sports-business4.945 min read
End of MLB Blackouts Hinge on Salary Cap, Sparks a Beltway of Talks
1 month ago•Source: Los Angeles Times
Sports Business News
The latest sports business stories, summarized by AI
Featured Sports Business Stories
View original source
4.425 min•1 month ago
Nationals Fire Community-Relations Exec After Undercover Video Controversy
The Washington Nationals dismissed Sean Hudson, the team’s former director of community relations, after an undercover clip released by the O’Keefe Media Group showed him discussing internal social-media decisions— including a supposed ban on a Catholic pitcher— and suggesting close ties with defense contractors and efforts to placate President Trump, such as inviting security figures to games and using fan data. The team said no directives were issued and Hudson was not on the social-media team, and Hudson has not commented.
More Top Stories
2
3
Travis Kelce buys into Guardians ownership, cementing Cleveland roots
The New York Times•1 month ago
More Sports Business Stories
New Jersey pushes to front its name on MetLife World Cup signage
New Jersey is pressing to rearrange MetLife Stadium signage to put New Jersey ahead of New York in World Cup branding for the 2026 tournament, part of a joint host-city plan that originally labeled the venue 'New York New Jersey.' The move accompanies ongoing cost tensions, with NJ Transit projecting up to $48 million in World Cup-related transit expenses and Gov. Sherrill arguing FIFA should cover transport costs while highlighting New Jersey investments. The dispute also touches ticket allocations for residents and how benefits will be distributed between the two states as the region hosts eight matches, including the final.
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.