Media
Nationals get an offseason win: N.Y. appeals court upholds $100 million MASN award
Ben Strauss, The Washington Post
A New York appeals court ruled Thursday in favor of the Nationals in a dispute with Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, upholding a $100 million award for the team. An attorney for MASN, which is owned partially by the Nationals and Baltimore Orioles but controlled by the Orioles, said the network would appeal the decision to New York’s appellate court.
Record-Low World Series Ratings Extend TV’s 2020 Slump But Won’t Deflate Ad Pricing
Anthony Crupi, Sportico
Advertisers who bought time in Game 1 paid an average rate of about $375,000 for each 30-second spot, a figure in line with last year’s in-game costs. And while Fox’s deliveries were historically low, the current state of the TV marketplace goes a long way toward explaining why brands like GMC, Allstate, Taco Bell and T-Mobile aren’t exactly sweating out their investments in October baseball.
World Series draws record-low audience for 2nd night
The Associated Press
Tampa Bay’s 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 on Wednesday night was seen by an average of 8,950,000 viewers on Fox, receiving a 5.0 rating and 11 share, according to Nielsen Media Research. Still, Fox won the prime-time evening with its best performance on a Wednesday night since May.
WFAN really wanted Bart Scott to be Craig Carton’s new partner
Andrew Marchand, New York Post
While Evan Roberts is in line to be Craig Carton’s partner on WFAN afternoons, he was not the station’s first choice, The Post has learned. WFAN executives, led by Chris Oliviero, heavily recruited Bart Scott to leave ESPN and return to 101.9 FM/660 AM, according to sources.
NFL
NFL moves Raiders off ‘Sunday Night Football’ because of coronavirus issues
Mark Maske, The Washington Post
The league moved the Raiders’ game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from “Sunday Night Football” to earlier in the day. The game between the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals was moved from late afternoon on the East Coast to the Sunday night slot.
Why the New Orleans Mayor Went to Battle Over Fans at NFL Games
Andrew Beaton, The Wall Street Journal
Cantrell has rebuffed the team’s efforts to allow tens of thousands of fans into the Superdome, in a feud that saw the Saints threaten to depart temporarily for Baton Rouge in the middle of the season. “If this is between life and death, I have a responsibility to choose life for my people,” Mayor LaToya Cantrell said this week.
San Francisco 49ers Double Down Interest in Mobile App Games
Eddie Moran, Front Office Sports
One of the ways in which the 49ers have been improving their mobile app capabilities is through the addition of numerous online games. They collaborated with Manscaped, their “official below the waist grooming partner,” on “Field Goal Challenge,” an interactive game within their mobile app.
NBA
NBA to host virtual draft on Nov. 18 from ESPN studios in Connecticut
Ryan Young, Yahoo Sports
The draft, which had already been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will now be held virtually on Nov. 18, ESPN and the league announced on Thursday. ESPN will broadcast the draft live that night, and both commissioner Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum will be in ESPN studios at Bristol, Connecticut, to announce the picks.
For millionaire Junior Bridgeman, ‘time has passed’ to bring NBA to Louisville
Tim Sullivan, Louisville Courier Journal
Junior Bridgeman is not bringing the Toronto Raptors to town. Not even temporarily. Bridgeman said he was “amazed” by Wednesday’s Yahoo report linking him to the NBA’s Toronto Raptors considering Louisville as a possible short-term solution to Canada’s COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Staples Center Damaged After Lakers Win Title
Don Muret, VenuesNow
Four large glass windows at Staples Center were broken and graffiti was scrawled along other windows and at Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live across the street. The arena’s roof membrane was damaged from people shooting fireworks and firing bullets into the air, Staples Center President Lee Zeidman said.
LeBron James’ Springhill to Develop Podcasts for Audible
Samson Amore, TheWrap
LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s Springhill Company announced a development deal with Audible on Thursday to create several podcast projects focused on “culturally influential” content. The first project on the slate is a political podcast hosted by Tiffany D. Cross and “60 Minutes” correspondent Wesley Lowery called “More Than a Vote: Our Voices. Our Vote.”
MLB
Sources: MLB’s Astros investigation showed Luhnow’s awareness of sign-stealing
Evan Drellich, The Athletic
Jeff Luhnow’s interview with a Houston television station this week included assertions that were either misleading or inaccurate, according to people with knowledge of Major League Baseball’s findings during the Astros sign-stealing investigation. Those individuals continue to cast doubt on Luhnow’s credibility, saying there was “direct testimony” that he was aware of the rule-breaking.
Snapchat’s Augmented-Reality Lenses Find Their Way to the Ballpark
Ann-Marie Alcántara, The Wall Street Journal
In a normal year, the MLB Ballpark app was for use at, well, the ballpark. But this year, with stadium attendance reduced to scattered pods of fans or banned outright, Major League Baseball has added a vicarious layer to its app: augmented-reality lenses built on Snap Inc. technology. The souped-up app has six lenses that users can choose from, for instance, to swing a bat superimposed into a video of themselves, or take selfies wearing virtual hats from this year’s World Series opponents, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
NHL
NHL Postpones 2021 Winter Classic, All-Star Game
A.J. Perez, Front Office Sports
The NHL announced both the 2021 NHL Winter Classic and All-Star game wouldn’t take place as scheduled, although the league said in a statement that it still hopes to start next season as planned “on or around” Jan. 1. The Winter Classic — a contest that would have featured the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues — was to be held at Target Field, the Minnesota Twins’ home ballpark, while the 2021 NHL All-Star Weekend was planned for BB&T Center, the home arena.
Seattle Kraken makes several hires, including longtime NHL vet Gary Roberts
Geoff Baker, The Seattle Times
Roberts now brings his expertise to Seattle as a Kraken sports science and performance consultant, one of the more intriguing of seven new hockey operations hires announced Wednesday by the coming expansion franchise.
College Sports
Big Ten Football Returns—as Covid-19 Surges in the Midwest
Laine Higgins, The Wall Street Journal
The Big Ten finally kicks off its 2020 season on Saturday—71 days after punting on fall football because of the pandemic and 35 days after reversing course under heated criticism and presidential concern. The late start is a blessing and a curse for one of college football’s most prominent conferences.
How a New Bowl Sponsorship Came Together During a Pandemic
Ross Dellenger, Sports Illustrated
When Cheez-It in March dropped its sponsorship of the Cactus Bowl, organizer Mike Nealy began a search for a replacement during the worst pandemic in 100 years, a time when businesses were reducing costs, not shelling out millions for postseason football games. The Cactus Bowl is now the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, changing its name to match its new sponsor, Guaranteed Rate, one of the largest retail mortgage lenders in the U.S., based in Chicago.
A USC player filed for unemployment. A suspension and a visit from the feds followed
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program was meant to help those unable to work because of the novel coronavirus, so Munir McClain assumed that he would qualify. But by mid-September, with a postponed football season fast approaching, USC had suspended McClain.
Utah admits error in Lauren McCluskey’s death, settles for $13.5 million
T.J. Quinn, ESPN
The University of Utah announced a $13.5 million settlement with the family of slain track and field athlete Lauren McCluskey on Thursday, saying for the first time that her death had been preventable. McCluskey, a 21-year-old heptathlete at Utah, was shot and killed on Oct. 22, 2018, by a man she had dated briefly, Melvin Shawn Rowland.
Texas regents: ‘The Eyes of Texas is, and will remain, the official school song’
Brain Davis, The Austin American-Statesman
The UT System Board of Regents took a proactive step Thursday to shield new University of Texas president Jay Hartzell from “The Eyes of Texas” hailstorm and left no doubt it will remain the Longhorns’ school song. Regents chairman Kevin Eltife reiterated the board’s approval of Hartzell’s announcement that “The Eyes” will remain the university song even though some band members are now refusing to play it.
Learfield Engages Two Circles to Build Out Consumer Data
Michael Smith, Sports Business Journal
Data and tech agency Two Circles is best-known for building platforms to gather consumer data, which is an area that Learfield IMG College is rapidly developing under its Fanbase banner. So it makes sense that they’ve begun working together to build out the fan engagement strategies for the college sports marketing and tech giant.
Soccer
Austin FC adds Netspend as founding partner, sleeve sponsor
Bob Williams, SportBusiness
Major League Soccer expansion team Austin FC has named payments and digital solutions provider Netspend as a founding partner of the club and its sleeve sponsor. In addition, the Austin-based Netspend has been designated Austin FC’s official digital payment partner and official prepaid debit Mastercard provider.
Racing
Wallace to drive No. 23 for Jordan-Owned 23XI Racing
Kelly Crandall, RACER
Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin confirmed Thursday the use of the No. 23 for their car in the NASCAR Cup Series next season in addition to revealing the team name. Bubba Wallace will drive the No. 23, a nod to the number Jordan wore during his legendary NBA career, and the team is called 23XI Racing, pronounced twenty-three eleven.
