Eben Novy-Williams
@ebennovywilliams.bsky.social
📤 576
📥 30
📝 289
deputy editor @Sportico. join our club! --->
https://club.sportico.com/
Here's a fun one: Had Utah been Kyle Wittingham's last job, his 11 grandkids would all have been able to attend the University of Utah for free. His taking the Michigan job appears to have terminated that benefit. More from
@daniellibit.bsky.social
at Sportico 👇
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...
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Whittingham’s Michigan Gig May Cost Grandkids Free Utah Tuition
Whittingham’s decision to accept a new coaching job at Michigan rather than retire comes with consequences for his progeny.
https://www.sportico.com/leagues/college-sports/2025/kyle-whittingham-michigan-utah-contract-tuition-1234879902/
1 day ago
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For the next two weeks,
@sportico.bsky.social
is handing our AM newsletter over to a different writer each morning to look back on 2025 🔙 and ahead to 2026 🔮. Here are some excerpts so far from Lev, Anthony and
@jacobfeldman.bsky.social
👇
7 days ago
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BREAKING: The Chiefs are set to receive $1.8 billion (!) in public money for a new $3 billion stadium in Kansas. That's the largest public subsidy ever for a U.S. sports stadium project. More coming for practice facility, too.
www.sportico.com/business/rea...
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Chiefs Land Record $1.8B in Public Money to Cross Kansas State Line
The Kansas City Chiefs are moving to Kansas. Their $1.8 billion in public subsidy money is the highest total ever for a U.S. stadium project.
https://www.sportico.com/business/real-estate/2025/chiefs-kansas-stadium-cost-public-money-1234879708/
8 days ago
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BREAKING: Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley is in advanced talks to become the next CEO of the @USTA, sources tell Sportico. Tiley has experience running both a governing body and a grand slam. Process comes at a critical time for global tennis. More 👇🎾
www.sportico.com/personalitie...
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USTA Near Deal to Tap Australian Open Boss as Next CEO
The USTA's CEO search has narrowed to Craig Tiley, the CEO of Tennis Australia and the director of the Australian Open. He is nearing a deal.
https://www.sportico.com/personalities/executives/2025/usta-ceo-search-craig-tiley-australian-open-1234878977/
18 days ago
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Can you figure out what's happening in these three circles? In today's Club Sportico essay,
@jacobfeldman.bsky.social
lets you in on a fun little trivia challenge: deciphering the oddities in the NFL's Sunday TV map.
18 days ago
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In today's Club Sportico early week missive, we're talking about the College Football Playoff selection process, which managed to make even a surreal World Cup draw look sane and well managed...
club.sportico.com/p/world-cup-...
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College football makes FIFA look competent
Plus: How the World Cup schedule gets made and why Notre Dame has already lost fans' sympathy
https://club.sportico.com/p/world-cup-draw-memes-college-football
22 days ago
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In today's Club Sportico newsletter, we're talking about the new posterchild for college football's mercenary era 👇
club.sportico.com/p/lane-kiffi...
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College football's mercenary era has a new posterboy
Lane Kiffin's dramatic Sunday included leaked audio, an R-rated airport sendoff, and a healthy dose of hypocrisy.
https://club.sportico.com/p/lane-kiffin-ole-miss-lsu-plane-video-tweets
29 days ago
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UMass has been FBS's worst football team since it moved up in 2012. Its struggles include spilled hydraulic fluid, a failed stint at an NFL stadium 90 miles away, and unmet "pie-in-the-sky" projections. Now the school is doubling down. More w/ Daniel Libit 👇
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...
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Sunk-Cost Football: UMass’ Faltering Quest to Belong in the FBS
UMass bought the promise of big-time football in 2011, when it joined the FBS. Fourteen brutal years later, the Minutemen are doubling down.
https://www.sportico.com/leagues/college-sports/2025/umass-football-fbs-finances-history-1234877386/
about 1 month ago
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This morning in the Spanish capital, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez proposed amending the team's fan-controlled structure slightly, to allow the club to sell a passive 5% equity stake. He believes that could provide the team $500+ million. More via Club Sportico 👇
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Eben Novy-Williams
Today at
@sportico.bsky.social
, we're talking about the delicate balancing act underway at Real Madrid. Can the world's most valuable soccer team court $1 billion in investment while keeping its fan-controlled structure?
club.sportico.com/p/real-madri...
