Top Stories

  • Administrators from the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Big 12 are all reportedly expected to make decisions at separate meetings today about whether they plan to move forward with fall sports, including football, or further delay or cancel them amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Big Ten and Pac-12 both reportedly seem close to canceling or postponing their seasons, while multiple administrators described the Big 12 as “split” on how to proceed. (Sports Illustrated)
  • The Mountain West Conference became the second FBS conference to cancel fall sports due to concerns about the health and safety of players, bringing the number of FBS schools that have opted not to play this fall to 26. League presidents are said to have overwhelmingly wanted to move forward with plans to play football this fall, but an increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases in the conference’s footprint and the Mid-American Conference’s decision to cancel its season were enough to flip opinions. (Stadium)
  • MLB has held preliminary conversations about holding this season’s 16-team postseason inside several “bubble” environments, according to sources familiar with the talks who said the outbreaks among the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals have illustrated to leadership how the virus could potentially upend the playoffs if they are held at teams’ home ballparks. The league would need multiple hubs to accommodate the expanded playoffs, and sources said the metropolitan areas of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles would make the most sense based on the number of available facilities. (ESPN)

Chart Review

Events Calendar (All Times Local)

08/13/2020
Sports Business Journal Thought Leaders Retreat Begins – Virtual
08/15/2020
Leigh Steinberg Sports Career Conference – Virtual
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Watch On-Demand – Most Loved Brands: What Drives Brand Love In A Year Like No Other

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Watch the webinar on-demand to learn which brands topped the list, what factors tend to drive brand love and how brands can excel in the COVID-19 era.

Media

ESPN won’t change ‘Monday Night’ booth with NFL Saturday a possibility
Andrew Marchand, New York Post

With the potential of Saturday NFL games in the event of college football being totally canceled in the fall, ESPN’s current plan is to stick with its newly created but yet-to-be-announced “Monday Night Football” team of Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick, The Post has learned. That doesn’t mean that its No. 1 college football broadcast team of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit won’t do multiple NFL games.

Networks Prepare For The Worst As College Football Decision Looms
John Ourand, Sports Business Journal

Because of how much they pay in rights fees, everyone assumes that media companies are at the table for every big college sports decision. This week, however, executives from the networks that carry college sports are just as confused as I am about whether there’s going to be a football season.

WNBA, Twitter Extend Livestreaming Pact to Cover 2020 Season
David Cohen, Adweek

Games from the Women’s National Basketball Association will be livestreamed on Twitter for the fourth consecutive year following the renewal of the pact between the league and the social network. The agreement covers 10 regular-season games, and the Twitter livestreams will exclusively feature alternative commentators including basketball analysts Ros Gold-Onwude and LaChina Robinson.

PGA Championship delivers TV ratings success for CBS, ESPN
SportBusiness

The PGA Championship delivered a domestic television ratings boost for both CBS Sports and ESPN as viewers tuned in to see American Collin Morikawa take the first men’s golf major championship of the year. CBS’s primetime final-round coverage of the spectator-less event at at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, California, averaged 5.153 million viewers, with viewership peaking at 6.873 million viewers from 8.30-8.45pm ET.

TUDN drew 1.1 million viewers for Barcelona-Napoli on Saturday, the most-watched Champions League R16 game ever in the US
Joe Lucia, Awful Announcing

With complaints about the CBS All-Access paywall and a lack of carriage for CBS Sports Network, many viewers ended up turning to TUDN for their coverage on Friday and Saturday. In fact, a record number of viewers for a Round of 16 match tuned in to TUDN’s coverage of Barcelona-Napoli on Saturday.

NFL

Daniel Snyder, in legal filing, accuses former team employee of spreading false stories
Will Hobson, The Washington Post

Washington NFL owner Daniel Snyder accused a former team employee in a federal court filing Monday of taking part in what he says is an Internet misinformation campaign involving stories that falsely linked him to convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein and Twitter bots that spread unfounded rumors of Snyder abusing drugs, holding “sex parties” and bribing NFL referees.

NFL To Ditch On-Field National Anthem Singers This Season
Michael McCarthy, Front Office Sports

The NFL will ditch live performances of the national anthem before games this season, sources said. Given the abundance of American flag imagery inside stadiums on signs and video boards, the league could also curtail the on-field access of live military and police honor guards.

NBA

John Wall on his kicks future: ‘I don’t think I’m gonna sign another big deal’
Fred Katz, The Athletic

Wall and Adidas, who he has endorsed for most of his 10-year NBA career, negotiated a buyout of his contract last fall. For nearly a year, he has been a shoe free agent. It may last longer than that.

