January 27, 2023
Read in Browser [[link removed]]
POWERED BY
LeBron James is closing in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time NBA career scoring record, and ticket holders [[link removed]] for the Lakers’ upcoming games could cash in on the demand to see the record broken. Seats for their Feb. 7 home game against the Thunder — the first game where LeBron is projected to top 38,387-points — are selling for an average of $952.
Real Estate A’s Narrowing Down Vegas Site Options, Public Funding [[link removed]]
JASON BEAN/RGJ / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Oakland A’s are considering their options with the new administration in Nevada.
Gov. Joe Lombardo, inaugurated earlier this month, is opposed [[link removed]] to raising taxes to fund a new ballpark, but the state could provide financial help in other ways.
A state spokesperson said that the A’s or any other team interested in coming to Nevada could qualify for economic development programs. The Raiders received $750 million in public funding for their 2020 move from Oakland to Las Vegas, but the state doesn’t seem open to a similar deal with the A’s. Lombardo has spoken with A’s officials and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. Lack of Commitment
The A’s may have narrowed their search for a Las Vegas location to the Tropicana site owned by Bally’s. They were also in talks regarding the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, but site owner Phil Ruffin said he hasn’t been in touch with the team recently.
The team would look to build a $1 billion, 35,000-seat stadium with a retractable dome, should they move to Sin City.
Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft said that while the Raiders were committed to Las Vegas early in the process, “I have not seen that from the Oakland A’s at any level, and it’s not really our job to go out and beg them to come here because we have earned the reputation of the greatest arena on Earth.”
College Athletics NCAA Generates $1.1B in Revenue As COVID Rebound Continues [[link removed]]
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The NCAA raked in $1.14 billion in revenue in 2021-22, according to audited financial statements released [[link removed]] this week.
That’s just slightly less [[link removed]] than the governing body earned in 2020-21 after bouncing back from a major pandemic shortfall.
However, Division I schools still received a larger share of revenue than they did in 2021 — the NCAA distributed $657 million to D-I programs, compared to $613.4 million the year prior.
The largest share came from television and licensing contracts totaling $940 million.
The NCAA’s contract with CBS and Turner for the Division I men’s basketball tournament contributed $870 million. For the rest of the contract, which runs until 2032, the NCAA estimates it will earn $10.5 billion. The NCAA’s contract with ESPN, which broadcasts 29 championships — including the vastly undervalued [[link removed]] women’s basketball tournament — netted $43.5 million.
Despite not suffering any major COVID-19-related cancellations, the governing body also received $17 million in loss-of-value insurance.
Future Outlook
The NCAA faces a major expense over the next few years: defending amateurism in court and in Congress with legal fees and lobbying expenses.
But it could also earn major growth in revenue when it renegotiates its ESPN television contract, which is up in 2024. The governing body could earn $112 million annually from women’s basketball alone — more than the entire 29-sport contract.
It could also earn more by creating a new sponsorship tier for the sport.
SPONSORED BY META
Virtual Reality 🤝 Sports
Is virtual reality the next big thing in sports? Quite possibly.
Together with Meta, our latest free course, Metaverse Essentials: Building the Future [[link removed]], dives deep into the ever-evolving connection between sports and the metaverse, exploring where we are today and what the future holds.
Check out the final lesson [[link removed]] of the course, Virtual Reality: Sports & Fitness, where Meta’s Director of Sports Creator Partnerships Kevin Cote sits down with an all-star panel of leaders from X Games, Rezzil, GOLF+, and FitXR to discuss how virtual reality will transform the way sports are played, viewed, and experienced.
Earn your digitally verified badge today! Register now [[link removed]].
World Ukraine Mulls Olympic Boycott If Russia, Belarus Compete [[link removed]]
Paris 2024
Ukraine could refrain from participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete.
“Our position is unchanged: As long as there is a war in Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be in international competitions,” Ukraine sports minister Vadim Guttsaid wrote [[link removed].]. “Work is currently underway on further possible steps and first steps to continue sanctions.”
“If we are not heard, I do not rule out the possibility that we will boycott and refuse participation in the Olympics.”
The International Olympic Committee said [[link removed]] on Wednesday that no athlete should “be prevented from competing just because of their passport,” also citing a “unifying mission.”
“A pathway for athletes’ participation in competition under strict conditions should therefore be further explored,” the statement reads. The Olympic Council of Asia offered Russian and Belarusian athletes the chance to compete in Asia.
The European Olympic Committee endorsed the idea of a pathway on Thursday.
Change in Position
Shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, the IOC advised international sports federations to exclude the former’s athletes from competitions.
“I want to be clear that this position from the IOC is a world away from the reality of war being felt by the Ukrainian people — and IOC president [Thomas] Bach’s own words less than a year ago where he strongly condemned Russia for breaking the Olympic Truce,” said [[link removed]] U.K culture secretary Michelle Donelan.
Conversation Starters In The Leadoff, Sinclair’s Diamond Sports Group prepares for bankruptcy, English soccer clubs spend a record $2 billion on transfers, the San Diego Padres cap season-ticket sales, and AC Milan’s $1.3 billion sale is under investigation. Click here to listen [[link removed]]. The second weekly installment of “Power Slap” on TBS netted [[link removed]] 413,000 viewers — a nearly 30% improvement over its Jan. 18 debut. Attorneys for former Carolina Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks are “shocked and disturbed” by the team’s hire [[link removed]] of Frank Reich.
SPONSORED BY LENSA
Find Your Perfect Career Fit
Looking for a job that truly fits your skills and goals?
Look no further than Lensa [[link removed]]. Their advanced AI technology and personalized approach help match you with the most relevant job openings in your area. No more scrolling through endless lists of irrelevant jobs – just fresh, tailored opportunities that are perfect for you.
Try Lensa today and start building the career [[link removed]] you deserve.
What to Watch
The Toronto Raptors (22-27) face the Golden State Warriors (24-24) on Friday night at the Chase Center.
How to Watch: 10 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Betting Odds: Warriors -5 || ML -198 || O/U 235
Win A Vegas VIP Hoops Package
We have teamed up with the Pac-12 Conference to provide a VIP experience [[link removed]] to the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas from March 8 to March 11, 2023.
One lucky winner will receive two (2) all tournament passes with club access to the tournament at T-Mobile Arena. The winner will also receive a hotel room at an MGM Resorts property for four (4) nights in Las Vegas, a $300 food and beverage voucher valid at MGM restaurants, and two (2) tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s Mad Apple show. For more information on the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament, visit Pac-12.com [[link removed]]. See Official Rules [[link removed]] for details.
ENTER HERE [[link removed]]
Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcasts [[link removed]] Pro [[link removed]] Written by Owen Poindexter [[link removed]], Amanda Christovich [[link removed]], Abigail Gentrup [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Brian Krikorian [[link removed]]
If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here [[link removed]].
Update your preferences [link removed] / Unsubscribe [link removed]
Copyright © 2023 Front Office Sports. All rights reserved.
80 Pine Street Suite 3202 New York, NY 10005
