March 20, 2023

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The NFL is distributing $336 million in performance-based payouts [[link removed]] to players for the 2022 season. Former Philadelphia Eagles safety and new Las Vegas Raider Marcus Epps will take home a league-leading $880,384 in bonuses — and end up nearly doubling his season salary ($965,000).

Proposed 76ers Arena Faces More Pushback [[link removed]]

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia 76ers’ proposed $1.3 billion arena hasn’t been embraced by the city’s Chinatown community since it was first announced in July.

This week provided another reminder when a Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation survey [[link removed]] found that more than 90% of business owners, residents, and visitors opposed the arena that would be built on the edge of the community.

“It’s disappointing when Market East is in the midst of economic decline and after our attempts to work with PCDC, that they would reach this decision without seeing our official proposal,” the 76ers said in a statement.

Opponents to the project point to what occurred in Washington’s Chinatown: What is now known as Capital One Arena — the home of the Wizards and Capitals that opened in 1997 — hastened the decline [[link removed]] of the number of Chinese residents in the neighborhood.

Aside from affecting the Chinatown culture, other concerns include [[link removed]] parking and traffic congestion as well as increasing rent.

The next several months will prove crucial as 76 Devcorp, helmed by billionaire 76ers limited partner David Adelman, seeks to allay those fears.

In a news release [[link removed]] earlier this month, the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Union lauded the project, which could add 9,000 construction-related jobs to build the privately financed arena and 1,000 permanent jobs once it’s finished.

“It’s a rare opportunity when a development project the magnitude of the 76 Place Market East Arena comes along,” the union said.

If the project secures the necessary approvals, construction will begin in 2027 with the aim of opening in 2031.

Executives Knicks Owner Hires PI to Trail Liquor Regulator Investigating MSG [[link removed]]

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

James Dolan is upping the ante in his battle against New York regulators.

The owner of the New York Knicks and Rangers, Madison Square Garden, and other venues and restaurants hired [[link removed]] a private detective to follow New York State Liquor Authority investigator Charles Stravalle.

MSG Entertainment, which operates the Garden and other properties, acknowledged having done so, calling it “a common and lawful practice.”

Dolan is in an ongoing feud with state authorities over his policy of barring lawyers employed by firms engaged in active litigation against his companies from entering his properties, including Madison Square Garden. The company uses facial recognition technology to enforce the policy.

The New York State Attorney General wrote a letter in January to MSG Entertainment saying the policy could violate civil rights laws. Stravalle is investigating whether the policy is grounds for removing the Garden’s liquor license.

The issue could impact the attempted sale of MSG Entertainment’s Tao Group, which Dolan is looking to sell to fund the construction of his $2.2 billion Las Vegas venue, MSG Sphere.

In a televised interview, Dolan held up a picture of the state Liquor Authority’s chief executive Sharif Kabir and suggested that fans tell him to “stick to his knitting.”

Dolan has recently expressed interest in selling a minority stake in the Knicks and Rangers but has promised to retain majority control of both teams.

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The Upside to the Sports Betting Market

The sports betting market [[link removed]] had about $3.8 billion in revenue in 2021 and will grow to almost $6 billion by the end of 2023. Needless to say, there is massive upside for the industry.

In the same way fantasy sports changed the sports business by engaging fans in player performance outside of their favorite teams, U.S. sports betting will engage a new generation of fans, generating billions in betting revenue, and millions in additional ad and sponsorship revenue.

Live and in-game betting opportunities for fans are creating new levels of engagement. Micro-betting should play a huge role in the adoption of sports betting as real-time content delivery and the Artificial Intelligence capabilities required to quickly deliver smart betting opportunities to fans matures.

For more on the impact of Sports Betting on the sports technology industry, download Next League [[link removed]]’s report exclusively on this topic here [[link removed]].

Teams Phillies Reaping Benefits of World Series Run, Offseason Spending [[link removed]]

Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Phillies are seeing positive ripple effects from their World Series run and big offseason spending.

The team’s season-ticket base jumped [[link removed]] to around 15,250 for the 2023 season, up 50% from approximately 10,000 last year on the heels of their run to the World Series where they fell to the Houston Astros.