MLB

Sure? No. But Rob Manfred Is Still Optimistic About This Season.
Tyler Kepner, The New York Times

On Monday, for the 15th day in a row, the M.L.B. schedule included at least one postponement because of the coronavirus. The Miami Marlins are back from their outbreak, but now the St. Louis Cardinals are shut down through Thursday, at least, and haven’t played since late July.

AP source: Indians’ Clevinger flew with team after violation
Tom Withers, The Associated Press

Clevinger flew home with his teammates Sunday despite knowing he had broken the club’s COVID-19 protocols by going out in Chicago with right-hander Zach Plesac during Cleveland’s weekend trip, according to a person familiar with the situation. Clevinger did not admit that he had violated the rules during a team meeting Sunday to discuss Plesac being sent home by the team, said the person who spoke Monday night to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

The Buffalo Blue Jays are in business — with lights borrowed from baseball’s ‘Field of Dreams’
Gregor Chisholm, The Toronto Star

Toronto will host its first “homestand” of the year when it opens a two-game series against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night at Sahlen Field in Buffalo. Following two weeks of homelessness, the displaced Jays have a place to call their own after being denied permission to host games at the Rogers Centre by Canadian public health officials.

AP study: MLB average salary under $1.3M; Scherzer tops list
Ronald Blum, The Associated Press

Major League Baseball’s eye-popping salaries took an astonishing dive during the coronavirus pandemic to their lowest level in nearly a quarter-century, according to a study by The Associated Press. Washington pitcher Max Scherzer topped the shortened season’s list at $17.8 million, his income partially protected by a huge signing bonus.

NHL

Rangers Score First Pick in the N.H.L. Draft
Andrew Knoll, The New York Times

A month and a half after the initial phase of the N.H.L. draft lottery was held, the Rangers won No. 1 selection and the opportunity to select the consensus top prospect Alexis Lafreniere, a dazzling 18-year-old wing from Quebec. The Rangers have not selected first over all since the universal draft was adopted, but took Andre Veilleux with the top pick in 1965’s amateur draft.

Dale Tallon, after 10 seasons, out as Florida Panthers’ GM
Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press

The Florida Panthers will have a new general manager next season, making the announcement early Monday that Dale Tallon is leaving the franchise after 10 years. Tallon’s contract as president of hockey operations and general manager expired July 1, and was extended by Panthers owner Vincent Viola to get through the remainder of a season that was stretched out by the coronavirus pandemic.

NHL reports second straight week of zero positive COVID-19 tests
Adam Gretz, NBC Sports

For the second week in a row the NHL has announced that it had zero positive COVID-19 tests during the Phase 4 portion of its return to play. Since the participating teams entered their respective bubbles on July 25 they have reported zero positive tests during that time.

Hockey Hall postpones November induction ceremony
The Canadian Press

The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place Nov. 16 in Toronto. The 2020 class of forward Jarome Iginla, winger Marian Hossa, defencemen Kevin Lowe and Doug Wilson, Canadian women’s goaltender Kim St. Pierre and longtime general manager Ken Holland was announced by the Hockey Hall of Fame in June.

College Sports

Heart condition linked with COVID-19 fuels Power 5 concern about season’s viability
Paula Lavigne and Mark Schlabach, ESPN

A rare heart condition that could be linked with the coronavirus is fueling concern among Power 5 conference administrators about the viability of college sports this fall. Myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle, has been found in at least five Big Ten Conference athletes and among several other athletes in other conferences, according to two sources with knowledge of athletes’ medical care.

Scott Frost says Nebraska ‘prepared to look at any and all options,’ including playing outside Big Ten
Mark Schlabach, ESPN

Nebraska football coach Scott Frost said Monday that the Cornhuskers are prepared to play this upcoming season — even if it’s outside the Big Ten. It was previously reported that Big Ten presidents following a meeting on Saturday were ready to cancel the fall sports season.

Trump, coaches push for college football as cracks emerge
Ralph D. Russo, The Associated Press

President Donald Trump on Monday joined a U.S. senator and a number of coaches calling to save the college football season from a pandemic-forced shutdown as supporters pushed the premise that the players are safer because of their sport. There was speculation two of the five most powerful conferences — the Big Ten and the Pac-12 — might call off their seasons and explore the possibility of spring football.

Old Dominion’s AD explains his program’s solo decision to call off fall football
Nicole Auerbach, The Athletic

ODU made the decision alone, with the rest of Conference USA still scheduled to play FBS football this fall. C-USA commissioner Judy MacLeod was supportive of the decision, said Selig, who added that the membership is naturally diverse and spread out, and that not every decision may be right for every member.

With The College Football Season In Doubt, Marketers Plan For Multiple Scenarios
E.J. Schultz, Ad Age

A cancellation of the season would disrupt the fall marketing calendars of dozens of brands, from beers and sodas to automakers and insurance marketers, that rely on the sport’s reach to capture coveted audiences. Marketers have been planning multiple scenarios that include the season being delayed, canceled or even started and then stopped midway through.