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Real Madrid is prepping a delicate balancing act
The world’s most valuable soccer team has historically been unable to court new owners. Now it’s trying to raise ~$1 billion without losing its soul.
https://club.sportico.com/p/real-madrid-ownership-change-explanation-socios
about 1 month ago
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Today at
@sportico.bsky.social
, we're talking about the delicate balancing act underway at Real Madrid. Can the world's most valuable soccer team court $1 billion in investment while keeping its fan-controlled structure?
club.sportico.com/p/real-madri...
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Real Madrid is prepping a delicate balancing act
The world’s most valuable soccer team has historically been unable to court new owners. Now it’s trying to raise ~$1 billion without losing its soul.
https://club.sportico.com/p/real-madrid-ownership-change-explanation-socios
about 1 month ago
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Happy Monday. In this week's Pick Six, we're talking about: 👟 The two shocks of Curry's Under Armour separation ⛷️ Skiing on top of the world 🐂 Advertising that I actually enjoy watching 🎫 “Now there are sort of good bots and bad bots” ⚽ The NWSL's Rodman problem
club.sportico.com/p/steph-curr...
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Steph Curry is wearing Nikes?!
Plus: A soccer league's existential crisis, AI ticketing, and skiing on top of the world.
https://club.sportico.com/p/steph-curry-nike-under-armour-club-sportico
about 1 month ago
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SCOOP:
@jacobfeldman.bsky.social
and I got details of MLS's revised Apple deal - Ends in June 2029 (3.5 years early) - Apple gave up 2027 opt-out - MLS gets: $200M in 2026, $107M for 2027 "sprint" season, $275M in final two seasons Via
@sportico.bsky.social
👇
www.sportico.com/leagues/socc...
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Apple, MLS Deal Will End in 2029 With Revised Payment Structure
MLS and Apple's streaming rights agreement will now end three and half years early, letting the league explore new partners after the 2026 World Cup.
https://www.sportico.com/leagues/soccer/2025/apple-mls-streaming-contract-change-1234876902/
about 2 months ago
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Two years ago, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank said he "couldn’t imagine Under Armour without Stephen [Curry], or Stephen without Under Armour" Today, his company and its biggest endorser announced the unimaginable. More via
@sportico.bsky.social
👇
www.sportico.com/business/com...
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Under Armour’s CEO Just Did the Thing He ‘Couldn’t Imagine’
Under Armour is cutting ties with Steph Curry's brand, the latest in its billion-dollar cutback of sponsorship deals with leagues, teams and athletes.
https://www.sportico.com/business/commerce/2025/under-armour-steph-curry-brand-leave-1234876832/
about 2 months ago
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🚨 Sportico's F1 valuations are out 🏎️ Here's the full list, plus how each franchise compares to its next "Big Four" comp...
about 2 months ago
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If you thought the NBA betting scandal was bad, wait until the Feds are done with college basketball...
club.sportico.com/p/theres-a-g...
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There’s a gambling hurricane coming for college basketball
If you thought the recent NBA bet-rigging details were bad, brace yourself for what’s about to happen in college basketball.
https://club.sportico.com/p/theres-a-gambling-hurricane-coming
about 2 months ago
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I wrote today about the blackmail of Jontay Porter. The concern for the NBA and other leagues isn't that players will forever think they can get away with rigging games. It's that players will always be coerced into trying 👇
club.sportico.com/p/nba-gambli...
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The blackmail is the real concern
For the past two years, Jontay Porter has been the posterchild for dumb athlete gamblers. This week, his story grew into something else.
https://club.sportico.com/p/nba-gambling-investigation-porter-rozier-blackmail
2 months ago
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Two classic stories here (one about batting cages, the other about Japanese toilets) from the Dodgers' free agent courtship of Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki
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2 months ago
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In today's Club Sportico, we're talking about the Big Ten's $2.4 billion loan, Michigan's vociferous pushback, and the curious ways that college sports leaders talk about the creep of institutional capital...
club.sportico.com/p/the-big-te...
