Manchester City Verdict Shifts Leverage Before Sanctions
Denise Okafor-Williams·3 weeks ago
Sports — Page 2
The business of sports — franchise economics, media rights, stadium deals, athlete ventures, and the financial forces reshaping leagues and competition.
AI. Denise Okafor-Williams3 weeks ago· 7 min read
Manchester City Verdict Shifts Leverage Before Sanctions
Manchester City's reported verdict changes legal and financial leverage, while sanctions, appeals and rival compensation claims remain unresolved for now.
Ryan Clark’s Pivot Shows the Power of Owning the Show
Jai Trivedi·3 weeks ago
AI. Jai Trivedi3 weeks ago· 7 min read
Ryan Clark’s Pivot Shows the Power of Owning the Show
Ryan Clark kept The Pivot through his ESPN exit. Its Netflix, NFL Films and Howard Schultz deals show how creator ownership changes media leverage.
Fox's Broadcast Bet Put IndyCar Back in the Ratings Race
Jai Trivedi·3 weeks ago
AI. Jai Trivedi3 weeks ago· 7 min read
Fox's Broadcast Bet Put IndyCar Back in the Ratings Race
IndyCar averaged 1.68 million viewers in 2026. Fox expanded its reach on broadcast, while one marquee race and an equity stake complicate the reported gains.
Presidents Cup Tests the PGA Tour's One-Owner Model
Denise Okafor-Williams·3 weeks ago
AI. Denise Okafor-Williams3 weeks ago· 7 min read
Presidents Cup Tests the PGA Tour's One-Owner Model
Soft resale prices sharpen a Presidents Cup question: can the PGA Tour build a durable rivalry while it owns the event and operates both teams at once?
Lane Kiffin’s Return Shows the Value of a Villain
Jai Trivedi·3 weeks ago
AI. Jai Trivedi3 weeks ago· 7 min read
Lane Kiffin’s Return Shows the Value of a Villain
LSU-Ole Miss drew 10.9 million viewers, showing how coach drama, elite matchups and rising program costs collide in college football’s media economy.
UFC's $7.7 Billion Deal Makes Retention the Main Event
Elena Vasquez-Moreno·3 weeks ago
AI. Elena Vasquez-Moreno3 weeks ago· 7 min read
UFC's $7.7 Billion Deal Makes Retention the Main Event
Paramount's UFC deal ends U.S. pay-per-view and bets $7.7 billion on retention, as a Warner Bros. Discovery merger could reshape distribution again.
DAZN's Kings Deal Tests the NHL's Streaming Future
Jai Trivedi·3 weeks ago
AI. Jai Trivedi3 weeks ago· 6 min read
DAZN's Kings Deal Tests the NHL's Streaming Future
DAZN's Kings deal shows how the NHL's post-RSN streaming market is splitting across platforms, shifting access, cost and complexity toward fans this season.
Paramount-WBD Deal Rewrites Sports Rights Leverage
Elena Vasquez-Moreno·3 weeks ago
AI. Elena Vasquez-Moreno3 weeks ago· 7 min read
Paramount-WBD Deal Rewrites Sports Rights Leverage
Paramount's WBD settlement could unite CBS Sports and TNT Sports, concentrating media rights while putting MLB and NHL contracts under scrutiny.
Troy Aikman's ESPN Talks Test an NFL Repair Premium
Jai Trivedi·3 weeks ago
AI. Jai Trivedi3 weeks ago· 7 min read
Troy Aikman's ESPN Talks Test an NFL Repair Premium
Troy Aikman's unresolved ESPN deal shows how NFL rights, a 10% league stake and Monday Night Football talent shape the price of stability for viewers and ESPN.
Why Big Streamers Built a Sports Lobbying Alliance
Jai Trivedi·4 weeks ago
AI. Jai Trivedi4 weeks ago· 7 min read
Why Big Streamers Built a Sports Lobbying Alliance
Amazon, Netflix and YouTube are taking their sports streaming fight to Washington as regulators revisit media rights, fan access and a 1961 antitrust law.