The Phillies further stoked fan excitement by doubling down over the offseason, signing superstar shortstop Trea Turner to an 11-year, $300 million contract. They also added starting pitcher Taijuan Walker for $72 million over four years and reliever Craig Kimbrel for $10 million on a one-year deal, among others.

Their estimated payroll entering the 2023 season is $259.8 million.

The average attendance at the Phillies’ 43,000-seat Citizens Bank Park in 2022 was 28,459, 16th out of 30 MLB teams. They expect that figure to improve this season. The Phillies’ home opener against the Cincinnati Reds is sold out, while the following game is on its way toward a sellout.

The team was 10th in attendance in 2019 with an average of 33,671. The 15.5% drop from 2019 — the last season before 2022 unaffected by pandemic-related restrictions — was more than twice the league average, as MLB attendance fell by almost 6% in that span.

Sports Betting Vermont, Georgia, North Carolina Make Progress on Sports Betting [[link removed]]

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

The state of Vermont is closer to legalizing sports betting — which would make it the last state in New England to adopt the industry after Massachusetts went live [[link removed]] earlier this month.

House Bill 127 [[link removed]] was approved [[link removed]] by an 11-1 vote by the Vermont House of Representatives’ Committee on Ways and Means, sending it to a third and final committee vote — the furthest a piece of betting legislation has made it in the state government.

Lawmakers have amended the bill since the last time it was up for consideration with updated language related to advertising limits and consumer protections.

The proposed legislation would allow for six sports betting apps to run in the state. Gov. Phil Scott has budgeted for $2.6 million in sports betting revenue if the bill were to become law.

“I don’t care for it, but I’ll vote for the bill,” Rep. James Masland said.

Meanwhile, Down South

Georgia hasn’t given up on legalizing sports betting, even after its most recent defeat [[link removed]] earlier in March.

A new bill meant to recognize an annual soap box derby in the state has been radically changed [[link removed]] to include language that would legalize sports betting in the state. The measure cleared a Senate committee by an 8-1 vote and could reach the Senate floor for vote this week.

In North Carolina, a new sports betting bill has been introduced [[link removed]] to lawmakers, who are hoping to pass it after it failed in 2022.

Conversation Starters The NCAA college basketball tournament is the foundation of an enormous business ecosystem. The bracket’s basic geometry has become the symbol [[link removed]] for a cultural phenomenon that enchants the nation for one month each year and entices millions of Americans to participate — turning March into big business for men’s and women’s college basketball. Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder is inching toward a record sale [[link removed]] of a professional sports franchise. The sale process has been shrouded in mystery, but another process is understandably even more opaque: the league’s second outside investigation led by former SEC chief Mary Jo White. March Madness returns to the mecca [[link removed]] of basketball. This week, Madison Square Garden will host an East Regional for the third time in over half a century. MSG officials plan to make it a much more frequent host of the men’s tournament — and perhaps the ever-growing women’s, too.

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Denver Broncos Creative Director, Kevin Johnson Golden State Warriors Creative Director, Cristina Pandol Duke Men’s Basketball Creative Director, David Bradley

Register here [[link removed]] and join Air tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET.

Front Office Sports Today They Said What?

Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

“I hope there’s a little bit of feel not only by the umpires but by Major League Baseball, and say, okay, it’s the bottom of the ninth in the World Series, bases loaded, game seven — let’s not rush this thing. Let’s let the drama play out naturally.”

— A.J. Pierzynski, former MLB player and co-host of “Foul Territory,” on baseball’s new pitch clock. For more on Pierzynski’s thoughts on MLB rule changes, 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

NBA

06:10 PM

Bulls (+235) at 76ers (-280)

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NCAA

06:00 PM

FGCU (+210) at Villanova (-250)

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NBA

06:40 PM

Timberwolves (+265) at Knicks (-320)

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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

Have you ever extended a business trip into a family vacation?

Yes [[link removed]] No [[link removed]] Not yet, but I would [[link removed]]

Friday’s Answer

79% of respondents have been camping.

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