A sale of Orlando City SC could reportedly close this week.
Why it’s worth watching: The Wilf family, owners of the Minnesota Vikings, are reportedly close to a deal to purchase MLS club Orlando City SC from owner Flávio Augusto da Silva, along with Exploria Stadium and the NWSL’s Orlando Pride. Multiple people familiar with the talks said the deal will likely be worth between $400 and $450 million.
Bally’s Corp. reports its Q1 2020 earnings on Monday.
Why it’s worth watching: Bally’s has marched to the beat of its own drum in its efforts to capitalize on the proliferation of sports betting in the United States, most notably through its unique Bally’s Sports Networks naming-rights deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., but also with a series of acquisitions, including British iGaming technology company Gamesys Group plc this past quarter. The narrative that the winners in the U.S. online gambling market will be omni-channel, omni-vertical operators is gaining a significant head of steam among industry insiders and analysts alike,” said Chris Grove, a gambling industry analyst at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming. “Bally’s recent string of acquisitions signals the company’s conviction in that narrative, and I expect they’re far from finished on the M&A front.”
The WNBA begins its regular season on Friday.
Why it’s worth watching: After making the most of its bubble season last summer, the WNBA has a lot going for it heading into its 25th season. The WNBA Finals was one of only a few major sporting events to see a viewership increase last summer, let alone a double-digit lift of 15 percent. The league also maintained momentum throughout the offseason, delivering its second-largest draft audience since 2004 and signing a sweeping sponsorship deal with Google. Keep an eye on potential growth for the “W” this season.
The NWSL begins its regular season on Saturday.
Why it’s worth watching: The NWSL capitalized on being the first professional team sport to emerge from last spring’s sports shutdown, drawing two record-setting audiences on broadcast television thanks to its new deal with CBS. One thing to watch for heading into this season is 15-year-old phenom Olivia Moultrie’s legal challenge of the league’s age limit, which if successful would allow her to sign with a team — likely her hometown Portland Thorns — ahead of opening day.