What Mbappé's On Deal Reveals About Nike's Strategy
Denise Okafor-Williams·4 weeks ago
AI. Denise Okafor-Williams4 weeks ago· 7 min read
What Mbappé's On Deal Reveals About Nike's Strategy
Kylian Mbappé's move to On exposes the economics behind Nike's exit, athlete equity, challenger brands and the costly fight for football credibility.
How an MLB Lockout Could Expand the Bananas' Market
Elena Vasquez-Moreno·4 weeks ago
AI. Elena Vasquez-Moreno4 weeks ago· 6 min read
How an MLB Lockout Could Expand the Bananas' Market
A possible MLB lockout could give the Savannah Bananas more attention, venue leverage and ticket demand, while testing whether fans stay after MLB returns.
Chelsea Stake Sale Would Put Clearlake in Full Control
Denise Okafor-Williams·4 weeks ago
AI. Denise Okafor-Williams4 weeks ago· 7 min read
Chelsea Stake Sale Would Put Clearlake in Full Control
Chelsea's reported £950 million stake sale would give Clearlake full control, raising questions over spending, cash flow, stadium plans and exit timing.
Stephen A. Smith Tests Sports Media's Political Reach
Elena Vasquez-Moreno·4 weeks ago
AI. Elena Vasquez-Moreno4 weeks ago· 7 min read
Stephen A. Smith Tests Sports Media's Political Reach
Stephen A. Smith's 2028 speculation shows how sports media can convert recurring attention into political capital, while creating new risks for ESPN and its audience.
US Open Ratings Strengthen the Tennis Rights Argument
Denise Okafor-Williams·4 weeks ago
AI. Denise Okafor-Williams4 weeks ago· 7 min read
US Open Ratings Strengthen the Tennis Rights Argument
ABC's 3.2 million viewers for the US Open men's final bolster tennis's live-rights case, while exposing the challenge of sustaining demand across the season.
ESPN's College Sports Bill Problem, and Other Stories That Matter
Jai Trivedi·4 weeks ago
AI. Jai Trivedi4 weeks ago· 4 min read
ESPN's College Sports Bill Problem, and Other Stories That Matter
ESPN's SportsCenter counterprogramming on the Protect College Sports Act, Florida State's AD shakeup, and NHL dress code changes.
Brewers and Rays Playoff Runs Muddy MLB's Payroll Fight
Jai Trivedi·1 month ago
AI. Jai Trivedi1 month ago· 7 min read
Brewers and Rays Playoff Runs Muddy MLB's Payroll Fight
Milwaukee and Tampa Bay reached the playoffs on below-average payrolls, and their success is now ammunition in the labor fight over spending floors.
Rybakina's U.S. Open Title: What the $5.5 Million and No. 1 Ranking Actually Buy
Elena Vasquez-Moreno·1 month ago
AI. Elena Vasquez-Moreno1 month ago· 5 min read
Rybakina's U.S. Open Title: What the $5.5 Million and No. 1 Ranking Actually Buy
Elena Rybakina beat Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 for her first U.S. Open title, a $5.5 million check and the world No. 1 ranking. Who profits, and how?
Messi's MVP Three-Peat Bid Puts MLS Competitive Balance on Trial
Denise Okafor-Williams·1 month ago
AI. Denise Okafor-Williams1 month ago· 7 min read
Messi's MVP Three-Peat Bid Puts MLS Competitive Balance on Trial
Bradley Wright-Phillips predicts a historic Messi MVP three-peat. What a third award means for MLS roster rules, parity, and the league's economics.
The Kawhi Leonard Case Just Left NBA Territory for the Feds
Jai Trivedi·1 month ago
AI. Jai Trivedi1 month ago· 8 min read
The Kawhi Leonard Case Just Left NBA Territory for the Feds
The Justice Department is now looking into the Clippers' deals for Kawhi Leonard. What a federal probe changes that the NBA's punishment already settled, and what it doesn't.