Power 5 football players want to play. But can they unionize?
Alicia Jessop, The Athletic

The NLRA is a federal law enacted by Congress in 1935 following Americans’ return to work after the Great Depression. It provides employees of private-sector employers in the United States three rights: the right to unionize, the right to collectively bargain and the right to engage in concerted activities. As it relates to NCAA football players unionizing, the law presents hurdles.

Soccer

Welcome Back to the Champions League. Please Maintain Social Distance.
Rory Smith and Tariq Panja, The New York Times

Already one team is facing a possible outbreak: Atlético Madrid reported Sunday that two members of its traveling party had tested positive. Per the rules, the two players — Angel Correa and Sime Vrsaljko — were isolated from the rest of the team, and on Monday Atlético announced that it would return to training and continue its preparations for a Thursday quarterfinal against RB Leipzig.

OTR residents push back over FC Cincinnati Stadium exterior lighting
Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Business Courier

The Over-the-Rhine Community Council (OTRCC) voted 30-to-1 July 27 to oppose FC Cincinnati’s plan to extend its use of stadium facade lighting to include promotions from sponsors and advertisers. As a result, the community council sent a letter to the City of Cincinnati arguing its position, citing a lack of input and concern for quality of life in the neighborhood.

Racing

NASCAR working to open more of its races to fans
Adam Stern, Sports Business Journal

Since returning to action in mid-May, NASCAR has held races in front of fans at five tracks and isn’t ready to tap the brakes on that effort. Instead, as it rolls toward the playoffs, the sanctioning body is hoping to add to that total. NASCAR is now more than halfway through its 36-race season.

F1 ‘moving forward’ despite Mercedes standoff over 2021 Concorde Agreement
Sam Carp, SportsPro Media

Formula One says it is ‘moving forward’ with its 2021 Concorde Agreement and ‘will not be delayed any longer’ despite opposition to the new set of commercial terms from reigning world champions Mercedes. Liberty Media, the owner of the global motorsport series, has been pushing for a more equitable distribution of revenue under the new agreement in an attempt to address the competitive imbalance in the sport. 

F1 revenues almost wiped out by pandemic halt to races
Samuel Agini, Financial Times

Formula One’s revenues were almost entirely wiped out in the second quarter of the year, as the elite car racing series struggled with the delay to the start of its world championship amid the coronavirus outbreak. The results underline the scale of the task facing Liberty Media, the US group controlled by billionaire John Malone, which acquired F1 in an $8bn deal in 2016.

Golf and Tennis

Presidents Cup returning to Royal Montreal GC in 2024
Will Gray, Golf Channel

The PGA Tour announced Monday that the Presidents Cup will return to Royal Montreal Golf Club in 2024. The announcement means that Royal Montreal will join Royal Melbourne (1998, 2011, 2019) as the only courses outside the U.S. to host multiple Presidents Cups.

Esports

Petitti leaves MLB after 12 years for video, esports company
The Associated Press

Tony Petitti is leaving Major League Baseball after 12 years to become president of sports and entertainment for the video game and esports company Activision Blizzard Inc. on Aug. 17. He will report to CEO Bobby Kotick and will oversee esports, consumer products, and film and television.

Amazon Kills Off Twitch Prime Name, Replaces It With ‘Prime Gaming’ Perk With Free Games and Content
Todd Spangler, Variety

On Monday, Aug. 10, the Amazon Prime Gaming service went live, replacing the four-year-old Twitch Prime. By moving it outside the Twitch umbrella with the rebranding strategy, the ecommerce giant hopes to broaden awareness of the perk, which offers a bucket of free game titles and exclusive in-game content each month.

General

This Media Giant Just Made A $1 Billion Bet On MGM’s Online Potential
Brad Allen, Legal Sports Report

MGM Resorts shares jumped 13% Monday on news that digital media giant IAC has built a $1 billion dollar position in the casino brand, on the back of its online gambling potential. The $1 billion stake is equivalent to around 12% of the shares in MGM.

Opinions, Editorials, Perspectives and Research

Big Ten’s swift turnabout shows schools will always put amateurism first
J. Brady McCollough, Los Angeles Times

Only when amateurism is threatened do we see swift action from college athletic officials. The optics for amateur competition during a pandemic were always going to leave a very small opening for college sports in 2020. There were always going to be Brady Feeneys and liability issues.

Justin Thomas’ f-bomb outbursts are becoming too much
Craig Dolch, Golfweek

Predictably, some had no problem with it because, hey, we’ve all been there on the golf course, having a rough moment. But Thomas is a professional and he’s paid extremely well to act professionally.

Morning Consult