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The Big Ten’s $2.4 Billion Loan is on Life Support
As the Big Ten vigorously debates the merits of a $2.4 billion pension fund loan, we should all be speaking differently about institutional capital and college sports.
https://club.sportico.com/p/the-big-tens-24-billion-loan-is-on
2 months ago
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If there's one main takeaway from me on
@sportico.bsky.social
's latest NBA valuations, it's this: The league is moving toward an NFL-style model. It's gotten closer to fixed costs, and the league-wide media distributions (now $143M) have grown into a significant revenue stream.
3 months ago
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We just entered a 49-day stretch with NFL or FBS college football *every day*. In the latest
@clubsportico.bsky.social
Jacob and I wrote about business levers that led to this panoply of pigskin 👇
club.sportico.com/p/nfl-colleg...
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Welcome to the Great Gridiron Grind
The NFL and college football are rapidly colonizing the calendar. They make more money, and you get to gorge on pigskin.
https://club.sportico.com/p/nfl-college-football-tv-schedule-49-day-game-streak
3 months ago
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Of interest here, the contract was finalized and executed by the league's four-person executive committee, without a final vote from all owners. Some source said that the committee was given that mandate earlier this summer. Others said they believed all owners should still vote
add a skeleton here at some point
3 months ago
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reposted by
Eben Novy-Williams
SCOOP: NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman has a new three-year contract, per sources. Under her guidance the league has seen large commercial growth and undergone multiple expansions.
#NWSL
More via
@sportico.bsky.social
👇
www.sportico.com/personalitie...
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NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman Receives 3-Year Contract Extension
Jessica Berman received a 3-year extension as NWSL commissioner. The deal was executed by the league's four-person executive committee.
https://www.sportico.com/personalities/executives/2025/jessica-berman-nwsl-commissioner-contract-extension-1234873443/
3 months ago
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SCOOP: NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman has a new three-year contract, per sources. Under her guidance the league has seen large commercial growth and undergone multiple expansions.
#NWSL
More via
@sportico.bsky.social
👇
www.sportico.com/personalitie...
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NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman Receives 3-Year Contract Extension
Jessica Berman received a 3-year extension as NWSL commissioner. The deal was executed by the league's four-person executive committee.
https://www.sportico.com/personalities/executives/2025/jessica-berman-nwsl-commissioner-contract-extension-1234873443/
3 months ago
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SCOOP: The Houston Dash are in advanced talks to sell for $120M to RHC Group. RHC's founder is Richard Hsiao, a 24 y/o Bucks superfan and son of a Chinese billionaire who disappeared from public in 2017 under sketchy circumstances.
#NWSL
More at Sportico 👇
www.sportico.com/business/tea...
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Dash Near $120M Sale to Group Led by Son of Disappeared Chinese Mogul
The NWSL's Dash are in talks to sell for $120M to Richard Hsiao's RHC Group. Hsiao, 24, is the son of imprisoned Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua.
https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2025/houston-dash-sale-rhc-group-richard-hsiao-china-1234873062/
3 months ago
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In today's Club Sportico essay, we're talking about a 1961 law that helps form the bedrock of the NFL's $22+ billion business. How serious are the politicians that say the law might be under threat?
club.sportico.com/p/nfl-sports...
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“The only person that ever made the NFL quiver”
There are many reasons for the NFL’s massive success. Are we overlooking its antitrust exemption?
https://club.sportico.com/p/nfl-sports-broadcasting-act-debate-smith
3 months ago
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I wrote today about growing pains at the NWSL and WNBA. The two women's league, both undergoing rapid commercial growth, are also facing labor issues, expansion challenges, and in the soccer league's case, a real threat overseas.
www.sportico.com/leagues/socc...
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Big-Time Women’s Sports Are Experiencing Growing Pains
The NWSL and WNBA are undergoing massive commercial growth. That hasn't come without growing pains around expansion, labor and investment.
https://www.sportico.com/leagues/soccer/2025/nwsl-wnba-growing-pains-labor-europe-expansion-1234871176/
3 months ago
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reposted by
Eben Novy-Williams
🚨 Lee Corso Data Viz 🚨 As the College GameDay host approaches his final mascot pick,
@sportico.bsky.social
went back through all 430, dating back to Oct. 1996. He's 286-144 (66.5%) through the years. A quick thread 🧵
4 months ago
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reposted by
Eben Novy-Williams
RedditCFB
4 months ago
This is a great series of visual breakdowns, check it out!
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Eben Novy-Williams
Ryan McCrystal
4 months ago
Lee Corso's headgear picks would be a really cool addition to his
@sports-reference.com
page cc:
@sportinfo247.bsky.social
@sean-forman.com
add a skeleton here at some point
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🚨 Lee Corso Data Viz 🚨 As the College GameDay host approaches his final mascot pick,
@sportico.bsky.social
went back through all 430, dating back to Oct. 1996. He's 286-144 (66.5%) through the years. A quick thread 🧵
4 months ago
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add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
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Today's Club Sportico round-up hits on an absurd trading card, the collapse of an athlete's Hollywood story, Aaron Rodgers' helmet fiasco, and more...
club.sportico.com/p/trading-ca...
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Trading cards have gone too far
Plus: The NFL's favorite contrarian strikes again, Jim Dolan outdoes himself, and 'Advantage, Ms. Maristany Zuleta De Reales.'
https://club.sportico.com/p/trading-cards-have-gone-too-far
4 months ago
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If you want to better understand Michigan's ~$30 million spying fine relative to the Wolverines balance sheet...
5 months ago
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🤔🤔🤔
add a skeleton here at some point
5 months ago
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SCOOP: Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has an agreement in place to buy the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. His group intends to keep the team in Oregon. More at
@sportico.bsky.social
👇
www.sportico.com/business/tea...
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Tom Dundon to Buy Portland Trail Blazers From Paul Allen’s Estate
Tom Dundon is leading a group that is buying the Portland Trail Blazers. The group intends to keep the NBA franchise in Portland.
https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2025/dundon-portland-trail-blazers-sale-paul-allen-1234866910/
5 months ago
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BREAKING: The Pohlad family, one of MLB's longest-tenured owners, will keep control of the Twins after exploring a sale. LPs coming in instead. No path to control. More at
@sportico.bsky.social
w/ @soshnick 👇
www.sportico.com/business/tea...
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Pohlads to Keep Control of Twins Amid Minority Stake Sale
The Pohlad family will keep control of the Minnesota Twins after exploring a potential sale. Instead the team will bring on a few minority partners.
https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2025/minnesota-twins-sale-pohlads-control-minority-partners-1234866859/
5 months ago
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This week's weirdest sports story isn't about the WNBA, or even sex toys. It's about memecoins, betting, and the economy of virality. Today's Club Sportico installment 👇
club.sportico.com/p/the-sex-to...
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The sex toys are a red herring
Green dildos aren't the real story. Sports' latest ugly trend is more about Polymarket, memecoins, and the financialization of virality.
https://club.sportico.com/p/the-sex-toys-are-a-red-herring
5 months ago
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SCOOP: The Chicago Bears' current owners--the McCaskey and Ryan families--have reached an agreement to split the ~2% stake previously owned by Andrew McKenna. The deal values the Bears at an NFL record $8.8 billion. More at
@sportico.bsky.social
👇
www.sportico.com/business/tea...
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Bears Valued at $8.8B as Current Owners Share McKenna Stake Sale
The Chicago Bears owners, the McCaskey and Ryan families, will share the equity held by Andrew McKenna in a deal that values the team at $8.8 billion.
https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2025/chicago-bears-stake-sold-mccaskey-ryan-mckenna-1234866271/
5 months ago
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Wrote today about the commercial undertones to Deion Sanders' cancer presser: - He included two brands he co-owns - He featured two other companies that pay him - He's both a patient and a former paid spokesman of UCHealth - UCHealth pays Buffs millions More 👇
www.sportico.com/business/com...
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Even in Cancer Reveal, Deion Sanders Revs Marketing Engine
Deion Sanders' cancer reveal featured products from companies that he owns, and nods to companies that endorse him, plus a major Buffaloes sponsor.
https://www.sportico.com/business/commerce/2025/deion-sanders-cancer-investments-sponsors-1234865292/
5 months ago
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As college sports change dramatically, some things don't. Today Daniel Libit and I wrote about the web of overlap between Maryland athletics, search firm TurnkeyZRG, and Ohio State 👇
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...
