Advertisement - scroll for more content
The rise of racquet sports in the U.S. is real, and a new business called Ballers is looking to capitalize on the growth with the help of $20 million in backing from a group of athletes and investors highlighted by tennis legend Andre Agassi, NBA star Tyrese Maxey, and MLS goalkeeper Maarten Paes. Ballers, which describes itself as a “first-of-its-kind hospitality-driven social sports venue,” will open its first location next month at Philadelphia’s historic Turbine Hall—a sprawling 55,000-square-foot facility that used to be the largest power plant in the city. That location will feature six pickleball courts, three padel courts, two squash courts, a turf field, four golf simulators, and a putting green, among other amenities.
Michael Grange: Rogers has received all league approvals — NBA, NHL, MLS and CFL — to take 75% ownership of MLSE and Raptors, Leafs, TFC and Argos etc. Last step for deal to close is approval from CRTC on indirect ownership of NBA Canada.
Johnson will add the Spirit to a considerable investment portfolio that also includes stakes in the Washington Commanders (NFL), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), Los Angeles FC (MLS) and eSports franchise Team Liquid.
Casey Holdahl: According to his IG, @JeramiGrant has joined the ownership group of @dcunited of the MLS.
Harrison Wind: This is new KSE President of Team and Media Operations Kevin Demoff’s role, per a press release: “Demoff will oversee operations of all KSE teams including the Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Rapids (MLS), and Colorado Mammoth (NLL), as well as operations of all KSE Media properties including Altitude Sports and Entertainment, KSE Radio, and Outdoor Sportsman Group. In this role, he will report to Josh Kroenke.” It’s unclear if or how involved he’ll be in Nuggets basketball operations.
Advertisement
MLSE’s primary assets are the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, MLS’ Toronto FC, CFL’s Toronto Argonauts and their respective venues. Tanenbaum owns 25% of MLSE; it is unclear how much of his stake he is selling.
Nance is part of a wave of NBA players who have taken stakes in professional soccer teams. LeBron James owns a piece of Liverpool in the English Premier League. James Harden (Houston Dynamo), Kevin Durant (Philadelphia Union) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Nashville S.C.) are partial owners of Major League Soccer teams. For Nance, the investment had much more to do with his heart than his head. “I am a fan who bought into the club,” Nance said. “I like the owner title because I’m proud of it. But at the same time, I consider myself more of a heavily invested supporter.
Jimmy Butler is the Miami Heat’s leader and best player, and also, apparently, the team’s resident soccer expert. Even with a loss in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, there was still some good news for Butler, a reason to, if not rejoice, then smile and be grateful. Lionel Messi is coming to town. “A lot of good,” Butler said Thursday when asked what Messi’s joining Inter Miami of Major League Soccer means. “Obviously, he is one of the greatest players to play that beautiful game. I’m so excited for the city of Miami, to be able to have a player of that caliber here. “Now that he is here, I think all the football/soccer fans from all over the world are going to come here and get an opportunity to watch him compete. I’m glad he is here.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo: Welcome to the MLS Messi!! See you at Nashville🔥🚀
For racial hiring practices, the WNBA and NBA received an A+; MLS received an A; the NFL received a B+; MLB received a B and college sports received a C. The MLB and NBA scores increased by 3.8 percentage points and 2.2 percentage points, respectively. Conversely, the WNBA, NFL, MLS and college sports decreased 5.7 percentage points, 3.5 percentage points and 0.9 percentage points and 1.1 percentage points, respectively.
Advertisement
While gender hiring practices were not as good as racial hiring practices, they were significantly better than the 2021 report card. The WNBA, NBA, MLS and NFL received grades of A, B+, B and B, respectively. MLB received a C+, and college sports received the lowest grade -- a C. Both the WNBA and NBA received an A in the overall grade in the 2022 report card.
Streaming networks like Amazon and Apple have been presumed to have interest. Both have increased their footprint in sports broadcasting over the last few years. Amazon now airs NFL Thursday night games and 20 Yankees games, while Apple TV+ consolidated the rights for the MLS and also airs two “Friday Night Baseball” games weekly. The NBA also could consider incumbent options for its streaming packages, like ESPN+ or Max from Warner Bros. Discovery. “We’re all watching the MLS deal really close,” an NBA team president said. “They just leaned so heavily.”
A group of professional sports leagues and media outlets have formed a coalition that aims to ensure a responsible approach to sports betting advertising, which has increased dramatically over the past five years and caught the attention of politicians. The Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising, announced Wednesday, consists of the NFL, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, WNBA, NASCAR and MLS. Media outlets NBCUniversal and Fox have joined the coalition spearheaded by NFL vice president of public policy and government affairs Jonathan Nabavi. "As the legalization of sports betting spreads nationwide, we feel it is critical to establish guardrails around how sports betting should be advertised to consumers across the United States," the coalition said in a statement. "Each member of the coalition feels a responsibility to ensure sports betting advertising is not only targeted to an appropriate audience, but also that the message is thoughtfully crafted and carefully delivered."
According to Yahoo News, ESPN's coverage of the Slam garnered an impressive viewership of 237,000 adults under the age of 50. It outperformed 13 nationally televised MLB games, seven NBA matchups, and five NHL games. It even surpassed several international soccer matches, including those from the Premier League, Liga MX, Bundesliga, and MLS.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement