news was announced, Ernest Wooden Jr., former president and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, said [[link removed]] the game will “bring millions in direct spend to our area restaurants, attractions, and more.”

Construction on SoFi Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, began in 2016 and was completed in September 2020 — though it didn’t host an NFL game until 2021.

The 300-acre enclave, funded by billionaire Rams owner Stan Kroenke, cost [[link removed]] a whopping $5 billion.

Welcome to Hollywood

SoFi has impressed even the most jaded in the football industry, who are accustomed to seeing the best stadiums the nation has to offer.

“It’s the most unique setup that the architects did,” ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who will be part of the network’s broadcast, told reporters this week. “When you see it in person, it’s fantastic.”

Leagues FIFA Caps Agents’ Pay After $623M Year [[link removed]]

FIFA

FIFA is set to make broad changes to how agents operate within the global soccer ecosystem.

The global governing body will introduce [[link removed]] commission caps and regulatory changes on Monday after agents pocketed $622.8 million from clubs in 2022, a 24.3% increase from the previous year.

Agents will be limited to a 3% commission on transfers over $200,000 and 5% under that threshold. All transactions must be made public. Agents will be required to go through a licensing process, and new agents must take a test and pay an annual fee. Multiple representation that could present conflict of interests will be prohibited.

The changes were approved at a FIFA Council meeting in Doha last month.

ICM Stellar Sports chair Jonathan Barnett has previously threatened legal action against the changes.

Super League Lingering

Meanwhile, FIFA could be getting some new competition for top-tier soccer matches.

The breakaway European Super League is still seeking a path forward. That could hinge on a court decision as to whether UEFA’s promise to ban teams and players from its competitions for joining the Super League represents illegal monopolistic action.

Barcelona president and Super League backer Joan Laporta said [[link removed]] that the league could launch by 2025 if it’s successful in court.

Aleksander Ceferin, perhaps the key figure in defeating the Super League’s first attempt to launch in 2021, is running unopposed for a third term as UEFA president.

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Leagues Will NHL Players Compete in Next Olympics? IIHF Wants Answer [[link removed]]

Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL and its players association have been given a rough timeline to decide on their participation in the 2026 Olympics after missing the last two events.

International Ice Hockey Federation president Luc Tardif said [[link removed]] Thursday he would like a decision by Spring 2024 to provide two years of preparation. The NHL and NHLPA have agreed to go if they’re able to reach a deal with the IIHF and IOC.

The NHL skipped the 2018 Olympics following the IOC’s decision to not pay for travel- and insurance-related costs — like it had the past five Olympics. The league pulled out of the 2022 Olympics due to pandemic-related schedule changes.

“I’m optimistic, but everybody has to make an effort to be there,” Tardif said. “You need to have the same rules as other athletes. We are not a travel agency. We organize a competition.”

Tardif added, “If we discussed directly with the players — the players want to go — we would find a way. But it’s more complicated than that.”

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said it’s a “reasonable timeline” to decide.

Global Events

There’s clear interest from the league and players association to compete against other countries — the pair planned to host a World Cup of Hockey in February 2024, which reportedly fell through due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In November, they announced plans to hold the event in 2025.

Teams Andretti Teams with Cadillac on F1 Bid [[link removed]]

Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

An iconic name in luxury cars has joined another in racing to make a bid for a Formula 1 team.

Cadillac is teaming [[link removed]] up with Andretti Global to enter F1 in 2026. FIA plans to open a process by which teams can apply to join F1.

Andretti is aiming to join F1 as an 11th team and has received key financial backing from Guggenheim Partners. The group, which has a presence in IndyCar, Formula E, Extreme E, and other series, is constructing a $200 million facility in Indiana for all of its racing operations and will need an additional $200 million to enter F1. General Motors, the parent company of Cadillac, Chevrolet, and Buick, among others, has never had a presence in F1.

While Cadillac provides automotive expertise, it will not necessarily be the only manufacturer involved in the potential team.

“We have a signed agreement with a power unit supplier to begin with, and then as we move forward, we bring a lot of our expertise to create things for the future as well,” said [[link removed]] GM president Mark Reuss.

American Dream

Andretti is seeking to capitalize on F1’s growing popularity in the U.S. The group plans to have at least one American driver, and IndyCar racer Colton Herta, under contract with Andretti through 2027, is in pole position to assume that role.

Haas has an American owner and has sought to lean into that identity through its title sponsorship deal with MoneyGram, which begins this year.

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Conversation Starters The moment is finally here [[link removed]] for Texas Christian University and the Big 12. TCU overcame long odds to get to tonight’s College Football Playoff title game. Coming off a 5-7 season with a new coach, how did the Horned Frogs become the Big 12’s first entrant in the championship game? Vince McMahon returned from controversy to the WWE, looking to sell. Could UFC’s Dana White look for a similar path [[link removed]] after his recent domestic incident with his wife and the delay of a new fighting show on TBS? Front Office Sports spoke with Rashad Jennings and Lindsay McCormick about how pro athletes should go about negotiating contracts, insights into the life of a sports broadcaster, and much more. Listen or watch now on Apple [[link removed]], Spotify [[link removed]], and YouTube [[link removed]]. Today's Action

NHL

10:37 PM

Oilers (+100) at Kings (-120)

Bet Now [[link removed]]

NBA

09:10 PM

Lakers (+330) at Nuggets (-410)

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NBA

10:10 PM

Magic (+200) at Kings (-240)

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*All times are EST unless otherwise noted.

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

Question Of The Day

Do you use wearable tech products for fitness?

Yes [[link removed]] No [[link removed]] No, but I want to [[link removed]]

Friday’s Answer

14% of respondents have attended an esports/gaming event; 11% haven’t yet but want to.

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