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Nationals Fire Community-Relations Exec After Undercover Video Controversy
17 hours ago•Source: The New York Times
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SoFi stadium labor standoff looms over World Cup as strike vote nears
UNITE HERE Local 11, representing about 2,000 SoFi Stadium workers, says negotiations with operator Legends Global have collapsed and a two‑day strike vote will be held next week, potentially disrupting eight World Cup matches at SoFi, including the USA vs Paraguay opener. The union’s demands include ICE-free venues, tighter control of subcontractors, no AI/automation, and transparent pay and scheduling, amid broader complaints about contract details; FIFA says the dispute is between Legends and the union. The Athletic and other outlets have reported related complaints to state authorities and the NLRB, while Legends and local organizers declined comment.
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Travis Kelce buys into Guardians ownership, cementing Cleveland roots
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Funding in Question as 24-Team CFP Gains Support
The Athletic reports that major conferences back expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams even though revenue models aren’t settled. ESPN prefers keeping the field at 12–16, while Fox supports wider access to attract more networks; Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti says there’s a deep commitment to 24, not 16. Replacing roughly $200–$250 million in annual conference-championship revenue and offsetting it with on-campus games is a central hurdle, and critics warn increased field size could dilute competition. Bidders beyond ESPN and Fox—potentially TNT/CBS—enter the mix, with comparisons to the March Madness expansion history suggesting the financial and scheduling complexities could temper any push to 24, possibly capping expansion or delaying final decisions.
Purses Revealed: Rousey vs Carano Tops MVP MMA Card
Forbes breaks down the pay structure for the MVP MMA event headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano, detailing base purses, potential win bonuses, and upside from PPV revenue across the full card, while noting that exact payouts are often undisclosed and can vary with gate and sponsorships.
World Cup Tickets Remain Unsold as Prices Stay High
With a month until kickoff, FIFA’s official site still shows thousands of World Cup tickets unsold at high prices, released in small, staggered drops that often trigger long queues and glitches; experts say the strategy aims to maximize revenue and creates artificial scarcity, while prices on the secondary market drift lower but primary prices stay steep.
Big Ten hits record revenue and $1.37B distribution to members in 2024-25
The Big Ten posted a record $1.47 billion in revenue for the 2024-25 fiscal year and distributed $1.37 billion to its 18 member schools, up $540 million from the prior year thanks to an 18-member season, more than $1 billion in media-rights income, and the 12-team College Football Playoff; Ohio State led payouts at about $91.6 million, with other members earning roughly $76–89 million, while the conference also faced costs like legal fees and officiating technology.
Saudi funding for LIV Golf pulled, signaling end of the rebel tour
The Wall Street Journal reports that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will stop financing LIV Golf after this season, ending roughly $6 billion in funding that drew top players but left LIV with about $1.1 billion in losses from 2022–2024 and no merger with the PGA Tour. The league must find replacement financing amid ongoing uncertainty, while players weigh their futures and the PGA Tour signals accountability for past rule-breaking.
LIV Golf Delays New Orleans Stop as Funding Shakeup Reshapes Plan
LIV Golf has postponed its June 25 stop in New Orleans amid a shifting business model and signals that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund could pull backing; Louisiana had planned roughly $7 million in state support for Bayou Oaks and hosting, with provisions to claw back $1.2 million and treat $2 million in course improvements as an asset. The parties aim to reimagine the event in the fall while LIV pursues new funding, including equity sales and partnerships, as its schedule becomes uncertain after August. LIV Golf Virginia at Trump National Golf Club is scheduled to begin May 7 in Washington, D.C., with no announced schedule beyond the team championship in August.
Feliciano and Jones Near Record $3.9B Padres Buy
A group led by Chelsea co-owner José E. Feliciano and his wife Kwanza Jones is nearing a $3.9 billion purchase of the San Diego Padres, a record price for MLB that would require 75% league approval and could influence upcoming labor talks. The final price reflects roughly $300 million in debt; Feliciano is a Clearlake Capital co-founder and Jones leads Supercharged, who beat rival bids from Dan Friedkin, Tom Gores and Joe Lacob in a bid process following the team’s sale process after Peter Seidler’s death.
LIV Golf stream goes dark in Mexico City as funding rumors swirl
LIV Golf’s Mexico City broadcast briefly failed after going live, with the YouTube and U.S. streams showing technical errors before FS1 carried the event; LIV cited local power outages, though venue screens remained operational. The outage comes amid reports the Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund could pull funding, with executives described as scrambling while LIV publically downplays financial trouble. An earlier closure of the media center due to outages adds to the disruption, though it’s unclear if it’s connected.
A’ja Wilson inks historic three-year WNBA supermax with the Aces
A’ja Wilson signed a three-year supermax with the Las Vegas Aces, making her the highest-paid player in WNBA history. The deal starts at $1.4 million in 2026 and could exceed $4.7 million with maximum raises, surpassing the previous record. Wilson’s commitment follows a wave of team-friendly deals from fellow Aces to retain a championship core through 2028.
LIV Golf Faces Uncertain Future as Saudi Backers Weigh Pulling Funding
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is reportedly preparing to pull its multi-billion-dollar investment in LIV Golf, throwing the league’s future into doubt as leadership searches for a path forward, potentially without PIF or with a slimmer budget. Executives were told they could lose their jobs, and while LIV proceeds with its Mexico City event, the organization has suffered large losses and is years from profitability. The PIF’s new five-year plan made no mention of LIV, signaling a possible strategic shift away from the league.