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How the Key Turns: Maryland and College Sports’ Reciprocal Economy
Maryland AD Jim Smith reunites with ex–Ohio State AD Gene Smith as part of a telling arrangement involving the executive search firm TurnkeyZRG.
https://www.sportico.com/leagues/college-sports/2025/maryland-jim-smith-gene-smith-turnkeyzrg-1234864466/
5 months ago
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There are nine schools that are primarily DII and DIII that are sharing revenue with their athletes. Here is that list, via
@sportico.bsky.social
6 months ago
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reposted by
Eben Novy-Williams
Michael McCann
6 months ago
SCOOP: The NFLPA fires arbitrator who ruled NFLPA then-president J.C. Tretter's comments about running backs faking injuries for contract leverage violated CBA, which requires both PA and league use best efforts to carry out duties.
@ebennovywilliams.bsky.social
& I have more
@sportico.bsky.social
:
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NFLPA Fires Arbitrator Who Ruled on JC Tretter ‘Fake Injuries’ Case
NFLPA fired an arbitrator who ruled NFLPA then-president JC Tretter violated CBA by discussing ruling backs faking injuries for contract reasons.
https://www.sportico.com/law/analysis/2025/nflpa-fires-arbitrator-jc-tretter-fake-injuries-case-1234863113/
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Maryland's new AD gets a bonus equal to his base salary if the Terps revenue grows by $50 million. But that "revenue" is based off NCAA accounting, which includes student fees and institutional support as "revenue"...
@sportico.bsky.social
story from Daniel Libit 👇
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...
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Maryland AD Set for Big Bonus If Terps’ Revenue Grows by $50M
New Maryland athletic director Jim Smith stands to reap the rewards if the Big Ten school can boost its bottom line over the next six years.
https://www.sportico.com/leagues/college-sports/2025/maryland-ad-jim-smith-contract-revenue-1234862152/
6 months ago
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BREAKING: Austin FC has added five local investors at an enterprise valuation a little north of $900 million, sources tell
@sportico.bsky.social
. Anthony Precourt remains majority shareholder and governor. None of the other LPs fully exited. More 👇
www.sportico.com/business/tea...
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Austin FC Valuation Crosses $900M as New Investors Join Cap Table
Austin FC has five new investors, including Jenny Just, Matt Hulsizer and Tench Coxe. The MLS club was valued above $900 million in the deals.
https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2025/austin-fc-new-investors-valuation-mls-1234862161/
6 months ago
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reposted by
Eben Novy-Williams
Wrote today at
@clubsportico.bsky.social
about one of the Tour de France's most prominent sponsorships, and the lengths that some riders may go to avoid it. Teams used to sew other company's logos on their skinsuits to satisfy TdF rules...
club.sportico.com/p/the-cautio...
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The cautionary tale of a Tour de France sponsor
Santini pays millions to supply jerseys to the Tour de France. Does it matter if the best riders sometimes go out of their way to avoid them?
https://club.sportico.com/p/the-cautionary-tale-of-a-tour-de
6 months ago
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Wrote today at
@clubsportico.bsky.social
about one of the Tour de France's most prominent sponsorships, and the lengths that some riders may go to avoid it. Teams used to sew other company's logos on their skinsuits to satisfy TdF rules...
club.sportico.com/p/the-cautio...
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The cautionary tale of a Tour de France sponsor
Santini pays millions to supply jerseys to the Tour de France. Does it matter if the best riders sometimes go out of their way to avoid them?
https://club.sportico.com/p/the-cautionary-tale-of-a-tour-de
6 months ago
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TIL: The Florida Panthers have considered other names, including the Fort Lauderdale Panthers and the South Florida Panthers... 🎙️: via
@sportico.bsky.social
's Sporticast podcast
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7 months ago
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The Florida Panthers raised season ticket prices by 36.5% (!) heading into this season. Fans renewed at a 91% clip. Here's how an NHL team with a season ticket waitlist monetizes three straight Stanley Cup appearances. More from
@sportico.bsky.social
👇
www.sportico.com/business/fin...
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The Panthers Raised Season Ticket Prices 36.5%—and Fans Kept Buying
The Panthers are playing in their third straight Stanley Cup Final. The run has been a boost to the team’s business across tickets, sponsorship and more.
https://www.sportico.com/business/finance/2025/florida-panthers-season-tickets-stanley-cup-sporticast-1234854778/
7 months ago
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Wild that PSG spent *all that money* chasing a Champions League title--at one point with Neymar, Mbappe and Messi together--and then won in one of the first years after slowing the spending...
7 months ago
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