March 7, 2023
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This year’s NFL Scouting Combine offered some eye-catching performances. ESPN’s Matt Miller joins us on the latest episode of Front Office Sports Today to discuss the biggest news from the combine — and its potential impact on future stars’ bank accounts.
Listen and subscribe on Apple [[link removed]], Google [[link removed]], and Spotify [[link removed]].
Media Apple-MLS Deal Reportedly Contains ‘Opt-Out’ Clause [[link removed]]
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
It may be too early to judge the success of Apple’s partnership with Major League Soccer — but the tech giant reportedly already has a contingency plan in place.
According to The Athletic [[link removed]], the league’s deal to broadcast its games on Apple TV+ contains an “opt-out” clause that would allow Apple to walk away from the agreement if a certain number of subscribers have not added MLS Season Pass within a set timeframe.
MLS commissioner Don Garber didn’t confirm or deny the existence of such a clause to The Athletic. MLS did not respond to Front Office Sports’ request for comment.
“We’ve never talked about what the specific terms [of the agreement] are,” Garber said, “and we’re not going to talk about it now. It’s a 10-year partnership. We’re both very, very committed to that.”
While Apple has mostly received praise for its broadcasts through the first two weeks of the MLS season, it’s not immediately clear how many people are watching, as Apple hasn’t released any viewership statistics.
The league and tech company seem content with their partnership: Last week, they announced that the producers of “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” would be making an MLS docuseries [[link removed]] to stream on Apple TV+.
MLS also drew 380,502 fans [[link removed]] to its games on opening weekend — the most in league history.
Markets Dick’s Sporting Goods’ Third Straight Record Year [[link removed]]
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel
Dick’s Sporting Goods has pulled off a third consecutive record year.
The sporting goods giant topped itself [[link removed]] yet again with full-year net sales of $12.37 billion, a 0.6% year-over-year increase and a 41.3% increase from 2019. Net income for the year fell to $1 billion from $1.5 billion in 2021.
Fourth-quarter net sales reached $3.6 billion, a 7.3% year-over-year increase, beating analysts’ estimates of $3.45 billion. Net income fell to $235.6 million from $346.1 million for the same period last year.
Same-store sales jumped 5.3% for the 13 weeks ending Jan. 28, beating analysts’ estimates of a 2.1% increase, according to StreetAccount.
Footwear, athletic apparel, and team sports products helped boost the company’s successful quarter and year, per [[link removed]] CNBC.
As of Jan. 28, net inventories were $2.8 billion, a 23% year-over-year increase.
“As planned, we continued to address targeted inventory overages, and as a result our inventory is in great shape as we start 2023,” CEO Lauren Hobart said.
During the quarter, Dick’s Sporting Goods announced [[link removed]] the launch of DSG Ventures, a $50 million house fund that invests in companies holding the “belief that sports make people better.”
The fund has invested in several companies including Courtside Ventures, Moolah Kicks, and SidelineSwap.
PRESENTED BY PITCHBOOK
Bringing the NWSL to the Bay
When Leslie Osborne [[link removed]] learned that Los Angeles would be getting its very own NWSL team – now Angel City FC – she knew if L.A. was getting a team, she had to do everything she could to bring a team to the Bay Area.
So for the last two and a half years, Osborne and her co-leaders of #NWSLToTheBay have been partnering with investors in Silicon Valley to make this dream a reality.
In the third and final episode of Driven with Michelle Wie West [[link removed]], in partnership with PitchBook, learn about Osborne’s experience attracting investors, raising funds, and bidding for an NWSL expansion team. Plus, Osborne’s own experience as an entrepreneur of Hustle Beauty and as an angel investor.
Watch the full episode [[link removed]] now.
Markets UEFA’s Changes Generate $4.3B Season [[link removed]]
UEFA
Even without its flagship Euro competition, UEFA enjoyed a successful season.
European soccer’s governing body generated [[link removed]] $4.3 billion (€4.05 billion) in revenue for the 2021-22 season, a decline from the $6 billion reported the year prior but a significant increase from the $3.2 billion posted for 2019-20.
It marked the first time that non-Euro competitive revenue has exceeded €4 billion thanks to a new club competition, the UEFA Europa Conference League, and a new format for the UEFA Women’s League — the knockout round of 16 was replaced by a group stage with four groups of four teams.
Media revenue accounted for 84.5%, or $3.6 billion, of the total. Commercial revenue reached $564.9 million, and ticket revenue hit $38 million. Hospitality revenue brought in $29.5 million, and other revenue reached $31.3 million.
With no men’s Euro tournament and fewer national team matches, club competitions generated 89% of total revenue.
The UEFA Women’s Champions League generated $16 million in revenue, an increase from $1.48 million the year prior. Of the total, 53.3% was generated by media rights sales, with 44.7% brought in from commercial rights.
UEFA posted a net loss of $80.7 million for the season, which is financed from UEFA’s reserves — which have now dropped below $528.9 million.
Conversation Starters Less than two years after 15-year-old Olivia Moultrie made history [[link removed]] as the youngest NWSL player ever, high school sophomore Chloe Ricketts signed a three-year deal with the Washington Spirit at 15 years, 283 days old — three days younger than Moultrie. LAFC have unveiled their 2022 MLS Cup Championship rings. Check them out [[link removed]]. On Monday, NBA icon and businessman Shaquille O’Neal turned 51. Shaq explains why [[link removed]] he left Reebok for Walmart.
FRONT OFFICE SPORTS LEARNING
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Each course includes video lessons followed by a brief quiz and provides a deep understanding from top brands and experts in the field across various subjects. Upon completion, you’ll earn a digitally verified badge to share on social media.
Check out the current course lineup, which includes:
Metaverse Essentials: Building the Future [[link removed]] Crypto in Sports Essentials [[link removed]] Modern Ticketing Essentials: Beyond the Ticket [[link removed]] Athlete Marketing Essentials: NIL Certification [[link removed]] Sports Marketing Essentials [[link removed]]
With online learning, you can manage lessons at your own pace, on your own time.
Enroll now [[link removed]].
What to Watch
The Memphis Grizzlies (38-25) take on the Los Angeles Lakers (31-34) on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena.
How to Watch: 10 p.m. ET on TNT
Betting Odds: -1.5 || ML -120 || O/U 226
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