Also: The NCAA raked in $1.14 billion in revenue last year. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
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Front Office Sports

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LeBron James is closing in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time NBA career scoring record, and ticket holders 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

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 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

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The NCAA raked in $1.14 billion in revenue in 2021-22, according to audited financial statements released this week. 

That’s just slightly less 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 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.

World

Ukraine Mulls Olympic Boycott If Russia, Belarus Compete

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. “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 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 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.
  • The second weekly installment of “Power Slap” on TBS netted 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 of Frank Reich.

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 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.comSee Official Rules for details.

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