Advertisement - scroll for more content
Slam dunk seasons from the New York Knicks and Rangers should bode well for parent company Madison Square Garden Entertainment , according to Bank of America. "We anticipate healthy F3Q results supported by strong demand for live experiences," said analyst Peter Henderson.
Still, Bank of America conveyed some concern regarding ESPN. “ESPN is still a strong business and a premier brand, but it sits at the nexus of possible major business transformation,” the company said. “Transitions have historically proven difficult and typically not conducive to significant growth.”
Bank of America analysts weighed in on the discussion pertaining to the NBA rights package with the current contract concluding in 2025. The analysts expect to see strong demand for sports rights in the coming years as this type of programming “continues to deliver strong viewership, despite continued cord-cutting, and has been a critical driver of linear advertising.”
Among other players, BofA sees both Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) increasing their sports presence. Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) has also reportedly signaled an interest in the NBA.
As the vice president of charitable affairs for the Lakers, Kiesha Nix is one of the most powerful women in the sport of philanthropy. When she was first promoted from executive director for the Community Lakers Youth Foundation to her current office, NBA legend Magic Johnson called to congratulate her personally. “I was in the middle of a Zoom call planning a community holiday event when his name showed up on my phone. I almost didn’t take the call,” she says. But she did, and she heard him say, “Hello Miss VP.” “I had to pinch myself,” Nix says. Nix had never actively pursued a career in community relations or fundraising, but the calling seemed to pursue her. She and Johnson had partnered on community events for more than a decade since they first crossed paths when Nix worked for Merrill Lynch and Bank of America. “I started out at the bottom of the totem pole almost 30 years ago as a project manager at Merrill Lynch, and by the time I left, I was negotiating contracts on behalf of Bank of America after the two institutions merged.”
Advertisement
Glimpses of the Clippers’ real-world financial results show the business has often been profitable. Those include audited financials disclosed in a Bank of America report just before Ballmer bought the team, as well as NBA records that were leaked after he became owner. But IRS records obtained by ProPublica show the Clippers have reported $700 million in losses for tax purposes in recent years. Not only does Ballmer not have to pay tax on any real-world Clippers profits, he can use the tax write-off to offset his other income.
Leaked NBA records during Ballmer’s tenure showed the Clippers in the black as recently as 2017. Audited financials disclosed in the Bank of America report just before the sale showed the team netting $14 million and $18 million in the two years before Ballmer took over, with projected growth in the future. Tax records for the pre-Ballmer era examined by ProPublica showed the team consistently making millions in profits. Forbes has also estimated the team generates millions in annual profits. Nevertheless, Ballmer reported staggering losses from the Clippers to the IRS. Those losses allowed him to reduce the taxes he owed on the billions he has reaped from Microsoft stock sales and dividends. Owning the Clippers cut his tax bill by about $140 million in just five years, according to a ProPublica analysis.
The Charlotte Hornets and Bank of America this month partnered for the seventh annual Military Care event. This year’s unique initiative saw the full Hornets team and coaching staff, along with 90 volunteers from the two organizations working at home, partner to pack 3,000 care kits to be distributed by the USO of North Carolina to military service members who are required to self-isolate after deployment for 14 days at a quarantine facility before returning home to loved ones. “It is extremely important that we show our gratitude for our troops and the protection they provide,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment President & Vice Chairman Fred Whitfield. “Even though we could not gather in person like we have in previous years, we are pleased that we were able to continue to partner with our friends at Bank of America to provide these care kits as a way of offering our thanks to our military service members.”
The Charlotte Hornets and Bank of America this month partnered for the seventh annual Military Care event. This year’s unique initiative saw the full Hornets team and coaching staff, along with 90 volunteers from the two organizations working at home, partner to pack 3,000 care kits to be distributed by the USO of North Carolina to military service members who are required to self-isolate after deployment for 14 days at a quarantine facility before returning home to loved ones.
Marbury, 43, says he remains a Knicks fan, which is why he doesn’t like what he’s seeing. “When are we really going to try to win in NY,” he tweeted at the Knicks official account. “The people of NY deserve real New York people leading the way for New Yorkers. These fake kiss a$$ blow up fast cats ain’t going to cut the check other than going into BOA to deposit the check. We sick and tired!”
Advertisement
The Charlotte Hornets, Bank of America and Food Lion Feeds today announced that the organizations will partner for the fourth Military Care Event on Tuesday, March 27, at Spectrum Center. This unique community initiative will feature volunteers from the three organizations packing more than 7,000 care kits that will be distributed to U.S. military members overseas through the USO of North Carolina. “It is incredibly important that we show our appreciation for our troops and the protection they provide,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment President & Vice Chairman Fred Whitfield. “We are pleased to partner with our friends at Bank of America and Food Lion Feeds to send these care kits to military members overseas and do our small part to offer our support while they keep our country safe.”
On Monday, Michael Jordan continued his track record of making good on that pledge by unveiling a $500,000 investment in charities working with literacy. As in the past, Jordan shared the spotlight with other corporate donors, Bank of America and Lowe’s, who partnered to help promote the cause. The team didn’t supply a breakdown of how much was given by the partners.
The Charlotte Hornets will “Swarm to Serve” as the entire organization, along with Bank of America and Lowe’s, participates in its annual all-staff Day of Service on Monday, June 20. This year, the Hornets Day of Service will focus on education and literacy in Charlotte. The Hornets Day of Service will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a press conference at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hornets Chairman Michael Jordan will be in attendance as the Hornets, Bank of America and Lowe’s announce a major investment in education and literacy that will benefit the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation, Freedom School Partners, Child Care Resources Inc. and CrossRoads Corporation for Affordable Housing and Community Development, as well as 18 child care centers, preschools, education nonprofits and community centers throughout the city of Charlotte.
More money problems for Grandmama ... this time Larry Johnson's being sued for close to $500,000 after allegedly blowing off a bank loan from 2007 ... TMZ Sports has learned. Bank of America claims the former NBA star -- who filed for bankruptcy last year -- is in the hole to the tune of $494,446.57 ... because he stopped making payments on his $450k loan in 2010. Johnson's got serious money problems ... crazy for a guy who reportedly made more than $80 MILLION during his NBA career. Last year, he was accused of being a deadbeat dad to 4 different women.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement