Media
College Football Postponement Upends Billions in Ad Revenue
Jason Lynch, Adweek
Just as the TV sports advertising marketplace was finally getting back on track, as the MLB, NBA and NHL resumed play, it has been upended again. Last season, college football brought in an estimated $1.69 billion in national and spot ad revenue, according to Kantar Media.
Big Ten Imperils Disney and Fox Sports’ Plans to Recoup Lost Revenue
Anthony Crupi, Sportico
In the absence of the Buckeyes, Badgers, Wolverines and Nittany Lions, Fox Sports and the Walt Disney Co. stand to lose a substantial amount of advertising revenue. According to Standard Media Index data, Fox and its cable sibling FS1 last year raked in $98.3 million in sales with their slate of Big Ten matchups.
Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn reveals he had COVID-19 in opening scene of ‘Hard Knocks’
Jim Reineking, USA Today
It took less than five minutes into the 15th season of HBO’s NFL reality series “Hard Knocks” for the vicious reality of 2020 to sink in. Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn fired up Zoom on his laptop computer and delivered shocking news to his players.
Longtime Analyst Deion Sanders Leaving NFL Network
John Ourand, Sports Business Daily
Deion Sanders is leaving NFL Network, a TV outlet where he has been an on-air analyst since ’06. In a statement emailed to THE DAILY, NFL Network’s Head of Communications Alex Riethmiller said, “Deion has been one of the key figures responsible for the growth of NFL Network. We thank him for his work and wish him the best in the future.”
Bram Weinstein, DeAngelo Hall to join Washington Football Team’s revamped radio broadcast
Les Carpenter, The Washington Post
On Tuesday, Donaldson, the team’s senior vice president of media, made a nontraditional choice by hiring Bram Weinstein, a longtime local radio host and former ESPN anchor, to be Washington’s play-by-play announcer. Former Washington defensive back De’Angelo Hall will join Weinstein and Donaldson in the booth as an analyst.
Tua Tagovailoa Documentary Set at Fox Sports Films
Joe Otterson, Variety
Fox Sports Films is set to air “Tua,” a documentary about Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Variety has learned exclusively. Motivated by family support and critical pundits alike, the former University of Alabama quarterback works to overcome a career-threatening injury ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.
NFL
Sources: Some Cowboys creating training camp bubble at hotel
Adam Schefter and Todd Archer, ESPN
Players, coaches and staff will set up their summer home at the five-star Omni Hotel that is next to the Cowboys’ practice facility to help their fight against COVID-19. One official said he believed the majority of the team would be staying there. With good reason: The set-up has everything the team will need.
Congress hesitates on RFK campus sale despite Washington Football Team’s name change
Alex Koma, Washington Business Journal
It’s not a sure thing that lawmakers will leap into action even with the team’s pledge to retire its racially insensitive moniker. Key congressional leaders say they still have too many concerns about the team’s management to open up access to the RFK land, long coveted by Snyder as the prime location for a new NFL stadium within the city’s borders.
COVID-19 cases continue to grow among SoFi Stadium workers
Nathan Fenno, Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported 15 additional cases of COVID-19 at SoFi Stadium in the last week, raising the total cases among workers at the sprawling project in Inglewood to 75. More than 4,000 workers have been on site since the first case became public in late March, according to Turner-AECOM Hunt, the joint venture directing construction.
NBA
President Donald Trump calls NBA players ‘very nasty’ and ‘very dumb’ for kneeling during anthem
Scott Gleeson, USA Today
President Donald Trump called NBA players “very nasty” and “very dumb” in a Tuesday radio interview while expressing his disapproval of the league’s players kneeling during the national anthem to protest social injustice. For the NBA’s restarted season in Orlando, Florida, all but two players have knelt during the national anthem.
NBA to name MVP of seeding games, all-bubble team
The Associated Press
There will be an NBA Bubble MVP. The league announced that there will be an All-Seeding Games Team and a Player of the Seeding Games, honoring the best performers from the seeding games that started July 30 and will conclude Friday.
MLB
MLB commissioner Manfred: ‘Right now, we think the Cardinals are going to be back’
Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
While the Cardinals wait and test and test and test again, Major League Baseball has mapped a route back to the field for the team and started rearranging games so that even if they don’t play a complete season, they can play what commissioner Rob Manfred called a “credible” one.
Mets Sale: Best-and-Final Offers Due Aug. 31
Scott Soshnick, Sportico
The sale of the New York Mets is coming to a close. The bidders vying for the Major League Baseball franchise have until Aug. 31 to submit their best-and-final offers for the team controlled by the Katz and Wilpon families.
Wingin’ it: Blue Jays win Buffalo debut, top Marlins in 10th
Mike Haim, The Associated Press
In the first major league game in Buffalo since 1915, Shaw hit an RBI single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning as the Blue Jays settled into refitted Sahlen Field with a 5-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.
NHL
5 OT playoff game pushes start of Hurricanes-Bruins playoff series to Wednesday morning
Chip Alexander, The Raleigh News & Observer
The Canes and Boston Bruins were scheduled to play Game 1 of their first-round series Tuesday, with an 8 p.m. puck drop at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. But when the Columbus-Tampa Bay game, which began at 3 p.m., went into a fifth overtime, the Canes-Bruins game was rescheduled for an 11 a.m. start Wednesday.
Inside The Long-awaited Return Of Sabres’ Royal Blue And Gold Jerseys
Lance Lysowski, The Buffalo News
On Tuesday morning, almost one year after announcing the long-awaited rebranding, the Sabres unveiled two permanent uniforms that will debut when the next NHL season opens. The royal and white kits incorporate elements of the past – including the traditional bison crest with two crossing swords the franchise switched back to in 2010 – and one significant change fans will recognize from the 50th anniversary jerseys.
College Sports
ACC, SEC say football plans remain unchanged
Andrea Adelson, ESPN
The ACC and SEC have not altered their plans to play a fall season despite decisions to postpone by the Big Ten and Pac-12 on Tuesday. In separate statements, the ACC and SEC said they continue to make decisions based on the advice of their own medical advisory groups, along with local and state health guidelines.
Big Ten commissioner shoots down Nebraska’s hopes of playing outside conference this season
Pete Thamel, Yahoo Sports
When Warren was asked specifically by Yahoo Sports if Nebraska could play college football this fall, he gave an answer that would make his hardline predecessor nod with approval. “No,” he said, firmly. “Not and be a member of the Big Ten Conference.”
FBS independent UMass cancels fall college football
Adam Rittenberg, ESPN
UMass is canceling its fall football season, the school announced Tuesday. An FBS independent, UMass may attempt to play a season this spring, athletic director Ryan Bamford said.
Soccer
MLS is Back final caps a strange tournament with a deserving champion
Sam Stejskal, The Athletic
Thirty-five days and 51 games after it began, the tournament ended. The Portland Timbers — one of the deepest, most talented teams in all of MLS — got goals from center backs Larrys Mabiala and Dario Zuparic to beat Orlando City 2-1 in the final, becoming the first (and hopefully only) MLS is Back champion.
In a first for major leagues since pandemic, FC Dallas soccer team to play in front of thousands of fans
Valeria Olivares, Texas Tribune
On Wednesday, fans will return to live major league sports in Texas: FC Dallas, the Major League Soccer team, will host Nashville SC in a match in front of potentially thousands of spectators. A maximum of 5,110 fans will be able to attend the game, filling about 25% of the 20,500 seats in the team’s Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
2022 World Cup further behind schedule with Asian games off
Graham Dunbar and John Pye, The Associated Press
All Asian qualifying games for the 2022 World Cup scheduled this year were postponed to 2021 on Wednesday, adding to a global fixture backlog for soccer’s biggest competition caused by the coronavirus pandemic. FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation issued a joint statement saying the delay is to protect the health and safety of all participants from COVID-19. The games will be rescheduled in 2021.
Racing
NASCAR to offer in-race betting through BetMGM in 2021
Bailey Schulz, Las Vegas Review-Journal
MGM Resorts International’s sports betting platform is teaming up with NASCAR to offer live, in-race betting next year. The multiyear sports betting partnership, announced Tuesday, names BetMGM as an authorized gaming operator of the auto racing association and will allow the platform to collaborate with NASCAR to create and promote sports betting experiences.
Golf and Tennis
LPGA announces cancellation of Buick LPGA event in Shanghai
Julie Williams, Golfweek
Another event has dropped off the LPGA schedule. The tour announced Tuesday that the Buick LPGA Shanghai, scheduled for Oct. 15-18, will not be played because of the current health concerns and significant travel restrictions put in place due to COVID-19.
Esports
Ford Models launches esports division
Jonno Nicholson, Esports Insider
New York-based modelling agency Ford Models has announced it is launching a division dedicated to esports and gaming. Ford Models Esports and Gaming will represent talent within the gaming and esports industry alongside working with leagues and stakeholders to assist in the promotion of esports.
FansUnite completes acquisition of Askott Entertainment
Cody Luongo, Esports Insider
Sports entertainment company FansUnite has completed the acquisition of Vancouver-based iGaming software development firm Askott Entertainment. The two entities will merge to create a leading online gaming company focused on sports betting and esports wagering.
LCS dines with Buffalo Wild Wings partnership
Mitch Reames, Esports Insider
Riot Games has announced the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) has partnered with major restaurant chain Buffalo Wild Wings. Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW, but often colloquially referred to as B-Dubs) is a restaurant chain known as much for the absurd amount of televisions on the wall as it is for the actual chicken wings.
General
The Spring League will be first to use bubble concept in football for October tournament in Las Vegas
Kevin Seifert, ESPN
The Spring League is scheduling a six-team football tournament in Las Vegas in October, using a bubble concept that would be the first of its kind in the sport during the coronavirus pandemic. The teams would be stocked mostly with players who were released by NFL teams, according to The Spring League CEO Brian Woods.
Speculation Surrounding Cancellation Of College Football Season Causes Irrational Sports Betting Stock Sell-Off
JohnWallStreet, Sportico
Rampant speculation that the 2020 college football season was on the verge of being canceled (the Big Ten and Pac-12 have since punted on their respective fall seasons) appears to have sent several sports betting stocks tumbling on Monday. College football is responsible for roughly 12% of annual sports betting revenues, so it makes sense why retail investors were seemingly spooked.
Opinions, Editorials, Perspectives and Research
No joy in canceling Big Ten, Pac-12 seasons, despite what opportunists will say
Christine Brennan, USA Today
If so-called leaders had encouraged mask-wearing in March, perhaps we would be in a place to play football in September. But we are not, yet they still can’t see what they did, or how they failed us all, their complaints now simply the background noise of those who have been out-witted, out-smarted and out-thought.
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