February 27, 2023

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LIV Golf became a disruptive force in the sport during its first year. Supported financially by the Saudis, the tour poached players from the PGA Tour. Ahead of its second season, the PGA Tour appears more vital than ever; a few players only staged the mutiny. LIV’s shining moment between Years 1 and 2 was a U.S. television deal with the CW Network [[link removed]]. The cracks [[link removed]] in LIV Golf are starting to show.

Leagues MLB Owners Confront Payroll Disparity Among Teams [[link removed]]

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

As Major League Baseball looks to shift its economic model, owners are not all on the same page.

“I believe the vast majority of players, agents, and clubs dislike baseball’s economic system,” Boston Red Sox owner John Henry said [[link removed]]. “Competitive balance continues to be a huge issue for clubs.”

MLB payrolls range from the Oakland A’s $61 million to the New York Mets’ $370 million, per Spotrac.

That disparity was partial motivation for the economic reform committee MLB launched last week. Mets’ owner Steve Cohen, however, said that he was “absolutely not” the target of the committee, despite running a payroll $84 million higher than the second-place New York Yankees.

“They laid down the rules, and I’m following them,” Cohen told reporters last week.

The creation of the committee has raised the prospect that owners could push for a salary cap, which the MLB Players Association has long opposed.

While some have questioned the sustainability of Cohen’s approach, San Diego Padres’ owner and chairman Peter Seidler has pushed back on that term saying [[link removed]], “Putting a great and winning team on the field in San Diego year after year is sustainable.”

The Padres’ payroll is $244 million, and the team was willing to go significantly higher to sign Aaron Judge, who ultimately re-upped with the Yankees on a nine-year, $360 million deal.

Real Estate Plans for Sixers’ Future $1.3B Arena Could Be Pushed Back [[link removed]]

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia 76ers might have to wait a little longer to get into their new $1.3 billion arena.

76 Devcorp, the development company created in July 2022 to oversee the project, was eying June to receive approval of a zoning variance from the city for the Center City venue.

“I would say by the fall, that’s really our goal,” David Adelman, part-owner of the Sixers and chairman of 76 Devcorp told [[link removed]] Philadelphia Business Journal.

“Honestly, I think it’s just the pace of the government in Philadelphia … I still like June. We’re making good progress on the paths we need to make, but I know if you don’t get it done by June, not a lot gets done in Philadelphia in the summer.”

The City Council meets June 22 and then not again until Sept. 14.

Councilmember Mark Squilla would introduce the variance for approval and has said he wouldn’t introduce legislation unless community members reviewed it first. His district includes Chinatown, whose businesses and residents have heavily criticized the proposal.

“What we’re working on now is actually quantifying it so you can see the diagram of what you can get with this money,” Adelman said, adding that they want to work with the community.

Tentatively named 76 Place, the arena is estimated [[link removed]] to provide $1.9 billion in economic output during construction and $400 million annually once it opens. The team is aiming for it to open during the 2031-32 season — its lease at Wells Fargo Center ends in 2031.

SPONSORED BY WENDY'S

Start Your Day With a Better Breakfast

Wendy’s Homestyle French Toast Sticks [[link removed]] are so good, some are saying they’re better than their Mom’s French Toast.

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.

The bar for breakfast hasn’t just been raised, it’s been completely replaced. Choose wisely. Choose Wendy’s Homestyle French Toast Sticks [[link removed]] today.

Available during breakfast hours only, until 10:30 a.m.

Media English Football League’s TV Rights Set to Double in Value [[link removed]]

EFL

The TV rights for one of England’s top soccer leagues are reportedly set to double in value.

The organizing body for the second, third, and fourth tiers of the English Football League is set to issue an invitation to tender to broadcasters and expects to bring in $239.1 million annually from TV rights, according [[link removed]] to The Daily Mail.

Sky Sports, BT Sport, Viaplay, and DAZN are all reportedly interested. Sky has held the rights since 2002 and currently pays around $142.2 million annually.