Santa Anita shakes up senior management
John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times
The Stronach Company is shaking up its senior management at Santa Anita once again by promoting Aidan Butler to chief operating officer and sending him to Florida and adding West Coast oversight to the portfolio of Craig Fravel, the group’s chief executive officer for racing. A spokesperson said an announcement would be made soon as to who would have oversight of the day-to-day operations at the Arcadia track.
Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage discusses NASCAR’s ambitious 2020 restart, top four all-time drivers and more
John Sturbin, The Dallas Morning News
Eddie Gossage, Texas Motor Speedway president and general manager, joined longtime Dallas-Fort Worth motor sports reporter John Sturbin ahead of this weekend’s tripleheader at TMS to talk all things racing and the finale of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series. In the conversation, they discussed NASCAR’s ambitious 2020 restart plans, storylines ahead of the weekend, Eddie’s top four drivers of all time and more.
Golf and Tennis
LPGA commissioner Mike Whan makes debut as on-course reporter
Beth Ann Nichols, Golfweek
The commissioner worked as an on-course reporter in Round 1 of the LPGA Drive On Championship. The fast-talking Whan proved to be a natural covering the marquee group of Danielle Kang, Stacy Lewis and Mel Reid on Golf Channel.
Michelle Wie West Joins Steph Curry as Owner and Investor in Beverage Brand Oxigen
Emily Caron, Sportico
LPGA golfer Michelle Wie West is the newest investor, co-owner and global face of OXIGEN, a pH-balanced water made with electrolytes and added oxygen. The U.S. Women’s Open champion joins Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, who made an equity investment in August to become a co-owner, ambassador and board advisor.
Esports
Riot Games Hiring EA’s Jason Bunge As Company’s First CMO
Adam Stern, Sports Business Journal
Riot Games today will announce its first ever CMO by bringing aboard Electronic Arts veteran Jason Bunge, creating the new role as the company evolves into a multi-game publisher. Bunge, who previously served as senior vice president of brand management and marketing for EA, will now oversee game marketing and product publishing for Riot, the publisher of the biggest video game in the world, League of Legends.
100 Thieves Los Angeles HQ becomes official voting centre
Andrew Hayward, Esports Insider
100 Thieves’ Cash App Compound, its sponsored Los Angeles headquarters that opened in January, will be used as an official voting centre in the United States presidential election. The Culver City-based facility in Los Angeles County will open for early voting from October 30th to November 2nd, as well as Election Day voting on November 3rd.
General
Adidas Explores Possible Sale of Reebok Brand
Tim Loh and Aaron Kirchfeld, Bloomberg
The company will decide in the coming months whether to proceed with a sales process, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because deliberations are private. Since taking over as chief executive officer of Adidas in 2016, Kasper Rorsted has repeatedly parried rumors that he was looking to sell the brand.
PWHPA gets $1M commitment from Secret to fund Dream Gap Tour in 2021
Emily Sadler, Sportsnet
The Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association announced Thursday morning that Secret has committed $1 million in support of the organization, funding the 2021 Dream Gap Tour. It’s the largest corporate commitment ever made for professional women’s hockey in North America.
Salt Lake City-Utah Olympics committee expects to follow Tokyo in trimming budget
Julie Jag, The Salt Lake Tribune
in an effort to shore up the overrun costs from postponing the Olympics because of the coronavirus outbreak, the Tokyo 2021 organizing committee is expected to cut those ceremonies and several other less visible expenses. And it may not just be a temporary measure. Fraser Bullock, the president of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, said such cutbacks will be considered when Utah next hosts an Olympics.
Opinions, Editorials, Perspectives and Research
Revolution Is Brewing Across Europe’s Richest Soccer Leagues
David Hellier, Bloomberg
Emboldened by the precarious state the game finds itself in due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, the business model of the sport is under attack from inside and out. The world’s richest clubs are making a play to entrench themselves at the top of the sport, private equity investors are trying to buy distressed assets and lucrative media rights deals are coming apart at the seams.
Doc Emrick’s influence on the NHL’s next generation of voices
Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
There have been comparisons drawn between Emrick’s farewell and that of Fred “Mister” Rogers, and they’re apt. Both loved what they did and loved the people for whom they did it. Both exhibited sincerity, optimism and kindness that was out of sync with their times.
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