January 31, 2023

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It looks like the NFL has recovered [[link removed]] from any pandemic-related shortfalls, and then some. The salary cap for the 2023 season will be a record $224.8 million per team — topping 2022’s $208.2 million mark.

Athletes Nike, Jordan Score Off Jordan Brand’s Record Haul [[link removed]]

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Jordan likely made more than double his career NBA salary earnings in 2022 alone — thanks to a decades-old licensing deal.

Nike’s Jordan Brand brought in $5.1 billion in fiscal 2022, and his Airness pockets a reported 5% of that under his deal with Nike. The athlete and apparel company initially linked up in 1984, his rookie year.

Based on those figures, Jordan may have earned $256.1 million last year from licensing his name to Nike. His net worth is $1.7 billion, per [[link removed]] Forbes. Jordan Brand revenue hit $4.8 billion in 2021, up 31% from the previous year’s $3.6 billion. The NBA legend and owner of the Charlotte Hornets made $90 million in salary over his NBA career.

Jordan Brand earned $19.4 billion in revenue over the last five fiscal years.

Big Screen Deal

The relationship between Jordan and Nike has been made [[link removed]] into a feature film, directed by Ben Affleck, who also plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. The story will focus on how Nike’s nascent basketball department signed Jordan in his rookie year, a deal that became perhaps the most lucrative athlete-brand partnership in history.

The movie, titled “AIR” and produced by Amazon Studios, will premiere globally in theaters on April 5.

Markets Australian Open Sets Attendance Record [[link removed]]

Australian Open

The first Grand Slam of 2023 drew better-than-expected attendance with record prize money up for grabs.

The Australian Open reported [[link removed]] preliminary figures surpassing the event’s previous record of 812,714 in 2020, despite schedule disruptions due to rain and a heat wave.

“We thought there would not be as quick a recovery from COVID as there has been,” tournament director Craig Tiley said [[link removed]].

The Australian Open broke its single-day attendance mark with 94,854 fans on Jan. 21. It reached the milestone without traditional visitors from China due to border restrictions. Tournament organizers aim to attract 1 million fans per year.

The Australian Open generated $405.3 million in economic benefit in 2021 and 2022, per Nielsen Sports. Over the past decade, the event has made $2.71 billion for Australia’s economy.

Big Winners

This year’s Australian Open — which began the first tennis season without Serena Williams and Roger Federer since 1999 — featured a record [[link removed]] $52.8 million prize money pool.

Aryna Sabalenka, who entered as the No. 5-ranked WTA player, won [[link removed]] a record $2.11 million for capturing her first Grand Slam title with a victory over No. 25 Elena Rybakina, who pocketed $1.15 million.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic won his 10th Australian Open, earning [[link removed]] $2.9 million for beating No. 4-ranked ATP player Stefano Tsitsipas, who took home $1.6 million.

SPONSORED BY WIT SPORTS

How Custom Cleats Led To Crazy Engagement

“My Cause, My Cleats” is one of the most successful undertakings by the NFL in recent years, raising awareness for charitable causes (and letting players rock some wild kicks in the meantime).

When the league really wanted to take things to the next level, they knew fan engagement was a must – and for that, they turned to Wit Sports [[link removed]].

Working with Wit, the NFL launched a digital activation that put fans in charge: A “Caused-Out Cleats” generator that combined their favorite teams with their charity of choice, complete with the chance to win a real life pair of caused-out cleats.

The end result? Millions of fan engagements [[link removed]] and a new gold standard in cause-based marketing.

Read more [[link removed]] to see how Wit can help you create supercharged digital experiences.

Media Bundesliga Revisits Media Rights Sale [[link removed]]

DFL

German soccer’s governing body is reportedly set to resume discussions on selling a stake in a new media rights subsidiary.

The DFL, which is expected to agree on the talks at a meeting in early February, will consider both domestic and international rights, according [[link removed]] to Bloomberg. Conversations were reportedly hindered late last year by the departure of CEO Donata Hopfen.

The size of a potential stake, structure, or timeline has not been decided. In August, Bloomberg reported that the DFL was considering [[link removed]] selling up to 20% for a package — which could be worth $18 billion — as well as loans or other strategic investment ideas.

Advent International, Blackstone Inc., CVC Capital Partners, and KKR & Co. are reportedly interested in investing in the DFL, which oversees Germany’s top two Bundesliga divisions.

In 2021, the DFL terminated plans to sell a 25% stake in its overseas broadcasting rights following pushback from clubs.

Media Mania

Several other top leagues have sold stakes in media arms in the past couple of years.

In 2022, Ligue 1 sold [[link removed]] a 13% stake of its media rights business to CVC Capital in a deal worth $1.65 billion. In 2021, La Liga entered into a $2.3 billion deal [[link removed]] for an 8.2% stake in a new company holding the league’s media rights.

Deals More U.S. Investors Showing Interest in Serie A Media Stake [[link removed]]

Serie A

Another U.S.-based financial services company has expressed interest in the media arm of Italy’s top soccer league.

Goldman Sachs is reportedly [[link removed]] eyeing an investment in financing Serie A’s media business as the league prepares to sell domestic and international media rights in 2024. Last week, JPMorgan Chase & Co. expressed [[link removed]] interest in investing up to $1.1 billion in Serie A’s media unit.

Goldman Sachs has yet to disclose how much it is willing to invest in Serie A. The company has reportedly considered an investment since October 2022. Private equity firms Searchlight Capital and Apollo Global Management are also considering investments in the media arm.

Goldman Sachs’ potential investment in Serie A follows a plan by the league to spin off an upcoming media unit to boost revenue after the league failed to sell a 10% stake worth $2 billion to three investors in 2021.

Serie A began creating the media unit in October 2022.

Profits from Overseas

Serie A — which generated $2.7 billion in revenue during the 2020-21 season, per Deloitte — is looking [[link removed]] to triple its overseas media rights revenue.

The league is set to make $658 million from international media rights from 2021-24.

Serie A is still far behind England’s Premier League, which will make $6.55 billion from overseas rights from 2022-25.

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They are perfectly crispy on the outside. Perfectly fluffy on the inside. And perfectly perfect in every way. Wendy’s Homestyle French Toast Sticks might be the best thing to ever happen to breakfast.

You’re going to want to set your alarm a little earlier. Tell your boss you’re going to be a little late. Move a little closer to your nearest Wendy’s. Whatever it takes to start your day the right way with these sweet and crispy delights.

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Conversation Starters From the wildest passes and the biggest dunks to the final serve, Atmosphere Sports is streaming sports back to the center with live scores, highlights, and more. Learn more [[link removed]].* The NWSL is reportedly [[link removed]] in advanced talks to add teams in Utah, San Francisco, and Boston. Fox announced [[link removed]] a new documentary on Gus Johnson, who has been broadcasting games while enrolled at Harvard. Today's Action

NHL

08:00 PM

Blues (+190) at Jets (-225)

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08:40 PM

Pistons (+285) at Mavericks (-345)

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09:10 PM

Raptors (+105) at Suns (-125)

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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 plan on watching the NHL All-Star Game this year?

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Monday’s Answer

49% of respondents play or has someone in their household who plays video games.

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