The tender invitation includes all three divisions, the playoffs, the EFL Trophy, the EFL Cup — which also includes [[link removed]] Premier League teams — and has been split up into 20 separate packages. There are 72 teams across the divisions.

The EFL is reportedly considering a hybrid model with several broadcasters and is inviting bids for between three and five years.

Every game will be available for purchase, according to the report, which could put an end to the Saturday 3 p.m. TV blackout — a rule that’s been in place since the 1960s.

A change to the blackout, which applies when 50% of the Premier League and Championship matches kick off at 3 p.m. local time on a Saturday, would likely face opposition from the Premier League.

Leagues AFL Faces Expansion Opposition Despite $242M Pledge [[link removed]]

Philip Lighton Architects

The Australian Football League is willing to invest heavily to expand, but adding a new team is far from a done deal.

The league has agreed to spend $242 million over 10 years to add a team in Tasmania, but that is contingent on finding funding for a new stadium.

The funding would go primarily toward club operations, with $60.5 million allocated to game development and $22.2 million toward three new academies for developing young players.

The league is seeking $161.4 in government funding toward a new stadium, which has raised concerns in Tasmania, an island state of Australia with a population of 541,071 as of September 2020.

In September, the AFL signed [[link removed]] Australia’s largest sports media rights deal ever, inking a seven-year, $3.05 billion deal with Seven Network, Foxtel, and Telstra. The deal begins in 2025.

The planned [[link removed]] stadium would be in Hobart, on Tasmania’s southern coast. The plan has drawn opposition from those who live on the northern end of the island.

Other AFL teams have raised concerns as well, namely that stadium costs might run higher than current estimates. The league has promised at least $10 million toward construction costs.

SPONSORED BY WENDY'S

The Perfect Note of Nostalgia

Everyone has a sports memory that takes them back to their childhood. Front Office Sports and Wendy’s [[link removed]] teamed up to share some of their unforgettable sports memories.

Integrated Marketing Manager Rachel Skolaski remembers Tiger Woods first PGA Tour debut in 1992.

“Growing up in a golf family, watching the PGA Tour was a family tradition. I was super young at the time, but I’ll never forget seeing Tiger Woods step onto the course at only 16 years old. Watching him compete with some of the best. He may not have made the cut, but everyone could see his potential. Everyone watching knew that he would be something special.”

Like unforgettable sports moments etched in our memories, Wendy’s Homestyle French Toast Sticks [[link removed]] make you feel like a kid again. Start your day with nostalgia and syrupy goodness!

Conversation Starters In 2022, women’s basketball players — and social media stars — Haley and Hanna Cavinder transferred from Fresno State to Miami. The sisters, who are two of the top name, image, and likeness earners, maintained high visibility only to become caught in the NCAA crosshairs [[link removed]], and the NCAA handed down the first NIL infraction. Now what? Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has completed his darkness retreat in a 300-square-foot room. Check out [[link removed]] the Sky Cave Retreats in Oregon. Take a look inside [[link removed]] the $15 million Chicago mansion Michael Jordan has been trying to sell for a decade. Front Office Sports Today They Said What?

Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

“You know it’s interesting at the owners’ meeting, I had owners coming up and they go, ‘You’re 100% right. You’re following the rules.’ Which I am.”

— New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, who spent $498.1 million on 10 free agents to increase his team’s payroll to $370 million — the largest in league history. For more on Major League Baseball’s payroll disparity and how it is dealing with it, check out the latest episode of Front Office Sports Today.

Listen and subscribe on Apple [[link removed]], Google [[link removed]], and Spotify [[link removed]].

Today's Action

MLB

03:10 PM

Brewers (-110) at Reds (-110)

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NBA

07:40 PM

Celtics (-140) at Knicks (+120)

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MLB

03:07 PM

Royals (-105) at Athletics (-115)

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Question Of The Day

How many live sporting events do you attend a year?

0 [[link removed]] 1-4 [[link removed]] 5+ [[link removed]]

Friday’s Answer

45% of respondents say they or someone in their household grills 1-3 times a month; 28% grill 4+ times a month.

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